Your next guitar?

[Ian B]

My tech is good, but how I wish the guy behind Feline guitars in the UK was doing work for me. Have a look at this photo journal of a fret dress, etc he did on a Fender Squier CV 60 strat (from CM forum)

http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85844

[Uncle E]

I've been through a bunch of them and they have all been EPIC FAIL! Seriously, it's been one unbelievable headache after another.

That's the reason for Plek machines: perfect, computer-controller consistency every time. Ask them to use the Suhr preset.

[Hink]

@hibidy

How can you not have a tech?? Yeah I can do basic wiring, intonation and neck adjustment too but I'd rather have a tech do that for me. Along with all the other stuff they do like fretwork. At the guitar/barbershop if you buy pickups they'll install em for free on the spot.,,And,,,,And,,,,they'll let you sort thru the tone pots they have in stock before they seal it up they have tones laying around for free or you can try the pay ones as well. I've got this OLP MMI (music man axis copy) It sounded and played horrendus when I first got it. My tech leveled the frets dressed and polished them, replaced the tuners, swapped out the pups with dimarzios installed a tone pot with a coil tap and replaced the block. it's not only louder it's punchier with a crisp attack and balsy sustain. The action is as low as my parker with no buzz and no deadspots.

I think you meant me and not hibidy about not having a tech and the answer is simple...I am a tech (in fact in one store that was small I did a ton of repairs on the side and some for the store). I went to a vocational school for 4 years for tool and die making, there are very few machining processes I'm not familiar with or well qualified to do. Of course you may ask if I do not have a machine shop at my disposal what difference does that make?

Well, any machinist will tell you it's not about the operation at all...it's all about the setting up for the operation. So 4 years of schooling taught me a lot than how to work in a machine shop, knowing things and understanding things are two different things. You can learn to do anything by repetition and those that do so in a shop are called machine operators, not machinists.

Wiring doesn't even factor into the picture imo, if you are going to drive youy should know how to change a tire. If you are going play an electric guitar you should know how to set it up and change any electronic part. My first guitar I took apart completely the first day I had it, so I have been doing this for 40 years.

Once you have a deep understanding of how things work (again not just electronics) then unless you just don't want to do the work I cannot see a reason not to do things myself. I'm sorry but I do not believe any tech will do a better job than I can for me...which is the important part...for me. Given the tools and machines there is not a single thing I could make from scratch on an a guitar including the machine heads (in school we had an entire sememster on gears which takes a lot of technical knowledge to make).

I once went into a music store in the early 90's looking for a barrel jack for my guitar, the dude said "we dont sell them but we will install one for 35 dollars". I said no thank you, found another store and paid under 5 dollars for the jack. I have done fret jobsI have repaired bodies and headstocks...my only fail ever was trying to replace a fingerboard on a neck without the proper machines. (fail as in the neck was not repaired but I learned from it)

Here's a great example...a Kramer neck for a Ritchie Sambora that I broke the end of the headstock off on. That fail I just mention was a jackson style neck and what you see here is my cutting part of the jackson head stock off, drilling three small holes for pins and then finishing it. (I wish I had before pics)







(in the last pic you can see the line between the two parts)

Here's the biggest reason though, I took machine shop for a reason...I like to make things. I was raised this way buy a father and every male role model in my life except for one being an engineer (the one that was not an egineer was almost done building a 45 foot catamaran in his yard when he died). My father and stepfather built many cool things and I learned that there is more than one value to doing it yourself. Recently while disscussing building a tube amp with someone they suggested I might run into things I didn't expect and my only thought was "I hope so, otherwise why do it?"

I dont jump in when I build something or repair something, that's not how I was taught. Remember it's not about the operation, it's about preparing for the operation. In a shop that means a whole lot of things to mantain accuracy, in the real world it means studying up on things and learning. That's what school taught me, how to learn, how to research, how to teach myself, how to prepare and then how to do what I want to do.

What could a tech possibly offer that is better? If I understand how to set up a guitar, have done many, have the confidence then why should I pay someone more than the job is worth when at the end of the day I have gained so much more?

1. The repair is done
2. I saved money
3. I learned (and I love to learn)
4. I enjoyed it
5. (the biggest) for me there is no better feeling than a job well done and then reaping the reward for that job well done by sitting down and playing guitar that I set up for me, I built for me or pedal, amp, dulcimer or anything else I build. It's mine, I did it and I take extrem pride in that and in fact it's a major part of WHO I am.

