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Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

How to treat warped neck

Hi everyone! I'm looking for advice about heat treatments for a warped neck, I know they are a thing but I've never actually done one. I have an Epiphone Les Paul in the shop that originally I was only going to do a level/crown/polish and a setup on, but when I tried to adjust the truss rod and checked the fingerboard with a straight edge I noticed there was about .030" of relief in most of the middle section, which was pretty consisten…

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Private member
Thanks so much, you guys! I appreciate the help. Sorry I haven't replied, got caught up in things :)
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

70s PBass refret

I have a 70s PBass with a maple “A” neck that could use a refret. It still seems to have the original frets. I tried a level and crown on the already low frets, but I think it needs refret. The frets in the money area are pretty low, .030-.025 and I’m concerned about removing them sideways, as I’ve never had a chance to do that. I understand from the fretorama with Joel Wilkins that when they are this low it increases the difficulty of…

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Private member
I've noticed they don't always come out easiest in the same direction either. I can't imagine why, but it seems some were driven in from the treble side and some from the bass side. So if you're havin…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Fretwork Processes...

Hey everyone, I could use some advice as far as the fretting process is concerned. I’ve been doing guitar repair since around 2008, I opened my business doing guitar repair in September of 2021, and I’ve always felt that fretwork has been the most challenging part of this job. I’m getting to the point now where I finally feel like I’m getting the hang of it, but I’m not where I want to be yet. I should mention that I use the Erlewine…

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Private member
Hi David, I'll throw my two cents in here. Rather than go through my thoughts on the entire fret level and crowning process, I'll toss some of my observations in. Firstly, if you haven't watched it, I…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Fretting a fret slot that won’t hold the fret

Hey all, I’ve got a Prewar Martin on my workbench (1932/33 0-18) and this thing has unfortunately been through the guitar center wringer. I’ve had to reset a fretboard that was glued down with Gorilla glue and as well, rejoint the neck and underside of the fretboard. I had to repair a large deal of tear out that was sitting underneath their fret job and because of that I now have a brittle fret slot all up the board that will not hold a fr…

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Private member
Gotta rig up something like this. Been using that clamp for years. Just got the Jaws II a couple weeks ago.
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Finish Damage from Proper's Workstation

Hey everyone, I just had a Tele clone built by a small builder in my Proper's Guitar Workstation for a new nut and a fret level. It was clamped down in the workstation for less than a day. I just noticed that the rear hold down clamp left its footprint in the finish. No, I don't know what type of finish the builder used, but I'm trying to find out. I'm thinking its not nitro or poly because I use my TVPGW everyday and this has never hap…

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Private member
Thanks Doug. I probably should have worded things differently. My goal wasn't to appear to throw shade unnecessarily at the workstation or question its efficacy. I was wondering if the urethane could…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Insufficient Downpressure on hofner violin bass bridge?

Hey y'all, just been tasked with setting up one of those hoffner violin basses — they're strange but fun things, this is one of the modern reissues but it still has the bridge with the frets hammered into it for saddles. The owner plays in a punk band and has had issues with the low E string jumping out at times. I assume without some way of getting the tailpiece to be held down rather than at the angle it wants to be, the best option w…

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Private member
Thank you! Feels like the best way to go about it with the least change to the instrument, but still wanted confirmation from someone more familiar before going and doing anything permanent. Failing t…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Trussrod and refret

Hallo, I have an old archtop (plywood) that needed a refret. There is no trussrod. I talked to the owner, he knows that my work will maybe/eventually more expensive than the value of the guitar. But it was only after leveling the fretboard that I realized that the fret slots are completely off. I talked to the customer again, and we agreed, that I should put a new fretboard on the guitar. I have one, that I took of an old guitar, and reuse…

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Private member
just for giggels: from fret to fret in mm: 33,8 32,8 28,9 29,9 28,6 24,3 24,8 23,8 22,0 19,6 19,6 19,6 (!!) 16,4 16,4 14,5 14,3 13,9 13
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Refretting a Harmony Archtop

Hi Gang, I have a 1966 Harmony Archtop in need of a refret and fingerboard leveling. I have not done a refret on a cantilevered neck before. Are there any tips or tricks for supporting the fb extension while fretting?

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Private member
Thanks Ian
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Shredder Ski Jumps

I have a new client with 100+ shredder type guitars. He gave me a couple of the easier ones to work on. The first is an ESP which fretted out with bends up above the 12th fret. I thought it was just the 2/64th" low action, but the last two frets seemed really high. I suspected there was a shim in the pocket, and yeah, there was. The bottom of the neck heel is deformed where the shim was. The shaded/dirty area at the bottom edge. Not den…

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Ian Davlin
Those side markers are a real concern. Here are some options Drill the markers out, fill and instal new markers after the leveling. Make as much improvement as is possible without hitting them Pull th…