Martin sure align neck system (SC) Setup kit and video

[SalFromChatham]

Howdy all,

When forum member Jricc raved about the SC-10e Sapele he picked up, I knew I’d eventually try it out, and even get one.

I did. I also bought the shim adjustment setup kit.

My action was slightly too low and I decided I would work up the courage to perform my own setup. Essentially altering the action on these SC models involves:

1) Make sure the relief is proper. The kit has .003 and .005 feeler gauges, and you want the relief at the 7th fret to be between those two. Capo the first fret, hold down the twelfth fret, and use the feelers at the seventh.

2) If the relief is not correct adjust the truss rod so that it is. The kit includes the proper Allen wrench tool. Counter clockwise turns add relief, and clockwise flattens.

3) using the kit included 25lbs torque wrench, Properly loosen the two neck bolts (you can even take the neck off… I did!), and pull out the shim inserted in the neck pocket. Go higher shim for lower action, and lower shim for higher action. Properly tighten the bolts… lower bolt first, then higher, then back to lower.

Restring and voila! I didn’t touch the saddle.

This is the video you should watch thrice before you do it yourself.

https://vimeo.com/911286786

Good luck!

[jricc]

So cool Sal! So where did you go from the .30 shim? And I'm guessing it worked, sweet...

[SalFromChatham]

I went 24…. The increments are small, and it’s easy to dial in what you want. Now I would like change the pickup as you did with yours! This might just be the perfect gigging guitar.

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Howdy all,

When forum member Jricc raved about the SC-10e Sapele he picked up, I knew I’d eventually try it out, and even get one.

I did. I also bought the shim adjustment setup kit.

My action was slightly too low and I decided I would work up the courage to perform my own setup. Essentially altering the action on these SC models involves:

1) Make sure the relief is proper. The kit has .003 and .005 feeler gauges, and you want the relief at the 7th fret to be between those two. Capo the first fret, hold down the twelfth fret, and use the feelers at the seventh.

2) If the relief is not correct adjust the truss rod so that it is. The kit includes the proper Allen wrench tool. Counter clockwise turns add relief, and clockwise flattens.

3) using the kit included 25lbs torque wrench, Properly loosen the two neck bolts (you can even take the neck off… I did!), and pull out the shim inserted in the neck pocket. Go higher shim for lower action, and lower shim for higher action. Properly tighten the bolts… lower bolt first, then higher, then back to lower.

Restring and voila! I didn’t touch the saddle.

This is the video you should watch thrice before you do it yourself.

https://vimeo.com/911286786

Good luck!

Yeah taking the neck off is a bizarre experience! Glad you had a good outcome. It's a great design.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

I went 24…. The increments are small, and it’s easy to dial in what you want. Now I would like change the pickup as you did with yours! This might just be the perfect gigging guitar.

Great pic.

The SC10e Sapele is my favorite gigging guitar. I just love how all around comfortable it is. I'm perfectly happy with the Element VTC.

[macribas]

Nice! All they need now is a 12 string version.

[Jim Owen]

Cool beans, buddy.
Interesting in that I come from the era when Martin held out against installing adjustable truss rods and claimed they didn’t want the average Joe playing with relief.

[rollypolly]

So cool. To me this is one of the biggest innovations in Martins in a long time. I foresee one of these in my future. Would ideally love a 15 or 16 series version with all real woods and short scale.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

So cool. To me this is one of the biggest innovations in Martins in a long time. I foresee one of these in my future. Would ideally love a 15 or 16 series version with all real woods and short scale.

Rolly, just an fyi, the Sapele SC-10 is all solid sapele. It's the only one from the SC ROAD Series that is all solid woods.

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by Jim Owen

Cool beans, buddy.
Interesting in that I come from the era when Martin held out against installing adjustable truss rods and claimed they didn’t want the average Joe playing with relief.

They weren't that far off. The average joe has no idea what neck relief is or how to measure it and instead go cranking on a rod willy nilly anytime they want lower or higher action