So you ask why I wouldn't have a tech? Because I do not need one. Why do I do it myself? (because face a lot of people do not need a tech either but use one) Because I can and I love a challenge...I call it pride

With that said I know my limitations, I'm not going to do things that could be to my own detrement either. Fortunately I know when to admit when I am in over my head, when I'm wrong, I am not afraid to ask for help, we live in a world now where I can find most of the help I need right on the internet and if all else fails then perhaps it's time to take it to a pro. For instance when something happens to sofisticated eletronics of today like once having to have my Alesis QSR repaired (well twice, the pros screwed it up the first time)


It's who I am and I like it, the satisfaction of building something that works as it should is a great feeling and something I cannot get anywhere else...if I ever have a house I will have a machine shop (albeit a small one) just for fun and making things because around the house I am the same way as were the men before me on my family tree.

[Hink]

Its all about 'Mass' hibidy, I am sure John has encountered many a 'sustain' block (the bit that makes a trem/floyd weigh alot). The idea is the bigger the mass the more improved the sustain. John mate you definately could make your own blocks of varying mass with the machining skills/knowledge/practice you have and test them out to hear if it does aid or abet

My girl, Molly is playing what you guy's call 'soccer' tomorrow/well technically today as its the 05:52am here and She has played for just over a month now and is well into it, So you guys can now...Call me 'soccer mom' \m/

Dean aka The Nekro Soccer Mom

I could but I do not have the machines at my disposal, though a classmate in machine shop is now the teacher at the same school. However I do not have a complaint about sustain on any of my guitars

[Hink]

I've been through a bunch of them and they have all been EPIC FAIL! Seriously, it's been one unbelievable headache after another.

That's the reason for Plek machines: perfect, computer-controller consistency every time. Ask them to use the Suhr preset.

sorry, I like a human aspect to everything...I see the purpose, especially if you do a lot of work for others. But if I take my time I'll be as accurate as a computerized machine (btw I am CNC certified too but a lot has changed since then, like our CNC was tape based and you used a typewriter type device to punch holes in the tape when you wrote the program). You might not like my results (in fact I'm sure a lot of people might not) but I am fussy and when I am done it's exactly how I want it. The most important part for me is that I am in no rush so I can work on things at my pace and when I am at my best.

[Dean Aka Nekro]

@Dean,
Re rich people that can't play or understand guitars. Too many stories from the babershop/guitar store. It's a ma pa place The owner is one of the techs. I've seen him throw out wannabe guitarists irl lawyers who cant' play and blame the guitar. But on the other hand the techs will tune a guitar for people which I find hilarious.
:Can you tune that for me?"
"Sure, that will be ten dollars but I can't promise it will stay in tune once you leave the store"
"Oh that's fine, I've got a big show tonite"

I kid you not.

0% apathy, It is hilarious Mike as is thier renditions of Clapton, SRV and Hendrix numbers or even worse the same 12-Bar blues using the three chord progression and 'soloing' in the open E scale, Occasionally sliding up to the twelve doing the same...More slop hand than slow hand. Its as generic and done to death as deamau5 aping/want to be progressive house sort...Maybe worse. Would love to see footage of store owner losing his rag and booting one of those suits right out onto the curb YUPEE Kay Yay

Speaking of kids. If a kid (under 18 ) comes in the same store and wants a string change they have a different approach. Okay I'll show you this once, you'll get it on the first try. We'll work together putting the strings on and tuning it then you'll know what to do. Because trust me you don't want to be known as a guitarist who can't change his own strings or tune his own guitar.

That is good, Its encouraging the young players to teach themselves critical skills which money can not buy and that sort of attitude/experience just does not translate/compute to the chain stores. I have said before and probably rattling on again but anyway I will always use my local which is a totally independant even if i could save £5 elsewhere for the whole package of having a real two-way conversation. On top of that with the price of fuel over here sky high like usual the trip to the mass market retail places would cost a good £5 anyways. Its all about being comfortable to try whatever that any player may wish without pressure as if the gear tried out is good then it sells itself really. Well when i always try something i know like you all no doubt do whether or not it is for me or not (Even appreciating stuff that does not suit my personal needs but is obviously quality for what it does excel at). Regarding your OLP playing and sounding like a much more expensive guitar, I fully agree/heard it for myself Mike. We really have never had it better options wise and price to quality ratio is top notch with most stuff these days if a person is willing to spend some time on it and some extra upgrade of certain parts

