Setting up a Yamaha FG-260 12 string acoustic guitar - Susie torques
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2015
- Setting up the Yamaha FG-260 I purchased in an auction last week.
I had some filing of the bridge to cure a saddle buzz caused by a soundboard belly. A string change, more filing, a truss rod adjustment and all was well.
For a discussion of girls adjusting truss rods see:
www.jemsite.com/forums/f21/tru... 
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On this model a lot of players I knew in the late '70s always used a capo on 2 fret and then tuned to E. This reduced the string tension and reduced the risk of getting the "Yamaha Bulge"
I know an awful lot about these guitars, and have owned two for a few decades. Excellent information. Totally worth the view, wish you could set up my first 12-string yamaha.
AND Just so you know, you are giving away all my string crimping secrets. Bravo.
Hello susan, I saw your video a moment ago, I came back today to share my experience. You did a nice job and the video shows how careful you are
Susie I have watched your videos and I must say you do an excellent job of guitar repair. You have a beautiful smile and you are soft spoken yet you speak with confidence. It is nice to see your back yard, which looks wonderful, oh and your native accent for us here in the states is so nice to hear! Thank you for sharing you abilities. Thankz
Thank you Susie, for your informative, and adjustments on the guitar, blessings, Reiki, Lee x
Recently I bought a Yamaha FG-260 12 stringed with serial number 30718181. I have watched your video twice and set up my guitar with 3 mm tension. Thanks for the instructional video. Now my 1973 Yamaha FG-260 fits perfectly in my 1979 Yamaha 29 sailboat :-)
Really interesting video, thank you...I got given a 1973 EKO 12 string the other day, and it has a similar issue with a bit of belly bulge, it's also battered with a couple of splits on the top, bent tuning pegs, and was filthy too !!...I spent some time cleaning it, put new strings on, and was amazed to hear it sounded fabulous, despite it's appearance and issues...
great great great video. thank you for taking the time, I'm working with the same issue on an FG-230 12 string. Good informational demonstrating. I can't imagine what you would do with a string winder and a proper neck block! you are a natural luthier in my opinion..
These Yahama FG 260 12 String Guitars are Great sounding Acoustic Guitars. I bought one recently. It needed a general cleaning and new strings. It sounds very nice/spirited for a forty year old .
Thanks Sue I bought mine new so that will tell you about my age, the girly comment was gold, the Yamaha still plays well but I have 6 strings at the moment and has a nice full sound, cheers from OZ.
amazing knowledge Susie, thank you so much. Keep the great videos coming.
Hello Susan... I'm very impressed by your skills on so much about a guitar.
I just got a Martin sigma 12 string from a friend who asked me to see if I could change the bridge to get the action lower and all I had to do was adjust the truss rod and it's plays beautifully.
Your husband is a lucky man to have you!🌹
Nice work! Acoustics can be a beast sometimes!🎸
Hello,I have a Yamaha F-110 I have had for 42 years,it needs a neck,but has been a good guitar,love your vids
I once attempted to adjust the truss rod on a 1969 Hofner 12 string guitar. A beautiful guitar I might add, but after less than a ¼ turn (with the strings AT tension) there was an almighty bang, and just as you mentioned, the truss rod did indeed part company with its threaded section.
Consequently it has spent the last 25 years under my bed in its case!
A most enjoyable, video, Susie! I owned a FG-260/12 in the 1970s. I used it as a trade-in for a used, tired and neglected Rickenbacker 360-12 electric twelve-string. Probably should have kept the Yamaha.
nice one sue, great job, i have a goya 1967 12 string,must give this one a try, thanks sue.
Hermosa guitarra . Buen trabajo , Su ! Bendiciones!
Pro tip: always start by loosening an old truss rod, or one your of sure of just to break the nut free and to see if the rod still works, then tighten it as need. Also, a broken truss rod is by no means the death of the guitar. There are several ways to remove them with the most common method being to remove the fretboard. It's a bit of a process and may not be worthwhile for cheaper guitars, but it's certainly possible and done quite often on higher end instruments.
