Component swap :: 1986 Fender MIJ Stratocaster Contemporary [7.9 lbs]

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A local player for a funk band picked up this made in Japan Strat years ago and loves how it plays, but not so much on how it sounds.  He found the original pickups to be lacking output (all pickups 6.0k) so he brought it by the shop to install new guts under the pickgaurd.  The new pickups he supplied are GFS 1963 Strat Texas wound pickups with their outputs reading 6.1k (neck), 6.5k (middle - RW/RP) and 8.6k in the bridge.  The middle pickup's "RW/RP" stands for "reverse wound / reverse polarity" which means that it is hum cancelling when combined with the neck or bridge pickup (positions 2 & 4 on the 5-way switch).  He also supplied CTS pots, a 0.022 µf Orange Drop tone cap, new 5-way switch and Switchcraft output jack.

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Top crack & fret level :: 2012 Gibson Custom Shop ES-359 [7.2 lbs]

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A custom shop 2012 Gibson ES-359 in for a fret level and an odd top crack.  This is the main guitar for Caton Sollenberger of The Jauntee.  He is heading out on the road starting from Worcester, MA at the end of the month.  The band will be kicking off their fall east coast southern tour.

The final setup video from the vlog:

Laminate top crack :: 2012 Gibson Custom Shop ES-359

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A really odd crack for a laminate top.  This top's outer maple veneer has split and lifted around the bridge pickup rout.  I cleaned out the dirt and fit a splint into the crack along with re-gluing the separated veneer.  It won't be a pretty repair, but it should keep the crack from spreading.

Pre-tour tune up :: 2001 Gibson SG [7.3 lbs]

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Pre-tour tune up :: 2001 Gibson SG [7.3 lbs]

Jonathon of Tigerman WOAH dropped by to have his SG checked out for an upcoming run down to Nashville, TN.  Those who have been following the shop for some time will recognize this well-played workhorse.  It's been in for a broken control cavity, broken headstock, broken strap button screws, etc.  This time it was in for a high fret.  Check out the vlog to see the problem fret addressed.

2001 Gibson SG :: broken screws

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2001 Gibson SG :: broken screws

I needed to fabricate a couple custom screw extractors to cleanly remove two broken strap button screws.  The extractors are made from stainless steel tubing sized to fit over the screw with teeth cut into the end.  I sourced the tubing from McMaster-Carr.  The extractors are run counterclockwise in a drill to not risk driving the screw deeper if it grabs.  The broken screws can be seen here.

Look for a blog post coming soon with more details on this guitar.