The ‘Teeter Method’ of refretting isn’t something we hear about too much these days. It can be a very useful technique to have in your arsenal though.

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes12 January 2026guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds

Shielding and Static

Usually, static electricity is a hilarious way to annoy your family and friends by zapping them after you walk across the carpet. With guitars, thought, it’s even more annoying than that.

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes7 January 2026guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds

Quick and Easy has a place

Just a couple of quick tips this time. Sometimes, quick and easy is the way to go (as long as it doens’t become half-assed)

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes5 January 2026guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds

Tools: Rich Mans Nut Files

So, what about those posh diamond-coated nut files you can get? Are they any good? Well…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes29 April 2024guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds, nut, file, diamond

Tools: Poor Man's Saddle Sander

Those nut and sddle sanders they sell on eBay for not a lot of money… Are they any good? Well…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes25 April 2024guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds, nut, saddle, sander

Notched or non-notched straight-edge

Should you use a notched straight edge for guitar and bass setup? It’s a precision tool and is invaluable for some jobs. But maybe not setup. Read more…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes19 October 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, fret level, setup, measurement

Truss Rod Standards

Dealing with truss rods can often be a frustrating experience. There are no real standards. For the most part, you’ll encounter a smallish number of adjustment nuts and tools but sometimes makers throw curveballs. Looking at Maton today…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes12 October 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds

Rounding Out Tremolo Stabilisers (for now)

I’ll return to tremolo stabilisation (a particular implementation) at some point in the future but, for now, I’ve a few thoughts to round out the subject, including an important caveat for all these systems. Check it out…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes31 August 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds

Using Tremolo Stabilisers

After blocking, after dive-only setups, after tremolo-stops… It’s time to look at ways to keep the bridge fully floating but still add a little extra stability to the system. Let’s take a look at tremolo stabiliser devices…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes24 August 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, nerds, tremolo, floating tremolo, stabiliser, tuning

Setting a Tremolo for Dive-Only

We understand how to block a trem completely. We understand some of the problems inherent in a fully floating trem system. Now let’s look at some possible solutions to help bring a little stability.

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes16 August 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, trem, tremolo, floating bridge., stabiliser

The delicate tremolo balance

All this tremolo/vibrato bridge system talk has prompted me to talk about the problems that are inherent in these systems. Let’s consider the delicate balance and how some chimps can upset things…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes10 August 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, tremolo, balance, vibrato, bridge

Blocking a Floating Tremolo Bridge

A vintage Strat-style tremolo is relatively easy to block. A fully floating trem bridge is more challenging to do properly. The bridge should be blocked so it’s fixed in its ‘neutral’ position. That needs a little more work…

Guitar Repair, SetupGerry Hayes3 August 2022guitar, bass, repair, luthier, bridge, tremolo, vibrato, block, floating bridge

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