Problem with my guitar (something's loose) NEW PICS!!!

[12stringer]

Re: Problem with my guitar (something's loose)

BTW I just put some medium Martin PB SP's on my Gad25 and they sound great...more deepness to an already deep sounding guitar and of course a more powerful sound...the top end was beefed up to where I like it and it can take hard strumming without breaking up.
It's amazing how the right strings can make a guitar sound incredable. On my next string change I will try the John Pearse mediums 80/20's I have heard so much about around here.
Best of luck with the new GAD! :wink:

 

[Ridgemont]

Re: Problem with my guitar (something's loose)

Aha! Now I can post pics. Here are some pics on the new rosewood GAD 30 replacement.

Here are some images of the different back braces used in this guitar. You will notice that the top braces are thin (~1/4 inch) were as the bottom braces are much thicker (~1 inch). I do not know why there is a difference (my old GAD 30 had all thin braces).

Here is the GAD 30R next to my D25 NT. I never uploaded picks of this one.

 

[Ridgemont]

Re: Problem with my guitar (something's loose)

... It is a 1988 Washburn RS-8V ...

Hi Ridgemont: did it look like this?:

One of the Harmony Central reviewers said it was mahogany ... great find! CJ

Hey capnjuan,

yes that is exactly what it looks like. mine is a navy blue. it does have a good ding in the lower bout, but other than that it is in tip top shape. I did read some reviews and overall it is a decent guitar. I really never thought about getting an electric (although a hollow body always did sound tempting). I even toyed with the idea of selling her to help fund a new acoustic (maple jumbo or a small body hog). My pockets are filled with dust and lint so I will have to wait for the additional funding of that dream.

 

[Ridgemont]

Re: Problem with my guitar (something's loose)

BTW I just put some medium Martin PB SP's on my Gad25 and they sound great...more deepness to an already deep sounding guitar and of course a more powerful sound...the top end was beefed up to where I like it and it can take hard strumming without breaking up.
It's amazing how the right strings can make a guitar sound incredable. On my next string change I will try the John Pearse mediums 80/20's I have heard so much about around here.
Best of luck with the new GAD! :wink:

Hey 12stringer,

Yes I am glad to have my small guitar back in the house. Honestly, the comfort level of a small bodied guitar adds to the excitement as my arm doesn't fall asleep after an hour. It is great to hear when someone finds a string selection that really brings out the guitars sound both tone wise and volume. I will have to try mediums on my D25. I have always liked the combination of 80/20s with a hog back. It has this nice dry bluesy sound. I would vouch for your next string choice.

I just threw some JP 80/20 lights on my new GAD 30R and you can really hear it chime. It is an interesting combination. Bright and dry sounding with a very wide sound range. I compared her to the D25 and you can really tell the difference the two tonewoods. I can now learn to appreciate the differences. I like the 80/20s on the GAD for fingerstyle blues, but when strummed for some Dylan folk tunes, it is actually too loud and bright. My old hog GAD was no where near as loud and bright that it had this small bodied sound where you could hear the tighter dynamic range of the hog body and hear the pick hitting the strings like you do with many of Dylans early songs. Maybe it is the difference between the hog/rosewood? Anyway, I too am beginning my journey to find the ideal string choice. I do like the JP 80/20s though. I rarely use a pick.

By the way, it may be comparing apples and oranges but I put this guitar up to the D25 volume wise. So far, it is debatable as to which one is louder. Weird huh? I would hope that the D25 would be as it is twice the size. I will play around with them more tonight.

 

[capnjuan]

Nice-looking GAD! Some bits and pieces on the history of Washburn Guitars. Unless you have an amp, you'll need an amp. You could always trade the Washburn for an amp, but then you'd need a Washburn :? ... good luck ... you'll figure it out :wink: CJ

 

[Ridgemont]

Nice-looking GAD! Some bits and pieces on the history of Washburn Guitars. Unless you have an amp, you'll need an amp. You could always trade the Washburn for an amp, but then you'd need a Washburn :? ... good luck ... you'll figure it out :wink: CJ

You bring up a good point. One thing that drew me to Guild was that it had a rich history over that last ~60 years. I do know Washburns have been around since time began so that is a selling point.

 

[southernGuild]

Great thread you guys...I learned alot just reading through it...GREAT RESPONCES ALL..and RIDGE.......WHAT AN ORDEAL!!!! Glad it all worked out fine for you in the end there. THAT IS a little beauty. I am very happy with my GAD30re...as a 'get around and play' guitar ( I still baby her, ( good habit!) but she is not irreplacable in my heart and mind)...I dont amp up...but the option is there. I DO play her alot, and SO FAR.....NO PROBLEMS. I even do a Rory Block "knock knock" on the soundboard quite alot.....tempting the devil! :twisted: I suppose.....But he hasnt answered back....YET! the workmenship on her is really fine. GREAT attention to detail. BUT.....When I get ahold of my DV52............OHHHHHHH MAN!!! I am in ANOTHER WORLD of celestial goodness. NOW, i keep the GAD30 in open D, SHE likes it there just fine, and her neck is GREAT for that fingerpicking stuff i TRY to do. My daughter sings the Joni Mitchel songs.....and I croak the Dylan. You just break in that new baby now. ENJOY!!! Keep pickin........BIG BILL IS WATCHING US!!! :roll:

