Here are some of the projects I’ve worked on.
Fret Level on Eastman 335
This 335 came back in as the owner was complaining about a dead spot when the strings were bent on the G and B string near the 12th fret. Everywhere else the guitar was without issue and it seemed to just be this particular bend that was the issue. I...
Chapman Tele Upgraded
Upgrades you say? This guitar has had everything. The pickups have been changed for Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, this required some routing as the uncovered pickups that were in as standard were a little smaller. The electronics have been changed to...
Fender Mustang P J Bass
This bass needed a setup and a good clean, there were some issues with noise from the pots and the output jack as well. I cleaned the pots and replaced the jack socket as it was corroded, I also added a ground between the pots and the output as previously...
Jazzmaster
Straight forward setup on this Jazzmaster. Needed adjustment to the neck relief (there was too much), the nut slots were too tight for the strings and the saddles had been filed unevenly and didn't match the fretboard radius. On another not it looks...
Fender Telecaster
Another well played Tele in need of a setup and a good clean. The frets on this guitar are close to needing a level. One of the action/intonation adjustment screws was badly bent and needed to be replaced. I suspect this was caused as there was not enough...
Fender Telecaster Setup
Telecaster in need of some TLC, basically involved cleaning parts that were rusted and corroded from sweat. The frets on this are getting close to needing a fret level. This guitar would benefit from some lemon oil every time the strings are changed....
Setup on Fender P J
This bass was in need of a setup and there were some issues with the electronics. On inspection there was a short circuit somewhere causing the strings and metal parts to be live, it was quicker and therefore cheaper to remove and replace what suspected...
Guild B-301
This old Guild came in for some restoration work, mainly the scratch plate had been replaced with a crude wooden one and the front of the headstock was is really bad shape.
I filled the gaps in the logo and sanded the headstock back level, then it...
Partscaster
Warmoth neck and a Strat body from somewhere. I was asked to wire this up with a three way switch so the middle pickup is not connected. I needed to plug and re-drill the screws that held the neck on and route the over hang of the finger board to get...
Custom Pickup
This Project Les Paul came back in as the pickup had stopped working. Turns out it was beyond repair (having been re-wound once) and so I made a new humbucker that fitted nicely into the aged cover.
Eastman Les Paul
I'm thoroughly impressed by these guitars. This is the second one I've had in the shop (the other was a 335 style guitar) and it was a joy to work on.
PRS Silver Sky Setup
I followed the instructions given by PRS to make the trem float on this Silver Sky but wish I'd followed my own way. They said a shim was needed, it was not and once I'd removed it from the equation the job became much simpler.
I needed to clean...
Squire Strat Re-Fret
This well loved Strat came in to be brought back to life. Not only were the frets incredibly worn but the neck also had a twist in it. I gave it a re-fret and was able to level the twist out of the fingerboard. I swapped the scratch plate for one that...
Pickup Swap on Jazzmaster
Some Monty's pickups to be installed into this Japanese Jazzmaster, very straight forward. Gave the guitar a setup and added a shim to put a little more pressure on the bridge.
HM Strat Fret Level
This guitar had ah nothing done to it since it was purchased by the owner. The frets were in need of attention as they were very well worn. I stripped the Trem down and used the ultrasonic cleaner to make sure it was clean and working as it should. The...
BC Rich Warbeast Setup
The most metal of all guitars ever! This Warbeast needed a little TLC, there was cracks between the fingerboard and the neck near the nut on both sides that looked to have been glued at some point. They seemed stable and weren't moving when I adjusted...
Telecaster Setup
Mexican Tele in for a setup to get the action as low as possible, no issues here but look at that bridge; what's the deal with the really long bolts and the fact the strings have to bend around them? Very odd!
Burny With Faulty Pot
Straight forward repair; the signal kept dropping out, turned out to be a faulty pot.
Taylor Fret Level and Bridge Adjustment
This Taylor was pretty beaten up or "well used". The action was super high it as a result the guitar neglected. The frets were pitted and worn so I levelled and re-crowned them, They came upon really good.
I had to lower the height of the bridge...
Telecaster With Sharp Fret Ends
The fret ends felt sharp not because they'd been badly dressed or were sprouting but because they were so tall. I rolled the over a bit more and polished them up so they felt much better to touch. A very straight forward setup after that.
Strat Setup
This Strat really needed a setup. The neck had almost nothing on the truss rod so the relief was in effect causing a hump near the body. The nut was cut too high and as a result the action needed to be really high to prevent any buzz. The owner wanted...
Strat Re-fret
Apparently this Strat had been without frets for around ten years. The slots weren't in the best shape and were quite wide as the original frets must have been rocked quite a bit when they were removed. I had to use plenty go glue to hold some frets...
Re-fret on Left Handed 1971 Gibson 335
This guitar had a story, only two owners from new and was a custom order directly from Gibson. The guitar was originally owned by a gigging guitarist and I was told it had been played on the QE2.
This came to me for a much needed re-fret. This is...
Marauder Transformation
This Japanese "Gibson" Marauder came in for some big changes. The owner had also wanted a white Marauder with two Humbuckers and this guitar was ear marked to get the "upgrade".
This was a big job. the body needed to be stripped and routed to accommodate...
Epiphone Thunderbird Setup
Setup for this Thunderbird in Drop C#, very straight forward. The main issue was the nut slots were way too small.
The Strat is back
This Strat is back in again to have a cap. added to the neck pickup to try to roll off some of the boomy bass, I did try to use a frequency analyser but the one I had just wasn't good enough so it was down to reading and trial and error.
The strap...
G&L Asat Setup
This G&L came from the shop with a questionable setup and the owner brought it to me. On inspection there was no relief on the neck and the strings were fretting out. I suspect the guitar had 10s on it and when it had been restrung with the requested...
Gretsch G5422T Setup
Very straightforward setup on a Gretsch that hadn't been worked on since it was new.
Fret Level on Fender Telecaster
This Tele came in for a setup but it was quickly apparent that the frets needed levelling as they were very pitted, especially on the G and B strings. Once I started levelling you could see where the guitar had been played and how overdue this work actually...
Maton Mastersound
This Aussi came in for a setup and new bone nut. While I was at it I sorted the switch, which had been knocked and bent out of shape. Plus I tidied the wiring a tad. Really like these guitars.
Fender Telecaster Fret Level
This Tele came in for a general once over. On insertion the frets were heavily pitted and then owner had put the control plate on backwards (on purpose) but hadn't swapped the Volume and Tone around. As I was changing this I Gave the guitar a full re-wire...
Schecter Tele
This Tele fell on it's tone knob and it needed to be replaced. Benefited from a setup too. Very straight forward.
Strat with Wiring Issues
I swapped the pickups in this Strat sometime ago and now the owner contacted me as it had started making an odd noise, like something was being disconnected making the guitar crackle. He also mentioned the volume pot had a bad spot and that he had attempted...
Les Paul Fret Level
At first the frets on this Les Paul didn't look that bad but the owner had complained about excessive fret buzz, which when I plated the guitar was a problem. It was really bad on the A string and at first I though it might be the bridge. However when...
Setup on Sigma GECE 3+
A very straight forward setup on this acoustic; truss rod adjustment and nut height were the main points of attention. I'm impressed with this guitar.
Fret Level on Fender Jaguar
This Japanese Jag had some pitted frets but on inspection the fingerboard was a bit "up and down". I gave the frets a level and they came up nicely. The nut needed some work due to the frets being a little lower and the large gauge strings but after...
Another Eko Ranger 6
Yes, another Ranger 6 in the shop, this time for a bit of a spruce up. The scratch plate needed replacing and I gave the guitar a long needed setup. There's a limit to how much work is economical on a guitar like this but I'm pleased with how this turned...
