The guitar specialist is new yorks premier guitar repair and restoration experts located in westchester county, ny serving musicians from the new york, connecticut and new jersey area for. For example, you may simply want to refresh the finish with the same color, or even a different color. Cleating installing small patches of wood inside guitar to reinforce repair as necessary. Elliot johnconry of ejc guitars ages dans patch of new plastic binding so it blends in with the old binding around it. Restoration is the act of adding foreign material to a comic book through certain. My fav finishing book is bob flexners understanding wood finishing. Use a wooden dowel wrapped in sandpaper to get the majority of the old finish off in hardtoreach places, such as the curve of the horn on a guitar. This is an extremely common, somewhat expected condition on older instruments with lacquer finishes. But nitrocellulose is flammable and hazardous to inhale, so make sure you have a wellventilated work area and use proper safety precautions, like wearing a respirator mask. First, i want our visitors to be able to share guitar repairguitar building ideas and techniques in a spamfree environment. Second, i want to archive the great techniques from this forum and place them on the repair techniques page. This article discusses a remedy option for repair or redoing a guitar finish when the polyepoxy finish is no long presentable or desirable.
Guitar music is generally written in treble clef if you take lessons youll learn to read treble clef, while bass music is written in bass clef. Its not really noticeable as its in the top of the guitar, as you play it, but, since the rest of the body looks so pristine, id just as soon not have it there. Overall, the book has some great guitar maintenance and diagrams to give you some basic starting points. Someone needs to make a guitar repair video with a kickass car chase scene. December 20, 2012 december 18, 2012 by best bass gear. However, its important to remember that aging and environmental factors will gradually change a guitars finish over time. Apply by hand and wipe off to restore your guitar finish like a pro. John carruthers, legendary guitar builder and repair guru to the stars, has teamed up with alfred to produce this ultimate beginners guide to guitar repair and maintenance. This volume presents absolutely everything that any guitar repairman, player, builder or owner needs to know about the proper care of every kind of guitar. The best kept secret in bass guitar repair is superglue.
You have to be careful with the clamping so as to protect the finish. Dans books on guitar repair dan erlewines guitar shop. Jun 28, 20 spiderman stratocaster guitar body comic book strat. Youve been playing it for years, but the time has come to give it a makeover. Transfering an inkjet printed image to a guitar body youtube. You might find this gives your instrument unique character, but if not, refinishing is well within your ability. First off, do not get this if you wish to repair a solid state amp. Repairing guitars becomes easier as you become more skilled at diagnosing the problem and replacing parts properly. Please contact savage classical guitar via email with any questionsask for rich. Does your instrument need a setup, wiring, new frets custom modifications or even a restoration. Dec 20, 2012 bass is generally plucked using the index and middle fingers to pluck upward on the strings. The problem is that the repair may cost close to the value of the guitar. Renato bellucci is welcome to debate any of this with me in a public forum for the entire guitar world to witness.
Finally, i want to share some of my guitar repair and finishing. From telecasters and strats, to vintage guilds and gibsons and other beloved electric guitars, an experienced luthier will make all the difference. They can put it on fast and it builds thick easy to rub out to a high polish without burning through. If your electric guitar has a worndown or otherwise damaged finish, you can refinish it with a nitrocellulose lacquer, giving your axe a nice new look. From expert installation of factory parts to custom modifications, the sweetwater guitar workshop can handle it. As the author of guitar player s popular repairs column, he has shown thousands of guitar owners how to keep their instruments in top condition. Waterproof no scratch bubble free make ur custom sticker bomb today.
Apr 27, 2018 my technique for transferring an inkjet printout to a guitar body. If youre going to do anything more than install strings on. If you are set on having a specific color, or simply want to try your hand at refinishing an. My technique for transferring an inkjet printout to a guitar body. May 19, 2017 i have a takamine eg334rc that the finish has developed a white haze on about 60% of the guitar see pics. Each touch up must be evaluated by a tech at the production shop. Whoah playing the star spangled banner was an honor indeed more will be revealed categories. Were back at it with the new trade secrets email newsletter today. Any experience minor nitrocellulose repair gretsch. Or if it is, you probably would never bring that stuff anywhere near a bass guitar when repairing it.
John levan has written five guitar repair books published by mel bay. Well, no, ive often fallen asleep while watching a guitar repair video. Here is a tutorial on the complete repair of a les paul example. Guitar refinishing guitar bass and amplifier repair in. When youve removed all of the old finish, go over the guitar and make sure there are no uneven spots.
Jan 12, 2012 over the years, ive managed to pick up several small scratches in my 2006 sg special. Is it an expensive or common guitar and how much are you willing to pay to have it fixed. Have beautiful guitar with nitrocellulose finish and some minor abrasion or it and chipping on the neck binding bass side. Buffing scratches is an option if they dont go too deep. Guitar center most likely does not do the work, but can farm it out to somebody who does. The definitive book for finishing guitars and fretted instruments. Polymer finishes talked about the differences between an epoxy guitar finish versus a lacquer finish. It could also be partly due to the fact that when i read books, i start to day dream, etc.
