By admin on September 2, 2010
Yesterday I worked on the replacement bridge for the EH-150 I am restoring. I don’t have an original bridge so I used a tracing of the footprint visible on the guitar and pictures. I used my tablesaw and bandsaw to rough out the shape and cleaned it up with files and sandpaper. A final buffing [...]
Posted in Main
By admin on August 18, 2010
Sometimes you just need a hacksaw for guitar work! After a little elbow grease I managed to fashion a Charlie Christian reproduction pickup for the Gibson EH-150 I am restoring. I’ll have to wait a while to get it mounted to get a true idea of how it sounds but it is working and ready [...]
Posted in Main
By admin on August 18, 2010
My frend, Paul, found this 1959 Epiphone Coronet that had been modified. He filled the extra routs and brought it to me to have the top refinished. He sent me these before and after shots including the new security guard! More photos here…
Posted in Main
By admin on July 1, 2010
I just set up this Gibson Custom Slash Les Paul Signature. It is at Krazy Kat and could be yours. More Info.
Posted in Sideblog
By admin on June 15, 2010
This week I worked on a two different kinds of broken necks – the all too common broken Gibson headstock, and a cross threaded Fender P-Bass neck with a loose truss rod.
There’s not a lot of mystery behind this repair, just careful gluing and touch up. Whenever possible I use hide glue for this [...]
Posted in Main
By admin on June 8, 2010
I just setup this cool DeArmond M-75T for Krazy Kat. It’ll be in the store later today and could be yours…..
Posted in Main, Sideblog
By admin on May 25, 2010
I just finished reassembling this 1976 Les Paul Custom. It had been painted black over the original black finish and the owner decided that he wanted it completely stripped and redone. It took a little longer than I expected but I am pleased with the results. Click here for more photos.
Posted in Main
By admin on May 18, 2010
Chris Smart, from Robot Monster Guitars, brought this Carvin AB-45 bass into the shop a few days ago with a sunken top. Looking in the neck pocket quickly revealed the problem. Both braces, or tone bars, had come loose in front of the bridge. Luckily cleaning and gluing is fairly easy with access through the neck [...]
Posted in Main
By admin on May 6, 2010
Posted in Martin D-35, sideblog2
By admin on May 6, 2010
After multiple coats of lacquer it is ready for a final sanding.
Posted in Martin D-35, sideblog2
By admin on April 12, 2010
After more than a year of slow progress (sorry Mitch!) I put the finishing touches on this Bajo Sexto inspired Telecaster for Mitch Webb. Mitch had the idea for this guitar a long time ago and it is finally done. Dubbed “El Raunchocaster”, it has a mahogany body capped with a maple top, maple and [...]
Posted in Main
By admin on March 17, 2010
Posted in Current Pic
By admin on March 5, 2010
With all the frets installed the final step is leveling and crowning. I use a metal leveling bar with self adhesive sandpaper to level the tops of the frets. I sand until all of the top show sanding marks being sure to preserve the radius of the frets.
For crowning I used diamond crowning files and [...]
Posted in Jazz Bass Refret, Main, sideblog2
By admin on March 5, 2010
I press the frets in using a special clamp from Stuart-Macdonald which accepts grooved radiused cauls to match the fretboard radius. Although it is a bit tedious I press each fret 3 times starting with a caul one size down to seat the fret ends, then with one that matches the radius, and then one [...]
Posted in Jazz Bass Refret, Main, sideblog2
By admin on March 4, 2010
With all of the frets removed it was time to determine which replacement frets to use. Using a tang width slightly larger than the original can stiffen a weak neck and is advisable if the slots a very worn. The closest wire I could find was exactly the same as the original but the slots [...]
Posted in Jazz Bass Refret, Main, sideblog2
By admin on March 3, 2010
Removing the frets went easily as well. The finish was not heavily built up around the frets. I heated them gently with a soldering iron and slowly worked along their length with the fret pullers. Here is a short video of the process.
(video)
Posted in Jazz Bass Refret, Main, sideblog2
By admin on March 3, 2010
A good friend brought me the neck for his Jazz Bass to be refretted. Before doing anything I mounted it on a surrogate body and strung it up to make sure the neck was adjusting properly and to check for any abnormalities. Everything looked good. It had a nice gradual curve under tension and adjusted [...]
Posted in Jazz Bass Refret, Main, sideblog2
By admin on March 2, 2010
I just completed a neck reset on this great Gretsch Anniversary. The complete process is documented here. If you are interested in the guitar contact Spacetone Music.
Posted in Main
By admin on March 2, 2010
After a few coats of black lacquer and a few coats of clear lacquer the repair is barely noticeable. The action is greatly improved and there is plenty of room for adjustment.
Posted in Gretsch Anniversary Neck Reset, Main, sideblog2
By admin on February 24, 2010
With the neck glued in place all that is left is a little clean up and finishing.
I filled the screw hole with epoxy filler and carved it flush with the heel. I stained it dark brown to make finishing over it easier.
Unfortunately part of the heel cap came off during the repair. The plastic material [...]
Posted in Gretsch Anniversary Neck Reset, Main, sideblog2