Fender Jazz Bass
This bass came in for a setup to sort some fret buzz but when I got it on the bench there were a few things that caught my attention. First of all the nut had worn too low, especially on the low E and needed replacing but the neck was also bowed quite...
Fender Stratocaster Setup
Pretty much brand new Strat in for a setup. Very straight forward and all the usual things that factory fresh guitars need. I like the colour on this one and I'm not usually a fan of metallics.
Setup on Fender Strat
Fairly straight forward setup on this Strat. I had to strip it down and start from a straight neck on this one thought. Sometimes you need to start from the beginning.
Epiphone Black Beauty Fret Level
The frets on this guitar looked like they'd been hit lots of times with a tiny hammer, yes I know how that sounds. They'd taken some serious abuse and needed to be levelled, you can see from the photos how odd some of the dents where. Maybe it was is...
Maruszczyk Jazzus Bass
This bass came in with owner complaining about fret buzz. What was unusual was that it was in apparently random spots up and down the fret board and on different strings. On inspection the fingerboard was quite bumpy and and the frets were not level,...
Setup on Epiphone Riviera
Very straightforward setup on this Epiphone. I needed to give the tone pots a good clean as they were quite crackly, I suspect they're never used. The frets were heavily pitted and the nut was just on the limit of how low it could be cut and I would...
Epiphone Genesis
Not seen one of these before, somewhere between a Gretsch and a Les Paul, what do you think? Owner wanted a low action and was struggling, at first it sounded to me like it might need a fret level. Turns out it just needed a little more relief in the...
Duesenberg Julia
I've worked on this guitar before, this time it's come in to have a setup in preparation of a studio visit. The owner was finding it would intonate properly on the A string especially. At first I had the same issue and needed to get the string shorter...
Telecaster Clean and Setup
This Tele came it for a good clean and the owner was complaining that the output jack was broken. There was a lot of old gaffa tape on the body so I stripped the guitar down so I could easily clean it. I checked the electrics and found that the pots...
Fret Level on Burns Marvin
The owner of this guitar complained that it was buzzy, turns out that the fingerboard was all over the place. I was unsure whether I'd actually be able get the frets level. This took some time and a lot of tweaking but eventually I managed to get them...
Setup on Taylor Academy 12
This Taylor came in for a general setup with the action being lowered a little if possible. The fret board was very dry and needed a good clean. I took a little off the saddle the lower the action and it felt good to me, I figured taking the neck off...
Setup On A Factory Fresh Strat
The owner of this brand new guitar had a few issues with it. This was in fact the second guitar they'd got after they'd been round the houses a bit trying to get the setup right, as apparently there was some terrible fret buzz. Eventually the shop agreed...
Setup on Squire Jazz Bass
This bass came in for a setup, had crackly pots and the owner had complained about rusted screws. The pots just needed a clean and I replaced the screws before going it a full setup.
Re-instating a Fender Stratocaster
Little bit dramatic that title to be honest! This Strat came in to be setup and have the wiring put back to the factory spec.
Setup on Eastman 335
What a fantastic guitar this was to work on. It came in for a general setup and the owner complaining about minor tuning issues. I checked the tuners and found they were sound but felt the strings were getting snagged in the nut. I flared out the back...
Fret Dress on Jackson
The owner of this Jackson complained that the fret ends were sharp. On inspection they were hanging over the edge of the binding and some had actually lifted. I re-seated the frets that had popped up, filled the edges and levelled the frets while I was...
Eko Ranger 6 Setup
I love these guitars and it was nice to have one in again. General setup for a learner, so light strings and a low action.
Fender Stratocaster Setup
Very straight forward setup on a right handed Strat that at some point had been strung up left handed.
Telecaster Copy
This Tele copy needed a general setup. The hardware on this guitar is pretty cheap and the lipstick pickup really doesn't sound great but this would be a good guitar to learn on. The owner was wondering about upgrading it and throwing some Humbuckers...
Tokia 335
I set this guitar up way back when I first opened the Owl Sanctuary and it's come back for a setup. The nut has worn down over the years and needed replacing but other than that this was a standard job.
Pedal Board
Haven't done one of these in a while! Gave this board the works, all new cables and easy access for the FX loop chain via some panel mounted Neutrik jack sockets.
Les Paul Project
Some of you may recognise this guitar, I did some work on it last year and it's returned after the owner gave it a relic paint job to be finished off.
Everything was pretty straight forward, tuners installed, wiring, nut etc but when I thought I'd...
Setup on Fender Jazz Bass
This old Jazz came in for a spruce up. This one is active and the battery was totally dead so I swapped that first. This needed a little work on the nut and the usual adjustments to get it where it needed to be.
Setup and Re-wire on Fender Jagstang
This guitar came in for a setup and the owner complaining that his other (cheaper) guitar sounded better. On inspection I found that the lugs on the pots had been twisted together, probably when they had worked their way loose and the wires had pulled...
Setup on Fender Stratocaster
This Japanese Strat came in for a setup and had an issue with the output. There wires were broken and needed re-attaching. Very straight forward clean down of there trem and everything went back together well.
Re-fret on Fender Telecaster
This 90s Tele initially came in because the owner thought the truss rod was broken and was looking at having to buy a new neck, turns out that nut was so full of dust and god knows what the key wouldn't fit into it making it feel like it wouldn't turn....
Setup on LTD Snakebite
A full setup was given to this guitar and the owner had told me that it was cutting out and crackling from time to time. On inspection I found the output jack had a massive amount of corrosion on the battery earth for the active pickups which was causing...
Setup on Fender Stratocaster
Pretty much factory fresh Strat in for a setup. Needed everything you'd expect.
Setup on Ibanez Prestige
Another Prestige in for a setup. This ones a little older that the others I think and needed the trem re-instating. I gave it a good clean in the ultrasonic cleaner (thanks Scott!), rebuilt it and got it working as it should. Gave the guitar the usual...
Epiphone Les Paul Repairs
This Les Paul had quite a few issues when it came into the workshop. The main issue was the tail piece was coming out of the body but when I inspected the guitar it soon came apparent there was more to do. The nut had been replaced at some point quite...
New Wiring Harness in Epiphone Casino
There are a lot of wiring harnesses for sale out there with vintage this and vintage that and it plays up to the idea that old or vintage things are better. Is that the case? I'm not sure...
The owner of this guitar wanted to upgrade their guitar...
New Neck
This guitar came in for a new neck as the old one hadn't dealt with living on a boat very well. While I was at it I swapped the bridge pickup for one of my own Humbuckers. Really enjoyed this.
Fret Level on Ibanez Prestige
Another Prestige in for fret work, this time with stainless steel frets. This had been done quite uneven, especially at the top end, took quite a bit ion work to get it level.
The owner was struggling with this guitar a bit, being used to Strats...
Routing a Guitar Body
This project came in for some routing. One p90 at the neck and two at the bridge! I'm interested to see how this turns out.
Fret Level on Gibson Melody Maker
This Melody Maker came in with a few issues. It's been heavily modded from where it would have been when it left the factory with a new reliced paint job, Bareknuckle P90 pickup and scratch plate.
The P90 had fallen into the cavity as there was...
Fret Level on Ibanez Prestige
This Ibanez needed a low action and the owner was experiencing too much fret buzz. On inspection with the fret rocker I found a few high frets, especially the 14th and decided a fret level was the best place to start. It wasn't until I started to level...
Squire Jazz with Wiring Issue
This bass was crackling and one of the volumes didn't appear to be working correctly. On inspection I found one of the pots was loose and more importantly there was no ground wire on the output or between the pots. This was not a mistake as on a bass...