Shaving fret ends grinding and filing frets due to neck wood shrinking. Electric guitar repair, restoration and setups return to electric guitar repair. The guitar specialist, masterful lutherie services for all fretted instruments. Its a complete guide from wood prep to finishing the finish and has color stain guide and a finish gallery.
Comprehensive, stepbystep instructions and closeup shots clarify how to set the action for ultimate playability, adjust for bulletproof intonation, and keep any guitar. I used it last year to repair a 70 yo guitar in one area. Bass is primarily a rhythm instrument while guitar can provide both rhythm and leadmelody. How to repair a paint chip on a guitar our pastimes. I own half a dozen guitar neck stands for repair and restringing and this is by far my favorite. How to survive alone in the wilderness for 1 week eastern woodlands duration. To my knowledge, the guitar has not been wet, but its not impossible. Llexi leon is the creator of multimedia concept eternal descent which began making noise in london, england in 2005.
Cyanoacrylate, which you commonly know as superglue, is something that probably isnt in your tool kit. Has anyone had experience with small repairs i am talking about repair to an area of about 12 inch by 18th inch couple such areas. Art biography business childrens christian classics comics cookbooks ebooks fantasy. I have read a lot online and tried most of the solutions mentioned with no luck. Im addressing the touch up of solid color areas here, not the repair of transparent guitar finish where the wood, although colored, shows through. First, to keep the terms simple, poly will be the term used to describe an instrument finish by way of a polyurthrene or expoy formula. One of the limitations when purchasing a guitar, especially a lowbudget model, is the lack of color choices available. It has one page 62 and it has very little useful information. From the end of the 1950s through the 1970s, highend radio cabinets often had high gloss polished finishes.
Customers tend to keep these cards as a record of the repair for yearsbetter than a business card. Our staff of the finest luthiers in the industry gives us the ability to confidently handle even the most indepth jobs, creating your perfect guitar. Toronto guitar repairs guitar repair shop in toronto. I are conveniently located in bay shore, ny exit 44 on sunrise hwy, just south of montauk highway. Checking will vary according to the extremes the instrument has been through. Its been a while since weve been to the belly up in solano beach and it was good to be. Comprehensive, stepbystep instructions and closeup shots clarify how to set the action for ultimate playability, adjust for bulletproof intonation, and keep any guitar in top condition for a lifetime. Dan erlewine is the author of guitar player repair guide 4. Eternal descent is a comic book and music series unlike any other, a crossgenre story that blends elements of fantasy, action, music, superhero, gothic, science fiction, supernatural and other elements into an ongoing saga. The dvd with the new guitar player repair guide includes printable repair forms. Were different than other toronto guitar shops because we service your guitar with your own personal music and playing style in mind. I actually had a dentist appointment yesterday and today a. Repair chips and cracks in finish fender stratocaster.
The cube allows you to position the fingerboard up and down for work on the board or on the frets, and it allows for you change the angle on the laying guitar and the height of the headstock which allows for greater flexibility. John also authored pg s guitar shop 101 column, hosted several pg diy videos, and is an authorized warranty technician trainer for taylor guitars. If the instrument needs little or no wood repair, and the finish is compatible with lacquer, a surface prep can be substitud for the wood prep phase, reducing the cost of a refinishing job by 25% to 50%. Removing scratches from guitar finishes lacquer repair. Electric guitar repair, restoration, setups schneider. It covers the repair, setup, restoration and construction of acoustic and electric guitars, and includes hundreds. Super glue plays an important role in many types of guitar repair.
Strings can be reused if desired, but the price for a restring will still be added. Complete guitar repair by hideo kamimoto, paperback barnes. At our shop, we use it in dozens of ways, but unless you understand its properties and know how to handle it safely, you can wind up in trouble in a matter of seconds. Daves years of electric guitar repairs, restorations and setups will prove significant to the end result.
The guitar doesnt slip and it doesnt scratch the guitar. Repair of high gloss polished polyester lacquer finishes. Check out the price list then describe your repair for us and well get you a live estimate. I bought cellusolve in a smallish container, long ago though. If your computer doesnt read dvd discs, no problem. Toronto guitar repairs guitar repair shop in toronto lil. When i use the term touch up i am usually referring to a relatively small area that can be repaired by brush work drop filling finish into a chip or valley or air brushing a small area. A guitar with a thin nitro finish will resonate better than one with a hard poly.
