Parker P38 thoughts?

Hi all. Anyone own or tried a P38? I've recently bought one and my initial thoughts are very similar to the views on Harmony Central. Bad set-up with high action, too much neck relief (even with the truss-rod totally wound out) and a bridge that doesn't adjust down quite far enough. I've got the action as low as I can but feel it could go more and am considering shimming the neck. This is something I've never attempted before and am wondering what, exactly, to use as a shim? Never had this much of a problem on a Koren built guitar before, so is it a Parker QC issue? Having said all that, it's got a very unique and varied range of tones that I'm only scratching the surface of. Pick-ups and electronics seem very good and responsive, especially when used in stereo with main pups through an amp (Traynor Bassmaster combo) and the Piezzo through the pa. I'm going to try a few effects later on both channels as I feel it's got so much potential. Tremelo seems a bit stiff and unyielding on the Wilkinson bridge, but having never used one before, wondering if this is usual or could benefit from de-tensioning the springs. Anyone else got any thoughts?

Hi, I bought one last year,and tried 4 in the shop, 3 were very badly setup, but 1 was nice.... so I bought it I guess QC is a little flaky.

I did prefer the colour of one of the others and discussed the setup and the dealer reckoned his tech could add a shim and sort but I was being impatient.

I have added shims to guitars myself in the past and although a little fiddly it is a fairly simple process... Remove or detune the strings, take of the neck, get a slice of cardboard or wood and place it in the neck socket and replace the neck. The tricky bit is getting a suitable thickness of shim, but the action adjustment should allow a some flexibilty.

I agree about the sounds and I like mine, in fact if I hadn't splashed out on another Ibanez last week, it would be my main guitar.... for now

I found heavier strings improve the acoutic sound but actually reduced the guage on mine and had to adjust the springs accordingly.

Cheers John P.

Cardboard?

In the most important joint in a guitar?

You're 'avin a larf an' no mistake!

Shimming necks with cardboard is like touching up the Mona Lisa with Dulux!

Be off to a luthier with you and get it done properly.

Having said all of the above, I have a sad old acoustic with a bridge propped up with various bits of plecky material

Apart from the fact it's compressible and sensitive to humidity changes etc etc

[ And of course, so is wood ]

I'm not convinced that even 'good' card, such as the stuff business cards are made from would be suitable. Perhaps I shopart from the fact it's compressible and sensitive to humidity changes etc etc

[ And of course, so is wood ]

I'm not convinced that even 'good' card, such as the stuff business cards are made from would be suitable. Perhaps I should try it for myself as I thinking of changing the neck on the Tatocaster (tm) soon!