Buzzing Issue on Jackson V
The owner of this V was complaining of excessive buzzing. This is always a tough one these days, especially if you use a high gain setup near a computer etc. I tried the guitar in the workshop and it seemed ok, not a fret start. However, I decided to...
Tapping Filtertron Pickups
This Gretsch is back again, this time to have the pickups coil split and new Push/Pull volumes fitted. I'd like to not see this one for a while now please.
Finish Repair on Turner Acoustic
Finish repairs can be nightmare jobs, especially acoustic guitars where the lacquer can be really thin. This acoustic came in with a knock which had caused some lacquer to come away. I attempted to patch up the damage and then fill up the hole with some...
Re-fret on Gibson 330
Another 60s 330 in for a re-fret. I love these guitars and the frets went in this one really nicely. It gets a bit tricky up the dusty end but it makes life interesting!
1958 Silvertone
It's not often I get to work on a guitar of this age. I love Silvertones, they were made as cheap catalogue guitars from very cheap materials (the body is basically MDF!) and yet here we have a guitar that's lasted six decades and still work better that...
Feline Strat
This came in to have a Grainger String Ferrule Block installed as the current string ferrules where all out of line. They also sat proud of the guitar body and the owner didn't like this. To install the ferrule block I had to make a couple of templates....
Wiring Repair and Setup on Fender Telecaster
This Tele came in with a broken output plus it was in need of a good going over - the usual fret polish, check the string height at the nut, action and intonation. Very straight forward.
Fret Level and more on 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom
This '76 Custom came in with the owner (a good friend of mine) complaining that the low E had "died". There were a couple of other issues (the bright looked odd, the owner felt the neck had moved a bit and the nut was cut too low) so I set to work giving...
Setup on Thinline Tele
What I thought was going to be a straight forward setup didn't work out. On first inspection I noticed some of the finish had come away on the headstock and there was areas on the body where the lacquer was delaminating. the neck also had a pretty bad...
Setup on Jackson Kelly
This Jackson came in for a setup. I think this a fairly new guitar and needed a few tweaks to get it where it should be. The trem didn't have enough tension in the strings and was leaning forward, the neck relief, action and intonation also needed adjustment....
New Bone Nut on Squire Strat
Straight forward installation of a bone nut on this 70's vibe Squire Strat and a setup. Turned out well I think.
Partscaster Fret Level and more...
This Partscaster was a project that the owner took as far as they were confident and then brought it to me, initially for some work on the nut. On inspection I found the frets were quite uneven and recommended a fret level. There was also a crack in...
Setup on Fender Telecaster
Very new Tele in for a setup. The date on the neck says Sept 2020 so literally straight from the factory, not a bad reflection on Fender or the shop that sold the guitar as guitars can are generally given a setup that can accommodate as many styles of...
Fret Level on Ibanez RG
This Ibanez came in with the owner complaining about dead frets and wondered if a couple of frets had lifted. I couldn't see any evidence of this but the frets weren't level and so needed attention. There was a low spot around the 13th fret that almost...
Setup on Ibanez RG
This Ibanez is back in for another setup. Very straight forward but always a good idea to keep on top of things. Small adjustments to the action and intonation.
Re-fret on 70's Gibson SG
Here's an old SG that's seen some action in its life. Came in for a re-fret and subsequently a new brass nut. It also needed some work doing on the tail piece bushings which had worked their way loose to the point that you could rock them back and forth...
Re-finish and more on Fender Jaguar
This Jag came in for a total facelift. The owner wanted it re-finishing in nitrocellulose shell pink on top of the original sunburst so that it would eventually wear through like some of the old Fenders did, I'm sure you know the vibe. They also wanted...
Setup on Brunswick Acoustic
This acoustic came for a setup to see if the playability could be improved. I brought the action down and sorted the nut but the hump in the neck, around the 14th fret has caused issues when playing above the 12th fret. However the guitar plays and sounds...
Fret Level on Fender Telecaster and more
I needed to some serious work on the frets to get these level, they really were all over the place. After that a very straight forward setup.
The jack plug was faulty and on inspection had some corrosion on the contact. I attempted to clean in which...
Fret Level and New Nut on Taylor 314CE
This Taylor had some dead spots and had taken a knock when its been worked on by somebody else. The nut had also been shimmed with a bit of magazine and wasn't really helping with anything.
I plugged the dent on the fingerboard with some Ebony dust,...
Re-fret and more on Fender Strat
What started off as a neck re-finish turned into a re-fret and more. The lacquer on the neck was crack and felt uncomfortable, a re-fin. in satin cured this. The owner also wanted a new nut and the frets needed some work. He'd had a guitar re-fretted...
Pickup Swap on Gretsch Streamliner. Again!
The eagle eyed amongst you might recognise this guitar and you'd be right, it's been here a few times to have it's pickups changed and changed and changed again. Hopefully this Filtertrons satisfy the owners search for tonal nirvana they definitely look...
Fret Level on Harley Benton Mad Cat Copy
How bizarre to never have worked on a guitar like this to have a real one and then followed up with a copy like this. This came in with complaints of buzzing and very high action. On inspection there where loads of high points on the fret board so a...
Fret Levelled Fender Telecaster
It's often not quite as straight forward as people think when you get guitars in made up from different parts, even when they're from the same model of guitar. Take this Tele for example; Mexican body, American neck and hardware. The owner told me it...
Setup and more on Squire Jaguar
This Jag came in for a setup and general once over, one thing being noted was the volume on tone pot weren't working correctly.
On inspection I found the bridge had parcel tape wrapped round the posts, I assume to try to stabilise it? This tape wasn't...
New Nut on Ibanez PF100
This old Ibanez came in for a setup but as I was sorting the height of the strings at the nut I found that it had been repaired with something like super glue and baking soda and it juts crumbled away as soon as a file came anywhere near it. This meant...
Burny Les Paul Fret Level
This Les Paul copy came in for a setup and needed a fret level to get the best out of it. On initial inspection it seemed like there were just a few high frets but what was really going on was a massive dip around the 7th fret and some weird twisting...
Gibson Les Paul Conversion
This was a long Job! I got his guitar way back in summer and the owner had big plans. I think this guitar started life as what was called the Les Paul BFG, they had chisel marks left in the front carve, I always thought this was a way to shift unfinished...
Setup on HS Anderson MadCat
Really nice guitar, very straight forward setup. I wish I knew more Prince songs...
Fret Level on Squire Telecaster
This Tele was in need of some work on the frets as some had lifted and to be frank the rest were all over the place. I re-seated and glued the raised frets and then set to work on levelling and re-crowning. There isn't much left and this guitar will...
Setup on Fender Mustang PJ Bass
Very straightforward setup on this little bass, the photos don't show how dry the fretboard was. Oil your dark wood finger boards to keep your guitar working and looking its best.
The owner had complained that the switch wasn't working correctly...
Re-fret + Bone Nut on Fender Stratocaster
This Strat had been worked on before and the nut slot had taken a bit of a beating. The Tusque nut that had been installed was sitting at a funny angle and didn't look great. the guitar had been setup too low for the owner and they had made some adjustments...
Fret Level + Setup on Martin D28VS
Thus came in for a setup too get the action down and generally give it a once over. There was some pitting in the frets so I thought it prudent to give the frets a level, especially as the action was coming down. I found that the finger board had quite...
New Nut and Setup on Eko Acoustic
This old Eko came in with the owner complaining that the intonation was all over the place. On inspection the nut was cut too high so the string were completely missing the zero fret meaning the scale length was wrong. I tried to work with the plastic...
Fret Level and Setup on Epiphone 339
This little semi acoustic guitar came in for a setup to get the action lower and to remove some unwanted buzz and dead spots. On first inspection I the nut was high and the radius of the strings at the bridge was all over the place so I thought a setup...
