ok jenn
reading your replies this is what i would do.
take a fine toothed comb, comb out her neck and chest.
than if you can borrow one, do it, or buy one off ebay, an andis clipper.
i just buy the one speed.
than get a 30 blade and a snap on comb, i prefer the #2 double duck snap on combs.
skim over her coat, practicing a steady hand, until you get real good at it, this will thin and shorten it.
otherwise get a real good thinning shears and hack away, i would close them at the base and thin at the top part to.
that sounds like the st bernards i used to groom
KAYGEECO/Spectrum labs
sells a fantastic shampoo
Saflea
it is a Fantastic deoderizing shampoo.
what i would do is buy this from them, and put it on full strength than brush or rake it thru the coat letting it sit on for ten minutes or 15