What direction to wind a string onto a tuner is something that can be confusion to some players, especially those starting out. Doing it the wrong way can have consequences so check out how it's done.

SetupGerry Hayes13 July 2019guitar, bass, strings, stringing, tuners, diy

Plugging Holes: Plugs Vs. Dowels

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…

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes9 July 2019repair, hole, glue, plug, dowel, guitar, bass, diy

String radius from the top or bottom of strings

If you set your string action by ensuring the bottoms of each string are a consistent distance from the frets, doesn’t that mean the tops of the strings are now inconsistent because of the different string diameters? Is this a problem? Do you need to be concerned?

SetupGerry Hayes3 July 2019setup, action, strings, guitar, bass, radius

Integrated Pickup: Revisiting Action Setup

Another look at the integrated saddle/piezo pickup. You’ll most often find these in Takamine guitars but there are variants around. Like this Epiphone pickup. The action needed a little finessing here and this version presented it’s own challenges.

Guitar Wiring, SetupGerry Hayes28 June 2019electronics, piezo, takamine, epiphone, guitar, repair, setup, action, acoustic, pickup

Guitar String Spreaders

Keep those strings out of your way when you work on your guitar. It’s easy (easier) with string spreaders.

Check it out…

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes14 June 2019repair, setup, guitar, bass, strings, tools, tips

Bone Grafts for Problem Nut Slots

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.

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes12 June 2019nut, nuts, repair, guitar, bass, setup, bone, superglue

Filling a Low Nut Slot with Baking Soda and Superglue

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.

Check it out…

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes4 June 2019repair, nut, superglue, guitar, bass

Shimming a Guitar Nut with Paper

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.

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes31 May 2019nut, repair, superglue, shim, setup, guitar, bass, bone

Shimming a Low Guitar Nut with Hardwood

A 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…

Guitar RepairGerry Hayes28 May 2019nut, repair, shim, guitar, bass, acoustic, electric guitar, diy, bone, hardwood, mahogany, glue, superglue

Shimming for a Forward/Positive Neck-Angle

Can you reverse a shim to give your guitar a forward neck angle? Should you do this? Is there a benefit. Are some builders using this secret trick to improve their guitars?