Setup on Epiphone EL00-Pro
Very straightforward setup on this Epiphone acoustic. Needed some work on the saddle to lower the action and the B string was very resonant and needed some work on the slut at the nut.
Setup on LTD GL-200M
This LTD came in for setup with the Ibanez and again needed a little more work. Similarly the locking nut meant the strings were very high so I had to route the fingerboard to lower this one too. The frets were good so no level need here. The one thing...
Fret Level and more on Ibanez Guitar
This Ibanez came in for a setup and on inspection needed quite a bit of work. the owner loves a low action so the frets need to be spot on, there were quite a few high spots so I levelled and re-crowned them. The locking nut was set very high and the...
Re-fret on Fender Bronco
This Bronco came in with the owner complaining about dead spots, turned out the best course of action was to re-fret the guitar. I also sorted the nut while I was at it that was way too big.
Finishing of a Guitar Kit
I was asked to make a bone nut, add a bridge earth and attach the scratch plate to this guitar kit project. In the end there were a few other jobs that needed looking at too like shielding the control cavity.
Unfortunately the neck pocket wasn't...
Partcaster Setup and Upgrades
This Partscaster has been Frankestiened together from some form of Jaguar or Jazzmaster body and so the owner was told a Japanese Fender Telecaster neck. Some kind of Super Distortion copy humbucker has been put in the neck position and the wiring on...
Setup on Jackson Flying V
One of my bugbears is when guitar makers make a guitar with a radius and then put a trem or bridge on it with a different radius. This was the ,Ain issue with this guitar, so I had to use three metal shims to correct it.
Fender Telecaster Setup
Very straight forward setup on this Tele. I was surprised to see the strings were put on backwards, I'm not user if there was a good reason for this yet.
Setup on Fender Stratocaster
This Mexican Strat came in for a setup. The strings had been removed and the owner had taken the opportunity to clean the fretboard, which is a good thing. However they used water, which is generally not the best thing the working with wood. You can...
Pickup Swap and more on Fender Strat
Lace Sensor pickups divide opinion and so this Strat having them installed may seem like sacrilege . It also had a treble bleed fitted, the trem blocked off, the control cavity shielded and a full setup.
Restoration on Gibson Les Paul Classic
Wow, this was one of those jobs that just goes on and on! This Les Paul originally came in to have the headstock refinished as the lacquer was peeling, very common in Les Pauls from the 90's. It had also been in storage for quite a while and needed a...
Setup on Ovation Acoustic
This guitar came in with the owner complaining that it was difficult to play on the first fret, he also told me that there had been some issues with the neck and previous work and been done on the bridge. Because of this I was a little worried about...
Harley Benton Tele Copy Pickup Install and more...
This guitar came in to have new pickups installed, a new wiring harness, new brass saddles and a setup. At this point I'd just like too take a moment to talk about capacitors; there are a lot of myths that surround caps, "paper and oil sound better",...
Neck Repair on Sitar
This Sitar (please correct me if this isn't the case) came in with a broken neck. The owner just wanted it putting back together and wasn't concerned with how it looked. I wasn't given the strings so I can only guess that this repair will hold.
...
Fret Level on Vintage Les Paul Jnr Style Guitar
This guitar was a bargain score for the owner but he was having issues with it and so I got busy to try to sort it out. At first it looked like just a setup was in order as the action was very high. The owner told me that was the only way to get it playable...
Re-fret on Gibson Les Paul R8
The owner of this guitar found the frets too thin but also too high, at first I though I might be able to level and dress them but after some discussion we decided that it would be best to go for a full re-fret. I usually use stainless steel wire but...
Re-fret plus Restoration on Hagstrom
My friends brought this Hagstrom in that he'd picked up as a doer upper. He wasn't sure if it had been a II or a III but it was clear it had a lot of work done to it in its life. It needed a re-fret, a new nut, the none original bridge fitting correctly...
Fret Level on Epiphone Les Paul
This guitars frets were somehow all over the place. I was really surprised just how high a few of the frets were. I saw no evidence of them lifting out of the slots and they were all solid, the fault must have been movement in the neck but I couldn't...
Pickup Install and Setup on Vintage LP Style Guitar
The owner of this guitar wanted as low an action as I could get plus they wanted to upgrade the bridge pickup to a Seymour Duncan one. Nothing major to report on this one, very straight forward.
Re-fret on Fender Stratocaster
When the owner first contacted me about this guitar they suspected a re-fret was in order but at first it looked like only a fret level was in order. Only the frets in the middle of the fingerboard were worn but when I tried to straighten the neck using...
Setup on Fender Stratocaster
Very straight forward setup on a Strat. I did work on the nut, mainly the thinner strings and managed to get the action down a little.
Pickup Swap and Setup on Fender Musicmaster
70's Musicmaster in to have its Strat pickup swapped for a Mojo four pole one and a setup. The action was super high and the nut was sitting at a funny angle. On inspection it has been glued in with something quite soft, maybe wood glue? Superglue is...
Headstock Repair on Tenor Banjo
This little banjo got knocked over and lost its head! Not an invisible repair by any means but at least it works!
Re-wire and Bone Nut on Vintage LP Copy
This guitar came in for a re-wire with 50s wiring and general upgrade of the components. I know this could be a contentious issue but I'm not a fan of the "vintage caps and particular kind of pots make the tone better" camp. I'd be interested to hear...
Another Les Paul Headstock Repair and more...
This Les Paul has had two breaks in its past and one had started to open up, possibly because there wasn't enough glue used on the original repair or may another fracture had developed next to the original break. Who knows. I had to open the break a...
Aria Pro II PE450 Restoration and more
This old Aria Pro came in with dodger electrics, tuners and generally in need of some TLC even though it has been looked after really well.
The tuners are an interesting design that I've not really come across before and the buttons and worked their...
Headstock Repair plus New Bone Nut on Gibson Les Paul
This Gibson took a tumble and a crack appeared on the neck much to the owners distress. the big problem with cracks like this is that you have to make it worse before you can make it better, as there's no way to get glue into a crack like this that's...
Setup and new Trem unit on Fender Stratocaster
The American Standard Strat came in for a setup and what looked like a new trem block as the original had broken out. Turns out no one makes a replacement block for the more modern two point fulcrum style trem, that I could find at least so I had to...
Custom "Pedalboard" for Django Django
Not really a pedal board as this board is nor really for pedals. Also here I made a custom junction box that contains 4 Orchid Micro DI's and various other ins and outs to help with stage setups.
New Bone Nut on Fender Telecaster
Straightforward nut installation on this Telecaster and full setup to make sure it's playing as well as it can.
Setup on BC Rich Warlock
At one point in my life I think this shape was my dream guitar. I've still got a soft spot for it. This Warlock came in for a setup. Solid instrument, nothing to report.
Fret Level on Boult Guitar
I remember seeing some fuss about these guitars a while ago online. I'm not sure what the fuss was but I was interested to see one for myself anyway. The owner of this guitar was complaining of what he thought was high frets causing some choking and...
Partscaster
What is it with Partscasters at the minute!? This one came in with owner wanting me to finish off their project. Initially it was the nut and a setup they were interred in but mentioned they were also having an issue with one of the pickups. When I investigated...
Setup on Ibanez
Sorry, not sure on the model number for this one... RG something? Anyway, very straight forward setup, I'd suspect that it's not been long since someone had set it up as it was in pretty good shape. There were still a few things that had wondered, the...
Setup on Ibanez RG Series
This Ibanez came in for a setup and to have the electrics checked over. The tone pot was crackly and at first I thought cleaning it would solve the issue. It did solve the crackle but I then found the pot was working as a volume as well as a tone. Obviously...
