Cheapie guitar question

Setting up an axe for your own personal tastes is pretty much a requirement
for any level of guitar.  The only real issue is how well the setup "holds"
or "takes".  Some guitars won't stay set up, or won't set up the way you
want them.  In this case you're sort of SOL.  That isn't to say that you
can't get a playable setup.  If you can get something that someone else
likes then at least you may have an opportunity to sell the guitar in a
playable state.

A setup isn't very expensive in the grand scheme of things (definitely not
compared to the price of the guitar) so IMO it is well worth it to try and
get it playing well.  If it sticks, you have a good playing guitar (who
cares what the headstock says), if it doesn't, you are only out a few bucks.

Barry

"Barry E. King" <bek @hellinahandbasket.com> wrote in message

Yes, I've had this guitar for 6 years (new in '95) and bought it I guess
just after Samick bought out? Valley Arts. It has always played like a
dream.

This thing was in the case for nearly 3 years - prefered another axe a Blues
Saraceno model - and it played really well. The truss rod needed a small
amount of tightening and that was it.

I was playing a NOS Usa std strat last week in a shop. It' s a creamy sort
of off-white with white scratch plate and maple neck. It needed a setup (for
my tastes) but it wasn't bad. I really just sounded like my Samick.

I thought, well I don't think I can really buy it just because its a Fender
when I like my guitar much better, or lets say the same as this Fender. I've
done a few mods to mine, and I'd really like a Fender to have the same
features. Since I have those features its like hmm maybe maybe not.

I live in Australia, and American Series (the most basic American model no
longer called standard??) will be selling for $3000 due to exchange rate and
recent introduction of GST (Goods and services tax). The few in the shop
which are Amer Standards are priced at $1699 ?? which is affordable, but
requires some serious thought. Gibson Les Paul Studios are also this price
here. I'm just tryin out a few guitars before the massive (almost double)
price rise.

Anyway, you're quite right the name on the neck is meaningless compared to
sound and feel.




The Valley Arts model quick recap - Alder body, one piece maple neck,
Wilkinson Trem. I got a roller nut put on. Now the pick ups. I had those hot
rail mini-humbuckers put in at neck and bridge and a usa std single coil in
the middle. I had a coil tap for the neck. The split humbucker was nothing
like a USA std sound and I didn't think the bridge had enough output nor the
right tone so I took them out.

I put another USA std single coil in the neck and a DiMarzio megadrive (they
don't make them now) at the bridge. I tool out a tone pot, moved the volume
down away from the pickup and put the switch in where the original first
tone pot went.

The switch puts the single coils in series which is much fatter and warmer
when you want but I still have the authentic neck single coil.

I never really took to the Saraceno and I recently sold it. I bought it at a
huge discount virtually half price and I should it for 80% of what I paid
which was acceptable. Only one guy rang up so I thought Ok I'll take the
money.

If I were you I'd do a quick evaluation of your Samick. I saw one in a shop,
must be about the last I'll ever see but I spotted the neck as being out
straight away.

Adjust the neck so as it has the right amount of bow. I find mine sets up
better with virtually no relief which is a good sign.

My Quick Set-up Guide:

0. Put on some new strings and lets

Hey Chris,

I bought a Valley Arts Samick strat years ago also and my situation sounds
exactly like yours.  I bought the thing because the dealer conned me into it
and now its just sitting under my bed because I wouldn't be able to get half
the price for what I bought it for (the dealer ripped me off big time!).
The action is too high and the stock pickups sound cheap.  I've been
considering replacing the pickups and getting the action adjusted by a
repairer but wasn't sure it was worth it.  I would love to have it feel like
and sounding like a real strat.

Your post has convinced me that I should do it!  Any tips or things I should
consider?

Thanks

Dave

"Junk B. FF" <Junk-B. @ifrance.com> wrote in message

check for movement (no matter how slight) in the neck, any crack, anything
about the guitar that seems out of the ordinary for a guitar. Then take it
to a guitar shop ( a reputable one) and get one of the techs to check it
over.

I have a jem 777vwh
and I have heard that many of the newer ibanezs have neck problems.
well I think it may be true
I had my guitar over and friends house for about 6 months, and it was in
the case the entire time and normal temperature but when I tookit out to
play it the neck had shifted so the head stock was closer to the ground
than is was before if you have it sitting on your lap in playing position.
so now the high e string is totally off of the fretboard between about the
18th to 24th frets.
IM taking it tommrow to get it fixed, but just beware of possible neck
problems with ibanezs, mine may be a rare case but its not the first time
I have heard of it.

anyone else out there have problems with thier ibanez necks?

Chris Roberts
cjr71 @pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

I never had a problem with the neck but the pickups sure sucked.

Hi there!

