Seeking Advice on Action Height Adjustment for Guild CV-1C

[ginocappelli]

Hi everyone,

As this is my first post here, I'm looking forward to learning from your shared experiences. I have a question about the action height on my Guild CV-1C acoustic guitar.

Recently, I've picked up my guitar again after a long hiatus and have noticed that the action feels considerably high. When I measure it at the 12th fret, it seems to be more than what is commonly recommended (it's more than 4mm, see images below), which is making it particularly challenging to execute barre chords with clarity. They just don't sound as clean as I believe they should.

I am wondering if this difficulty is a result of my technique, which admittedly may be a bit rusty, or if it is indicative of my guitar needing some attention after not being played for several years.

Would anyone be able to advise on the following:

1. What is the ideal action height for a Guild CV-1C to facilitate smooth playability?
2. Are there any specific maintenance tips I should follow to correct the action height after a period of disuse?
3. Could this be an issue with my technique, and if so, what exercises might help me improve my fretting to overcome high action?

I am open to professional setup suggestions, but I also am interested in learning how to maintain and adjust my instrument myself. Any input or guidance from the community would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all in advance for your time and expertise!

 

[stormin1155]

Personal preference will dictate optimum string height, but yours is way high. You probably want it under 3mm at least. I run mine about 2.5. There are lots of resources on the web to help you through the process of diagnosing and adjusting your action. I suggest you start there rather than having someone here recreate it. Here are a couple sites that look pretty organized and thorough.

Acoustic Guitar Setup

Acoustic Guitar Setup: Thanks to cheap labor and mass manufacturing in China, there is a surprisingly wide variety of acoustic guitars available for around $100. So what separates these cheap guitars from those costing five or ten times as much? Modern manufacturing can m…

www.instructables.com

How to set acoustic guitar saddle height

A step-by-step guide to DIYing your bridge saddle height to get a better action

www.musicradar.com

 

[chazmo]

Hi, Gino,

Welcome to LTG.

Does your guitar have a USED stamp on the back of the headstock and an obscured serial number on the label? If so, you have a MIRC'd (sold through reclamation) guitar and your neck is suspect.

Anyway, good luck adjusting the action on your guitar. These Contemporary series guitars that were sold through MIRC have problems that are well-documented here on LTG.

Best wishes!

 

[davismanLV]

Yeah, it's not your playing. That action is SUPER high. Unfortunately your saddle is not very tall and general formula for lowering action is the amount you want to lower the action at the 12th fret, you take DOUBLE that off the bottom of the saddle. I don't think you have enough saddle to do that. Also, you might want to take your straight edge and run it down the fretboard to the bridge and see where it lands. That will tell you if you need a neck reset or not. Details about that here....

FRETS.COM

 

[ginocappelli]

Thank you guys for your feedback and insights.

A special shoutout to @chazmo for your suggestion – I've followed through and snapped pictures of the serial number as well as the back of the headstock. It appears that the guitar is not affiliated with MIRC, which is reassuring news.

I've taken note of the numerous conversations around neck issues within the contemporary series. The fear of unintentionally causing more harm than good to the guitar has led me to seek professional assistance. I've scheduled an appointment with an official Guild dealer here in Italy, it's my hope that they will provide the same level of care and maintenance to the neck of my guitar as one would expect from a dealer in the US.

I've concluded that resetting the neck, if it is indeed a viable option, would be preferable to sanding the saddle/bridge. I believe this approach will preserve both the playability and the value of the guitar, right?

I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the outcome

Thank you again!

 

[chazmo]

Thank you guys for your feedback and insights.

A special shoutout to @chazmo for your suggestion – I've followed through and snapped pictures of the serial number as well as the back of the headstock. It appears that the guitar is not affiliated with MIRC, which is reassuring news.

I've taken note of the numerous conversations around neck issues within the contemporary series. The fear of unintentionally causing more harm than good to the guitar has led me to seek professional assistance. I've scheduled an appointment with an official Guild dealer here in Italy, it's my hope that they will provide the same level of care and maintenance to the neck of my guitar as one would expect from a dealer in the US.

I've concluded that resetting the neck, if it is indeed a viable option, would be preferable to sanding the saddle/bridge. I believe this approach will preserve both the playability and the value of the guitar, right?

I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the outcome

Thank you again!

That's very good, Gino! Did you buy this guitar new? Anyway, great! I see this guitar was made in 2006 which is long before the MIRC-recovered issues happened from Tacoma. This guitar should be covered by a real Guild warrantee if you bought it new. Even if not, it's a Guild-sold item so hopefully they will back you up! The neck is a bolt-on neck, Gino, so a neck reset should be a much easier process than most of Guild's dovetail joint necks.

Good luck, and best wishes!