Girlie Pro-tip
joking :D...I would too
Hi Susan, .. Just a point, .. always back the truss rod off before you put it back under tension. I use a marker to set my start point, back off 1 quarter turn, ... come back to the marked position and only advance about 1/16th of a turn and leave it for a few hours to set up. Also on belly issues JLD Bridge Doctor for 12 string would be well worth looking at. Stew MacDonald in the USA. I am doing the same on my 50 year old EKO 12. I hop this helps. Kind regards, .... Baz Australia
40 years under tension, I cracked at 50! Good video.
So glad I found this video & you! I have a 1973 Yamaha fg160, I need to get the belly bulge fixed on it. It sounds lovely, just a bit of buzz. She's one year newer than me. :) I've only been playing for a year, and have found that I love working on them almost as much as playing. Great to find another female doing her own luthiery work.
+Joy Benko Thanks Joy. Good luck with the fg160
Me too Joy! Thanks so much Susan, Really enjoyed your video!
Hey thank you. I just got one of these. The guy had it in a case over 30!! Years no strings on.
So with your video I can have a better idea how to set it up.
Terada I’ve had mine stored away for about 40 years. I need to buy strings.
Thank you so much!
I like the Sesame Street thing at the end.
I bought my first vintage Yamaha FG last week. Luckily it's a 6-string, so the top has not been braced too lightly.
12 strings under tension create an enormous pull on the bridge, and it would have been wise to adapt the top to that double pull (thicker top or thin with lattice bracing?), but Yamaha didn't, which is good to know, because I hate finding out afterward that I've been buying the problem children of an A brand.
Why would I, if there are so many GOOD Yamahas?
I mean: Hugh Laurie still has his and that's not for nothing.
And Santana had his best sound on the Yamaha SG-2000 in my opinion.
So they built some very good guitars that are worth collecting, but when you're looking for a 12-string they're just not the best choice, I guess, although I like the sight of that slotted headstock.
Loved your Buena's nachos remark .
And, no I wern't offended 😁!
I found light Elixir Nano webs 10's to have a nice sound on all of my 12'ers!
And the coating keeps them from oxidation for a longer life, especially if you keep it in a case.
For longer storage, I tune any guitar down to open G or D.
Hi Susie, great demo. 12 string acoustics are a nightmare! I've owned many and always sell them when the strings need changing lol. looks like this Yammy you've found might benefit from a new saddle to raise the angle at the bridge. cheers Johnny
Not a rare problem on 12-string acoustics, underbracing. Glad you got it playing. 12-strings are so awesome. Trussrod max torque is a valid question that nobody knows the answer to. It depends on the individual trussrod and guitar. Trussrod manufacturers don't define or measure it. It just needs to be strong enough, and usually it is. If the trussrod needs to be adjusted and it breaks while doing it, then the guitar was already broken. However, on an old guitar I think it is good to first loosen the nut a bit to release it, and if it seems to take too much force, apply some anticorrosive and let it work a while before trying again. When the nut moves, tighten it carefully and let the neck adjust a few days before tightening it again. If the rod breaks while adjusting it in correct way, what can you do? You need to get the guitar playable before it is of any use, and if you can't, what good is it anyway? It's just as good a wall ornament with a broken trussrod.
I squirted some wd40 style bike lube the previous evening and that seemed to work well
40 years in concert pitch I'm not surprised its bellied up.
thank you.
Hi Suzie, Have you ever tried putting a shim under the saddle just enough to raise the E string so it doesn't. Someone has sanded the bridge way down when it needed a NECK RESET(MAJOR JOB) but those guitars are a Cannon when you get them right....I'm blessed with a great Fg-230, the first 12 string in FG SERIES. ty for the video. I hope you get it.
With a light gauge string in a slotted headstock, I always stick in a tiny wooden wedge in the hole to keep the string in place while I wind it on otherwise it is exactly as you mention- an annoying nightmare.
I just found your channel - I really like what you're doing. Maybe in future you could do a neck reset series on this one. I'm sure it would help me summon the nerve to do my Yamaha 6 string of similar vintage.
Nice job
Big fan of yamaha guitars, new and old and I'd love a slothead 12.
Don't know if I'd have anything like your expertise, though!
