NGD - Can it be saved?

[Kiichi]

Hey,
so I just got this axe for 60 Euro (53 Pounds) on ebay and it arrived. I am actually suprised at the wood quality, the guitar has a nice ring to it...the hardware and all sucks quite a bit, neck pu is like a sessaw,....plus it needs a good cleaning. But I actually see potential in this guitar, although it needs some work.

Most suprising, though hairy in the mids, I like the stock sound better than the one of my Ibanez S Series xD

So my project is saving this thing and if possible make it my "In Flames" axe (drop A-sharp, with Aftermaths perhaps).

Thing is the intonation on the highest three strings is off like 20 cents, while the tuneomatic is at its limit. Right now that is my main concern.
Now, you think is this fixable? New bridge can perhaps do a bit, when I get one with more range, right now I have 9mm.
Is there anything else I can do, or can I even get a bridge with considerably more range than 9mm?

Well, tell me what you think.

[Philly Q]

Intonation problems apart, I think your new guitar looks great!  :D
 
For replacement bridges, somebody posted about these a while ago, but it would probably cost more than twice what the guitar cost you!  Serious piece of hardware, but I reckon it's using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut:

http://www.fullcontacthardware.com/tom.htm

The intonation is potentially going to be even more of a problem if you go for heavier strings and drop tunings.

[ToneMonkey]

Philly beat me to it.

Have you got your normal guage strings on there?

Looks great..... although you may have to reset the bridge  :lol:

[Kiichi]

It still has the worn of strings on it that it came with (I think 10s), did not come around to changing them yet, that would involve cleaning and oiling the fretboard, polishing the frets, etc. anyways, so I can do that on the weekend earliest.

That bridge you posted looks pretty darn good....and more expensive than most of my axes....and pedals.
I think I´ll have to look at a slightly cheaper one....in the range of 50bucks or so I guess, anything else would be going overboard I think. Even that could be concidered insane. Plus I may need a new nut (this one is metal....never had that) and pots,...

So anything I can do sides a new bridge? Cause I don´t know if I can find one that can correct 20cents...

[doomcaster]

I'd change the strings before setting the intonation, Old plain strings will be harder to intonate and I've had the plains go way flat at the 12 fret, and I've heard metal (particularly brass) nuts were popular in the late 70's because they were supposed to give better sustain, not that I was even born then so I'll leave it up to the older members to say whether it worked or not.

[Kiichi]

I'd change the strings before setting the intonation, Old plain strings will be harder to intonate and I've had the plains go way flat at the 12 fret, and I've heard metal (particularly brass) nuts were popular in the late 70's because they were supposed to give better sustain, not that I was even born then so I'll leave it up to the older members to say whether it worked or not.

I might bust out the strings that  came with my bkps on the weekend then.

The nut is not brass though, looks like steel or aluminium.

[HTH AMPS]

how about a Schaller Roller Bridge? - they look to offer a wider adjustment range than a standard TOM...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Schaller_Roller_Bridge.html

[Philly Q]

how about a Schaller Roller Bridge? - they look to offer a wider adjustment range than a standard TOM...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Schaller_Roller_Bridge.html

Yeah, it's a good bridge, and I think it is a bit wider than a Nashville T-O-M.  I don't know if it actually gives much more range though, because the saddles themselves are a little bigger to support the rollers.

[WezV]

these seem to offer a good amount of adjustment
http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/bridges-parts-tailpieces/bridges/guitar-bridges/tunematics/tunematic-bridge-sg-style-2-p-4279.html

but you really want to try it with a set-up you like and new strings first

[Philly Q]

these seem to offer a good amount of adjustment
http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/bridges-parts-tailpieces/bridges/guitar-bridges/tunematics/tunematic-bridge-sg-style-2-p-4279.html

That would do the trick, but you'd need to replace the existing mounting studs, I'm sure (or get someone like Wez to do it properly! :D )

[choucas09]

You didn't say which way it's out. It just might it's adjusted the wrong way. I've often confused myself adjusting intonation. Extraordinary looking guitar for the money by the way.

[d1dsj]

Would a nearvana nut help? I think I may be barking up the wrong tree here.....  :?

[WezV]

in theory, depending which way its out.  a compensated nut does slightly reduce the amount of bridge compensation you need...which may help if it was all the way back and slightly out

[FernandoDuarte]

If it is a good guitar as you say, I think improvements can be great! My point of view is that is better buy a good cheap guitar and put more £ than it worth to get even better, than buy the first Gibson (££££) you see on store, turn to be a dog and you spend more money on it...

And I'm thinking if I like it:

Les Paul: Check!
Spalted Maple: Check!

So, I don't like it, I love it! :D

[Kiichi]

If it is a good guitar as you say, I think improvements can be great! My point of view is that is better buy a good cheap guitar and put more £ than it worth to get even better, than buy the first Gibson (££££) you see on store, turn to be a dog and you spend more money on it...

And I'm thinking if I like it:

Les Paul: Check!
Spalted Maple: Check!

So, I don't like it, I love it! :D

Yeah, kinda my thinking too, though it was so cheap, I did not expect anything much at all, wasn´t sure if it was upgradeble at all.
But the first impression is nice. We´ll see after the cleaning and restringin, which I´ll do tomorrow I think. After I can tell even more, but I am confident that if I can fix the intonation this can be pretty nice.
Right now the lower E string rings out as long as on my other axes, which is a good sign concerning the wood.

Interresting options for the bridge btw, keep em coming, its much appreciated.

Right now the bridge is turned the right way, far as I know (the bevel is facing the tailpiece).