Guitar player repair guide 3rd edition new in this 3rd edition, the content is organized for you based on your skill level. Its a lot less detailed in some things, but a good quick reference. Every serious guitarist learns to set up, repair, and maybe even customize their own instruments. Ive done a lot of guitar building and repair stripping a poly guitar is slow but a good industrial strength stripper will eventually soften the finish enough to get it to release from the wood. Weigh in the huge possibility of your natural finish not being reasonable with the wood you might have. If you have a better quality guitar it might have a straight nc lacquer on it which is super easy to strip off. Given some of the alternatives a lovely if chilly spring day. A nonwarranty repair by sweetwater will in no way endanger or negate your manufacturer or total confidence coverage warranty. Determine the appropriate color more precisely when taking on a larger repair. Refined technology, premium ingredients, and advanced formulation. Dan erlewine demos three of his favorite finish repair tips. Its very informative and thorough, and easy to read. Ive showed my guitar to 2 luthiers and they have suggested 2 different approaches.
You can get a nice new finish while still preserving much of the character that was already there. You should check with a local guitar shop in your area that also does repairs and they should have somebody that repairs finishes, etc. Complete guitar repair by hideo kamimoto, paperback. If the instrument needs little or no wood repair, and the finish is compatible with lacquer, a surface prep can be substitud for the wood prep phase, reducing the cost of a. I own a guitar repair business and have been looking for something better than what i have to put the customers guitars on while im working on them. Guitar refinishing guitar bass and amplifier repair in new.
After enough time, the finish on a guitar will begin to fade. Often times a refinish may not be worth it instead of just selling and buying another guitar with the finish you want. Obviously scratches are a part of life, but on occasion we want to spruce up our instrument and erase some of the wear and tear associated with playing. As an instruments wood expands and contracts with moisture content stress is placed on the finish. Luthier and instructor, robert obrien, shows how to repair a finish using ca glue. This is the most comprehensive book ive ever found on guitar adjustments, repairs and refinishing. When buffing scratches out, quite literally, finish is being removed until you are at the bottom of the scratch, making the finish a. The color was cool when you bought it photo 1, but now youd like a change. To create such a finish, the surface of the wood was coated with up to 1 mm thick polyester varnish, followed by sanding and polishing. How to build a custom handcrafted acoustic guitar from start to finish. They are all written by luthier john levan and published by mel bay publishing. Just finishing my second cup of jorma kaukonens campfire blend coffee. The fifth book the big book is a comprehensive repair manual that covers all guitars, plus much more.
If you are set on having a specific color, or simply want to try your hand at refinishing an old or cheap guitar, you can learn how to repaint a guitar yourself. Luthier tips du jour mailbag 24 finish repair youtube. A guitar is supposed to look like its been played hard, and leaned up against beer stained amps, or smokey tavern walls, and thrown about in the back of pickup trucks, or tipped off stands by toddlers trespassing in dads music room, or dinged accidentally by big. Both luthiers are reliable ive read a lot about the super glue fix, but havent heard as much on the airbrush approach. You need to keep the surface flat while the solvent melts the lacquer. Dan erlewine author of guitar player repair guide goodreads. Nonwarranty repairs will be covered by a 90day parts and labor repair warranty. Feel those notes and get lost in it again with lildemon guitars repair shop in toronto. Calling a guitar manufacturer will generally yield some information regarding the exact type of finish that was used on a particular model. This warranty will only cover the work performed and does not cover defects unrelated to the original reported problem and completed repair. Discussion in guitars in general started by cuthbert, feb 18, 2011.
Professional guitar and bass refinishing at pace guitar repair. The ding im going to repair is small and round so its a perfect candidate for the nail polish treatment. By suspending a guitar above the bench all of the fret dust dust falls to the bench below far away from the guitar so i can concentrate on your frets and not worrying about the finish of the guitar moving around on a bench with fret dust all over it. Mar 18, 20 ive showed my guitar to 2 luthiers and they have suggested 2 different approaches. Fire roll, hand drill, bow drill, and bamboo fire saw duration. Dan erlewine is a widely respected guitar builder and repairman.
The first four are part of a faq frequently asked question series. How to refinish a guitar with nitrocellulose lacquer. Please allow 68 weeks minimum for all finish repairs and minimum 90120 days for refinishes. Electric guitar repair, restoration, setups schneider guitars. Now you can upload photos with your repair estimate request. Guitar scratch remover polish guitarscratchremover by. The guitar specialist is new yorks premier guitar repair and restoration experts located in westchester county, ny serving musicians from the new york, connecticut and new jersey area for more than 20 years. If you have a picture of your guitars condition, upload it to our estimator platform and well be able to get you an even more accurate repair. Includes glue and brush touchup with appropriate finish. Lacquer, polyurethane, polyester poly, even nitro nitrocellulose finishes for the best results ever. First, i want our visitors to be able to share guitar repair guitar building ideas and techniques in a spamfree environment. I have a takamine eg334rc that the finish has developed a white haze on about 60% of the guitar see pics.
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