LUTHIER/TECH OR DO-IT YOURSELF...YOUR PREFERENCE?

[crawdad]

I'm just wondering--how many us here do our own instrument work? How many take our prized axes to an experienced luthier?

I'm interested in what others are comfortable with:

electronics--pickup replacement, etc
fret work--new frets, level and crown, new nut, setup
intonation, etc
finish work--refins, touch ups
building a partscaster from, well...existing parts
building an instrument entirely from scratch--body, neck etc.
pickup building/rewinding

Seems like there are a lot of talented do-it yourself types and a lot of folks who defer to an expert. I'm just curious about what fellow forum members choose when their Tele or other guitar needs some work.

[RockinCarl]

Originally Posted by crawdad

I'm just wondering--how many us here do our own instrument work? How many take our prized axes to an experienced luthier?

I'm interested in what others are comfortable with:

electronics--pickup replacement, etc
fret work--new frets, level and crown, new nut, setup
intonation, etc
finish work--refins, touch ups
building a partscaster from, well...existing parts
building an instrument entirely from scratch--body, neck etc.
pickup building/rewinding

Seems like there are a lot of talented do-it yourself types and a lot of folks who defer to an expert. I'm just curious about what fellow forum members choose when their Tele or other guitar needs some work.

I do pickup replacement.
(re)wire guitars.
Build Partscasters.
(re)wind pickups.



Fun stuff. :D

[Pete Galati]

[*]electronics--pickup replacement, etc

I hate doing guitar wiring, but it's part of putting one together.
[*]fret work--new frets, level and crown, new nut, setup

I'll polish them. I don't like having to level them, and I'm not about to refret a neck. I have nut files. Somewhere. But Warmoth's cut nuts are almost as close as I'd cut them anyhow.
[*]intonation, etc

Intonation, I kind of do by ear. It's too pesty using a tuner for that one. But my guitars don't get played by an intonation freak. Just me
[*]finish work--refins, touch ups

That last Tele I stuck together will be the last time I'll have anything to do with doing my own finish. I'm not any good at it, and I don't want to deal with the fumes, so I'm not doing it anymore.
[*]building a partscaster from, well...existing parts
building an instrument entirely from scratch--body, neck etc.

Years ago, I built some Strat like bodies from scratch. Neither one of those got to keep their necks.

The last two humbucker Telecasters that I stuck together, started life as Tele bodies with single coil routes. By now, I consider that a mistake, because IMO I should have just bought bodies routed for humbuckers.
[*]pickup building/rewinding

I don't have a pickup winder. I'd rather send a pickup to an expert for rewinding anyhow
[*]I'm just curious about what fellow forum members choose when their Tele or other guitar needs some work.

If I had more money, I'd probably just stick everything in a box, and ship it to the Rice family. I'd rather think of what I want, than actually put it together.

Pete

[Hafner]

Here in Zurich/Switzerland we have a wonderful guitar-shop (www.gitarrentotal.ch), very kind people like friends, so mostly I bring my beloved Telecasters to Duncan James, or Sascha, Patrick, if something's wrong (e.g. neck-adjusting, fret-buzz, humms etc). I myself only purchase either Telecasters or parts (mostly old Fender necks) from ebay or from American Luthiers, then I bring them to Duncan for re-assembling. But I learnt soldering, so I replace pick-ups.

[Telenator]

I do any work I have the tools for.

Having the right tool is half the battle!

[Telemarkman]

Intonation, fret work and truss rod adjustment I do myself, but being an electronic illiterate, I leave the electronic work to my tech, who is a pro.

But then I rarely mod my guitars, just modernized the wiring on my 52RI, and changed to a 5-way switch on my 57RI Strat .

[eryque]

I don't have any local luthiers that I trust, so I've pretty much decided to start collecting all the right tools and learning to do it all myself. The cost of all the tools necessary for a single refret job is less than the cost of having someone else do it. Do a couple of these and all of a sudden you're money ahead.

Finishing turns out to be a huge pain, though. I keep having trouble with Reranch spray cans, so I'm not sure whether I should start buying finishing gear or give that one up.

