Since I've shut down my mobile guitar-tech business and referred the last client out to someone new, I thought I'd pass on the thoughts I left them with, before closing down shop here, too.
First off, there are a lot of good techs and luthiers out there and more and more of them have formalized training and certification that scarcely existed a generation ago. Take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. If you want to get the most enjoyment and best performance out of your guitar, see a professional and be prepared to spend some time getting to know them and letting them get to know you and how you play. Your guitar is not an automobile. I cannot tell you the correct spec for the torque on your trussrod, because it will be different for every player and every guitar. The fact that a certain fret height works for me, doesn't mean sh*t to Relic, just like he can't keep strings in nut slots that work fine for me and Shreddy plays with action you could run a riverboat under. Other than possibly certain medically implanted devices, I can think of no more intimate physical or psychic relationship to a material object than a guitarist to their instrument. If you are interested, most community colleges seem to offer a course or two and you should always feel comfortable asking your repair person if they'll "show you." Many are happy to, if they have the time, so if you really want to watch and learn, make sure you let them know that you are flexible.
I loved working on electronics and swapping pots and pickups. With the exception of some very poorly made imports, I realized that they all do pretty much the same thing. I can replace ceramic disk and chicklet capacitors all day long. I have even been known to keep a healthy supply of the ones I remove. They all work fine and all objective evidence says that they perform exactly the same. .
Here's where I piss off a lot of you: Playing one more hour every day will improve your "tone" more than swapping any pickups, capacitors, pots, wire , bridge, tuners, fx boxes amplifiers, techs or even strings.
No amount of money will buy you good sound. Newell Fungermacher will sound great on his NeoTurd 100th anniversary with pregrooved and flattened frets, if he's practiced four hours every day,. Conversely, you'll sound like the neoturd if you only pick up your Les Paul R9 on the weekends. It is you making the sound, if it isn't the one you want, change what you are doing. The guitar, any guitar, is just doing your bidding. If it sounds too muddy, try picking more crisply and toward the bridge.
Lastly, keeping up with the little stuff: If you don't wipe your axe down thoroughly after every use, you should. New crap dusts off more easily than dried on. If you put your guitar awy with a pick (or anything else) stuck between the strings, you shouldn't. I wouldn't care to count the number of times a client has brought me a guitar with strange fret wear, and when I opened the case, I found a guitar pick stuck over the strings above the exact spots that were wearing. When it suddenly needs a neck adjustment, new nut, bridge, stopbar, et cetera, change your strings. Just saying. Finally, keep it in a case, when you aren't playing it (my worst personal sin against guitars.)
I hadn't really thought of how long I've been at this, until I packed up my shop. Parts and tools that will likely remained unused by their new keepers, due to obsolescence. And I sense that I too am just a rusted bit of flotsam who's time has passed long ago, so with a bit of sadness and a truckload of memories, I think I will also retire from this arena, in favor of you who are still sure of foot and full in your own wisdom. I will look in from time to time to see how Wav's guitar comes out and such. Thanks all, for your many indulgences, best of fortunes and
First off, there are a lot of good techs and luthiers out there and more and more of them have formalized training and certification that scarcely existed a generation ago. Take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. If you want to get the most enjoyment and best performance out of your guitar, see a professional and be prepared to spend some time getting to know them and letting them get to know you and how you play. Your guitar is not an automobile. I cannot tell you the correct spec for the torque on your trussrod, because it will be different for every player and every guitar. The fact that a certain fret height works for me, doesn't mean sh*t to Relic, just like he can't keep strings in nut slots that work fine for me and Shreddy plays with action you could run a riverboat under. Other than possibly certain medically implanted devices, I can think of no more intimate physical or psychic relationship to a material object than a guitarist to their instrument. If you are interested, most community colleges seem to offer a course or two and you should always feel comfortable asking your repair person if they'll "show you." Many are happy to, if they have the time, so if you really want to watch and learn, make sure you let them know that you are flexible.
I loved working on electronics and swapping pots and pickups. With the exception of some very poorly made imports, I realized that they all do pretty much the same thing. I can replace ceramic disk and chicklet capacitors all day long. I have even been known to keep a healthy supply of the ones I remove. They all work fine and all objective evidence says that they perform exactly the same. .
Here's where I piss off a lot of you: Playing one more hour every day will improve your "tone" more than swapping any pickups, capacitors, pots, wire , bridge, tuners, fx boxes amplifiers, techs or even strings.
No amount of money will buy you good sound. Newell Fungermacher will sound great on his NeoTurd 100th anniversary with pregrooved and flattened frets, if he's practiced four hours every day,. Conversely, you'll sound like the neoturd if you only pick up your Les Paul R9 on the weekends. It is you making the sound, if it isn't the one you want, change what you are doing. The guitar, any guitar, is just doing your bidding. If it sounds too muddy, try picking more crisply and toward the bridge.
Lastly, keeping up with the little stuff: If you don't wipe your axe down thoroughly after every use, you should. New crap dusts off more easily than dried on. If you put your guitar awy with a pick (or anything else) stuck between the strings, you shouldn't. I wouldn't care to count the number of times a client has brought me a guitar with strange fret wear, and when I opened the case, I found a guitar pick stuck over the strings above the exact spots that were wearing. When it suddenly needs a neck adjustment, new nut, bridge, stopbar, et cetera, change your strings. Just saying. Finally, keep it in a case, when you aren't playing it (my worst personal sin against guitars.)
I hadn't really thought of how long I've been at this, until I packed up my shop. Parts and tools that will likely remained unused by their new keepers, due to obsolescence. And I sense that I too am just a rusted bit of flotsam who's time has passed long ago, so with a bit of sadness and a truckload of memories, I think I will also retire from this arena, in favor of you who are still sure of foot and full in your own wisdom. I will look in from time to time to see how Wav's guitar comes out and such. Thanks all, for your many indulgences, best of fortunes and
