Action and adjustments on a Dellinger

[Monchito]

Hi peeps.

So I am still messing around with my Dellinger and trying out stuff. I have changed the gauges a few times and it seems to sound better and is way easier to adjust in any other higher tuning than C-standard which is what I have it back in right now.

After a lot of string sets and different gauges I have determined that i am most comfortable around 11, 15, 18, 32w, 44w, 59w. Currently I have the Amott set on. I still get some buzz on the sixth string and it eventually went away after raising the bridge and doing a milimetric turn on the truss rod. Now I have a superlow action on the higher strings and a little too high action on the lower strings. So I am thinking if anybody could share some measurements of how you have your strings set up on your Dellingers and how your Schaller's height and neck profile look regarding that.

I am starting to think that all my way of getting adjusted is due to the fact that I have never had a raised tremolo (out of body or however they are called) before and that I am placing it wrong. I managed to readjust my intonation and all but now that I have moved it all again it's kinda off again. I want to make sure I get it all adjusted decently before I go back to intonation.

Pictures with indications of mesurements depending on frets for example would be great. I am getting the feeling that I should raise the bridge to the level of the pick up mount on the bridge but then the action is so high that I would have to make the neck go back to relocate it all and that is something I want to avoid (touching the neck more than necessary). Maybe I should just go back to a higher gauge of strings anyway. What do you guys think?

Any input?

Cheers!

PD: I bumped an old threat of mine to avoid opening a new one on a choice of pick ups. Maybe you want to go there and tell me what you think will work best of the choices I narrowed down. Just check the end of the threat from my profile.

[Code001]

I keep my action around 1/32'' on the high e and 3/64'' on the low E measured at the 12th fret. The truss rod is generally around 0.003'' to 0.005'' measured at the 9th fret. In other words, the neck is straight as ****, and the action is slammed. You have to have perfect frets to pull off this kind of action, and Caparison guitars don't always have the most level frets in the world.

Hold the 9th fret and the last fret on the low E string. Now, check if there is a VERY SLIGHT gap anywhere between those frets. Just lightly touch the string and see if it moves at all. If it does, the frets aren't level. To achieve super low action, you'll need to get the frets leveled and redressed. I doubt you're adjusting anything incorrectly. All you do is turn those two big allen screws on the tremolo. Generally, you adjust the tremolo first, then you adjust the neck. The string gauge should have no real affect on action, assuming your frets are perfectly level. If you're hitting the pickups, lower them.

[Tomo]

+ 1 on the level frets for best set up. It seems like it's just what you need dude. I got my dellinger from Budd so he did a full fret job on mine. I can get the action around 1.10mm on the high string at the 12th fret. My neck is as straight as it can go. Good luck and let us know how you go!

[snegdk]

Also had to level the frets on my dellinger after winter (looks like frets were only pressed into the fretboard - I glued them in to make sure that won't happen again). Action on high E string is 1.10 mm and 1.35-1.4 on low E. The neck is straight with a very slight relief.

[Monchito]

+ 1 on the level frets for best set up. It seems like it's just what you need dude. I got my dellinger from Budd so he did a full fret job on mine. I can get the action around 1.10mm on the high string at the 12th fret. My neck is as straight as it can go. Good luck and let us know how you go!

Well. I will try to follow your advice. Will try different things though. I have been wondering what the hell was wrong for a while. I have had so much work lately I haven't been able to concentrate on this either, though. Will tell you how I go on. However bringing this to somebody to level in Madrid is something I'd only do upon advice from a good pro here. And I don't know anybody. They are lazy and unprofessional here, you know? I brought my Koch to the store I bought it from nine days ago. Yesterday I called to ask why they didn't contact me and what was going on with the Amp. The guy was like "yeah, I totally know who you are" and "the Combo is with the technical service". I was shocked and asked what is really going on and what was wrong with it and he said he hadn't called me becasue he hadn't received a call from them either. WTF! I mean, come on dude it's been eight days. I told him to call me when he wanted and he brushed me off saying "I'll call you when I can, it's not up to me". IF it was me I'd lose my ass to provide answers and not delegate a problem on someone else. After all they are getting my money after

Sorry for the rant. But that's just the reason i rather do my adjustments myself. Even if it takes me longer. i will try all in my hands to adjust this to my liking with your good help pals. If I am ultimately forced to take it in to a shop I'll have to go with that I guess.

Thanks a lot for the advice!

[Capelo]

Hi Monchito where did you take your amp in Madrid? Good to know where not to go. As for a decent luthier, you could try Madrid Musical. The luthier (I believe he is called Juan) is quite good and a renamed Gibson specialist. Has done the guitars for many well known players in Spain. If looking for more boutique style service try Entone. The build their own guitars and have only heard good things about them. My two cents (of a Euro)

[Monchito]

The problem is not with Juan, who I know from pro musician friends is very reliable and professional. The problem is the kind of rude attitude of one of the guys in the shop. I was under the assumption that they would look at the amp themselves. But apparently they loaded it out to a Technical Repair Service. It has been two weeks now and I still have no news on my amp, let alone I have no budget or indication of what is going on. I called and the guy said he was aware of having my amp and that he can't call me back or tell me anything until Technical Service contacts him. It's absurdly rude and unprofessional to brush me off like that and I am sure not everybody at the store is like this. As you see it's not really a matter with a luthier. I am in the middle of some third party contractor shit. I pay a service to them and they externalize it apparently. Who knows. I will call again tomorrow and then have less patience than last time. It's absurd.

[Capelo]

Sorry to hear that bro. It really sucks. I hope they give you a good explanation of what's going on with your amp. Customer service in Europe in general and Spain in particular is terrible. Are thee other authorized Koch dealers you can take the amp to? Btw is it a studiotone? I love that amp! Cheers

[Capelo]

Btw, once you get the amp back ask for the claim book. It works better than most people think. Shops get annual inspections from local authorities and it's a pain for them to deal with that. Idiots...