Just wondering if anyone here has gone lighter on there strings since getting there guitars from the factory. I've switched to .010-.046 and I'm having a time getting everything in tune. I adjusted the bridge with my strobe but the GB&E strings are giving me a fit.

I don't know if I got a bad set or if my hearing is going bad. My 290 is the only one I'm experiencing this with so I thought I'd just ask here first. My other guitars sound fine so maybe it's just the strings.

I love the way this thing plays and sounds so I'm sure I'll work it out.

Later,
Papple

I've been thinking about it for weeks but I'm just so darned lazy. I've haven't taken my 290 back to the store for its set-up and I've yet to order my new strings.

One thing that I can mention is that the factory 11's are hanging-up on the bone nut. This doesn't worry me too much - better too narrow/shallow than too wide/deep. You can't really get the nut cut until you make a final decision about string sizes, anyway. You could try the pencil-lead trick on the notches.

If I play a 'chicken-scratch' chord in the first-position and squeeze, I can get the notes to go sharp. I think that's a sign of the nut being cut too shallow.

Also, as with any new guitar, you have to adjust the tuning machine tension. Hold the screwdriver by the (ideally, round) shaft, not the handle, and snug them up. Be careful, though: too much tension is a bad thing. Usually, a quarter-turn will do it - you'll be able to feel it.

The 25" scale is the factor that is making me so slow to move (kinda wish it was 24 & 7/8) - the 11's are so close to perfect and I like the .018 G.

I'm going to try the following strings on my 290:

GHS 'Precision' Flatwound Stainless Steel (G-10CPF Custom) 10 through 46.

Galli 'Jazz Flat' Flatwound Stainless Steel (G-JF10 Extra Light) 10 through 46.

D'Addario 'XL' Regular Light Plus (D-EXL110+) 10.5/13.5/18/28w/38w/48w.

Those D'Addario '10-and-a-halfs' look interesting & they're only $4 per pack...

If I don't like any of those, I'll go 'light-top-heavy-bottom' half-round 10s...

hakujin

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hakujin,

I changed the guage of my strings on my 290 from 11's to 10's, and I thought that I was having intonation problems also but the problems went away in a day. So I attributed it to the neck shifting and adjusting itself to the less tension. I have not had any problems at all since then and my 290 plays and sounds great.

Hakujin - by the way the 290 does have a 24 & 7/8" scale not the 25". Here are the specs copied off of the Collings web site:

Solid mahogany body
-High gloss lacquer finish
-Custom P90-style pickups by Jason Lollar
-Tone-Pro bridge and tailpiece
-Black or amber top hat volume/tone knobs
-22-fret unbound mahogany neck
-East Indian rosewood fingerboard
-24 7/8" Scale Length
-Grained ivoroid dot fingerboard inlays
-Unbound peghead with ebony veneer
-Mother-of-pearl Collings logo
-Sperzel vintage tuners with ivoroid buttons
-Deluxe hardshell case

quote:

Hakujin - by the way the 290 does have a 24 & 7/8" scale not the 25".

Thanks, MEP - you're right. Don't know where I got that 25" figure - doh!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hakujin,

Papple - are you still having intonation problems or did you have to have it worked on or have they corrected themselves as the neck settled in??

I know that I asked three questions in one but was just curious how it has worked out.

I played my 290 today at church and it sounded and played awesome (even if the player was less than awesome). Tons of fun!!

Late to this thread, but I switched to 9.5's tuned down a half step on both of my CL's. Intonated with a StoboStomp and have had no problems. Only issue is breaking the D string at the saddle during gigs.