Fender Bi-Flex Truss Rod Repair
Restoring a non-functional truss rod to working order can be one of the more complicated jobs that a luthier specializing in repair may have to undertake. In many cases, replacing a broken truss rod will require removal of the entire fingerboard, which is a costly and invasive procedure. On the more simple, single action style of truss rods, the removable adjustment nut is made out of a softer material, such as brass. This [...]
Gibson A4 Restoration
Repair and restoration work on vintage instruments can pose certain unique problems. Sometimes, restoring an instrument to playable condition while staying true to the original specs is not always possible, and compromises have to be made. Occasionally, the problem is the result of a design flaw on the manufacturers part (such as the plastic bridges used on some 60’s Gibson acoustics), in which case it’s almost universally agreed that replacing the bridge with a [...]
Tacoma Thunderchief Headstock Repair
This Tacoma bass was in the shop recently for a broken headstock repair. Someone already attempted a repair, but the glue up failed. This makes fixing it properly a bit more difficult the second time around, as the glue residue left over from the previous attempt can weaken subsequent glue ups. Whoever attempted to fix this bass the first time around sanded most of the finish off of the back of the neck. [...]
Regal MOTS Refret
A refret is a serious undertaking on any instrument. On some vintage instruments, however, there are factors at play that make an otherwise routine job far more complicated. This late 1920's Regal tenor banjo has what is affectionately referred to as a 'Mother of toilet seat' fingerboard. The fingerboard itself is maple, but it's overlayed with pieces of faux mother of pearl made from celluloid, a somewhat primitive and rather unstable plastic. In most [...]