Neck bow or Shim?

[Cagey]

In any case, it's poor practice to make disparaging remarks about anyone, especially new posters who may be unfamiliar with someone's sense of humor, tendency toward sarcasm, exaggeration, dry humor, tongue-in-cheek manner of speaking, or anything along those lines that could confuse or make someone uncomfortable. Because this is a text medium without the body language and vocal inflections face-to-face communication allows, it's incredibly easy to mistake one's intent and miscommunicate. If you must be sassy, and I know I'm as guilty of this as anybody, then the way to do it is to make it so obvious that you're kidding around that only a [I can't say] would miss it.

 

[Fat Pete]

I don't think I would accuse AirCap of any miscommunication; I suspect he'd be perfectly happy being just as condescending face to face. We should all consider ourselves very fortunate to have such experience and wisdom striding magnificently in our midst.

*** The second sentence above contains sarcasm *** The second sentence above contains sarcasm ***

Something like that, for example?

 

[AirCap]

I make no excuses for my curmudgeonly remarks, and spit no venom with my nip at the noob. As I said, we all have to start somewhere.

Back in the 70's when I began my journey in luthiery, there were no repair books, no StewMac and Erlewine, nothing but a few books about classical guitar fabrication. One learned by doing, and mercilessly picking the brains of anyone who didn't scurry away in haste. I've managed to spot my old work now and then, and recoil in horror at my lack of skill.

We are all enjoying the golden age of luthiery thanks to the net, and I rejoice in the community of which I am a grayhaired member. I hope yon noob gets as much enjoyment from his journey as I have.

 

[Cagey]

I started down this road back in the early '70s myself, and the knowledge/skill I have now was and has been hard-won. But, I've found great satisfaction in passing it along, as opposed to forcing the noobs to suffer the same hardships I did learning what I know. Sometimes, patience is called for, but for the most part and on the plus side, there's generally an intense desire to learn, and that's 90% of the battle. It's fun. You get to re-experience the joy of discovery/success and the agony of defeat. You'd have to be a special kind of hateful to not want to share fun.

I'll tell you another secret I've learned over the years: the more I tell people how to do things and teach them the best ways to do it, the more business I get. Whether it's software, computers, controls, carpentry, guitars, etc. what people really want is transparency. To know is how it's done. They don't necessarily want to actually do it. At least, not enough to risk what they have on the hamburger hill that is tried & true experience.

 

[bagman67]

More than once I have listened at the knee of a gray-haired veteran and been enlightened as to the complexity of what's REALLY involved in whatever I'm contemplating, and then stood up and said, "So how much for YOU to do it?" 

That's how I settled on having Cagey assemble Quty Pie. 

 

[WindsurfMaui]

I just want to say I appreciate everyone's help, curmudgeonly or not.

I'm going to enjoy the current neck shim set up because it is working so well. But in a couple of weeks I will revisit the bridge shim idea to see how that changes the whole feel of the guitar.

 

[AirCap]

This place has good info and good people posting... If you're serious about working on guitars, head over this place.... http://luthiersforum.com/forum/  Whole bunch of honest to goodness working luthiers talking about six string stuff. Even the legendary Frank Ford drops in from time to time to dispense his indispensable knowledge.