Cheap acoustics ....

Rob DiStefano · July 11th, 2003, 08:56 AM

... can sometimes be fairly worthy, but usually only after a bit of "tweaking". Bought a Music-Yo D200S acoustic online for $150/delivered. Yeah, yeah - I know - *never* buy an acoustic without first hearing/playing. So sue me. 8)

Anyhoo, the very lightweight dreadnaught sized box has a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany sides, 1-11/16" nut width, rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck, gold Grover 1:18 tuners (whoa!, worth almost half the cost of the g'tar), string-through rosewood bridge ala Breedlove (no pins), and a non-grain filled satin/matte finish.

What arrived ...

As it arrived, it wasn't a bad little box in terms of construction, fit and finish (some minor flaws here and there, as expected - but nothing noteworthy). The action was a bit high (as expected) and the tone was decent with more of an emphasis on treble (most acoustic instruments need lotsa playing time, to best reveal their inherent tone). Time to tweak and mod this sucker ...

I pulled off the bronze strings, removed the tuners and made an aesthetic mod - sanded off the "Kramer" decal logo!

220 grit did the job, and then progressive MicroMesh grits to 12000 brought back the headstock's rosewood veneer lustre - a final polish with FinesseIt II and it looked showroom perfect, sans the Kramer reminder!

Carefully removed the PVC nut and pulled out the hard plastic saddle - both were replaced, using super hard Corian material.

Removed the truss rod nut, lubed it with white lithium bicycle grease and replaced it back.

Drilled a 7/32" hole on the bridge rear, between the "D" and "G" strings, and installed a JLD bridge doctor. Though the top has what appears to be an intentional slight rounded belly, I *know* the bugaboo of nearly all acoustics is a pulled up top - JLD does to the top what a truss rod does to the neck. 'Nuff said.

Replaced the tuners, installed and cut the new nut and saddle, strung'er up with a new set of LaBella phospher-bronze .012's.

As expected, the truss rod needed a bit of tweaking ... and the saddle needed two bottom sandings. Now the action's perfect. A fun little knock-about acoustic for little dollars and a buncha elbow grease.

New and improved ...

studio1087 · July 12th, 2003, 01:35 AM

I admire people who have a. the skill and b. the patience for that kind of work. There are web sites where people take step by step digital photos of the re-do process and then post and tell their story. I'm always amazed when people do this sort of work so well.

I would pay someone to this sort of work for me because I am so impatient that I would ruin the guitar.

I've often considered buying an $85.00 Saga Tele kit on e-bay and building a cheap kit Tele. A father-son project perhaps...we'll see.

Nice knock-around guitar. Interesting reading.

buglecorps · September 18th, 2003, 10:47 PM

the amazing thing is that so many budget acoustics play incredibly well straight out of the box..I've seen stuff for $99.00 that is just amazing.

Rob DiStefano · September 19th, 2003, 07:11 AM

FWIW, the Kramer D-200S is now on sale for $99.99 @ MusicYo.com - I shudda waited another month!

July 11th, 2003, 08:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,919	Cheap acoustics .... ... can sometimes be fairly worthy, but usually only after a bit of "tweaking". Bought a Music-Yo D200S acoustic online for $150/delivered. Yeah, yeah - I know - never buy an acoustic without first hearing/playing. So sue me. 8) Anyhoo, the very lightweight dreadnaught sized box has a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany sides, 1-11/16" nut width, rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck, gold Grover 1:18 tuners (whoa!, worth almost half the cost of the g'tar), string-through rosewood bridge ala Breedlove (no pins), and a non-grain filled satin/matte finish. What arrived ... As it arrived, it wasn't a bad little box in terms of construction, fit and finish (some minor flaws here and there, as expected - but nothing noteworthy). The action was a bit high (as expected) and the tone was decent with more of an emphasis on treble (most acoustic instruments need lotsa playing time, to best reveal their inherent tone). Time to tweak and mod this sucker ... I pulled off the bronze strings, removed the tuners and made an aesthetic mod - sanded off the "Kramer" decal logo! 220 grit did the job, and then progressive MicroMesh grits to 12000 brought back the headstock's rosewood veneer lustre - a final polish with FinesseIt II and it looked showroom perfect, sans the Kramer reminder! Carefully removed the PVC nut and pulled out the hard plastic saddle - both were replaced, using super hard Corian material. Removed the truss rod nut, lubed it with white lithium bicycle grease and replaced it back. Drilled a 7/32" hole on the bridge rear, between the "D" and "G" strings, and installed a JLD bridge doctor. Though the top has what appears to be an intentional slight rounded belly, I know the bugaboo of nearly all acoustics is a pulled up top - JLD does to the top what a truss rod does to the neck. 'Nuff said. Replaced the tuners, installed and cut the new nut and saddle, strung'er up with a new set of LaBella phospher-bronze .012's. As expected, the truss rod needed a bit of tweaking ... and the saddle needed two bottom sandings. Now the action's perfect. A fun little knock-about acoustic for little dollars and a buncha elbow grease. New and improved ...

July 12th, 2003, 01:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 4,230 36 Photos	Wow! I admire people who have a. the skill and b. the patience for that kind of work. There are web sites where people take step by step digital photos of the re-do process and then post and tell their story. I'm always amazed when people do this sort of work so well. I would pay someone to this sort of work for me because I am so impatient that I would ruin the guitar. I've often considered buying an $85.00 Saga Tele kit on e-bay and building a cheap kit Tele. A father-son project perhaps...we'll see. Nice knock-around guitar. Interesting reading. __________________ JLG Carry On

September 18th, 2003, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
buglecorps Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Suburban Twang Town Posts: 753	Nice little upgrade.. the amazing thing is that so many budget acoustics play incredibly well straight out of the box..I've seen stuff for $99.00 that is just amazing. __________________ Loud is Good...

September 19th, 2003, 07:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,919	FWIW, the Kramer D-200S is now on sale for $99.99 @ MusicYo.com - I shudda waited another month!