Getting lucky with a dead pickup :: Yamaha FGX-412SC [5.2 lbs]

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This pickup hasn't worked in years and the player decided to let me give it a shot.  I got lucky on this one.  First thing to check on acoustic pickup issues is the power.  A fresh battery didn't solve the issue so I started checking connections with a multimeter set to continuity (beeps when a connection is good).  The culprit turned out to be the battery box.  All of the connections were good, but their wasn't enough pressure to hold the battery leads up against the contacts in the battery tray.  I used some foam to take up the slack and push the battery forward in the tray and voila! 

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After resolving the pickup issue, here's a quick string-up from the vlog:

New bone saddle :: Art & Lutherie Cedar CW [4.8 lbs]

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New bone saddle :: Art & Lutherie Cedar CW [4.8 lbs]

The old worn soft synthetic saddle on this cedar topped dread was replaced with a new one carved from hard unbleached bone.

New saddle on an overset neck :: Washburn WD20SCE [5.0 lbs]

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New saddle on an overset neck :: Washburn WD20SCE [5.0 lbs]

This dreadnought cutaway came in with buzzy, super low action.  Normally I can just shim up the saddle to correct this (and save the customer a little money) but this wouldn't work in this situation.  The original saddle was already shimmed and poorly fit in the bridge (ie. loose).  Adding a shim that this needed would have not held as the high neck angle required a very tall saddle and would have broken the shim right off (think how you break a Kit Kat bar).  The only solution was making a new saddle.  This neck angle is so high that it just about maxed out the bone saddle blanks I have in stock.  Usually you like to see about 3/16" of saddle exposure above the bridge.  This one has about 9/32" (+ 3/32")!

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Carvin Cobalt 750S [5.1 lbs] :: side preamp convert Fishman to Baggs Stagepro Anthem

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Carvin Cobalt 750S [5.1 lbs] :: side preamp convert Fishman to Baggs Stagepro Anthem

This player wanted to swap out a Fishman Prefix Plus-T to an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem.  The Fishman side-mounted preamp is considerably larger than the Baggs Stagepro preamp so a step-down conversion ring was fabricated.  The adapter was made from black / white / black pickguard stock for flexibility and durability and the edges were beveled for a nice clean look.  I used the original mounting holes in the side so the old Fishman preamp can be cleanly reinstalled if desired in the future (no extra holes).  The Baggs Anthem system combines an undersaddle pickup with an internal microphone (mounts to the bridge plate) and both sources can be mixed via the preamp.

Fender CD-140SCE NAT :: loose x-brace and set up

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Fender CD-140SCE NAT :: loose x-brace and set up.

The rear leg of the treble side x-brace was loose from the bridge to the side.  Glue was applied and the brace clamped through the soundhole.  The saddle was also shimmed up and the guitar tuned a half step down.