Humbucker Install on Fender Stratocaster
This Strat came in to have the single coil pickup in the bridge replaced with a humbucker which required some routing on the body and the pick guard. The owner was happy with the extra holes that were left after the new pickup was installed but a brand...
Setup on Gibson J45
This Gibson acoustic came in with the owner complaining of a high action. I gave the guitar a setup and found the nut to be cut well, I reduced the neck relief and took the saddle down and lowered the bass side by around 1mm and the treble side by about...
Re-wire on Gibson Les Paul Studio
This Les Paul had an issue with the wiring plus the owner wanted to get rid of the coil tap. I suggested it would be easier and cheaper to replace the modern wiring harness for the more traditional four pots and a couple of resistors. Worked out fine...
Short Scale Ibanez Bass Setup
Very straight forward setup on a shirt scale Ibanez bass. I pretended I was a giant when I worked on this.
Bridge Repair on Squire Telecaster and more
This Tele was looking a little odd. The bridge was half off and one of the screws had broken in the body. I had to drill it out and plug the hole before a could drill a pilot hole for the new screw.
One wire from the bridge pickup has broken off...
Setup on Music Man Silhouette
This guitar came in for a setup and to have the wiring checked over as the output seemed to be low. The output jack wiring looked a little dodgy so I redid that and everything else check out fine. Pickups where very low and the owner admitted he'd been...
Partscaster Build
These bit came in and they come with a lesson; Not All Bits Go Together Easily - Even If They Are From The Same Model Of Guitar. The issues where multiple on this one, the neck pocket was completely wrong for the neck, as a result no standard scratch...
Rickenbacker 4001 Setup
This old Rick has had a few lives and is still working hard in this incarnation. Iy came in for a setup in A standard and needed a new switch and some of the binding re-glueing. It also had some bolts missing from there tuners. I thought they'd be a...
Headstock/Neck Repair on Epiphone Les Paul
This Epiphone had been broken for around a year and the truss rod had been tightened to try to keep the neck together causing the end of the fingerboard to bend back making the guitar unplayable. The break was right on the scarf joint which suggest there...
Harley benton Pickup Swap
This Harley benton Strat copy came in to have the pickups swapped. It looks like it's had some mods already. Not sure about the extra cap on the tone pot?
Setup on Gibson SG Special
SG Special in for a setup, the action was very high as were the strings at the nut, very straight forward setup. Not sure what I think of the string guide thing...
Wiring Repair on Gibson LPJ
This Les Paul was making an odd buzzing noise after the owner had someone install a new pickup in the neck position. On inspection I found that the pickup had been soldered to the volume pot backwards.
Setup on Charvel Super Strat
You might need sunglasses for this one! Setup with a super low action for shredding.
Setup on Tokai Les Paul Custom
Nice Les Paul Custom copy in for a setup and to have the control knobs changed.
Partscaster Assembly
Dino, the guitar player from Franz Ferdinand asked me to assemble this Partscaster for him. It needed a refret and as it turned out quite a bit of work to get the bridge in the right place. Often different bits from different guitars don't marry up exactly,...
Schecter Demon 7FR Setup and Wiring
This well played 7 string came in for a setup and with some issues with the wiring where there would be loss of output and it was as if the sound had gone weak and weedy.
On inspection the wires from the 9V battery had been soldered together and...
Setup on PRS SE
This PRS came in with tuning issues. The owner suspected the issue was the nut but on inspection I found the trem wasn't seated properly on the mounting screws so it wasn't returning to the proper position and was snagging strings.
Custom Pedal Board
For some reason the photo's on this one won't rotate, very annoying! Anyway, custom pedal board that has everything but the kitchen sink!
Setup on Squire Jaguar
Factory fresh Squire Jag which needed the usual things that all new guitars need. Mainly the fretboard was very dry and was screaming out for some oil.
New Truss Rod and Fingerboard on Gibson ES325
I've been working on this guitar for quite some time as it wasn't until I really started looking at it on the bench that I realised just how bad it's issues where. Initially the owner was complaining about high action and the frets where very very flat...
Epiphone Les Paul Headstock Repair
Very common problem with guitars like this, this one was slightly odd in the break was mainly on one side and the crack almost opened up like a door. The finish on this guitar made it almost impossible to hide the repair. I did my best.
Setup on Fender Stratocaster
In these times we are currently living in washing your hands has become more important than ever before. Here is an example of how this ethos should be applied to looking after your guitar. The rubber gloves had to come out for this one! Keeping your...
Setup on Tanglewood Acoustic
Nothing to report here. Standard setup and clean down to get this guitar up and running again.
Ibanez Artcore Re-wire Plus Other Repairs
This guitar didn't work at all, in fact most of the pots had literally been pulled apart. There was also some body damage, like small dents and some holes from a previous tail piece that needed some attention.
The re-wire was as straight forward...
Fender Stratocaster Setup
This 90's Strat came in for a setup to make the trem floating. It was being strung up with flat wound 12 - 52 which were much bigger than the nut should accommodate so that needed a little work.
New Nut and Setup on Squire Strat
The owner of this guitar was getting back up and running but decided they'd bit off more than they could chew and called me. They had filed out the nut slot which was the first thing that alarmed me. When I got the guitar on the bench I found that the...
Switch Replacement on Pete Back Explorer
I had this guitar in about a year ago for a refret and it's back again today to try to solve an intermittent problem where it loses its powerful sound and goes "weedy". First suspect was the switch and the owner wanted it replacing regardless. I also...
Ibanez GRG121DX Setup
This guitar was practically factory fresh when it came in. On inspection the nut had been left very very high and the frets looked as though they'd not been finished off! I gave the guitar a full setup with a fret polish.
Squire Ryan Jarman Signature Guitar Setup and Repair
Last well played guitar for this owner that came in for a setup and general once over. The thread on the output jack was crossed so needed to be replaced.
Fender Jag-stang Setup + Wiring Repair
Another well played guitar from this owner. There was an air gap in the wiring that required some attention and my OCD was alarmed when I saw inside the cavity but that wasn't the job on this occasion! Came out nice though.
Squire Mustang Setup
This well played Mustang came in for a setup and check over. All good so far, but I'm sure the owner will continue to put it through its paces.
Squire Strat Wiring Repair and Re-string
Not the most exciting gallery, this guitar had a broken tone pot which need replacing plus the owner had made some errors when with the wiring that needed putting right as there was no output. Also had a fresh set of strings and some lemon oil on the...
1970's Fender Strat Re-Fret
70's Strats are odd things. You never know what you're going to get! With this one the body has been re-finished, possibly by Fender, but the body looks odd as some of the carving isn't quite as it should be. The 70's seems to be rife with what looks...
Fender Telecaster Customshop Relic Setup
This Tele came in for a setup and general once over, had a few parts that needed replacing due to rust/use but was a straight forward setup.
Pickup Swap on Harley Benton Bigtone and Gretsch Streamliner
The quest for tone can be a long and winding road and these guitars have both been with me before. They're back as the owner wants the pickups swapped over as he thinks they'll do better in the other guitar. I've been on this quest myself, could this...
Epiphone SG Re-wire
This Epiphone needed the wiring sorting out and I was given the guitar and some bags containing various components. To keep costs down I managed to make the best out of what was there. I wouldn't recommend this and I'm not sure it sound as good as it...
Yamaha Acoustic Setup
The owner of this guitar finds he plays it the most out of the guitars he owns, some guitars are just like that aren't they? He did have an issue though with the action which I measure at 3mm at the 12ht fret! The guitar was in need of a little TLC as...
