Ibanez – New Scratchplate

Quite a nice guitar, just been a little damaged… Can’t really fix that, but I know of a firm that’ll make me a new one.  While I’m at it, the customer wants the new one in Mint Green rather, than another black one.The parts swapped, ready to fit to the guitar.I’m going to remove the protective […]

Squire Stratocaster – Setup

A nice new guitar.  They can be good guitars but, sadly, they don’t seem to have the time to set them up properly in the factory.  They just need a little work to make the most of them. While I’m at it the owner wants all the protective plastic removing, not actually as easy as you […]

Ibanez Bass – tidy up

Another great Bass.  Seen some action so needs a bit of a tidy up.  It would be a shame to do too much though, it’s got it’s age and use written all over it.  Something I hate are the new “Road Worn” guitars but this one’s got that way from use. There were some black […]

Jackson – setup

One for the metal fans… Just needs a little work here and there.  The Floyd Rose isn’t moving quite as easily as it should to start with……The edges were a little rough so I tidied them up a little, hopefully that should do it. With that back together all it needed was a tweek here […]

US Stratocaster – How low is your action!

I’m often asked for a low action, but this is probably the lowest I’ve ever seen! Actually someone’s had a go at it and the owner wants me to put it right.  I like a low action myself but this is un-playable.The tremolo is also sitting flat and locked in place… It didn’t really take a […]

#Eastman Semi-Acoustic setup

  A nice new guitar, not far off just needs a little tweek here and there, particularly as the owner wants flat-wounds on it. As ever with the new strings fitted first I adjusted the truss-rod to get the right set in the neck… Next the action height at the 12th fret…The bridge just needed […]

Duesenberg 49er – Fret dress and setup

I think this is a great guitar, well it could, and will be.  Sadly they’ve let themselves down with the detail.  Nothing that can’t be fixed, but it’s something that shouldn’t need doing. While I’m at it I’ll tidy up a couple of other problems.  It’s seen some action so the frets are a little […]

Gibson Les Paul, Fret-dress and Setup

A nice old guitar but in need of a little TLC… The frets and fretboard are rather worn for one.The bridge pickup is loose, and the pickup switch is rather intermittent.With the strings off the reason for the loose pickup is clear, the brass threaded end has pulled out.  A fairly easy fix.The frets are […]

How to tell a good guitar from a bad one!

I’m often asked if such and such a guitar is any good? Is a ***** better than a *****?  The truth is they can all vary.  It’s possible to pick up a cheap guitar for less than £100 that plays nicely, on the other had you can spend £3,000 on a top end guitar that […]