A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

[voggin]

Got my ES 339 back from the tech today. I took it in to get a full setup, and deal with a high 15th fret that caused a little choking on bends on the high E and B string.

I've had it for about 16 months. Got it used (it's a 2010). Fussed with it over that time, got it set up around where I wanted it action-wise. Couldn't quite get it intonated, upped the strings to .010s (previous owner had put on 9s). I'm not very good with truss rods, so I knew the guage change had messed it up a little.

Anyway, the tech got it all set up and happy. Filed the problem fret, did some work on the nut (the usual "ping" problem on the G), intonated it and got everything perfect and buzz free. Even cleaned up the fretboard and gave it a quick polish. All for the sum of $80 (CDN). Feels like it was custom built for me.

My father always told me, "Never begrudge a professional his fee." Certainly true here.

Hope everyone on the SDUGF has someone this good to trust their favourites with!

 

[richard parker]

Re: A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

Just had my Firebird Studio done. New frets, new nut, push/pull coil splits installed. Feels like a different guitar - can't put it down.

 

[Bludave]

A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

I have a master luthier who is like my younger brother. He is amazing and I learned a huge amount about doing repairs/setups. I feel I can do just about anything regarding a setup but IMHO what makes a guitar play well and stay in tune is exceptional fretwork and a properly cut nut. When nI feel I need this done I rely on the master

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

Myself. I just think it's a little pretentious of me to toast to mye.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

$80 doesn't sound bad, he certainly didn't screw you. I charged the last guy the same amount (USD) for a complete rewiring where I needed to get new pots and stuff, and a full setup on a weird Kahler design that did not really catch on. I don't think I charged too much. He was incredibly happy though and that is what I honestly care about most; if it wasn't perfect I'd fix it up a second time at no cost.

Also, I find a lot of times that G string "ping" is due to not enough lubrication in the nut along with not enough break angle from the nut to the tuning peg. Usually can fix it with graphite in the nut and a restring with more winds on the peg. Now you know.

 

[CTN]

Re: A toast to good guitar techs everywhere

well I'm no luthier, but all the people I've done setups or mods or fixes or whatever for, have been very happy.

And I'm not drinking right now, so i'll ghost toast myself. I guess.


But here's to real luthiers and techs who fight the good fight and struggle to make what they do a living. Lord knows it's a tough profession that has swallowed the lives of many a good man. :friday: