Hi my name is Mike and this is my first post. I took up guitar with my grandson last Christmas. He quit after a month but I like it and have stayed with it. I
take lessons every week and practice about an hour a day and 6 to 8 on weekends. I started with the Yamaha GigMaker Deluxe and a Squire Fender Affinity Strat
HSS and G-DEC Junior Amp Value Pack. Anyway was ready to move up and spent the last month playing a variety of acoustics but chose the BR-160. I intend to keep
the guitar and one day pass it down to one of my 11 grandkids. Resale was not part of my decision I went with what sounded right, used woods that made sense
and had good reviews. I Brought it home last night and the stock strings had some discoloration and were flat so I put on some Martin SP light 12-54s on. My
question is to fold. First what strings work best on a BR-160 in your opinions. Second my bridge pins especially on the low e and a strings stick up about 1/16
of an inch. Even when I tried to push them down without a sting in the hole they would not go to bottom. Does this have any effect on the sound? Should I have
this looked at? Have any of you noticed the same thing? Thanks, Mike
New To Guitar Just Purchased BR-160 String & Bridge Pin Questions
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 Tombstone |
New To Guitar Just Purchased BR-160 String & Bridge Pin Questions |
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Posts: 1 (11/06/09 04:47 PM) |
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intune66 |
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Posts: 3651 (11/06/09 06:10 PM) Moderator |
Hi again and welcome, Mike.......
A little reaming and the 2 smaller holes should be fine, as I mentioned to you on Chat. I find that Elixir Nanos seem to hold up nicely on the Blueridge guitars but there are plenty of good choices. Lately I've been hearing a lot about DR Sunbeams. Being a beginner I would recommend you go with light strings (12s). They will be easier on your fingers and sound just fine as well. You should experiment a bit with string brands and see what sounds best to you. Enjoy that new Blueridge!
Ryan
_____________________ Stanford PSD-10, 20, 21, & 28 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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poboxnyc |
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Posts: 51 (11/06/09 07:56 PM) |
Tombstone wrote:I use Daddario Ej16 Phospher Bronze lights on my BR160. I love the way it sounds. I think these are the strings a new BR160 comes with as well. Strings are really a personal preference. You will by trying different strings find what is best for your tastes. |
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Tombstone |
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Posts: 3 (11/07/09 12:39 PM) |
One more question. I read many posts about the guitar "Opening Up" Some of the explanations in here were great about how the wood loosens and stuff.
My question is this. I live at the beach in So Cal. I keep my guitars in my small entertainment room inside the house. My wife runs the AC 80 percent of the
year so our average temp inside is 72 or less with low humidity. To help my new 160 open up should I leave it on the stand all the time or as leave it in the
case except 4 hours in the evening when I get home and 20 hours on the weekend when I am home and put it in the stand so I can play it every chance I get?
Thanks, Mike
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dmcowles |
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Posts: 3390 (11/07/09 12:53 PM) Admin |
Unless you choose to leave the guitar on a stand in front of stereo speakers playing constantly (supposedly helps the guitar to "open up,") I would
leave it cased except when you're at home. Your enthusiasm leads me to believe that the BR160 won't lack for playing time, but try not to develop
expectations of some kind of miraculous epiphany of sound vis a vis the opening up process. It is gradual and subtle, but a trained ear can differentiate
between new wood and a seasoned guitar.
Dave
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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Grenvilleter1 |
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Posts: 464 (11/14/09 07:29 AM) |
Mike...your mention of air conditioning and dry air concerns me a little with regard to the well being of your new guitar. May I suggest you get yourself a
hygrometer to measure relative humidity in the room you keep your guitar sitting.
Last Edited By: Grenvilleter1
11/14/09 07:32 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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Tombstone |
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Posts: 8 (11/14/09 10:48 AM) |
Thank you so much for that advise. I would not have known. I will purchase one this weekend and post back next week what kind of readings I get in there. Being
by the beach it is usually high humidity but the AC does remove it. Very good advise. There is a lot of value to this forum. Thank you.
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Tombstone |
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Posts: 9 (11/14/09 02:34 PM) |
Bought this Hygrometer at Sam Ash for my Blueridge case $25.00 bucks. http://www.samash.com/p/C...groThermometer_-49958212 Put up a nice weather station
in my music room with Humidity, Temperature and Barometer. Humidity is 70 percent in my music room. (only room in the house with no A/C). I will now monitor
it. Went on line and read up on the effects of temperature and humidity changes on guitar woods. Very good stuff. As I live at the beach where it is high
humidity and cool weather and have taken up guitar to play with my Rescue Team in the Mojave Desert where it gets up to 120 degrees with very low humidity I
now know my GigMaster Deluxe $199.00 Yamaha will be the only guitar I take out there. I would not have know that if not for this forum. Thanks again, Mike
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liveievil |
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Posts: 9 (11/18/09 04:32 PM) |
In regards to strings, I've also been hearing a lot about DR sunbeams but both the GC's I've been to lately didn't have them in stock. One of
the accessories guys recommended I try the Cleartone EMP's and I gotta say I love 'em. I'm not usually a big fan of coated strings but I honestly
forget that these are coated when I'm playing. Plus, they sound great and they're last a lot longer than other strings I've used. A solid month and
a half of playing as much as I can everyday and they still sound bright, clear, and responsive. Happy strumming.
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intune66 |
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Posts: 3731 (11/18/09 04:42 PM) Moderator |
liveievil wrote: I think you're right. I tried Cleartones and they use a really light coating. Unfortunately I found them to not last anywhere near as long as Elixirs, but i suppose that's the tradeoff. I just tried a set of DR Sunbeams on my Blueridge BR70 for a gig this weekend. I hate to say it but I was getting an annoying string squeak with them. We'll see what happens with that. Maybe these were old? I was given 4 sets (2 light, 2 med.) a few months back, so no loss if I dont like 'em I suppose  .
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