[maestrovert]

the only work i "farm out" is fret work....

[Stan Martin]

Originally Posted by maestrovert

the only work i "farm out" is fret work....

I replace pickups like a junky does a needle. Intonation,neck adjustment and all electronics I'll handle, but when it comes to frets, I let Jim Mouradian at Cambridge Music take care of it. He' the best up around these here parts.

[SteveY]

I do everything.
Fortunately, I live next door to an acoustic luthier who has taught me everything.

I only will work on my own stuff however, though in the past I would help out friends.

I have no friends now, because I learned by working on their gutars.

[The String King]

* electronics--pickup replacement, etc
I love it. Do it nearly every day.

*fret work--new frets, level and crown, new nut, setup
intonation, etc
I will do a setup, a new nut, intonation and truss rod, but I havent touched frets yet.

*finish work--refins, touch ups
haha.. Sorry, but touch ups? Am I just immature?
Yes.. I do refins and "touch ups".

*building a partscaster from, well...existing parts
Yep. I have a Frankenstrat that is almost finished, and I am just finishing my black Tele. (got her a new neck).

*building an instrument entirely from scratch--body, neck etc.
Not yet. I'm going to college to study doing this aswell as doing it at home.

*pickup building/rewinding
Nope. Hopefully soon... As I say, college.

[elgorgon]

Originally Posted by eryque

Finishing turns out to be a huge pain, though. I keep having trouble with Reranch spray cans, so I'm not sure whether I should start buying finishing gear or give that one up.

I've had a much easier time using Preval sprayers found at Home Depot and the Deft Lacquer from Lowes (I believe they sell from a pint up to a gallon). I use Stew Mac's tints and can adjust the thinner ratio as needed.
The only caveat is to not try and use the entire contents of the Preval can - it's very difficult to get a good coat with the last 1/5 or so of propellant.

[Honga Man]

electronics--pickup replacement, etc
Sure. My soldering skills aren't the greatest but my wife is ordering me Terry Downs' soldering video for my brithday, so I expect that to change.

fret work--new frets, level and crown, new nut, setup
intonation, etc
I polish 'em with 0000 steel wool but wouldn't attempt any other kind of fret work. I don't have nut files so I don't mess with my nuts. Setup and intonation, absolutely. I enjoy it. I've often done it for bandmates as well.

finish work--refins, touch ups
I don't see the need to do either but if I had to, I'd pay a pro for this work.

building a partscaster from, well...existing parts
Sure. I'm waiting on the video I mentioned above to complete another one. Extremely enjoyable for me and I'm sure I'll make more after this one.

building an instrument entirely from scratch--body, neck etc.
Nope. I just buy genuine Fender parts ready to use.

pickup building/rewinding
No. I'd just buy one if I needed a pickup.

[Brian blaut]

I'll handle set-ups, changing electronics, pickups, tuners, bridge swaps (drilling involved).

I won't however do any fret or nut work. Thats beyond my skills and toolbox.

[RCinMempho]

electronics-- only if I have to.
fret work-- never
intonation -- yes.
finish work-- never needed to.
building a partscaster from, well...existing parts - nope
building an instrument entirely from scratch-- nope
pickup building/rewinding - nope

My next big step will be to swap the necks on two Strats. I was a fixed neck kid as a youth. So to me this is voodoo.

Frankly, a sober, timely, competent, and careful luthier could be a very rich man in Memphis, Tennessee. Everything takes forever and nothing is ever done right the first time. We've tried them all, and it is never easy to get anything done around here.

[bender-freak]

i don't do wiring; i farm that part out...i aint "electric"....i don't do finishing cause of the fumes....i am severely asthmatic.....set-up, intonation, fret dressing, levels, crowns, saddles, nuts, bridges, machines, bender set-ups (Hipshots with P/G or Shelton type systems) i do myself...i DON'T try to install the internal benders; i just add Hipshots to them and end up with three or sometimes benders on four strings.....

i will work on someones else's guitar if they like the way one of MINE plays and want it like mine....to do set-up work as such for someone....no....and i don't "replace" frets...have never found it necessary and i have guitars i have played for many, many years

[eryque]

Originally Posted by elgorgon

I've had a much easier time using Preval sprayers found at Home Depot and the Deft Lacquer from Lowes (I believe they sell from a pint up to a gallon). I use Stew Mac's tints and can adjust the thinner ratio as needed.
The only caveat is to not try and use the entire contents of the Preval can - it's very difficult to get a good coat with the last 1/5 or so of propellant.