Cheers Mike and all the best you way

Dean

[hibidy]

My tech issues are far more basic than fret leveling

I'm not going through a blow by blow but with one exception they were all idiot fuckwit dodo's who were insulting in their ridiculous explanations and action.

me: "The G string is sticking at the nut" idiot: "No problem, it probably just needs the slots widened a bit" sounded like a normal conversation to me.

go to pick it up

idiot: "was able to get the action down really low, guitar sounds nice too"



me: "But I needed that nut fixed" :pissed: (idiot goes back to take a look and comes back)

idiot: "I put some nut sauce in there"

Sadly, this isn't even the worst one but it's the most recent. Anyways, I hate them with a passion so I do what I can on my own now....sac sucks wads of ass.

[trimph1]

Well, for me, the idea of a tech that can understand my way of putting things...remember, I have an aphasia when it comes to technical terms...and is within a 2 hour drive of where I live would be ideal...

Then again. I did say I was

[tapper mike]

idiot: "I put some nut sauce in there"

Why do I have a feeling this will end up in a lounge thread?

Man, this thread has been a good read.

[hibidy]

idiot: "I put some nut sauce in there"

Why do I have a feeling this will end up in a lounge thread?

Man, this thread has been a good read.

Nut sauce is a product that is a nut lubricant. The point is the guy said he was going to file the nut properly and TOTALLY FORGOT and did a bunch of stuff I didn't ask for.

[tapper mike]

Yeah I know. Nut sauce can be percieved as something else as well having to do with the male reproductive system.

[hibidy]

Yeah I know. Nut sauce can be percieved as something else as well having to do with the male reproductive system.

Oh.........I see I'm having another very blond moment

[Uncle E]

You might not like my results (in fact I'm sure a lot of people might not) but I am fussy and when I am done it's exactly how I want it. The most important part for me is that I am in no rush so I can work on things at my pace and when I am at my best.

Yeah, I get it, tweaking guitars is fun, especially with your own instrument where you can hone the setup in closer every day. However, Suhr's play as good as it can get in my book and I love that I can drive to the Suhr factory to get my instrument back to the exact setup it had when I first bought it at any time.

btw, hibidy, Plek's do nuts, too.

[Ian B]

My tech is good, but how I wish the guy behind Feline guitars in the UK was doing work for me. Have a look at this photo journal of a fret dress, etc he did on a Fender Squier CV 60 strat (from CM forum)

http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85844

That said, my tech picked up the Skylark CountryWood today and immediately identified a couple of issues after just a quick visual examination without my needing to point them out. I suppose to the trained eye these things are easy to see, but I rely on just how it plays.

Within the first few seconds he'd commented on how the nut slots were a tad high which has a detrimental affect on the action overall, but no biggie to put right. The neck relief needs sorting out, which I'd assumed to be the case but had left alone and a couple of high frets need levelling before a final fret dress to get the best possible action for me, ie as low as humanly possible.

The only thing we disagreed on was the string guage, he reckoned they were most likely 9's while I was convinced they were 10's, either way we agreed that 11's or perhaps even 12's are best on this type of guitar. I supplied a set of 10's and 11's and left it up to him to fit the most suitable. I should hopefully have it back some time next week, tho' I'm in no rush and told him to take as much time as needed to do the job.

[Hink]

You might not like my results (in fact I'm sure a lot of people might not) but I am fussy and when I am done it's exactly how I want it. The most important part for me is that I am in no rush so I can work on things at my pace and when I am at my best.

Yeah, I get it, tweaking guitars is fun, especially with your own instrument where you can hone the setup in closer every day. However, Suhr's play as good as it can get in my book and I love that I can drive to the Suhr factory to get my instrument back to the exact setup it had when I first bought it at any time.

btw, hibidy, Plek's do nuts, too.

you must have missed this thread..my friend that posed the question in the thread provided a link to the dude who makes the suhrs (apparently if I remember correct he really likes mahogany) but I'm not sure I can find it though.

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=329320

I agree with you and your POV but you get me which many dont, a big part of me is the whole package and I was so raised on diy (like my ultra cheap bike I made with my step father that was a 9 speed, started with a 3 speed 5 dollar yard sale bike and 30 dollars later was the envy of all my friends).

It's just how I was raised and such a big part of who I am and I wouldn't change it. That machine though would be cool that's for sure.