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Private member DiscussionGeneral Business

I was on a Podcast about my guitar business.

Here it is. I thought it turned out ok. Hopefully it's a help to someone. ☺️

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Private member DiscussionGeneral

Crazy electrical issue

So today, while restringing a guitar, one of my techs dropped a .012 e string that slid down the wall and landed on a plug that was just slightly loose from the outlet. It landed just right and made a huge spark. No lesson to be learned here but a crazy thing to happen! We are changing our name to Sparky’s Guitar Service. 😬

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9 replies
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Ian Davlin
I had that happen a couple times as a young looth. Garbage can next to the outlet got me.
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Who made these pickups?

I didn’t recognize the pickups. Any idea who made them? Trying to nail down the color codes Images

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Private member
I was trying to figure it out without pulling pickups. I pulled one out to see. They are Lambertones.
Private member DiscussionAmps, Pickups, and Pedals

New Pickup in Andy Wood's new Billy Strings D28

We install a lot of LR Baggs pickups, but nobody has ever gotten more excited about their new pickup than Andy Wood. If you don't know Andy, watch this fun video.

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Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

First Backstrap repair

This is my first Ian Davlin backstrap repair. I’m really excited about how this turned out. Ian…you’re the man! 😊

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7 replies
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Ian Davlin
Man, that looks killer !
Private member DiscussionCNC

New Makera entry level CNC?

Anyone Else looking at the Makera Z1? https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/makera-inc/makera-z1-entry-level-cnc-pro-level-power? Earlybird price is $799. Looks like it might be good for a newbie like me?

3 replies
3 replies
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Private member
yeah, cool machine but what would you use it for? For me the leading machine for a small shop right now is the Altmill 2x4'. I think I could do everything on that and the footprint is small enough f…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Guitar Case Repair?

Does anyone offer repair of guitar cases? I've done a few and it's kinda fun (traditional wooden cases only). With the prices of guitar cases going up, I'm wondering if there might be a market. They are less of a throw-away item at $200 per case. I've had three people ask in the past few weeks: Broken latch, missing handle, loose lining. We replaced the handle with one of the buckle-on handles. If so, Any training available that you…

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5 replies
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Private member
If I could find a source for the clam shell hinges (the offset ones on the plywood acoustic cases), I would do case repair in a heart-beat. I've probably spent 100s of hours searching and inquiring.…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Need help with 1915 Gibson Mandolin

I’ve got this early Gibson A mandolin that has been separated for a long time. Even without string tension I can’t line the back up for repair. Any ideas? TIA

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Private member
that does sound like a sticky wicket. :)
Private member DiscussionGeneral Business

Labor Cost Percentage

Including yourself and your employees/contractors, what is your labor cost percentage? For me it's 54%, but I'm thinking that's high? Curious what others see in your business.

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Private member DiscussionPLEK Machine

First Plek Post

Just noticed this category was here. Since nobody has jumped in, I'll be the first. We've had our Plek machine since last summer and did just over 300 Plek jobs in the first year. It has become a tremendous asset in our business. I'm happy to be a part of any discussion here. :)

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Private member
Love my Plek Station!
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Guitar Polish Recommendations - Silicone Free?

I'd like to start a discussion about guitar polishes. We have always been careful to use only non-silicone products on nitro finishes. We previously used Stewmac Preservation polish for years, but they don't offer that product anymore. We recently had maybe what was a bad batch of Stewmac "Clean and Shine" that was softening nitro finishes so we trashed it and haven't purchased anymore. The first bottle we got worked great, but the s…

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Private member
I miss the old Gibson polish in the aerosol cans. That stuff worked really well to clean and shine old nitro finishes. I don't like their pump bottle polish they replaced it with. I'm currently usi…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Broken les paul bridge post

This is a super sucky repair, I know. A customer brought this Goldtop LP in. He decided he wanted stainless steel posts. So he pulled out the post, then somehow broke a drill bit off inside the hole. The broken bit is still in there. Then he put the new stud in and broke it off too. He asked me to remove both the broken stud and the broken drill bit. 🤷‍♂️. This may impossible but any advice is appreciated.

6 replies
6 replies
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Private member
Thanks. Yeah, the screw extractor didn't work. I couldnt drill through the stainless post he installed, it's so hard it kept chipping. I ordered exactly what you said. I have the stewmac one for the…