You know, I didn't even think about Stewmac's dyes. Too bad, I just placed a huge order with them and it would have been good to save on the shipping. I've got a small hobby airbrush that does a decent job of spraying, so I may start using that. Gotta get a compressor and do away with these disposable propellant cans.

[crawdad]

As a matter of necessity, I've learned how to do just about everything. My weak area is finishing, mostly due to lack of equipment, climate and tools. If I had a well ventilated room, spray equipment and a good buffing wheel, I'd be into it.

My favorite area is frets. Learning to do refrets, nuts and level and crowns has been the best thing I've learned to do. Fortunately, I had an expert train me. I found it was not that hard--just time consuming and it requires a few basic tools and some TLC.

With the reasonable cost of aftermarket necks and bodies, I can see why most people would not build from scratch. Not to mention having to search for the right wood and investing in tools, tracking down parts, etc.

I've thought about building for the niche market. Maybe someday. Its definitely a full time occupation.

[AZMIKE]

Well, I like doing my own set-ups and maintenance, and my knowledge has increased in the ten years I have owned electric guitars. Originally, like with my acoustics, I limited myself to changing strings. But curiosity, economics, and the availability of set-up guides and books has led me to try more and more. So, to go by the list:

electronics--nope, but I plan to learn to solder and get into that eventually

fret work--haven't had the need to, but I would probably give dressing a try with a couple of new tools. I did steel wool the excessive lacquer off my mid-90s American standard strat's frets

intonation, etc --I do intonation, bridge adjustment, action, tremelo float, etc.

finish work--not really, although I have used some super glue to stop a ding from further flaking and chipping

building a partscaster from, well...existing parts --this is something I would like to try eventually

building an instrument entirely from scratch--nope, this won't happen

pickup building/rewinding --I don't see getting into this, either

Mike

[Brick]

I do all my wiring. Love the smell of solder in the morning. This is much better with a good iron.

I leveled the frets on my doublebound and darned if it didn't come out all right, but I wouldn't do a refret unless I had lessons.

I've been a ReRanch fan for a long time now and finish all my own bodies and quite a few for friends, but it is time consuming and grain filling ash is a total pain. I 've done many necks.

Partscasters rule. I've got five and built many for others.

I would hate to have to depend on someone else for a setup when a few tools and a good book will get you where you want to go.

Bodies and necks from scratch? Maybe in my next life when I can have ten grand worth of fine tools and a whole bunch of time.

Never even thought of rewinding a pickup. Humm....

[Wild Rice Chris]

I do my own, but have my dad do my finish work.

Chris
http://www.ricecustomguitars.com

[Ivan]

ive only recently started learning to do my own repair/maintenance.

so far ive learnt to do the basic set up, refinish, and replacing the nut.

at this moment im learning to do electronics, practicing my soldering on some old useless pickups. (im pretty bad at soldering so it looks like im gonna be practicing for a long time).

[Wild Rice Chris]

Originally Posted by Ivan

at this moment im learning to do electronics, practicing my soldering on some old useless pickups. (im pretty bad at soldering so it looks like im gonna be practicing for a long time).

I was lucky in that my dad taught me how to solder when I was in 5th grade. I had to make my own cord to go play bass with a band of my friends. He showed me what to do, bought some wire and plugs at Radio Shack, handed me a 200-watt Weller sodlering gun, and I went at it.

Good solder practice (the best?) is to pull old stereos out of the garbage and try to remove and reinstall the components without burning the board. If you can do that, the touch needed on a guitar is easy. Plus, you get several hundred tries.

[simplygoodmusic]

I do everything I can, which is all you mentioned minus fret work and building from scartch. That should change this summer, though, as I'm going to start taking classes.