I thoroughly dislike my Guitar...

BrianJD

So, my last guitar was bought years ago for over €300. It was slightly bigger than a regular sized guitar and had a great deep tone and loud volumn from it.

It developed a problem with the neck bending and the strings being too far out to play up the fret board. I brought the guitar to a shop in Cork where they fix guitars and was told that it was irrepairable. I decided to buy a guitar there as I was sick of not playing and bought a Takemine Jasmine.

The shop fitted a pick up to it for me as I like to mess around on Garageband.

My problem is, I am not enjoying playing it one bit. Everytime I pick it up, my heart sinks a little as the sound is just not good. It's hard to pin point it but its a bit tinny, quiet and can sometimes seem a bit buzzy?

Would putting different strings on it work? I just went with this because I know that Takemine name is good (even though this is obviously a branch off).

I just seem to have lost interest in picking it up :(

Ravelleman

How often do you change the strings? Have you tried setting it up or getting it set up?

BrianJD

Ravelleman wrote: »

How often do you change the strings? Have you tried setting it up or getting it set up?

I've never changed the strings as the guitar is only a few months old and has probably been only played 2-3hrs in total.

What do you mean by setting it up?

Ravelleman

Change the strings at the very least. The guitar being bought only a few months ago doesn't mean that the strings are fresh - they've probably been on it since it left the factory. I'd change my strings every couple of months as a matter of course. It makes a big difference to the sound.

Did the guitar sound good when you bought it?

dyer

Strings lose their tone if they get dust or grease in between the coils.. you can get lemon oil in most guitar shops to wipe them down which helps to keep them sounding brighter with the added advantage of making them smoother to play and conditioning the wood on the fret board.

Try different brands of strings as well, or even a lighter gauge or heavier gauge depending on your style. The quality of the pickup that was installed will greatly affect the sound you hear when your'e mic'd up.. as will the preamp etc that your'e plugged into.

As Ravellleman pointed out, having it setup properly (the bridge/action etc) the way you like it can also make a big difference and might eliminate your buzzing problems.

If you really just don't like the sound, sell it on... then spend your time trying out different guitars in a shop until you find one you like the sound and feel of.

partyatmygaff

Setting it up usually means adjusting the action (distance between string and fretboard), intonation (ensuring your guitar is in tune all the way down the fretboard and not just when open) and a few other small tweaks liking polishing the frets . A well set up guitar feels right when you play it and sounds clear and in perfect pitch regardless of how far up or down the fretboard you play.

That said, it sounds like your problem is with tone. If it's tinny and weak, you could try a few things to add a bit more low/mid range to your tone and increase the volume (Aside from playing it plugged in and using an EQ >_>).

Thicker gauge strings generally have a richer tone and are louder at the cost of being harder on the guitar's neck and being more slightly more difficult to play. Aside from modifying the guitar body itself, I can't think of much else you can do to change the acoustic tone of the guitar. You could always try strumming/picking as far away from the bridge as possible but I doubt playing too close to the bridge is your issue.

Ravelleman

dyer wrote: »

Strings lose their tone if they get dust or grease in between the coils.. you can get lemon oil in most guitar shops to wipe them down which helps to keep them sounding brighter with the added advantage of making them smoother to play and conditioning the wood on the fret board.

Not true - lemon oil conditions the fretboard but you should avoid getting it on the strings directly. You can buy products that are for cleaning strings specifically. Lemon oil will more than likely cause faster corrosion.

joconnell

Takemines aside from some of the custom series always sounded a bit thin to me - odd to hear that there was a pickup fitted to it as they'd normally be electro acoustic be default? They're very good live guitars as the sound and pickup combo seems to avoid feedback quite a bit. Is it comfortable to play at the minute? Buzz is a combination of the strings being a bit too low or the neck not having enough of an arch in it and can be adjusted pretty easily. Is it only buzzing at certain parts of the neck or overall? You can do things like put a thin strip of paper / card underneath the plastic strip of the bridge to raise the height of the strings if it's an overall thing. Heavier strings will give you a bit more volume and depth to the sounds - normally the height of the strings (the "action") is raised to allow for more vibration and thus let you play harder, but it'll also make the feel of the guitar a lot tougher.

joconnell

Ravelleman wrote: »

Not true - lemon oil conditions the fretboard but you should avoid getting it on the strings directly. You can buy products that are for cleaning strings specifically. Lemon oil will more than likely cause faster corrosion.

It makes your fingers smell nice on the plus side. Do not use on pancakes however.

dyer

Ravelleman wrote: »

Not true - lemon oil conditions the fretboard but you should avoid getting it on the strings directly. You can buy products that are for cleaning strings specifically. Lemon oil will more than likely cause faster corrosion.

yes, you are correct! i haven't slept much

this is the product i use on strings

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/kyser-dr.-stringfellow-string-cleaner-and-lubricant

feylya

If you don't like it, sell it and buy one you do like.

il gatto

Change to a heavier guage of string. It'll probably eliminate fret buzz, make it a bit louder and possibly thicken the tone a bit.
Make sure to replace them one at a time. Acoustics have a habit of occasionally settling in such way as to leave the action high when you release all tension. Might be what happened your other guitar. If you still have the old one, take the strings off and leave it somewhere to "settle". After a few months, restring it with lighter strings and see if it's better. if not, learn some slide

Ravelleman

feylya wrote: »

If you don't like it, sell it and buy one you do like.

This is also sage advice.

Generic Dreadhead

Why has noone mentioned the wood type in the body and even the neck?

Maple etc compared to Oak and Mahogany (ughhh the weight of it though )

String gauge will only change your sound depth so much.
Wood type does more to affect "depth" as percieved by our human ears.
And also the size/area of the area the sound resonates in.
A body which is 7" deep with be MUCH more powerful sounding then one which is 6" deep because of the resonating tones/overtones

That being said I have a $hite acoustic guitar as i focus on electric.

partyatmygaff

Probably because he can't change the type of wood used to make the body and neck.

Generic Dreadhead

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Probably because he can't change the type of wood used to make the body and neck.

A point well made my good sir :pac:
Just suggesting it might be a case where new strings and getting it properly set up might be a waste depending on the wood type.

Ravelleman

Cormac... wrote: »

Just suggesting it might be a case where new strings and getting it properly set up might be a waste depending on the wood type.

Well, changing the strings is hardly a massive risk...

BrianJD

Ravelleman wrote: »

Well, changing the strings is hardly a massive risk...

Gonna pick up new Strings on Saturday and try a change. Any suggestions of what to ask for in the Shop? I dont understand anything about strings really.

topcatcbr

I think a good start is a set 11 gauge. I use Martin strings on my acoustic as they are not bad priced.

Oink

So.... How does your guitar sound now? Any better?

BrianJD

Oink wrote: »

So.... How does your guitar sound now? Any better?

Haven't had a chance yet but tomorrow should be the day for changing!

Oink

What happened?
I need to know before going on my hols ...