Setup on LTD MH-350NT
This guitar came in earlier in the year with some frets that where popping out. I was able to glue them and it's come back to have a once over. A couple of the frets where sharp on the bottom edge and at first I wondered if the frets had popped out again...
Rickenbacker 325 Copy Setup
This copy came in with a very high nut that was pushing the tuning way out when you pressed the first fret. Interesting guitar with the shortest scale length I think I've ever worked on.
Epiphone Dot Setup and Repair
This Dot hadn't been used for some time and there owner asked me to bring in back to life. The output jack had failed into the body and after a few attempts to pull in back into it's hole I realised I didn't have any nut that fitted. I had not option...
Fender Telecaster Setup plus new Bone Nut
This Tele came in for a general setup and with instructions to improve whatever I could. I swapped the old plastic nut (which was cut too high anyway) for a new custom made bone one, the difference between the two is minimal but I do think they sound...
The Return Of The Strat
Here's another guitar that's back again! Same owner as the Tele, this time he wanted the work I'd carried out on the trem a couple of weeks ago undoing as it just wasn't working for him. I gave it a setup as it had changed once the trem was unblocked...
Fender Telecaster Back Again
You may recognise this guitar from earlier in the year, it came in for a re-fret and a few other bits. Since then it went off on tour which unfortunately couldn't continue due to the current situation.
It's back in because the owner complained that...
Fret Level and more on homemade "Gretsch"
This guitar was made from a kit bought online and came in with the owner complaining about bad intonation when using a capo. I suspected the strings were too high at the nut (which they were) but I also discovered that the fret job left a lot to be desired...
Re-fret on '62 Fender Jaguar
This old Jag had been re-fretted with the frets that the owner really couldn't get on with. He described them as tall weird jumbo things and when I saw them I was surprised to see how tall they were. On closer inspection the fret slots hadn't been cut...
Harley Benton Bigtone Pickup Install
Quick pickup install for you. F holes = massive pain in the hole!
Epiphone Sheraton Re-Fret
To say that this guitar need a re-fret was an understatement! I've not seen many guitars where the frets were this pitted. Fairly straightforward job this one but plenty of pictures.
Ovation Viper
This one came in for a setup, needed some work on the nut but other than that all as it should be. I first saw this type of guitar being played by Rick Parfitt from Status Quo but I guess they're connected with Arctic Monkeys more these days.
Squire Bass VI
This one took a knock which popped some lacquer off at the back of the neck down the skunk strip and caused some cracking too. Very hard to photograph both the damage and the repair. Get you magnifying glasses out.
Fender Telecaster
It's always nice to have return customers; I've seen this one before and it came in for the once over. Nothing much to report and so not many photos as I just got on with it. Still, this is kind of a tradition now.
Fender Acoustic
The biggest issue with this guitar was the broken string peg, other than that is just needed a good clean and some work on the string height at the nut.
Peerless Classical Guitar
This guitar is big on sentimental value more than anything else and the owner wanted it to play. I tried to repair the tuners but it wasn't possible and the budget required that I just replace them. That was the same story when it came to the hump on...
Russian Guitar has Truss Rod installed and a new Fingerboard.
There are just too many photos on this one for me to title them all! Suffice to say that this was a journey that revealed a truss rod that could not be accessed and a variety of oddities that I have never seen on another guitar. Very Russian!
Hagstrom Super Swede Setup
That's almost a tongue twister! This Hagstrom came in for a standard setup with an emphasis on cleaning.
Fender Telecaster Re-fret and more.
This Tele came in for a re-fret and a general overhaul, plenty of pictures on this one so I'll let them do the talking.
Fender Strat tremolo block off and more.
The owner of this Strat complained that he couldn't get the action where he wanted it, which was a little higher than the saddles would go and as a result wasn't getting played. I decided the best way to go forward was to lower the neck in the body by...
Ibanez RG
This guitar was very dirty when it came into thew workshop. The tome pot had snapped off and was spinning freely as well. Straight forward clean up on this one.
Setup on 1977 Musicmaster Bass
This bass came in for a setup ready for an up coming tour. Pretty straight forward although some wired stuff was going on with the electronics. These bass guitars just have Strat pickups in them and in my opinion need something with a bit more bottom...
Gibson SG 61 Reissue Re-wire
Second time in for this guitar. It came in a couple of months ago for new pickups and I suggested then that the owner may want to consider getting rid of the modern wiring harness which is on a PCB and that's exactly what they did. I also did a little...
LTD MH-350NT Fret Level
The owner of this guitar was complaining about fret buzz and dead strings, especially above the 12th fret. On inspection I found some really high frets, the 23rd was notable and it looked like they had somehow worked their way out of the fret board....
Peavey Predator
This old guitar came in for a setup (and clean!) The owner told me he had been given it by the person who had bough it new and that the strings had never been changed! I'm pretty sure these weren't those strings... where they?
Ibanez FRIX6FEAH
Try saying that one after a couple of beers! This guitar came in for a setup and with the owner complaining that the fret ends were sharp. This guitar had been badly dressed from the factory so I finished the job!
LTD EC1000
This came in for a setup and had a problem with the nut which had worn (or was cut) too low. As it was a compensated nut I decided to fill and recut rather than replace. I almost caught something from this one!
Gibson Hummingbird
The owner of this guitar wanted an old headstock repair making more "invisible". I explained that the repair was good but as it was old there were years of oil and fluff and god knows what else in the crack in the lacquer that would be very hard to clear....
Gomez Gibson Acoustic #2
This is the second of two identical Gibson J45s that have now come in from the band Gomez. The complaint with this one was that there was excessive fret buzz and it was suggested that a re-fret may be in order. On inspection the action was incredibly...
Vox Shadow Restoration
This old guitar came in to be made playable after it had been left to degrade, I can only imagine where it had been kept; a garage a shed? Either way it was in pretty bad shape.
These guitars were made in the early 60s and were based on Hank Marvine's...
Burnswood Strat
This Strat copy came in with the owner asking for a few things to be checked out. He had been told that the guitar was fitted with real Fender pickups, best I could tell was that they were made in Japan but beyond that I couldn't confirm if the were...
Gibson 61 Re-issue SG Pickup Swap
This guitar came in for a setup and pickup swap. Being a 2019 model the traditional wiring harness has been replaced with a circuit board, which makes swapping Gibson pickups for other Gibson pickups veery easy. Unfortunately the pickups being installed...
PRS SE Bernie Marsden Setup
This guitar came in for a setup and to have the missing pickup selector switch replaced. A nice easy straight forward one.
Harmony Flying V
This guitar come in from The Music Locker and will be available for sale soon. I cleaned and setup this guitar and it's ready to rock.
Gretsch Streamliner
This Gretsch came in with a tuning issue, which meant that it wouldn't stay in tune at all. The owner had replaced this original tuning machines with substandard ones and wanted to replace the bridge. The replacement bridge was too tall and caused the...
Takamine Acoustic
This acoustic came in not looking its best almost straight out of the box. The neck had a massive back bow and on inspection the truss rod was as tight as it would go. The action was still very high, so I needed to do some work on the saddle.
Hohner Jack Bass
This old bass came in for setup. The truss rod was almost as tight as it would go and then neck still wasn't quite right, the only thing I could suggest was a lighter set of strings. To be honest it was too bad but sometimes you just can't get them to...
DeArmond M-75T
This guitar came in with the owner not knowing much about it but wanting a setup and general "once over". I was happy to tell him that he had a solid instrument that would stand up to any Gretsch Electromatic or similar guitar. I have a soft spot for...
Yamaha RGX 211 Re-fret
I haven't seen one of these guitars since I was at school looking at designs before I made my first electric for my GCSE in CDT. Am I showing my age? Anyway, the owner wanted this re-fretting. Still can't figure out why there are two nuts, anyone?
