Finally got back to that old Gretsch. Rather fragile, just handling it and bits of the binding are just falling off. The only way to be able to play it, is to strip it all off and replace it. I found some modern binding that just about matches the colour of the old stuff. It’s […]
Tag: Guitar Repair
Texas Custom Telecaster – Setup
What a lovely piece of wood, a really great looking guitar. It’s got a couple of problems, mostly just setup, but the neck isn’t on straight either. Since the truss-rod adjustment is on the heel of the neck I’ll have to take it off anyway. I don’t need to measure that with a feeler gauge, […]
11 String Tanglewood – Bone Nut
An odd one this, one of the strings wouldn’t stay in it’s slot. I thought the nut was broken but the slots were at a bit of an angle. Easy answer, a new bone nut. A nice guitar though. While the strings are off, a good clean. and oil… I don’t have any 12 string […]
Hohner – Re-Wire and setup.
A bit of a battered Hohner, in need of a little TLC…… The owner wants some new pickups fitting for a start, these pickups’ll sound fantastic but I fear it’ll need a little more than that… I think it’s a bit of a waste to fit a great set of pickups like that but leave the […]
Epiphone Les-Paul, Fret dress and Bone nut
Epiphone make some great guitars, they can just be a little inconsistent sometimes. The action on this one’s way too high. I don’t need to measure the amount of neck set, I can see it’s way to large. It’s also got a broken switch, but that’s an easy fix. First thing then, take off the strings, […]
Fender Acoustic – Action Height
Here’s a common problem. A nice guitar but the action is a little high. It can put you off, you’re not going o persevere if the guitar is hard to play. However don’t worry, as long as the guitar is basically sound and the frets are level it can be sorted. Looking up at the 12th fret the […]
US Telecaster – Setup
Why should a brand new guitar like this need a setup. Simple answer, it shouldn’t. However it’s been built a long way away, in a Californian desert, and travelled half way round the world. How many temperature and humidity changes has it been through? It’s not really that bad, just needs a twist here and […]
Washburn – Cleanup and Re-String
Now and again I get a really simple job, for example just changing a set of strings. While the strings were off it also needed a good clean, you can see the build-up on the fretboard. It can be quite tough, but I find the best thing to shift it is fine steel wool. With the dirt removed […]
Gretsch Double Jet – Setup
Nothing much wrong with this one realy, I think this range of guitars are excellent value for money, it just needs a little tweek here and there to optimise its setup. While the strings are off (It’s always worth fitting new strings before completing a setup) I gave the fretboard a clean and oil. The […]
Fender Telecaster – Intonation problems
Everyone loves a Telecaster, a cassic guitar, no-one should be without one! There is, however, one fundamental problem with the original design. The strings are paired up on the bridge saddles and so the intonation is always a compromise, perticulrly on the D and G strings. There is a simple solution though, compensated saddles. I’ve […]