My bad 2 years for strings

[deacon Mark]

My old 1965 Barker had Daddario half-rounds on it they last a long time but 2 years? I picked up to play last night and noticed out of tune and not intonating very well. The action had slightly dropped too mostly because of the winter change inside with conditions. The action was 3/64 and 4/64 no buzzing but damn too low. I suppose some would love it but i find it just too low to play and get the snap I need in the string.

So ahead of other repairs I took to the bench and went at it 800, 1500, 2000 sandpaper on the frets. Then I took the buffing wheel and buff them out to a mirror finish. They did not need any dressing but I just thought I might as well do it complete while in the shop. Then put a set of round-wound 12-52 and set action and bridge again. I have not done than in years on this guitar.

Why do I wait, lesson learned again. The whole guitar just came alive and plays so much nicer and sounds so much better. The intonation was spot on and yes this is not a tunomatic but a Brazilian Rosewood bridge and saddle. The fingerboard is Brazilian Rosewood too they match almost perfect,

Moral, sometimes we guitarist get hung up on guitars and sound and chasing tone but in fact something like doing this can pay bigger dividends than anything. If the foundation is good, then tweaking can will cost less, do more, and much less stressful than figure out if a guitar online is what I really need.

[skiboyny]

Fret dressing is something that most every guitar can benefit from. Done conservatively at regular intervals depending on playing time. Nothing but good stuff!

[Cunamara]

My wife's out of town for work for a few days so I have time to sit do some work on guitars. I spent about 40 minutes today very carefully initiating my Telecaster and my Stratocaster. Without making any other changes, it was interesting how much better the guitars felt playing and how much better they sounded. When a guitar is properly tuned and intonated, it's like all of the sound comes together. The overtones resonate in phase or something, I don't know what exactly. But it's amazing how much better tone a properly intonated guitar has over one that isn't.

[pauln]

When a guitar is properly tuned and intonated, it's like all of the sound comes together. The overtones resonate in phase or something, I don't know what exactly.

Yes it is that, exactly. It sounds, feels, plays
right, so noticeably more naturally musical.

[Stringswinger]

I find that polishing my frets when changing strings improves the playability a lot. It seems that living close to the ocean, the nickel frets do tarnish a bit and that does interfere slightly with playing ease.

A little extra effort pays dividends. In most things in life.