While not completely irrefutable yet, I find the correlation of poor shimming practice and ski jump deformations in instrument necks to be compelling. I strongly recommend using a full-pocket (wedge-shaped) shim if you ever need to shim your bolt-on guitar or bass.
Please read my reasoning…
Read MoreTime for a slight rant. I often meet players who insist on treating an electric guitar like an acoustic guitar. And, that’s something that comes with some compromises.
What am I talking about? Read on…
Read MoreSooner or later you’ll have to make a small hole bigger to accommodate some new piece of hardware — tuners are a common one. You can’t just hack at it with a drill bit so find out how to safely make holes bigger.
Read MoreThe thrilling second instalment in the terrific tremolo tuning troubleshooting series. If you’re having trouble keeping your vibrato bridge in tune when you wiggle that whammy, check it out. It might just help…
Read MoreTremolo bridge not staying in tune? While the maintenance and troubleshooting of vibrato systems could fill a book, here’s part 1 of a ‘dump’ of tips. Maybe one of them will help you out.
Read MoreSo, after publishing the advice to always tune UP to a note for stability, I had a lot of questions about some advice from Fender saying the opposite when using locking tuners. Should you always tune up or should you sometimes go past the note and tune down?
Where’s my Debunking Hat?
Read More“…as low as possible without any buzzing…” says Steve Vai. That’s one of those phrases that really rattles my cage. Simplistic and missing an important nuance. Read me disagree with Steve Vai.
Read MoreSo, we need to talk. There’s one thing in the whole ‘tuning chain’ that is worth considering as being a source of tuning problems. It’s a bit delicate, though. And, well… it’s you!
No, really…
Read MoreIf you were lining tuning problems up against a cop-station height chart, the NUT would be the prime suspect. He’s got motive and opportunity and his alibi is looking shaky.
That damn nut is probably the biggest cause of tuning problems.
Read MoreMore ‘found’ stuff from the Haze Guitars archives. This time it’s an unusual opportunity for luthiery education from the early ‘60s.
I give you, the View-Meister…
Read MoreString-stretching is an oddly contentious subject so I’m not opening the floor for arguments or opinions. What follows is my considered view on how and why to stretch new strings. It works and it helps.
Feel free to disagree but do it on your own site. 😉
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