Dating Cat's Eyes CE-400

royo · Post by **royo** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:39 pm

Hi,

Can you guys help me Id and date my new Cat's Eyes CE-400.
It has this serial number: 4001006. Any other information on this model\guitar will be appreciated, Thanks Roy

luis · Post by **luis** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:31 pm

Pics please so I can help you accuratly.
Show me the label inside the body.

royo · Post by **royo** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:28 am

Hi Luis
Thanks, here is a link to some pics on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68279501@N00/[/img]

luis · Post by **luis** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:47 am

1984 made is my guess

Like this

royo · Post by **royo** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:42 pm

Thanks again !
what about some info on this acoustic ? is it hand made? MIJ ? how much was it worth when it came out ? It looks a lot like an old yamaha or a martin clone. How much are they worth today ? the action is quite high and the neck feels pretty thick, hopefully a nice set up will do this guitar justice

R

Mickdal · Post by **Mickdal** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:45 pm

The CE-400 are nice guitars, copies of D-28 Martin, ebony board, spruce tops, rosewood sides and back.

Back in 1984 were 40,000 yen

Serial for Cat's Eyes 1983 = 300xxxx, 1984 = 400xxxx,

Why they used that serial type for those particular years, who knows...........

Mine has a fairly high action too, but, if it is of great concern, maybe take yours to the guitar doc.

regards
Mick

JohnA · Post by **JohnA** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:58 pm

A high action is a common problem on Cat's Eyes and on Martins as well. Due to the light bracing they develop 'belly swell'. If you get a straight edge and put it across the top you will probably find it rocks in the middle. The correct way to recify this is an expensive neck reset, but a competent luthier should be able to shave down the bridge and saddle to get the action good again.

greco_burst · Post by **greco_burst** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:12 pm

JohnA wrote:A high action is a common problem on Cat's Eyes and on Martins as well. Due to the light bracing they develop 'belly swell'. If you get a straight edge and put it across the top you will probably find it rocks in the middle. The correct way to recify this is an expensive neck reset, but a competent luthier should be able to shave down the bridge and saddle to get the action good again.

edited

stratman323 · Post by **stratman323** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:11 am

JohnA · Post by **JohnA** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:20 am

greco_burst wrote:
JohnA wrote:A high action is a common problem on Cat's Eyes and on Martins as well. Due to the light bracing they develop 'belly swell'. If you get a straight edge and put it across the top you will probably find it rocks in the middle. The correct way to recify this is an expensive neck reset, but a competent luthier should be able to shave down the bridge and saddle to get the action good again.
hmm....
I wish I had really known about this before I bought the CE-400 from TF member DaveWW about 6 months earlier or so.....when i was member Mickdal...
It was received like that....I wondered why it was so high, just thought that was the way it was...that is why i never questioned it.

I will definately know what to look for now, and thank you for letting us know....

BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!

Shaving down the bridge is no big deal, a decent luthier should get the action down by doing this and it should only cost $30 or so. Are you sure it was DaveWW that sold you the guitar, he's a good honest guy and knows his guitars, if there was any serious issiue he would have surely mentioned it.

greco_burst · Post by **greco_burst** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:39 am

edited

JohnA · Post by **JohnA** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:07 am

The swelling will have happened slowly over the last 25 years, shave a bit off the bridge and it'll be great for another 25

Absolutely no need to put it in the 'junk' catagory, you get the same thing happening with vintage Martins.

greco_burst · Post by **greco_burst** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:12 am

JohnA wrote:The swelling will have happened slowly over the last 25 years, shave a bit off the bridge and it'll be great for another 25 Absolutely no need to put it in the 'junk' catagory, you get the same thing happening with vintage Martins.

edited

luis · Post by **luis** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:16 pm

I guess I got late,sorry.

Yes a 1984 made CE-400,the label got different at that time.Not solid wood for that price but a nice guitar.

DaveWW · Post by **DaveWW** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 5:08 am

Only just found this post as it's not an area of the forum I often visit.

Grecoburst - I'm quite insulted by the tone of your posts but nevermind. I wish you had said something at the time. I'm sure that you don't give a toss but if you have problem why don't you take it up first in private. If you'd said you weren't weren't happy I'd have taken it back. I didn't check the front with a straight edge to see if their was any swell but there was certainly not any visible noticeable distortion!

You didn't make any comment about the problem when you received the guitar. IMHO the action was not high for an acoustic but pretty normal.

I'll add some pic's shortly