Question for Austinites

Cutaway · June 27th, 2006, 01:53 AM

Obviously a deep well of knowledge on this site......have enjoyed reading through a number of threads. My initial post is directed as a question basically to Austin players.....Who would you highly recommend for accurate, dependable set-up work in the Austin area? Any usable info would be much appreciated.

Regards

benmeza · June 27th, 2006, 03:02 AM

That's a tough one...

I know a great "amp guy" but as far as set up...I would recommend Walter at Musical Exchange over on North Loop by Ararat & The Peddler. I took a guitar to him once a long time ago and he did a good job but I do that kind of thing for myself now so it's been years since I personally have used him. I have known people who have also had him do a good job for them recently though - the only knock is sometimes I think he rubs people the wrong way because he can be kind of gruff. I have been over there more frequently looking for small little parts for my guitar and he is always happy to supply me some small piece I need to get my guitar up and running(like when I lost the string tree screw on this neck I was refinishing....).

....if you ever need your amp serviced, take it into the same shop - Jon Besset(spelling?) repairs amps there and he has been at it for a long, long time. He's a good guy to talk to as well. I have taken amps in there and asked him to show me what's wrong and how he suggests to fix it and he will take the time to educate me on the finer points of vintage Fenders. Once he sent me home with the parts to BF my SF amp so I could do it myself(which is always my goal - learning to fish for myself). Just a great guy who loves to share his knowledge about amps. He's on the fenderforum.com pretty frequently as "VintageJon"...

Anyway, I think you can't go wrong with Musical Exchange for most all your instrument repair needs. They have a guy who recones speakers and someone who works on classical instruments too. It's a total moms & pops dive, but it's been around for a while for good reason despite that. That's my 2 cents....I'm curious where other pickers take their instruments. I hear mixed reviews on the guys at Austin Vintage & South Austin Music(although they are super friendly) as far as repair work goes but I'm lumping in amp & guitar work into that...

I think one of Dan Erlewine's relatives lives here and builds instruments...maybe he repairs em too - I imagine the apple can't fall too far from the tree.

Best of luck to you!

Leon Grizzard · June 27th, 2006, 10:22 AM

Rob Hacker at the The Custom Shop Guitar and Bass, in Lamar Plaza, around the corner from Ray Hennig's Heart of Texas Music, 707 8780

p. bungle · June 27th, 2006, 10:57 AM

" www.ottosguitars.com" does tons of work for pro players and bedroom players, too.
cheers.

TDPRI · June 27th, 2006, 11:19 AM

+1 for Rob Hacker at the Custom Shop on Larmar. He's setup 4 of my guitars and he's the "go to guy" that I'd use.

Paul Green

mk · June 27th, 2006, 12:12 PM

I really like Jon Bessent (has done a couple of amp repairs for me), but I have to say that one of the guitar guys at the Music Exchange has rubbed me the wrong way.

I've had great fret jobs and repair work done by Chris Forshage, whose shop is across the street on North Loop -- an unmarked place, and you should call first. He also builds really interesting custom archtops and electrics.

The best work I've had done is by Bill Giebitz, who works out of his home down south. He does stellar work, and he's the go-to guy for high-end vintage repairs. Not cheap, but worth it for valuable guitars.

Cutaway · June 27th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Thank you all very much for the straight-up responses. That's just what I needed. I have collected a few nice instruments over time, and some are starting to need a little work......wouldn't want to hand them over to just anybody. Thanks again.

Best musical regards.

trey · June 27th, 2006, 10:45 PM

At least 3 choices. Rob at the Custom Shop setup my Strat and did it good and fast. Ben, next door at Austin Vintage, has setup a couple of mine and also does an excellent job but he's pretty damn busy.

Haven't had any work done by Bill Giebitz yet but I've played a '55 LP Jr. he did a refret on and it was perfect. Once I get the mon I'm gonna get him to refret my LP Jr.

trey

benmeza · June 27th, 2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk

I really like Jon Bessent (has done a couple of amp repairs for me), but I have to say that one of the guitar guys at the Music Exchange has rubbed me the wrong way.

I've had great fret jobs and repair work done by Chris Forshage, whose shop is across the street on North Loop -- an unmarked place, and you should call first. He also builds really interesting custom archtops and electrics.

I've always been curious about that Forshage guy. Jon at Music Exchange told me he does really good work on custom guitars...

benmeza · June 27th, 2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trey

At least 3 choices. Rob at the Custom Shop setup my Strat and did it good and fast. Ben, next door at Austin Vintage, has setup a couple of mine and also does an excellent job but he's pretty damn busy.

trey

+1 for the guys at Austin Vintage. Now that I think about it, I bought two guitars from them last year that were set up before being sent home with me and both were top notch.

