Neck angle first. Intonation second. action third.

Had the daughter of a friend phone me the other day, asking what I felt about a 1960 Martin 00-18 she had played the day before at the 12th Fret Music store. She really loved it and had almost bought it on the spot. I went over to the store and tried it. Good neck angle, intonation and action. Great sound and volume, but something seemed a bit wierd. Guess it's just a sixth sense I've developed over the years. The bridge was raising a tad, but usually that's no big deal....just get 'er glued back down. I asked when the guitar had last been in the repair shop, and apparently the bridge had only been glued down TWO WEEKS previously! Now if it's already lifting.....that's serious. Did a bit of close checking and noticed some decomposition of the wood right around the bridge. That means that they couldn't get a clean surface to glue. Serious deal-breaker. Told her to keep looking. Someone will buy the axe of course in the next couple of weeks...it's well priced...but my guess is that they'll have nothing but problems with that bridge.

Rick