Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first few

B

BluesGuyJ

New member
Well, I posted about this some time ago. I pulled the trigger on a cheap used guitar on reverb. I picked u a Cort G200 in black, with white guard and rosewood board.

I got it for 75 shipped in an awful gig bag.

There seems to be no fret buzz, and there is minimal fret end hanging off the fretboard at the higher frets, maybe 16-22.

Here is what I want to do:

1. Tackle the fret ends. Where can I get an affordable set of tools to give this a wing?
2. The intonation seems alright, it could use a little tweaking. The tuning stability is pretty much crap, so I'll be blocking the trem. ANy written out tutorials on other sites on how to do this?
3. This guitar has a 9.5 radius and I read online has 1 and 11/16 nut width, which is aka 43mm (correct?). I'd like to order a preslotted bone nut. I don't know how to identify if this has a curved or flat bottom?
4. I'd also like to get some locking tuners. What measurements do I need to look for? There is currently no string tree, as I think the headstock angle does not require one.5. The input jack has some shorting issues. If the cable doesn't sit just right, there's an awful buzzing sound that comes thorugh.

All in all, I am kind of impressed with this guitar for $50. Supposedly, it has a basswood body, but who really knows.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

Wise move to practice-up on an inexpensive unit first.
Some things like fret-work and soldering can take time to develop a decent touch.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

I bet some sandpaper will knock down those fret ends pretty well. It's always worked well for me. You could also use a fine file, like the diamond side of the file in a Leatherman tool.

If you're open to something aside from bone, Tusq preslotted nuts are a great way to start. They usually only need minimal finishing work, and they're cheap.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

Thanks for the tips and the link. I think it makes the most sense for me to block the trem before anything else.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

I would get a decent flat block and sand down the ends along the entire length in single strokes. Start with something rough and work your way to smooth. I would invest in a crowing file and then round off the ends and sharp edges after the fact. After you have crowned the edges you can hit them with fine sandpaper to finish them off.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

I've been reading a lot about leveling, crowning, and polishing. As for taking a block to the side of the frets, I know I should painters tap. Should I play painters tap all along the side of the neck, just until it meets the right angle of the fretboard? The fret ends are not that bad, it feels better than mst MIMs I have played.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

BluesGuyJ said:
I've been reading a lot about leveling, crowning, and polishing. As for taking a block to the side of the frets, I know I should painters tap. Should I play painters tap all along the side of the neck, just until it meets the right angle of the fretboard? The fret ends are not that bad, it feels better than mst MIMs I have played.
Click to expand...

Well i dont know i have only ever done it to raw neck in a building process not one already finished. I imagine you would have to use tape or you will pul up the finish.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

Can we get back to the "You are Blind" part?

Seriously? Are you visually impaired or blind-blind?

This is interesting. I can guess there are some things you could not do if completely blind, but others you might truly excel at...
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

90% of the legally blind have some sort of vision.... I am not completely blind and was born with vision, but have a degenerative condition. I can see a computer screen is on, and when screens change from program to program (sometimes), but see it as moving blobs of color, nothing more. I use screen reading software. I can hold a guitar and tell the difference if it has a rosewood or maple board, but that's based on contrast. I may have trouble telling if its ebony or rosewood, as they both just look dark to me.
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

BluesGuyJ said:
90% of the legally blind have some sort of vision.... I am not completely blind and was born with vision, but have a degenerative condition. I can see a computer screen is on, and when screens change from program to program (sometimes), but see it as moving blobs of color, nothing more. I use screen reading software. I can hold a guitar and tell the difference if it has a rosewood or maple board, but that's based on contrast. I may have trouble telling if its ebony or rosewood, as they both just look dark to me.
Click to expand...

Just do whatever man you wont be able to see if you **** it anyway hehe. My eyes are **** i have bad Keratoconus but dude how can you even consider this?
 
Re: Blind and teaching myself guitar repair: got a cheapo, need some help with first

consider doing what? Repair work? Getting caught up in working over the how only serves as a barrier. For the most part, I do some things very differently than folks with vision. Then there are some things I find to be damn hard. When it comes to filing frets, I'll need to go slower than most and use touch to make sure I am not destroying the bevel angle on the fret ends, the crowning points, and the like. Pickup height is usually to taste. Regardless, you can glue together nickles and use that method as a measuring tool, with out having to read a ruler/micrometer. Get at the fret ends until they feel good. Get tuners that are drop in replacements, and a nut that is already cut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top