terzinator
Nov-09-2011, 11:48am
Just picked my Collings MT up from Jed Germond last night... it badly needed a refret, and thought I'd also have him swap out the (IMO) sub-par Gotohs for Grovers, and also do a speed neck.
Anyway, man, what a difference. Notes are cleaner and intonation is much better with the fresh frets (we did the first 8) -- and the new Grovers are smooth as silk. (Much more accurate, too... 18:1 vs 14:1.)
And I LOVE the speed neck. There was method in my madness; I had some nicks/dents in the neck from doing a string change on one of those Planet Waves tripod things. I wanted to fix those, so we decided to throw caution to the wind and strip off the finish. Jed has done plenty of them before, and really likes the feel, so I trusted him. Glad I did. I love it. Super smooth and feels much better than the finish did.
I know there are naysayers out there who preach that a speed neck ruins the mandolin for anyone else who wants to buy it. But it's mine, so there.
I'll post some pics when I get a chance.
Anyway, man, what a difference. Notes are cleaner and intonation is much better with the fresh frets (we did the first 8) -- and the new Grovers are smooth as silk. (Much more accurate, too... 18:1 vs 14:1.)
And I LOVE the speed neck. There was method in my madness; I had some nicks/dents in the neck from doing a string change on one of those Planet Waves tripod things. I wanted to fix those, so we decided to throw caution to the wind and strip off the finish. Jed has done plenty of them before, and really likes the feel, so I trusted him. Glad I did. I love it. Super smooth and feels much better than the finish did.
I know there are naysayers out there who preach that a speed neck ruins the mandolin for anyone else who wants to buy it. But it's mine, so there.
I'll post some pics when I get a chance.