SweetWaterBlue
Well-known member
I guess this may go into the "You get what you pay for and we told you so," category, but those impulse buys are what they are. I recently was made such a good deal on a new Kala ka-tg that my impulses got the better of me and it followed me home. It didn't come with a setup so beginners like me should always beware.
The uke plays fine, but reading all about what is involved in a normal setup and how to check and set nut and bridge height, I began to look at mine more closely, even though it plays fine as far as a beginner can tell. All the measurements and intonation seem to be OK. However, when Iooked really closely, I noticed that the number one fret has a sharp edge on the right hand side and began to investigate why. It turns out that the first fret is popped out slightly making the right edge exposed. I can see part of the tabs (barbs) that the hold the fret in the fret board slot on that fret. It sounds like a classic example of what I have read here as frets either "popping out," or the fret slot not being cut deep enough to start with.
Also from what I have read this is common on mass produced instruments, which have not been closely inspected by humans after they make them. I am wondering what, if anything I should do about it? Its still under the return policy, so that is an option, but I wonder if they are all like that, or have some other problem.
This is a cheap $100 uke, after all. I build recumbent bicycles, do all my own car repair, do some woodworking, etc. and am handy with tools, so I have tried tapping the fret down, after carefully putting a towel under the neck and tapping gently with a soft piece of wood. The fret doesn't seem to be going in any. I am a bit afraid that the guys I bought it from might mess it up worse than I would if they try to fix it. Its not so bad that it bothers you when you play, since you don't usually slide down from above the first fret. If I successfully tap it down, I may then need to adjust the action from the nut. Are cheap ukes like Harbor Freight tools, where you basically are buying a kit that you finish yourself to bring it up to snuff?
So,
1. Take it back for replacement?
2. Tap it down myself?
3. Don't worry, just play it?
The uke plays fine, but reading all about what is involved in a normal setup and how to check and set nut and bridge height, I began to look at mine more closely, even though it plays fine as far as a beginner can tell. All the measurements and intonation seem to be OK. However, when Iooked really closely, I noticed that the number one fret has a sharp edge on the right hand side and began to investigate why. It turns out that the first fret is popped out slightly making the right edge exposed. I can see part of the tabs (barbs) that the hold the fret in the fret board slot on that fret. It sounds like a classic example of what I have read here as frets either "popping out," or the fret slot not being cut deep enough to start with.
Also from what I have read this is common on mass produced instruments, which have not been closely inspected by humans after they make them. I am wondering what, if anything I should do about it? Its still under the return policy, so that is an option, but I wonder if they are all like that, or have some other problem.
This is a cheap $100 uke, after all. I build recumbent bicycles, do all my own car repair, do some woodworking, etc. and am handy with tools, so I have tried tapping the fret down, after carefully putting a towel under the neck and tapping gently with a soft piece of wood. The fret doesn't seem to be going in any. I am a bit afraid that the guys I bought it from might mess it up worse than I would if they try to fix it. Its not so bad that it bothers you when you play, since you don't usually slide down from above the first fret. If I successfully tap it down, I may then need to adjust the action from the nut. Are cheap ukes like Harbor Freight tools, where you basically are buying a kit that you finish yourself to bring it up to snuff?
So,
1. Take it back for replacement?
2. Tap it down myself?
3. Don't worry, just play it?
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