2004 710-L9 Brazilian/ Final neck reset w/pics

[S MS Picker]

Just finished the final neck reset on on The Braz. Guitar came with a #4 heel/#-2 top shims. My first reset was to #16 heel/#10 top.
That helped the action, but it still wasn't where I wanted it. Now it's wearing #22 heel/#16 top shims. Nailed the sweet spot!! This guitar plays and sounds fantastic now. Action is between 4 & 5/64th on the low E/ ~ 3/64 on the high e.Saddle height is 10/64 @ E, 11/64 @ D, and  7/64 @ e. Relief @ 6 is about .010 on E. She's wearing D'Addario EJ 17 phosphor bronze .013-.056 strings. These were on her when I got her, and have been up & down at least 6 times. The guitar still sounds fantastic. The harder I play the louder she gets w/ no buzzing or rattling at all. Tone is remarkable. Using the mic function, I have to mute some of the strings to get a good reading on the tuner because of  carryover to the other strings. Intonation is dead on.
She sounds a little bit tight, but from what I've read, that's to be expected from an Adirondack top that hasn't been played much. when it opens up it's gonna be obnoxious.

Here's a pic of the action at the 12th fret.



And one of the top.



I liked this guitar before, now I love it !!
Maybe I should have posted this in the repair section. Mods move it if you'd like. I'm just so tickled with the results, I got a little carried away.

Steve

[ataylor]

What an awesome guitar. I remember really wanting one of those 510/710 L9s when they came out. Throw in the adirondack and brazilian rosewood on yours and it's no wonder you are raving about it.

Enjoy!

[sthompson]

Picker,
Looks and sounds like a great job on a magnificent guitar.  I'd love
to hear what it sounds like. 

We have had many discussions about the ideal saddle height on
Taylor guitars to best motivate the top wood, and I have yet to
hear a definitive answer.  I sure wish I knew what the Taylor gurus
think that spec is for various body styles and woods. 

Is the ~11/64 saddle height what you were after with the neck
reset?  Or was that a secondary concern with action being primary?
st

[S MS Picker]

Actually,ST, I've found that there is no definitive measurement. I do know that every guitar has a sweet spot, where everything comes together. When I hit that spot, I can often tell when I'm tuning the guitar up.Neck angle, saddle height,relief,and action all come into play. Saddle height is probably my first target. I've found that the more saddle (to a point) = more output.If you have too much though, you can over stress the bridge mechanics. Taylor has enough slot depth to really experiment. String selection is sometimes quite critical. This one has straight mediums on it, and is very comfortable to play.
From the sweet spot,minor adjustments are often needed to accommodate a players particular style. On this guitar, I'll probably end up putting a little more relief in the neck. I suspect it'll need a little more when I play my banjo playing son.
Being able to alter the neck angle makes it possible to get the most bang for the buck at any given action.I really like my action @~ 5/64 on the E following neck radius to ~ 3/64 on the e. Shimming necks on bolt on electrics was one of my bread and butter jobs when I had my shop. I transplanted what I learned to these Taylor necks.
I just ordered some USB mics so that I can start some documentation of my experiments. I just hope I can figure out the software.
Steve

[sthompson]

That's about what I expected.  Most of my Taylor's saddles are ~.150 +/- a bit,
depending on what I can accept on the action height.  I don't like going less than
.140 with 5 & 3/64's on the action, neck at .007.  I have a guitar on the edge that
could use a reset rather than taking the saddle lower.  I just haven't got the shims,
knowledge or sack to try it.  I'd like to watch my local luthier perform a Taylor neck
set.  I need to learn how to do that.

All things considered based on what I think I know and feel, adirondack tops like
a slightly higher saddle, with cedar needing the least height, and other woods
somewhere in between.  It appears that I have a lighter touch than you do, Picker.
I do know when saddle height gets too low for me.  The guitar abruptly goes quiet
and shallow sounding like someone put socks in it.  Or so I think....

I'd prefer to just play but when an action gets off, it makes me sorta nuts.
st

[S MS Picker]

When I played bluegrass music, more than one flatpicker,would have a neck reset on a Martin in order to get more saddle w/a comfortable action. I brokered several of these and the difference was very surprising. I was always the last to play it before and the first afterward. Volume always improved and 99% of the time so did tone.(best I can remember)
Steve

[mgap]

I'll bet that is a sweet sounding and playing guitar.  I user to have a 710ce L9, love the short scale and the snow flake markers.  With the Brazilian body it is a great sound i am sure.  Enjoy it!