...
1962 Fender Telecaster Re-fret
This old Tele came in for a re-fret. It's a players guitar and has been re-finished at some point, along with some other mods including something like a P90 being added in the bridge and then changed back again at some point in it's life.
The fretboard...
Gomez Gibson Acoustic
This Gibson acoustic belonging to Gomez came in with a nut that had worn too low. I replaced the worn old one with one made from bone and gave the guitar a full setup.
Taylor GS Mini
This little acoustic came in with the owner complaining of a high action and that he wasn't generally happy with the guitar. On inspection I concluded that the neck was at the wrong angle.
Taylor guitars have bolt on necks which helps with setting...
Kramer Pacer (Yes, another one!)
Yep, another Kramer Pacer! This one through some real curve balls at me as it had been set up quite badly and some odd things had been done. The action was high and it just felt wrong.
First of all the trem didn't match the radius of the fretboard...
Fender Jaguar
This Jag came in for a general setup and with a complaint that the bridge wouldn't hold the low E in place and it kept popping out. This a common problem as there isn't much string tension on the saddle. A small amount of work with a file sorted this...
60's Hofner Verithin Bigsby
This guitar came from Music Locker who I do work for from time to time cleaning up guitars and making them ready to sell. In this case it's an old Hofner Verithin, probably from the 60s.
The frets where very worn as was the fretboard but with some...
Fender Precision Bass
This bass came in with the owner complaining that it wasn't playing well and was fretting out. With this description I'd thought that it might have needed levelling and re-crowning. On inspection there was absolutely nothing wrong with it that a straight...
70's Yamaha SG30a
This old Yamaha came in with a broken saddle and in need of a little TLC. The first problem I had was actually getting the broken saddle out as the head had twisted off the screw, which was bent and jammed in there bridge. With a little encouragement...
Gibson Les Paul Gold Top
This guitar came in for a general once over. Nothing really to report other than the nut was cut too low. This is a prime example of a guitar that's being played and falls from it's best over time without that being noticed, it doesn't;t need much to...
Fender Mark Hoppus Bass Pickup Install
This bass came in to have an extra pickup installed but the setup was also quite bad and the action was very high as a result. I installed the pickup and then found the neck had quite a bad bow, this was the cause of the high action. Some small adjustments...
Fender Telecaster with Blown Nut
This Tele came in with the owner complaining that the D staring was fretting out. Turned out the nut had either worn or been cut so low on the D and G string that the guitar was unplayable. I used the old bicarb trick and it came up a treat.
Custom Pedal Board for Peli 1510
This pedal board was made to fit a Peli 1510 for Bombay Bicycle Club.
LTD Ninja 600 V Re-Assembled
This guitar came to me after it had been refinished. I had to make a new clear scratch plate, install new pickups and re-install the hard-ware. Then I gave it a quick setup including resetting the string height at the nut.
Fender Stratocaster Trem Block
This Strat came in with the owner wanting the trem blocking off to make it like a hard tail. This required making two blocks to literally "block" the trem off. The nut also needed some attention as it had been cut too low on some strings. Instead of...
1970's Left Handed Fender Stratocaster Re-Fret
This Strat came in with the action almost 3mm at the 12th fret. The frets themselves were also very worn so it was time to pull them out and start again. A prime example of a guitar that had been neglected to the point where it was almost unplayable....
The Heritage H150
These are like buses; you never see one and then two come along at once! Here we have another example of one of these guitars from the Kalamazoo factory. It came in for a setup and with issues with the tailpiece. Fairly easy fix and while doing it I...
American Fender Strat Re-Fret
This Strat came in after apparently having the frets levelled and dressed but the pitted frets suggest that they've just been polished? Anyway, the owner wanted this re-fretting with stainless steel frets, see what you think.
1963/64 Gibson 330 re-fret - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Here we have a guitar that belongs to The Jesus and Mary Chain. Dates somewhere between 1963/64 and has been well used. I've worked with this guitar before and am well aware of it's issues; wobbly bridge, inability to intonate, a fret that had been pushed...
PRS SE 247 Setup
This is a brand new guitar that just needed small adjustments to the nut, neck relief, action and intonation. For a guitar straight out of the factory I rated this.
Maverick F1 Fret Level
These guitars turned up in the 2000s. A bit like Ibanez I think, they may have been made by them, who knows?
Anyway, this guitar came in with some flat spot in the middle of the fretboard and some pitting. A fret level sorted it out and a little...
Kimbara "Les Paul"
This Kimbara came in for a re-fret and new nut. A real throw back this, with on-board effects. What do you think?
The Heritage L150 Fret Level and Setup
For those not in the know, these guitars are made in the original factory (or part of it) that Gibson guitars were made in in Kalamazoo. The company was started by ex Gibson employees who wanted to continue the tradition of high quality, hand made guitars....
Japanese Squire Stratocaster Restoration
This Strat came in with the front sanded to make in look satin. With a buff and polish I was able to bring this guitar back to life.
1970s Fender Precision Bass Setup
Here we have a lovely old P bass with some really odd discolouration around the edge which I initially thought was the paint job. Turns out it's water damage, probably from sweat.
For some reason I forgot to take photos of the bass after I'd put...
Franz Ferdinand Pedal Boards
Doing some work for Franz Ferdinand this summer and I've started with some new pedal boards. The photos show what the boards looked like before and after my rebuild.
5150ii Footswitch Re-house
Fairly straight forward request from a customer to re-house the foot switch from their 5150ii into a smaller box.
Pete Back Custom Explorer Re-Fret
Re-fret of a hand made Pete Back Custom Explorer that the owner says was possibly the second Explorer Pete ever made in the 70's. I think I'll let the pictures do the talking on this one...
Warwick Thumb Bass Headstock Repair
No inspection photo on this one, I forgot! You'll have to take my word for it but this bass came to me with the break in the headstock having developed gradually, the owner suggested that when he bought it the headstock had been glued enough to disguise...
LTD Alex Skolnick Setup
Here is a fairly straight forward gallery of a very straight forward setup. Can you even see the difference between the guitar at the start and when it's finished?
Custom Pedal Board for Peli 1510
I wanted to make a small compact board that did lots of stuff. This fits into a Peli 1510 and with the Boss MS-3, a Cry Baby Wah and a custom made Rangemaster clone is capable of pretty much everything I need.
My custom junction box means that I...
Kramer Pacer - Purple Leopard
Did the 80's ever end? Apparently not. The guitar came in with the frets lifting and what looked like a bad level job, possibly done by the previous owner to sort the high frets. On top of this the neck looked a bit like a snake and the back had been...
Fender Modern Player Jazz
This bass came in because the owner could get the .175 gauge string through the bridge as it's so massive! I drilled the hole slightly larger and then gave it a setup for F#. I'm not sure I could hear it has it was tuned so low.
Jackson "Shark Fin" V
Both volumes on this guitar continued to let sound be heard when turned down, this suggested that either the ground was not a solid connection or that the pot itself had become faulty.
The ground tested fine but the pots gave odd readings pointing...
Fender Stratocaster Elite
This Strat came in with the owner complaining about fret buzz that had become noticeable on the E and the A string. On a new guitar like this the cause is usually a little bit of movement in the neck and can be cured by a small adjustment of the truss...
Gibson SG brought back to life
This is a real players guitar. The owner told me it was from 1973 which I've yet to confirm, but the serial number places it somewhere around there I think. Due an intermittent problem with the wiring it had become neglected of late so it was brought...
Custom Pedalboard
This custom made pedal board fits into a Peli 1650 so is quite large. It has two levels and is made using light weight board. The outputs terminate at a custom made junction box that converts to XLR cable with the two audio lines going to one cable and...
