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Its been a few different things over the months – occasionally its the mic built into my ipad, but I try to set up at my warehouse where I use a USB mic and a USB video camera – the quality on both pieces of hardware seems better, but the quality of my internet connection at the warehouse is much more suspect. The ipad can get an excellent internet connection at home or wherever I might be, but the signal and audio/video quality is more suspect.
we’re gonna make a far greater effort for a better quality product in 2023!
You shouldn’t need a new nut – that’s a kinda bass-ackward way to adjust action. And if your SC is only 2 years old, it’s hard to believe that you’d have worn out the shop supplied one – unless someone mucked it up –
I would ask that you measure the difference in action between the SC lights and other strings. A feeler guage at the 12th fret should give you a number that you can use to compare how other strings affect the action. You should also measure the relief at the same time. That would give a more objective look at whats actually happening.
The standard Ds usually have a 1-11/16”neck, but the Paisley has the more modern 1-¾”. I would think the wider neck would be desirable, and maybe even wider spacing at the saddle. I know they’ve made them, but I don’t think you’d find those specs on most of them. But thats a personal call.
But rosewood vs mahogany? Thats even more personal. I have only been able to solve that by having one of each – actually, to be honest, a few of each. But I don’t recommend going that route –
Those are serial numbers – they seem to be numbered into the F guitar family, so the body shape seems to be the defining element, then each one built, whether an F, FS, FTC, FJZ, F-12 string, and probably even an F Mandocello, would just get the next number in series. The SCGC website doesn’t date the F’s before #124 (1990) but thats probably because the old records aren’t as detailed or accurate – but thats just a guess –
I can tell you FTC-30 is from 9/81, #28 from 3/81, and #18 from 8/80. Claptons FTC was #17, which may have created a small bump in orders. Most of the FTCs were custom, with the shop working closely with the customer or dealer, so there aren’t a lot of standard details. But most (all?) seem to be maple (euro maple) and sitka. This was probably because it was much easier to get book-matched billets of musical instrument grade euro maple to carve the backs, as it is commonly cut for everything from violins to double basses. But the early price lists did offer upgrades to eir or braz rw, for extremely reasonable prices. FTC #18 has a cedar top, which was a material they were just starting to use, as noted in the letter that went with the guitar to its original owner.
it would be super fun to find other early FTCs (and FJZs!) and document their dates and build details with pictures. They are exceptionally beautiful guitars – and the one bucket list item I’m hoping to find someday is a FJZ, hopefully with a 1-13/16 neck!
As an aside, I can also add the F #59 is from 10/85, #73 from 5/87, and #110 from 4/89 –
If that ruler is resting strictly on the first and last fret, not on the nut or bridge, then I might be a bit concerned about that after 3 months. Are you getting any buzzes or any problems playing it? I’d reach out to the shop and see what they say. They may want to get it back to the shop, or they may know a more local shop that can look at it carefully and make an evaluation, There are a few different things that individually, or in combination, could cause a problem like that, but an accurate evaluation and diagnosis is best left to an expert who can get “hands-on” – it could just be a truss rod adjustment –
You know Hank, I have 2 SCGC F 12ers – one in maple, one in walnut – plus an electric. 3 is a bit much. If you’re really interested, we can probably come to an arrangement –
of course, I also have 3 SCGC baritones, and I probably should do something about that as well –
one of these days –
Definitely take a pic with a straightedge (ruler?) on the fretboard – are you using heavy strings, or is your action too high?
I apologize to everyone – I had thrown a few dates out to RH to hopefully insure he’d be able to join us, but I’ve not heard back. I’m pretty sure he’d love to see us, but the demands on his time and attention are quite high – and my own schedule has been rather congested. I will be making a new effort – and we’ll get this together soon!
OK – I made some effort – (minimal, I’ll admit, but – )
Richard has offered to let us get together at the shop on a Saturday, when they don’t have employees active, thus reducing Coves issues – We could do a podcast possibly, and we could just grab a bunch of food and drink from Costco across the street, and just hang out and pass some guitars around, and get some insite into any of our specific guitars from Richard, and we can make sure there’s time for anyone to head over to Sylvan if they have cash burning a hole in their pocket and want to try some new ones. Anyone local who might have one for sale could bring it by too –
I have asked Richard to let us know if there are any specific Saturdays that might work best for him. And if we get enough people who want to show up, we can always move everything over to the park!
I will post more info as soon as I have it, but spread the word!!
I’ve kinda dropped the ball – had gigs every weekend, and a bunch of orders to get out during the week – I’ll try to get on this first thing this next week!
I was down in Santa Cruz for the first time in a couple years last Friday, and got to spend a bit of time with Richard who helped diagnose some minor issues with a dread I’d picked up a little while ago, and I was able to pick up a couple of the 12 string sets, but have yet to find the time to install them. Really looking forward to playing them (not so much to installing them) – but hopefully soon!
I think we’ll reach out to the maestro and see what his schedule looks like, and what ideas we can come up with for a large venue where we can plan on getting together safely regardless of where we are with covid or whatever’s next in line – Sylvan would be a fun part of it, but if we got more than 5 or 6 people there, we’d about max out their space. Maybe, we could arrange a few meet-ups, and do some Zoom thing?
I’ll reach out to RH and see what his thoughts are –
Last time I was there, there were 3 set-up benches – the “final” stop before an instrument was cased, boxed, and shipped. I think these 3 people are the last to play an instrument before shipment, but there may be the (more than) occasional “hey, check out the ___ model __ I just strung up!” going between these folks and even other shop people. But there is no “one” person who declares a guitar “finished” –
What is very cool is that at any stage in the construction, right up to shipping, anyone in the shop can ask other opinions about anything they perceive is, or could be, a problem – and the sharing of information is quite free and robust!