I'v bought an IBanez....uh... like...four months ago,. It's a...let me
look....uh.. GRX 40 ...the (almost) cheapest model....

and... this thread scares me! =-D   what should I do???? =}

I mean.. how can I check that there is no specific problem in the neck?

Tell me about it.

I bought an RG470 and it was really great until...dramatic pause... the
bloody neck started to move up and down. So I look at the neck joint and
there a huge gap between the neck and the body. I made a shim out of wood
and took the neck off and glued this piece in and etc and so forth I sold
the bloody thing. The cast alloy bits on the trem started to corrode really
quickly to. I was really disappointed in that guitar, and I really loved
playing it. I have a Samick Valley Arts Strat which is going on 6 years old
which I bought some time after the whole Ibanez fiasco and it had been in
its case for nearly 3 years and I pulled it out about 4 months ago and
started playing guitar again.

When I restrung it recently I noticed a slight clicking as I held the body
and moved the neck. Hmm, here we go - actually I had another really crappy
Samick strat like they used to make out of plywood - real beginners shit and
the neck on that wasn't straight either but I digress. No the neck on this
is spot on, and not all of them are, this one is a real Jem. I popped of the
neck and liberally applied the glue (Bolt ons have a dab of glue anyway)
then reassembled. Now its locked right in. Alder body, maple neck - USA std
single coils and a DiMarzio Megadrive at bridge (I replaced crap originals
with these) . Roller nut (got put on), Wilkinson trem (came with it). Sounds
like a USA std Strat (I used to own one).

I looked at a Samick strat recently and I thought my god, this is just
getting disgraceful again isn't it (light weight body, cheap trem system). I
mean my axe is a really decent instrument. It says concept and design by
Valley Arts Custom Pro Shop on it and its like a great guitar just made in
Korea. I love it but I hate that its a Samick and I often think of scraping
the name off, but its under all the lacquer so I'd have to work out how to
refinish the headstock. Part of the problem is that I had a genuine USA std
Fender, so I feel silly with a Samick, but they don't hold there value so I
never sold it. I had a twin amp which I sold to. I mean I didn't play for a
long time. I kept my little Samick and I have a Marshall Valvestate 8080. I
like both of these, but I hear no end of criticism about people lamenting
the passing of real Marshalls. You know like nothing is any good after the
JCM800. I wouldn't know because I've never used one.

When you look at a guitar, look at the gap between the edges of the neck and
the e strings. Then look at the d and g strings and the dots. These
observations will immediately tell you whether the neck points out
perpendicular to the bridge and in alignment with its centre. Then look at
the joint particularly on top where the body hangs over the neck. It should
fit like a glove.

I'd consider another RG, maybe the bigger numbered ones are better, maybe
mine was just a dud. Perha

To clarify, the neck bent down, with the heel as the pivot point??? Are you
sure your friend didn't drop it??? I've owned three Ibanezes and the necks have
never been a problem.?? The electronics, for sure, but never the necks.

?????? Matt

?????? Matt



??

You can find "New Old Stock" Godin SD's on ebay for around $200-220.  These are
super cool North American made guitars (Canadian) that were supposed to retail
for around $500, and never really "caught on". This same company makes Seagull
acoustic, another killer line.  
The SD is an unbelievable deal...a chance to get a fine crafted American guitar
for the same price as one built overseas....

Pat Altes

Better still, don't buy new.  Get a good used instrument from a REPUTABLE
dealer.
BM

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From border Monmouthshire, between the Severn bridges...

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Check out the Caerwent community web site:  http://www.caerwentcom.com

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The Pacifica in the guitar pack was my first guitar as well.  I've had it
about a year, and really, I love it.  Granted, I don't have a hell of a lot
of experience, but to me it has the best of all worlds for a beginner due to
the singles and humbucker.

In article <kA156.45131$xW4.361 @news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
j @nsw.bigpond.net.au says...

If you can, get it setup by a luthier so that the action, intonation,
pickup height etc. is all good. Guitars in this price range rarely come
with a decent setup out of the factory and many of the places that sell
them wouldn't know how to do a good setup if Jimi Hendrix came back down
here and asked them personally.

-Frank Hudson
remove the "x" when replying
Web page with sound samples, gear pics and tributes at:
http://www.users.uswest.net/~f hudson/

I have to agree on the Yamaha. I had a couple of those, and they were great
guitars for the money.

Tom

Three words man   ;)

I BAN EZ     Been using Ibanez guitars for 12 years now. Best bang for
the buck out there, IMHO

In article <Y1q56.89251$A06.3236 @news1.frmt1.sfba.home.com>,
  "7ball" <wolfma @earthlink.com> wrote:



--
Jesus is real! I saw him at a party last week, he was
playing quarters with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny

-Unknown

Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/

Save your time, just get the Yamaha.   Much better for the money.

    The great majority of the people who have played both will tell you
that the Pacifica is a better guitar - including me.

The Old Guy

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