TexGoneNW · June 28th, 2006, 12:59 AM

+1 for Jon

June 27th, 2006, 01:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cutaway NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 2	Question for Austinites Obviously a deep well of knowledge on this site......have enjoyed reading through a number of threads. My initial post is directed as a question basically to Austin players.....Who would you highly recommend for accurate, dependable set-up work in the Austin area? Any usable info would be much appreciated. Regards

June 27th, 2006, 01:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cutaway NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 2	Thanks Thank you all very much for the straight-up responses. That's just what I needed. I have collected a few nice instruments over time, and some are starting to need a little work......wouldn't want to hand them over to just anybody. Thanks again. Best musical regards.

June 27th, 2006, 10:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
trey Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: s. austin Age: 54 Posts: 183 4 Photos	At least 3 choices. Rob at the Custom Shop setup my Strat and did it good and fast. Ben, next door at Austin Vintage, has setup a couple of mine and also does an excellent job but he's pretty damn busy. Haven't had any work done by Bill Giebitz yet but I've played a '55 LP Jr. he did a refret on and it was perfect. Once I get the mon I'm gonna get him to refret my LP Jr. trey __________________ Emoticon free since 2003 Don’t call what your wearing an outfit. Don’t ever say your car is broke. Don’t sing with a fake British accent. Don’t act like your family’s a joke. Have fun, but stay clear of the needle, call home on your sister’s birthday. Don’t tell them you’re bigger than Jesus, Don’t give it away. Drive-by Truckers Rock and Roll means well, but it can’t help tellin’ young boys lies.

June 27th, 2006, 03:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
benmeza Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 411	That's a tough one... I know a great "amp guy" but as far as set up...I would recommend Walter at Musical Exchange over on North Loop by Ararat & The Peddler. I took a guitar to him once a long time ago and he did a good job but I do that kind of thing for myself now so it's been years since I personally have used him. I have known people who have also had him do a good job for them recently though - the only knock is sometimes I think he rubs people the wrong way because he can be kind of gruff. I have been over there more frequently looking for small little parts for my guitar and he is always happy to supply me some small piece I need to get my guitar up and running(like when I lost the string tree screw on this neck I was refinishing....). ....if you ever need your amp serviced, take it into the same shop - Jon Besset(spelling?) repairs amps there and he has been at it for a long, long time. He's a good guy to talk to as well. I have taken amps in there and asked him to show me what's wrong and how he suggests to fix it and he will take the time to educate me on the finer points of vintage Fenders. Once he sent me home with the parts to BF my SF amp so I could do it myself(which is always my goal - learning to fish for myself). Just a great guy who loves to share his knowledge about amps. He's on the fenderforum.com pretty frequently as "VintageJon"... Anyway, I think you can't go wrong with Musical Exchange for most all your instrument repair needs. They have a guy who recones speakers and someone who works on classical instruments too. It's a total moms & pops dive, but it's been around for a while for good reason despite that. That's my 2 cents....I'm curious where other pickers take their instruments. I hear mixed reviews on the guys at Austin Vintage & South Austin Music(although they are super friendly) as far as repair work goes but I'm lumping in amp & guitar work into that... I think one of Dan Erlewine's relatives lives here and builds instruments...maybe he repairs em too - I imagine the apple can't fall too far from the tree. Best of luck to you!

June 27th, 2006, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Leon Grizzard Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 59 Posts: 1,203	Rob Hacker at the The Custom Shop Guitar and Bass, in Lamar Plaza, around the corner from Ray Hennig's Heart of Texas Music, 707 8780

June 27th, 2006, 10:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
p. bungle NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: london Posts: 5	" www.ottosguitars.com" does tons of work for pro players and bedroom players, too. cheers.

June 27th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,552 36 Photos	+1 for Rob Hacker at the Custom Shop on Larmar. He's setup 4 of my guitars and he's the "go to guy" that I'd use. Paul Green

June 27th, 2006, 12:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
mk Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 253	I really like Jon Bessent (has done a couple of amp repairs for me), but I have to say that one of the guitar guys at the Music Exchange has rubbed me the wrong way. I've had great fret jobs and repair work done by Chris Forshage, whose shop is across the street on North Loop -- an unmarked place, and you should call first. He also builds really interesting custom archtops and electrics. The best work I've had done is by Bill Giebitz, who works out of his home down south. He does stellar work, and he's the go-to guy for high-end vintage repairs. Not cheap, but worth it for valuable guitars.

June 28th, 2006, 12:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Age: 50 Posts: 909 4 Photos	+1 for Jon