Vintage V6 Bone Nut and Setup
This Strat copy came in for a bone nut and setup. For me a bone nut just resonates better than anything else and I use them on my own guitars. This one falls in with the "not a big transformation" files but here it is anyway.
Ibanez Roadster Fret Level and Dress
Here we have a well loved guitar in need of a fret level and dress.
Sunn Mustang
This Sunn Mustang came in with a high fret, however on inception this was an understatement and full level and crown was required.
Hohner Steinberger Guitar
Not something I see everyday, this Hohner Steinberger came to me with the owner complaining that it wouldn't hold it's tuning after his son had been over enthusiastic with the trem.
On inspection I discovered that a locking lever was missing from...
Gibson Les Paul R8 Setup
Straight forward setup on a Gibson Les Paul R8. The setup removed fret buzz on the D and G strings especially and goes to show that even a top end guitar like this can benefit from a bit of TLC.
Epiphone Jack Casady Bass Bridge Repair
Sometimes the bridge posts on basses like this become loose, either because the hole has somehow become enlarged or any glue that has been used has failed. Literally the pressure from the strings pulls the post out and renders the bass un playable.
In...
Fender Telecaster Bulldog Pick-Up Install
This USA Fender Telecaster came in to have some fantastic Adrian Ingram Bulldog pickups fitted. While I was at it, it made sense to give it a full setup as well. These pickups sound great and really made this guitar sound as good as it possibly could....
Gordy Redshift Re-Fret
This Gordy Redshift had been out of commission for some time and came to me with no strings and in need of some serious TLC. For those who don't know these guitars were built by Gordon Whitham, the Gordon part of Gordon Smith Guitars. From what I can...
Re-Wire on Jackson Rhoads JS32
This Jackson came in with the owner complaining about excessive hum. When I looked in the cavity everything seemed a bit "scrappy" but when I checked it out everything was electronically fine. The "hot" wires from the pickups had been extended (from...
Fender Telecaster Setup
This USA Fender Telecaster came in with excessive fret buzz. I could see straight away that the bridge saddles were very low which gave me a clue about the neck having too much relief on it. This would definitely cause buzz. On top of this the guitar...
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Re-Wire and Setup
The owner of this Les Paul had attempted to upgrade the wiring and parts to match the 50's scheme. Unfortunately he had managed to push the shafts of the potentiometers through their metal casing which was causing the guitar to cut out as the contacts...
Old Fylde Acoustic in for a re-fret and more.
This Fylde acoustic was bought in 1976 by the owner, I saw this guitar last when I was working in Richtone in Sheffield where it had an issue with the bridge. This time it's come to me for a re-fret and a request to make the side dots more visible. On...
Gibson SG Standard
This guitar came in with the owner complaining that the strings (especially the high E) were choking when bending passed the twelfth fret. When I inspected the guitar I found that the neck had way too much relief on it and the strings weren't matching...
Duesenberg Starplayer Special
This is what happens when you play a lot of gigs and never wipe down your guitar afterwards. Rusted metal work, tarnished frets and moving parts that were so gunked up they no longer moved. The bridge had also collapsed meaning the radius of the bottom...
Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass
This bass has been well used and was ready for some TLC. It also acts perfectly as a reminder why having a good setup is not only worth while but can save money in the long run.
I had noticed that the first, second and third fret had some pretty...
Custom "Rickosound" Splitter Box
Dominic, the bass player from Mogwai asked me to build this splitter box so he could use the "Rickosound" output form his Rickenbacker bass. Basically this allows you to have the sound from each each pickup come from two separate amps.
Andy MacFarlane's (The Twilight Sad) Custom Pedal Board
Custom pedal board built for Andy from the Twilight Sad. This board is on two levels and weighs considerably less than a Pedaltrain. All custom made by me.
Gibson SG Special
Another Drop C guitar in for a setup and replacement pot. Pretty straight forward but I think it's nice to see what can be achieved from doing some work on a guitar that, on the face of it looks fine.
Fender Stratocaster
Mexican Fender Stratocaster in the workshop for a setup. Nothing major to report on this guitar but you really can feel the difference (and hopefully see it!) that some TLC has on a relatively new guitar like this that is regularly played but left on...
Orville Les Paul Custom
This guitar has had some upgrades which hadn't weathered so well and eventually the guitar had stopped working. From what I understand it had been left for some time and was in need of some TLC. The main issues where, there was no output meaning there...
Gear4Music 12 String Acoustic
Here was have a cheapish 12 string acoustic pretty much straight out of the factory. You can really see the benefit here from giving a new guitar just a little love and attention as most companies just don't take the time. The fretboard was so dry that...
Lindo Acoustic
This acoustic came in with a very high action. This was due to the neck bending up after the body and a slight bulge where the bridge was. Unfortunately there's not much I can do about the bulge as it's down the bracing being inadequate, and in the case...
Fender Strat Clean, Setup and New Tuner Install
I think I worked on this guitar a few years ago when I levelled and recrowned the frets. There really isn't much metal left and refret is imminent in my opinion. That being said it's a great guitar and really came together after I'd cleaned the rusted...
Vintage "SG" Style Guitar
I saw a Les Paul Junior like this that must be part of the same series (I assume this as it was the same colour) and for a relatively cheap guitar they're not bad at all. This guitar was part of a few that came in at once for a setup ready for a recording...
Tiger Stripe Kramer Pacer #2
This week has been the week of deja vu; here we have another Tiger Stripe Kramer Pacer in for a setup. Not much to report as this guitar was practically brand new but it had been sent out to the customer with a terrible setup. I gave it the works and...
Re-Fretting A 1979 Gibson "The Paul"
You may recognise this type of guitar from an earlier post, this guitar is a year younger and came into me for a stainless steel re-fret. Once this was completed it needed to be setup to be played in A STD with 13-65 gauge strings. I also stripped and...
Washburn T-14 Bass new pickup install and setup.
Deja Vu? You might recognise this bass from a couple of weeks ago as it was in for a re-wire. Since then the owner decided that the standard pickups weren't up to much and I recommended as set of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders. As well as the pickup...
70's "Hardtail" Strat re-fret
These Stratocasters from the 70's had very thin fretboards that are just veneers laid over the neck, meaning they are very thin which can cause problems when doing refrets as you need to level the board before you put the new frets in. This guitar had...
Fender Telecaster Setup
Here's a Fender Telecaster that has been refinished in green. Just needed a general setup and clean.
Washburn Bass Re-Wire
This bass was bought second hand and the previous owner had tried to upgrade it. Unfortunately it looks like this was total guess work so the best thing to do was to start from scratch. Here you can see before and after and hopefully it speaks for itself....
Starforce Superstrat
Not many photos on this one I'm afraid as I've been so rubbish with this of late, mainly because I've been so busy touring. Anyway, I'm back on the horse and to start with I have a trip down memory lane... for me at least. The first guitar I ever owned...
Ernie Ball Valentine with High Frets
An Ernie Ball Valentine guitar which the owner had complained about excess buzzing
Another Yamaha Acoustic Re-Fret
This guitar was passed to me through Rich Tone Music and all that was needed was a re-fret as all the other work would be done in the shop. Really warn frets which I put down to the fact the fret wire on these guitars seems to be really soft.
Fulltone Soulbender Repair
Here's what happens to a Fulltone Soulbender when you stamp on it really hard.
Sunburst Fender Stratocaster
Not much to do on this Fender Strat other than the usual fret work and setup jobs.
1978 Gibson "The Paul"
Here we have a 1978 "The Paul" owned by Tom from Wild Beasts who I work for form time to time.
"Factory Fresh" Squire Jazzmaster
Not the most exciting transformation ever; here we have a brand new Squire Jazzmaster.