Blog Archives

Blazing June

30/6/2017

The weather has been really hot but it's not slowed down the guitars coming into the workshop for repairs and customisations!

As normal we've had some stunning guitars and bass guitars through this month, highlight pictures below.

We're never to busy to work on your guitar or bass so please get in touch if you need any repairs, customisations or restorations!

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Fender Stratocaster Refret

24/6/2017

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This well gigged Strat was in the workshop for a refret, it's owner is a regular customer and we've been looking after this guitar for years. We reliced the neck at one point to match the reliced body the customer purchased as an upgrade.
It already had had several fret dressings before the frets had finally worn down to needing a refret!

With all our work we take the up most care and attention, especially with any refret or fretwork, we always mask everything to protect it. However with this guitar, from previously working on it, we already knew that the customer doesn't want any protect for his guitar, as he likes any marks and dirt to add to the worn look of the guitar.

With the refret, it had been decided after discussion, to have a played in feel to the frets, with the fret ends polished with a rounded end. This feels more comfortable in the hand, than a straight, flat fret end commonly found on new guitars.

First the old worn frets are carefully removed before the new frets can be cut, profiled and hammered into place. The over bend on the end helps the frets to stay in position while the glue sets.

Next the overhang of the frets is trimmed back before the frets can be leveled. If the frets have been installed well then there will be very little leveling needed.

Once the frets are 100% level, they are recrowned to ensure correct intonation of the fretted notes and allow smooth bending of the strings.
The tops of the frets are marked to ensure the level tops are not affected while the curve of the frets is filed into each fret.
Once the frets have been crowned, they are hand polished to a shine. This is not only pleasing to the eye but gives a comfortable feel when playing and bending fretted notes.
All the work done, a new bone nut was cut and fitted and the guitar was setup ready for the customer to gig with the guitar once more!

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Fender Custom Shop parts in a Squire Tele!

16/6/2017

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A very common request that we have is upgrading the parts on guitars to be the same as their more expensive counterparts.
With this repair, the customer wanted 51' Nocaster pickups fitted to his Squire Affinity Telecaster. The circuit was fully loaded with optional tone control extras.
Often with these types of repairs, the parts are not 100% compatible, this is done by the manufactures to avoid people doing what this customer wanted us to do.
With this customisation the problem arose with the control plate, as the squire plate was smaller, the solution was to reshape the scratchplate to allow the new plate to fit!

The photos above show the amount of scratch plate that needed to be removed along with the size difference between the plates.
Once everything was fitted and wired in, the guitar was setup to the customers playing style and it was ready to collect!

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Fender Headstock Refinishes

8/6/2017

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Like buses, we often have similar repairs arrive in the workshop at the same time.
As it happened we had a Fender Precision bass and a Fender Jazzmaster both in for headstock refinishes.
The P- Bass customer wanted a vintage logo on his, and the Jazzmaster owner wanted his new purchase to have a colour matched headstock, as the previous owner had wrecked the current one.
The first step is stripping down the hardware after removing the necks from the bodies. Then they can be sanded down, new custom decals were ordered in.

Tester showing the colour match for the new headstock colour.
Next step is applying the colour to the headstock, for the bass, an amber stain was applied. The decals are then applied, ready for the lacquer to be applied