Because there are many variables when it comes to tuning problems, it’s not terribly helpful to give your guitar to a tech and say, “It won’t stay in tune.” Having a think about some stuff beforehand can make a good result more likely.
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Getting a Takamine preamp out of the guitar body is something that’s confusion to many. There are no obvious screws or clips. There’s a hole that might do something but, just one. What gives?
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Taylor’s Expression System preamp mounts very sleekly in the side of their guitars. If you ever have to remove one, though, you hit some bushings that can cause head-scratching. Check out the best (and safest) way to remove them.
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Sometimes you can use whatever’s handy to plug a hole; toothpick, dowel, or whatever. Sometimes, though, actually cutting a plug is the better way to go. Check out the pros and cons…
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Keep those strings out of your way when you work on your guitar. It’s easy (easier) with string spreaders.
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Need to repair a really screwed-up nut slot? Can’t replace the original and have to work with what you have? Slot too damaged for the baking-soda-and-superglue trick? Well, I may have just the thing for you… Bone grafts.
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Nut slot too low? The baking soda and superglue trick can really get you out of a hole pretty quickly. It’s best as a temporary repair but can sometimes work longer term too.
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Paper or cardboard is usually a terrible, tone-sucking material to use as a shim. Unless you learn this one cool trick that Big Nut doesn’t want you to know. You won’t believe what happens next! 😉
Nah, seriously… It’s good.
Read MoreA nut with a low slot (or slots) is a pain. It buzzes when you play the open string and sounds generally awful. You could replace it with a nice new nut but, sometimes you’re in a hurry or on a budget.
Enter the shim…
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WE’ve looked a some methods to remove a worn or broken screw. These have mostly involved gripping the screw in some way to try unscrew it from the guitar. But what if there’s just no way to grip the screw? What’s the thing we leave until the very end to try?
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If there’s just no grip left on the screw, it might be necessary to drill out its head in order to remove whatever it’s holding in place (a pickguard or tuner for instance). Learn how to drill worn or stripped screw heads for removal.
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Screws can get worn, corroded, and crammed with crud over the years. Removal can become challenging. Here’s the first in a series of posts with tips for removing stubborn screws.
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