JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum Acoustic Guitar question

Boy Howdy!

I am the owner of a newer inexpensive Samick Acoustic. Yuck!

A year ago, I started writing and recording after a long hiatus, using my old Fender Gemini Acoustic. Apparently, I wore out the fingerboard and or the frets. I write and play in D a bit, because of my vocal range.
After a few months the B string would not resonate in the basic D Major chord position.

Took it in, had it worked on, and it didn't play but for a day, and same thing all over again. It was a 20 year old $300 guitar, so I couldn't see putting more then the $50 I just spent in repairs. So I bought the Samick just to have something to play until I could feel out and try other higher quality acoustics.

Now the Samick is doing the same thing. It was only $200. I know that Samick makes quite a bit of the lower end acoustics out there, so I thought this might be an OK cheapie for awhile. Is my while over after 4 months?

Am I getting what I pay for, or could I be wearing out the guitar in such a short time?

I am a percussive player as guitarists go.

Please help me figure this out.


Blessings,


Johnboy

FWIW, Samick instruments are generally pretty amazing, considering the price. YOur problem sounds very interesting, but as is often the case, more details are needed. Please describe what you mean when you say, "the B string would not resonate".

For example, do you mean the string made no sound, or that it made a weak sound?
Does it cause a buzzing sound?
Also, what did the repair person tell you?
Was it a new and unique problem, or a common complaint?
Likewise, what did they do to remedy the problem, even though it only worked for a brief period?
Did they do a "fret job"?
Did they adjust the height of the nut, or bridge bone (saddle)?

Thanks for a real good puzzle!
Emmit Sycamore

Sounds like a truss rod adjustment problem to me.

Howdy Emmit and Truman!

The Samick has never been repaired it is relatively new.

It not only buzzes on the low E and a couple of other strings, it just sounds terrible. The B string will barely vibrate when it is held down on the 3rd fret (D) position.

It played much cleaner when I bought it a few months ago.

My old Fender acoustic was the one I had repaired because of the same reasons. The repair worked for a day and then didn't take. The guy replaced a fret or two. Not sure if he adjusted truss bar. I noticed he also filed down some frets. Is there still hope for my old Fender too?

Johnboy

This is one of those questions that cannot be answered by a description. It is something that has to be seen and heard by a competent repair man. If your previous trip to a repair shop didn't solve it and you showed him specifically what was happening, then it's quite possible that it was beyond the repair guys ability to repair, or he didn't know how to fix the problem.

I've spent years working on my own instruments and being friends with amazing luthiers. Your description is literally impossible to determine what is happening without seeing the guitar and seeing you play it. It might be the guitar, it could possibly be your playing technique, it could be a combination of the two.

Jody

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Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com

Jody, Emmit, Truman,

Thank you so much for responding!

I am going to try to get this thing sorted out. I feel like I am running through cheap guitars like...well you know how frustrating it is when you live for this stuff, and you don't know what the heck you're doing! I just want to learn, and be able to say, I know what's wrong..

Blessings,


Johnboy