NGD - Xavier PRO830

[jcwillow777]

So, I just got this today. I'm having some issues with it, and I posted those in another post. I bought their roller bridge for a tele that is supposed to work with their Extrem vibrato. More issues their too. I had to reposition one of the tuners, it was crooked. Not a biggie, but in my 50+ years of playing and buying guitars, this was the first guitar I ever had to do that to. I haven't even plugged it in yet. Trying to figure out what I'm gonna do about the bridge height issue. It's about 1/4" high!!! I didn't notice that until I got the 4th string on. They say the neck will need to be shimmed, but I'm not gonna shim it 1/4' inch. That is extreme in my opinion. The body is 3 piece, but you don't notice that from the from of the guitar. So, here is my guitar.

[Tiga]

I like the guitar! I do recall reading somewhere that their X-trem typicall required neck shimming. Is the bridge piece removable from the plate? Wondering if it can be swapped with a lower profile roller bridge? Also it couldn't hurt to try shimming - look at the Tosicam 3pc wood shims on amazon for like $10.

[jcwillow777]

Thanks for your comments.

I was thinking of shimming, but the bridge raises the strings a 1/4". Yes the bridge does come off the studs, but I looked at a few Wilkinson roller bridges that I have, and they are about the same size. I'm just gonna send it back. I filed down the existing ashtray too work.



I just have to wait for a diamond hole saw set to arrive to extract the broken screws for the Extrem Vibrato. Three of the heads broke off. One when installing, and the other 2 when trying to take them out. Never had that happen b4, and I have installed a few Bigsbys.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Broken screws are always a nightmare, even with a screw extractor. More than one screw? That sure sounds like they just supplied the cheapest screws they could source. Sorry to hear it.

[jcwillow777]

Got it fixed. I'll post the results in another post.

[andrewsrea]

HNGD!

I like the grain. It looks like a light Ash body.

[jcwillow777]

Rob, it is ash. I love the grain too. I'm a sucker for a natural body finish.

Now that I have fixed the broken screw issue, I spent a couple of hours playing today, I am in love. I love the tone of the guitar. I have held off getting a Tele because I'm not a single coil guy. This one has humbuckers and I love it! The sustain is ridiculous! And the tone is amazing. Definitely glad I bought it. This one will most likely be my last. At 71 I have enough guitars.

This is the guitar after completion. I scalloped the original bridge (ashtray) and put it back on.





I any of you are interested to see the process of fixing the broken screws, the link is below.

viewtopic.php?f=76&t=4740&p=53963#p53963

[glasshand]

Thanks for the detailed writeup! Glad you like the guitar - I am fond of my Xaviere, but I do hear mixed reviews of their quality, which fits with what you say about the bridge height weirdness and the broken screws.