I Found this Vlog interesting! I've also got a 70's FG260 that I bought new while in Japan. It sounds pretty good but the strings seem rather high going towards the bridge, making the guitar a bit harder to play because of the amount of finger pressure needed. Lighter strings maybe would help? or could the neck be adjusted to lower the strings or would they then be to close at the other end of the neck?
Hi Susan, I should have looked at your www site and the restoration work you are doing before I offered up some assistance! .. I feel like a proper wally. LOL I like your ammunition box guitar, that will sound ballistic! Some time back I converted a Zither banjo from 5 string to a 12 I doubled skinned it. had a deep warm strong sound. Cheers for now, .... Baz
+Barry Manclark No problem Baz - I always welcome advice - we are all learners no matter how long we've been doing this :-)
Yamis make great acoustics, especially there classical guitars and belly is pretty much unavoidable on all steel strings acoustics in time. Either way, it was a steal for 20 quid.
I had the same issue (Belly bulge) with my Montana Korean 12 strings from 80's. The strings were little high, I solved a little by sanding the bridge, but It needs a little more, however Im not sure becase the bridge is now .7 mm thick !!!....
I just bought one of these and was wondering about stringing it. I be getting a string winder😬
I put a .014 or a .013 to replace the .08 G string..works great. 12-string folks can try it.
I think replacing the saddle or raising it with a shim is a better alternative than filing down the bridge. Like you said there is not enough height at the saddle to remove the buzz. Raise the saddle / adjust neck straight and you should be close. Great video thanks.
Raising the saddle would have raised the action too much. The string was buzzing against the saddle so I needed to increase the string angle - filing the pin hole back worked quite well. I've since noticed that some brands like Taylor slot the pin holes as standard.
Susan Gardener
Susan,
check out Stewmac.com guitar tips. The fret board can be removed to repair broken truss rods. they have also removed the finger board, epoxied carbon fiber rods into the necks to correct the bow of old acoustic guitars & re-glued the finger board. they also have a repair Kit for stripped truss rod nuts (I'm not affiliated with StewMac).
I understand buying local (and avoiding import taxes). I enjoy your video's and watching you mature in your woodworking. Way to go. try to ignore the sexist remarks. you do a remarkable job (is this where Brit's say "brilliant" )
BTW, I'm still playing catch-up with your vids.
when did the yamahas start putting in the correct bracing for these? also , i have a weird guitar question, but it does not apply to this video, do you have a twiter or a place to ask questions to ?
Nope, if you damage the truss rod,you'll just have to swap out for a new truss rod. Its fairly easy and inexpensive to have done. I've never worked with a slotted headstock before. How different is that from a solid headstock? That guitar is in dire need of a humidifier and a new fret job with NEW fret wires.
no wonder someone wore those frets out its a dang nice sounding 12 string, you can always count on any guitar with plenty of fret and fingerboard wear to bea good player and sound good, just hope its repairable..
I had this guitar 40 years ago, because of its weak bracing it's much better tuned down 3 (or even 4 ) semitones -- which also makes it easier to hold down the strings.
Truss rod adjustment (for neck relief) is ALWAYS done with the strings at their full tension ; neck relief is measured at the 5th or 6th fret with a capo set on the 1st fret - the 'clearance' should be about the thickness of a thin credit card -- it is not done by measuring 'torque'.
+Mick Kennedy my comment about torque was simply wondering how much torque you can apply without breaking the rod. As it happened, it adjusted easily without much effort, after applying some oil the night before.
Nice guitar, How much did you get it for, If you dont mind me asking.?
I guess you mean less relief.
Nice video.
Hi I've got an old 12 string just been rebuilt old Bridge re used but the bridge end seems g octave string too much of right angle what's the angle for these octave strings?
Bellying puts the intonation out. If the notes up the body end of the fretboard are out of tune, you have to rebuild the bridge.
I would have just put a new nut and saddle on there and adjusted as I went because I hate touching truss rods when I don’t have too
Do you adjust the truss rod with strings on preferably?
