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Private member DiscussionAmps, Pickups, and Pedals

Help needed identifying real PAF

Hello estimable friends, A very long-term friend of mine left us on Christmas Eve after a long illness. His sister tasked me with evaluating, restoring, and selling his stuff. Today I'm preparing to restore a 2008 Longhorn GOM to its original EMGs. Pulling out the humbuckers I see a Pearly Gates and… what looks like an original short-magnet PAF. Correct shape brass screws for the bobbins, UV light confirms sticker and tape, tooling mark…

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Lindy Fralin quickly pointed to me that the pickup looks authentic all right, but the magnet is non-original. Having a second look at it myself, I realized very fast that it has been changed as it is…
Private member DiscussionNeck Reset Database

Thoughts on Saddle and Bridge Heights During a Reset?

Hey all, I’m curious to know people’s general thoughts on the appropriate or ideal saddle height after a reset. And, when to replace a bridge that’s been shaved down. I know there are a lot of factors (for me anyhow) and this question could open a whole can of worms when it comes to the specifics of the guitar, its age, style of bridge and desired sound. I’m providing an example I encountered recently, but would also like to know people…

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^*Pics are after*^ in case it was unclear.
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

Truss Rod Length - Is there a "rule of thumb"?

Friends - My "go-to" truss rod for my basses has been the rod sold by LMII; however, since they are now out of business, I am evaluating what other rods are suitable for bass guitar necks. The attached photos are all showing truss rod lengths from the front edge of the nut slot location on the blank. One photo shows my last LMII rod (23 1/2" in length) vs. 2 other rods, one longer (23 11/16") and one shorter (22 1/4") -- all measured f…

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I think that the 22.25 is fine to run. It lands over the neck pocket and those last few frets are getting sanded down to create a fall off anyway. Have you ever thought about changing the design and…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Martin D-18VM No truss rod?

In the process of evaluating the repairs needed on this guitar I checked to see if the truss rod was working. There is hole in the transverse brace where you would normally insert a truss rod, but all I see is the end of a metal bar with a smallish hole in the center. I tried several allen wrenches that would fit in the hole, but nothing seems to grab. Did they really eliminate the adjustable truss rod on this vintage reproduction? Here'…

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A reproduction with that much wrong?!?! Did the thing go of a cliff in the back of a car without a seat belt, get thrown, and wash up 10 miles south?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Neck reset for this Harmony H162?

I just posted this question over on the patreon app chat which I think might not be the best place, so I'm posting here. Apologies for the redundancy! The Patreon app confuses me a bit. This is a friend's Harmony H162 I'm evaluating. Needs bridge reglued both otherwise is in good shape. It's either had a neck reset before or just doesn't need it as action is low, 3.5/64" on low E with .007" relief. There are two areas I can slip a .006"…

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Link says video is private. Would love to see the video and what you mean by it's not standard! thank you!
Private member DiscussionJob Postings

REFERRAL: Looking for a shop that repairs vintage banjos

Back story: I work as a Repair Tech at a Guitar Center in Florida. A gentleman brought in a 50-year-old vintage banjo where the tuning peg on the neck had broken off. I don't have the equipment in-store to do this type of repair, and I told him I'd try to find him a shop that does. I'm looking to refer him to someone experienced in these repairs where he'd ship the instrument to you (i.e., you don't have to be in FL) for evaluation, quot…

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Laurel Mountain Machineworks and Andy Fitzgibbon. He's very responsive and I believe he has machining capabilities. On instagram if you have at Andy Fitzgibbon and you can find him on Google. Guy's…
Private member DiscussionGeneral Business

Taking in work from local shops

I was recently contacted by a popular independent guitar in my town asking if I'd be interested in taking in some repair work from them. They do their own basic set-ups and electronics work in-house, but the owner is looking for someone to pass along the structural repairs, body work, restorations etc. that pass through his store. I'm not super-enthusiastic about the store taking a cut of the repair cost, but the increase in work volume…

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I contract with a local store (6 miles away). They send me the more complicated repairs and take 10% which seems fair to me. The biggest challenge I have is at the intake stage. I'm asked to evalua…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Eval outline markup sheet for Parlor

I use markup sheets for evaluations and couldn't find a generic version for parlor size. This is based on a Martin 00 but the form is sufficient to me. I'll be doing more of these if you think of something you'd like for me to outline. Link below.

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What does it mean, this "squid"? If a US Marine said it, it would mean a member of the Navy....