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG Gino! Here is a discussion with pictures that shows how the neck is fixed with 4 screws. That might help a luthier you choose to reset the neck:

About the neck of the contemporary series..

This is my first post here.. I recently got a CV-2 (front spruce, flamed maple rest) knowing there are some neck issues. I know that the neck is connected with a bolt-on system to the body. Is there anyone who tried to fix or reset the neck alone? Is it even able to do that?

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[adorshki]

That's very good, Gino! Did you buy this guitar new? Anyway, great! I see this guitar was made in 2006 which is long before the MIRC-recovered issues happened from Tacoma. This guitar should be covered by a real Guild warrantee if you bought it new. Even if not, it's a Guild-sold item so hopefully they will back you up! The neck is a bolt-on neck, Gino, so a neck reset should be a much easier process than most of Guild's dovetail joint necks.

Good luck, and best wishes!

@ginocappelli:

Welcome aboard! 100% sure Cordoba only undertook to warrant the New Hartford guitars for their original owners when they bought Guild in '14. 100% sure Tacoma-built guitars aren't under warranty any more.

It'd be a pure courtesy fix which I'm also 100% certain they're incapable of performing, having no documentation to work form, because it was never created, even if Fender had passed it on (they passed on nothing but the brand name and property rights).

It's fixable, just don't waste time considering a warranty fix.

 

[chazmo]

It's fixable, just don't waste time considering a warranty fix.

I strongly disagree. If he bought this guitar new a "pure courtesy fix" would be very possible, depending on the dealer and depending on how much noise Gino's willing to make about it.

My point, in case it wasn't clear (obviously) was that a MIRC'd guitar would be entitled to nothing. In Gino's case, this is a legitimate, factory-shipped guitar and deserves all the attention any other "real" Guild would get.

 

[adorshki]

I strongly disagree. If he bought this guitar new a "pure courtesy fix" would be very possible, depending on the dealer and depending on how much noise Gino's willing to make about it.

My point, in case it wasn't clear (obviously) was that a MIRC'd guitar would be entitled to nothing. In Gino's case, this is a legitimate, factory-shipped guitar and deserves all the attention any other "real" Guild would get.

Do you think your Tacomas are still covered under warranty? That's the bottom line.

@ginocappelli : I suspect your best bet will be to find a luthier you can trust and who's willing to take on the project after you show him the info in Ralf's post #7 above.

Also, JohnW63 gave a detailed explanation of the fine adjustment process in post #23 of this thread:
https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/anyone-own-a-co1.219300/page-2#post-2126481

Proper adjustment of action height can't be done until the neck is verified to be in "good" alignment, that's why the emphasis on the neck joint as the necessary starting point.

As for further qualified advice, one of our most respected members is "Fixit", Tom Jacobs, and IIRC he became a Guild Warranty Repair Shop a few years back and has extensive repair experience with 'em.

He may have insights as to whether your guitar could be covered under warranty or perhaps act as an ombudsman to help convince Cordoba a courtesy repair would be good for their goodwill equity in the market.

A phone call couldn't hurt:
http://www.jacobscustomguitars.com/

Cordoba did do at least one courtesy/warranty fix we know of right after buying Guild, but there's also at least one report I recall of a legitimate warranty claim being denied, according to the judgement of a credible member with lots of experience with Guild warranty repair.

 

[chazmo]

Do you think your Tacomas are still covered under warranty? That's the bottom line.

If I had a problem with my F-512 that I thought was a manufacturing/design problem, then I would definitely seek a repair (or repair costs) based on my warrantee. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, Al. And that is the bottom line. As for my F-412, it was bought used and so no.

As a new user to the site and one located in Europe, I think Gino should be made aware of that option. It wasn't clear from his post whether he bought the guitar new or not, but if so he is entitled to pursue that avenue and get some joy that way.

 

[SFIV1967]

Don't forget that neck resets might be not covered by a warranty!

Other manufacturers like Martin Guitar say:
"Warranty does not cover certain adjustments that may be required because of normal use and resulting wear and tear including, but not limited to:
- Action adjustments;
- Neck resets for action adjustment due to normal use;
- This exclusion does not apply if a neck reset is required because of a manufacturing defect."

Guild's Warranty shows:
"Guild Guitars warrants Guild instruments to be free from defects in materials and workmanship..."

A neck reset usually is not a "defect".

Plus:
"IMPORTANT: PLEASE RETAIN YOUR ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT, AS IT IS YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE VALIDATING THIS LIMITED WARRANTY."
"NOTE: This warranty applies only to Guild instruments purchased and serviced within the U.S.A. Warranties outside these countries are as defined by the authorized Guild Distributor for your country or region, and may vary from the above in terms and/or length."

The topic of the missing sales receipt comes up from time to time and if you lost it you lost your warranty.

Ralf