Gear Discussion - Rich Ford Guitarist Forum https://richfordguitarist.com/community/gear-discussion/ Rich Ford Guitarist Discussion Board en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:39:02 +0000 wpForo 60 Reverb Music https://richfordguitarist.com/community/gear-discussion/reverb-music-2/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 04:06:53 +0000 I guess I should have looked at the details and asked for more close-up pictures of the guitar I just received the other day from a seller on Reverb in Huntsville. I have a friend who is meticulous about ordering Yamaha guitars from Japan and other high-end guitars from various places. I should have followed his lead and paid more attention to what he was doing, asking for more detailed pictures and asking questions that make a difference when purchasing a guitar thousands of miles away. The inexpensive Martin I saw for sale I snatched it up thinking I was getting a good deal. I received the guitar quickly and it came to my house very dusty, slobber and sweat stains all over it, god-awful strings, and the weird thing is that the saddle was installed 180° opposite of what it should have been. The fretboard was disgusting. So the box was unplayable. I corrected the saddle and pulled off the old strings and put on a set of new. A meticulously cleaned the fretboard and body, neck, changed the transistor battery (8.6 VDC shipped installed in the sound hole). Tuned it up and it was okay. Then I noticed the fret bars were basically spent, having ridges under all six strings up to at least the fifth fret. I played it anyway hoping that it would sound okay and it did sound okay thanks to the Fishman pickup. After about 2 days of hitting it hard, the high E string started to buzz pretty bad around the first second and third fret. So I thought I could buy some time by putting in a little relief in the neck by tweaking the truss rod. I am limited on my knowledge but have watched enough videos to choke a mule. So I dig out my trusty 5 mm wrench and go to put it in the truss rod hole inside the sound hole and there is no truss rod. I shine a flashlight up in there and take a couple of pictures and send it to the seller in Huntsville complaining there is no truss rod. He immediately insults me, cursing me through the messaging on Reverb, telling me I am as dumb AF. Then tells me he has written albums with that guitar. Along with the frets worn down like someone took a hammer and chisel to them, I calmly ask for a refund through the website and he immediately declines it. A couple of things about this story, one is to know your guitar model really well. This particular model of Martin dx1 Custom was sold by Musician's Friend at the time. A lot of modern Martins, if not all to my understanding, take a special longer shanked 5 mm wrench to gain access to the truss rod end so as to adjust the relief in the neck. It's way down in there. I did not know that at the time. But he didn't have to curse at me. He could have told me that the truss rod was further down in the hole, something common with Martins. Two, I should have asked for more pictures so I could tell what shape the body, the strings, and the fretboard was in. I probably would have just saved my $450 and time. I had a dx1 before but it's been about 9 years ago and I can't remember what the guitar was all about. All I remember is that it sounded really good and played well. I guess in some ways it's my bad. I guess I'll deal with it. Anyone's thoughts are appreciated by the way. Life is a big old lesson to be learned. One big thing I have learned is I don't care what other people think about me and another is I treat people the way I want to be treated. This particular individual I dealt with owns a high-end guitar shop, too. I really wish we could have ended our relationship amicably. 

]]> Gear Discussion Traveling Bone SC https://richfordguitarist.com/community/gear-discussion/reverb-music-2/ Carbon Fiber Guitars - are they worth it? https://richfordguitarist.com/community/gear-discussion/carbon-fiber-guitars-are-they-worth-it/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:42:27 +0000 I have an Enya 4Pro carbon fiber guitar. It's perfect for 'hostile' environment gigs. Outside, high heat and humidity or even cold and dry weather. The idea is that the carbon fiber isn't effected by environment. I've owned one for about a year and it's a good guitar - but is it worth it?

 

In protecting my traditional acoustics which are negatively effected by harsh temperature changes, yes - it's worth it. If I weren't gigging, I wouldn't have one - but about 30% of my gigs are outside - and of those, 1/2 of them are during the worst environmental conditions. If you play outside in Florida - consider one.

Price varies - but for a couple hundred dollars, you can play worry free and protect your quality instruments from the weather

]]> Gear Discussion Rich https://richfordguitarist.com/community/gear-discussion/carbon-fiber-guitars-are-they-worth-it/