Well, today should have been one of those great "New Uke Days" - I just took possession of a brand new Cove Creek (Tanglewood) TU9 EQ.
When it arrived, I was so impressed when I took it out of the box. It was apparently in perfect condition and it was a truly beautiful instrument. The photos I'd seen of it and the video on Youtube, just didn't do justice to its highly polished gloss mahogany finish.
I was surprised to find that it was almost in tune. Good news,I thought, that means someone has checked it over before shipping (I bought it from a reputable music store, I have dealt with before, but not one famous for set ups).
Imagine my disappointment, then, when I attempted to play it and was greeted by an awful BUZZ - that made the sound incredibly distorted.
Listen here:
and here
I cannot figure out the source of the buzz. I thought it might be the saddle was not put back on correctly after they installed the electronics, but getting a friend to hold down the saddle with his fingers while I played seemed to make no difference.
Then I thought it might be connected with the housing for the EQ and Built-In tuner. I tried taking the battery holder out, but the resulting hole just seemed to amplify the problem. And I can't really stick my fingers in while playing to try and hold things still in there
So, I've written to the Store and await their reply. I'll let you know the name of the store when I get their response.
Signing off with a sad expression... which I'll have to get rid of before 9:30pm - since I'm playing a gig tonight with a friend of mine. We are two "scousers" (guys from Liverpool) doing an acoustic tribute to the Beatles. Hope that lightens up my Friday and doesn't turn it obsidian
PS Photos tomorrow. I have to get set up for the gig right now.
When it arrived, I was so impressed when I took it out of the box. It was apparently in perfect condition and it was a truly beautiful instrument. The photos I'd seen of it and the video on Youtube, just didn't do justice to its highly polished gloss mahogany finish.
I was surprised to find that it was almost in tune. Good news,I thought, that means someone has checked it over before shipping (I bought it from a reputable music store, I have dealt with before, but not one famous for set ups).
Imagine my disappointment, then, when I attempted to play it and was greeted by an awful BUZZ - that made the sound incredibly distorted.
Listen here:
and here
I cannot figure out the source of the buzz. I thought it might be the saddle was not put back on correctly after they installed the electronics, but getting a friend to hold down the saddle with his fingers while I played seemed to make no difference.
Then I thought it might be connected with the housing for the EQ and Built-In tuner. I tried taking the battery holder out, but the resulting hole just seemed to amplify the problem. And I can't really stick my fingers in while playing to try and hold things still in there
So, I've written to the Store and await their reply. I'll let you know the name of the store when I get their response.
Signing off with a sad expression... which I'll have to get rid of before 9:30pm - since I'm playing a gig tonight with a friend of mine. We are two "scousers" (guys from Liverpool) doing an acoustic tribute to the Beatles. Hope that lightens up my Friday and doesn't turn it obsidian
PS Photos tomorrow. I have to get set up for the gig right now.