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repair

No battery, no pickup :: Mitchell MX400 QAB NAT [4.4 lbs]

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No battery, no pickup :: Mitchell MX400 QAB NAT [4.4 lbs]

A very quilted-figure Mitchell acoustic in for a dead pickup.  The first thing I always check with acoustic pickup issues is the battery.  As the voltage drops, so does the headroom of the onboard preamp eventually fading away to silence.  This happened to be missing a battery all together so a fresh 9V brought the pickup back to life.  The player was surprised that it was just the battery as he had tried replacing it himself.  I've had other pickup fixes in the shop solved by a new battery so maybe I just get lucky sometimes. 

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Refretting over the body :: Takamine Santa Fe

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Refretting over the body :: Takamine Santa Fe

A Takamine Santa Fe in for new frets.  This fancy contraption is Stew Mac's improved version of a Taylor Fret Buck.  When hammering frets I use a heavy lead shot bag under the neck to make the frets go in easier.  The trouble with hammering in frets over the body is that there is no mass to absorb the hammer blows.  This fret buck has a tongue that goes inside of the soundhole and is tightened up against the bracing under the fingerboard.  I have had great results using this fret buck method.  In the past I would hand hold a heavy steel block under the extension with one hand and knock the frets in with the other.  Awkward, but worked well.

Check out the video below where I'm preparing the new frets for installation.

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Headstock repair :: Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

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Headstock repair :: Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

A Fender acoustic in with a broken headstock.  Part of the break follows the scarf joint and then on the bass side it goes vertical.  Fortunately it was a nice clean break and hinged on the overlay (ie still attached).

My glue of choice on a clean headstock break is hot hide glue.  It dries super hard and is not susceptible to creep like yellow or white glues.  Creep is when the glue joint slowly deforms under load.

Check out the video below for the repair and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

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