middleaudio.com

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:59 am**

I have been asked to perform some maintenance on a Tak, and thought I'd share some of the process.
This is a cherished performance instrument, so "care" is the buzzword.

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:07 am**

Although worn frets were the only complaint, it took less than a minute to realize that some general set-up would contribute greatly to the playability of this instrument.

Organization is key to doing a proper job, so first order of business is to gather up all the tools that I will require...

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:12 am**

I was going to trim the bridge saddle last night, but the chainsaw was running a bit rough. Seems to be casting off a bit too much bar oil as well.
Hope that it doesn't stain the finish too much...

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:45 am**

I find tablesaws a little neater for lowering saddles. You do have to take the saddle out of the guitar though, so it does add an extra step.

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:01 am**

I thought about either the table saw or the mitre saw, but yeah....that extra step.....

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:12 pm**

Of course, as illustrated in the photo above, cleanliness in the shop is paramount!

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:16 pm**

oddioguy wrote:I have asked to perform some maintenance on a Tak, and thought I'd share some of the process.
This is a cherished performance instrument, so "care" is the buzzword.

That was my contribution to her 'cherished performance instrument'. I was the first one to battle-scar it officially!

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:40 pm**

...and yet you live...

:twisted:

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:17 pm**

OK, I'm getting over a bad cold, and this thread made me laugh big time...

It could be the NyQuil...

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:06 pm**

Malcolm Boyce wrote:It could be the NyQuil...

Only one way to know for sure....

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:15 am**

Wow....
The frets on this thing are wide and VERY low to begin with. My crowning file does not have a bit with a matching profile, so it's time for ....

Fret Crowning: Old Skool!

Had to dig up my ol' 3-corner file and start crowning by hand. Been a while, but I think I remember how to do it.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:49 am**

...and since you freely admitted to it, Jef....

DING SOLO!!

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:53 am**

Frets ar now levelled, and the recrowning is underway. Should be ready to start wet sanding and polishing tonight, as long as I get home before 9:00-ish...

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:32 pm**

oddioguy wrote:...and since you freely admitted to it, Jef....

DING SOLO!!

Yup... and she let me live!
The guitar was only a couple weeks old when that happened.
Deb insisted on me trying out her new guitar at a gig.
I was wearing it when I turned around and bumped into the corner
of an upright piano (a very small stage area).
At the time, I would have rather taken a kick to the nuts than
have to tell her about the nasty blemish.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:47 pm**

It's not a blemish, it's ...a....ummm.....distinguishing character trait.
Yeah...that's it...

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:35 am**

Crowning, wet-sanding and polishing is complete. Still need to clean up a bit of tape residue (painters tape isn't supposed to leave that shit behind! :evil:

) and some filings that are hanging around, then restring and reset the truss rod.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:02 pm**

....which is now all done as well.
Turned out very well, IMHO.
Perfect for girly fingers. ;-)

middleaudio.com

Takamine set up...

Takamine set up...

Re: Takamine set up...