 

[12stringer]

Re: Problem with my guitar (something's loose)

BTW I just put some medium Martin PB SP's on my Gad25 and they sound great...more deepness to an already deep sounding guitar and of course a more powerful sound...the top end was beefed up to where I like it and it can take hard strumming without breaking up.
It's amazing how the right strings can make a guitar sound incredable. On my next string change I will try the John Pearse mediums 80/20's I have heard so much about around here.
Best of luck with the new GAD! :wink:

Hey 12stringer,

Yes I am glad to have my small guitar back in the house. Honestly, the comfort level of a small bodied guitar adds to the excitement as my arm doesn't fall asleep after an hour. It is great to hear when someone finds a string selection that really brings out the guitars sound both tone wise and volume. I will have to try mediums on my D25. I have always liked the combination of 80/20s with a hog back. It has this nice dry bluesy sound. I would vouch for your next string choice.

I just threw some JP 80/20 lights on my new GAD 30R and you can really hear it chime. It is an interesting combination. Bright and dry sounding with a very wide sound range. I compared her to the D25 and you can really tell the difference the two tonewoods. I can now learn to appreciate the differences. I like the 80/20s on the GAD for fingerstyle blues, but when strummed for some Dylan folk tunes, it is actually too loud and bright. My old hog GAD was no where near as loud and bright that it had this small bodied sound where you could hear the tighter dynamic range of the hog body and hear the pick hitting the strings like you do with many of Dylans early songs. Maybe it is the difference between the hog/rosewood? Anyway, I too am beginning my journey to find the ideal string choice. I do like the JP 80/20s though. I rarely use a pick.

By the way, it may be comparing apples and oranges but I put this guitar up to the D25 volume wise. So far, it is debatable as to which one is louder. Weird huh? I would hope that the D25 would be as it is twice the size. I will play around with them more tonight.

Hi Ridge...sorry I didn't catch your post until tonight...nice looking guitar! Love that old time shade of burst. 8)
Yes, strings are fun to try out aren't they? I have already switched to EXP 80/20 lights (the store had no John Pearse) as the mediums were just too in my face ... I reshaped the saddle a bit and had to file the 4th fret a wee bit as it was a tad high on the High B and E Side. This made the High B and E strings more clear sounding. I read that a flat topped saddle can cause buzzing and I have noticed that most intermediate priced guitar have a compensated saddle that is flat topped for the High E and B strings...every one I played had the same weak sounding High E ands B strings...I played a Guild f50R today as well as a D55 and a D50...noticed that their saddles were compensated but not flat on top (they had great clear sounding B and E strings)...so I reshaped mine to match and this helped the strings to ring clearer.
I don't know if this will work on most guitars or not, but it certainly helped mine. This is why a good luthier is worth his weight in gold...a good set-up can make all the difference. I am not a good luthier, just willing to try small changes so I can learn.
You have quite a nice pair of guitars...should keep the Gas at bay for a while :wink:
Have fun with yer new GAD...mmmm Rosewood! :lol:

 

[12stringer]

Hey Ridge...how's it going with that Rosewood Gad?

 

[Ridgemont]

Hey Ridge...how's it going with that Rosewood Gad?

Hey 12stringer,

Talk about a delayed response. The new GAD is just fine. I really like the rosewood. It is a nice compliment to my D25. I regularly alternate between the two to hear the differences. The string are now a little over 2 weeks old and starting to muddy up in both feel and sound. They are JP 80/20 lights. Even with the older strings, the guitar does sound pretty darn good. It definitely had a max volume. When strummed heavy like I would with a dread, you can start to hear the sound cloud up. Light strumming is where it is at in terms of maximizing the sound quality with a pick. With light strumming, I still feel the guitar is loud for its size. I think that fingerstyle is where it really shines. Nice rosewood tone combined with a nice wide string spacing and low action really make it a joy to play.

And hey best of all...no loose braces!

 

[12stringer]

Hey Ridge...how's it going with that Rosewood Gad?

Hey 12stringer,

And hey best of all...no loose braces!

Hooray!!!!

Hey Ridge, I also had some breaking up sound on my GAD25 when heavily strummed...It mostly cleared up when I rounded the top of the saddle using a very fine file...My luthier recomended it when he saw the knife like edge of the saddle. The strings were starting to notch the saddle already after only a few weeks of playing...so this very slight modification helped out a lot. It would be an easy thing for your luthier or guitar tech to do...this may lower the action very minimally, but sometimes that is enough to cause a buzz...usually a truss rod adjustment will get rid of the buzz or shimming the saddle (yuk)...I would check it out with the luthier/tech first though as I am not a "qualified tech". My luthier thought I could do it on my own because he knows I have worked on my own guitars in the past and am not afraid to try relatively easy adjustments. Otherwise I would have had him do it. I did have him reem out the end pin so I could install a K&K pure mini western Pickup...it sounds Great!