So I've decided I want to refine my Avalon further to make the playability 100% perfect (for me as I'm a fussy bugger!). I got the saddle shaved recently by a local tech but it's not quite there. Avalon say although this voids warranty, they will still take it in for a free check (other than parts, if needed) for £70 return to Ireland. Very good of them.
Prior to them telling me this I'd booked a luthier in Perth, an hour from me. Think will cost more but seems very good, it's a bespoke service where I sit with him for 2 hours while he does some work on it, I try it in person and he explains the process (the main advantage here is immediate feedback as I'm picky about action). There's no going back to Avalon after this I would think. No shipping "hazard" with this option.
Thoughts?
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There's good techs and those who are not so good. But at least if you're there, whatching, that's a good thing.
As far as I am concerned filing a bit off your own saddle yourself is part of an acoustic guitar setup to personalise the guitar without having to be a professional luthier and should have no bearing on warranty. Would THAT have invalidated the warranty or is it simply the case that the builder doesn't like independent luthiers touching the guitar for what is a very simple job? You aren't going to damage anything else by lowering the saddle, so I really don't know what the big deal is. I realise that some warranty clauses are strange, like the very restrictive conditions that Ferrari tie customers to when they buy one of their cars.
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Get to fuck.
I would absolutely chase that up with Avalon and get in writing that lowering the saddle does not void the warranty.
Saddles and nuts are consumable products like strings.
They wear out over time and should be replaced.
Are you taking it to a luthier, or a repairer?
Luthier is a contentious term- it implies advanced skill than many repairers simply do not have, despite using the term.
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If, like Martin/Gibson, it's very limited, then going to a competent Luthier and voiding the warranty isn't a big deal.
On the other hand, if it's for the lifetime of the guitar like, say, Atkin (I believe).....
However the idea of a replica saddle cut to optimal height is a great idea to make it so the guitar could be returned to factory conditions should it need to be .
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
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So every time you change string guage/tension you are supposed to send it back to them to tweak the truss rod?
There's lots of great guitars out there - stuff 'em.
Avalon have never said anything to me about truss rod adjustments being forbidden, they've been happy to tell me what size key to use when I've asked
Also: you can use a rosewood or ebony shim underneath the saddle if you want to raise the action, not essential to get a new saddle
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