There's no way of relating the torque on the nut to the tension on the rod, because there's no way of knowing how much torque is required to overcome the friction of the threads on any particular guitar. If doing something like torqueing the head bolts on a diesel engine, they are all very consistent and lubricated. I'm sure you know that some truss rod nuts are pretty frozen by dirt and corrosion and no amount of torque will tighten the rod, requiring penetrating oil and removal of the nut for reconditioning of the threads and possibly a new nut.
Hi Susan,
I've got an Ashbury 12-string guitar, but I'm unsure to which tool I need for the truss rod. Hopefully you can help......
+Ryan Pearce you should be able to see - it's probably a hex key. Just make sure whichever tool you use fits snugly. If it's a screwdriver that's needed make sure it's big enough - you don't want to strip the head of the nut.
It is located in the sound hole, but the truss tod itself appears to be pushed off to the left hand side. Making it impossible for an Allen key. Would it be a hex key do you reckon?
It's an 'Ashbury' guitar if that helps.
+Ryan Pearce all I can suggest is get a mirror in there and see if you can see the end of the truss rod.
I can see the end
I’ve got a serious question, the headstock of my Yamaha FG-260 had a crack down the higher E (bottom) side. I sent it in to be repaired which he did a magnificent job. You can barely see where the cracks were! Here’s my problem, before the repair/cracked headstock it played beautifully, however now that it’s been repaired it sounds off. I replaced the strings with Ernie Ball Eathwood medium 52/11, tuned it up waited a bit 30/40mins while I had lunch. Picked it up and made a G chord, then an E, both sounded a little off but when I made a D chord I was like WTH is wrong with my guitar!!! The D chord sounded NOTHING CLOSE TO A D!Today after watching your video I looked at the neck, there’s a slight bow on it. Do you think I should relax the truss rod, restring it per your instructions from the video? I’m in serious need of help, this Yamaha FG-260 was given to me by a very dear friend who recently passed away which is another reason I’m trying to get it back to sounding as beautiful as it did some 40 years ago! Thanks again
Try Elixir Nano 10's light.
Mediums on a 12'er?😬!!!
sue could you set my 12 string guitar up and what strings are best for it . listen to sound on youtube
beerbelly blues Albert Croak on youtube and while their kathys song cover Albert Croak on youtube
You are a trip.
Hello Susan verry good Susan 👍👍👍🍾🥂love you, greathings from Holland City Rotterdam 💋💋💋🎼🎸
genius
You need the brass pin version ,also available on amazon and ebay www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-bridges/jld-bridge-doctor.html
Is that was ain't a classical?
Looks like all the large strings are straight like the 6th.
AFAIK there is no 'torque spec' of the truss rod. You loosen and tighten it depending on you neck bow. Of course you should not tighten it more then 'feels' good.
But seeing this video: why didn't you increase the bend of the string near the bridge pin? I mean: just bend it with some pliers. It should break, as the string makes the an angle of 90 degrees at the tuner and doesn't break there....
Hello Susan what a condescending chap that bloke who made the"girlie" remark was . Maybe the person who snapped their bass truss-rod was worried about looking girlish by asking for help .
Hang on , doesn't Suzi Quatro play bass ?? Thanks for the tips , Nige .
Yamaha has constructed this guitar right, because, if you brace the guitar so heavily the woods does not bow a litt,e the sound is horribly strangled, and sounds like it.
3.5mm action for the 6th string is not high . High is 5.5mm. though that sounds extremely good and can be playable with low tension strings. Less than 3.5mm, on the 6th string seriously inhibits resonance.
Susan: I have using a scroll saw blade for cutting the string ramps with success. (And please excuse my poor english...)
I enjoyed your video Susan....you're beautiful.
Too much slack.....no
See a luthier ......
Nice guitar, How much did you get it for, If you dont mind me asking.?
+david jones I know it was cheap - under £50 - I actually can't remember the exact price. I got it in an auction.
Bargain for that price i say...Most people wont touch them anymore because of the bow,And very common neck probs....But well done on the repair...Oh and if you wanna sell it anytime,Gimme a shout.!😊😊😊
+david jones will do :-) The real bargain was the antique parlour guitar I'm restoring in my other videos which I bought at the same sale - £20!
+Susan Gardener Excellent😊.
Love parlour guitars..Will check that out.