Fender Showmaster – Fret-dress and setup

What  beautiful piece of wood.  Sadly it’s a little worn and actually wasn’t very well built in the first place, but I can sort all that out… As I say, some of the frets up at the paying end are rather worn. Some of the frets are way off.  I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a […]

Custom built Telecaster

I like a project I can get my teeth into. Got handed a box of bits to put together.  Some very nice parts there as well. First thing then, does the neck fit the body?  Not quite. The neck pocket just need teasing out a little.  Nothing much, but I don’t want to force it. The heads […]

Eternal Guitar – Sticky Switch

I don’t often get calls emergency calls, but I’m always willing to help gigging musicians if I possibly can.  I got a call on Friday from a tech’ needing a little help.  Got a guitar with a sticky switch and not enough time to strip it down and change it. As it goes it was a fairly simple […]

Fender Stratocaster – Service and Setup

What a lovely old Strat.  In need of a little TLC but basically sound… The bridge is all a little manky, rather corroded, but I’m sure that can be sorted. It’s just a case of taking it all apart and getting the wire brush in there. That’s better, just needs setting up again. Another thing […]

The Ventures

Now here’s a good looking guitar, I rather like it. As with lots of these Korean guitars, it’s not terribly well built.  I’ve seen a lot worse, and I’m sure it can be sorted out. The trem’ is a little high and the owner want’s it blocked to only go down.  That’ll make sure it returns to […]

Fender Stratocaster – All new electrics

Here’s a nice looking Strat’.  A rather nice upgrade with a new pick-guard and a set of Iron Gear Pickups. It’s also got a problem with one of the saddle height screws. A new set will sort that out. The new pickups are switchable with a Low/High output so I’m going to fit three Push-Push pots.  […]

PRS – Re-fret

I don’t quite know why, but PRS have never really done it for me.  This one has bits I rather like though, and some that are truly awful! Here’s the problem though, probably the most worn frets I’ve ever come across. They’re beyond a fret-dress, they need to be replaced.  A little bit of heat helps […]

Gibson Copy – Complete overhaul

Well here’s an interesting project.  Want a Les Paul but can’s afford one?  Well I know that feeling.  There are some, not too bad, Chinese copies out there.  The trouble is the hardware tends to be rather cheap and nasty.  A decent one can be a good starting point though.  Just replace everything else!! With all […]

Ibanez RG – Service and Setup

Not quite my cup of tea, but a very nice piece of wood… It’s got a common problem, not returning to pitch when you use the trem’.  These Floyd Rose Tremolo units can be a little temperamental. It’s also missing a spring, it’s dropped out somewhere apparently. I pretty sure I know where it’ll be….. […]