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Hey guys and girls! This guitar belongs to our praise and worship leader...he's wanting to use it again after many years of non-use. The hole in the lower bout side is from the guitar being dropped while plugged in...I think I can deal with that one...my thoughts are to use a "Les Paul" type jack plate over the hole...now for the hard part (at least it seems to me)...the action is very high, the saddle is tilting a bit forward I think, and the top has pulled up (bridge "belly")...I'm thinking a neck re-set is in order, but does anyone out there know how Yamaha attached these necks? And do I leave the bridge bellied or is there a fix? Thanks for looking!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I've got the neck off one now at a friend's place not too far from me...it was a standard dovetail, but it took a lot of steam (and patience) to get it out, and the fretboard extension was a real pain - and even then the repair won't be completely invisible. The one I've got is an early 70s model. This looks like a much newer model however, so I'd take my experience with a grain of salt.

Hope that helps.

Bill

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Those frets look mighty low too so maybe a re-fret would help first off. That is a lot of bellying (is that a word) for a guitar which can't be more than 15 years old especially for a factory guitar which generally gets overbuilt. Did your friend use medium string on it all the time?

As for the repair, I'll let Michael, David, Evin (our repair experts) answer. They may know what type of neck joint Yamaha uses. My other guess of course is that they may say that the guitar is not worth the repair bill, but than again, maybe it is.

Have fun with it Larry.

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Would this be a good canidate for that Bridge Dr contraption? Might be worth looking into it. Stew Mac sells it.

Okay guys, well that's a good start...as far as the bill, it's for my praise band leader, so it'll be no charge no matter what he says...I did tell him that light strings would work best for that guitar...I think maybe he contributed to the bellying with medium strings...Paul, I'll look at the bridge dr. too!

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Hi Larry, check the bridge plate and see if it has buckled into a curved position. This happens alot on the imports.
Let me know. I usually shy away from those unless it is for sentimental value (like this one) and then I have to bust out the brain and start thinking.
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Hi Evan, I was hoping you'd show up....now,

Oh No! If YOU have to start thinking on one of these, I'M SUNK! You know how they say you learn something new every day? Well, I DON'T!! I'll check the bridge plate and see...do you know if the neck's dovetailed on, and if it's an AR glue or something stupid like epoxy?

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I haven't pulled the neck on one of these but I would expect "stupid". As for the neck reset though try and visualize what the action would be like without the top rotation and arch that has developed. It may not need a reset.
Let me know,
Best, Evan

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Okay Evan, I think the bridge plate is buckled...I see what you mean about the geometry of the guitar if the bridge and top were where they belong...so, what to do now? I'm afraid I know what's coming...but tell me anyway...

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Well option #1 is running around screaming. Option #2 is slightly less dignified. Questions: Is it one of the thinner body Yamaha models or is it a full body like a dreadnaught? Have you ever removed a bridge plate before? If it is the thinner body I will come over and we can start screaming together
Let me know,
Best, Evan

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