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Francis Guitar Repair

Francis Guitar Repair

Enhancing your instruments of self-expression

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Month: July 2019

Posted on July 25, 2019July 25, 2019

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Gibson adjustable saddle bridges (69 or before). I Gibson adjustable saddle bridges (69 or before). I love it when (not if) those bridges pull off the top of the guitar.  They can then be replaced with handmade rosewood bridges that are solid, and bone saddles. 

The physics of vibration transfer from the strings to the soundboard of the instrument doesn’t care about how true to vintage the instrument is.  It does care about direct contact. 

#ThingsPhysicsDoesntCareAbout
#GibsonGuitars
Martin wisely puts hardware on some of their guita Martin wisely puts hardware on some of their guitars - neck bolts.  They should put this hardware on all of their guitars, because in addition to having binding that yells, “freedom”, colours its face blue and runs screaming from the sides of the guitar, their necks tend to pull out of joint over the years. 

What would be even better?  On the guitars that are designed for neck bolts, if they put the bolts in.  This is the third one I’ve seen where, from the factory, they just didn’t bother. 

I feel you, neck bolt inserting guy - some days you can’t even.  Let’s try though, could we? 

It has a neck bolt now.  I use stainless 1/4-20 premium bolts that are hand made in small batches.  From Home Depot. 

#ArtisanallyFounderedGuitarNeckBolts
#CoiningHashTagsFixingGuitars
#WilliamWallaceBinding
#MartinGuitars
Martin HD-28, mid 90’s, I think. Top crack and Martin HD-28, mid 90’s, I think.  Top crack and neck reset.  Of course the binding was loose, but I fixed that a while ago. 

This was the second neck reset for this instrument.  The first was three years after it left Nazareth.  Just a poorly made joint.  After rebuilding the heel, the owner and I decided together to put a neck bolt in.  I’m starting to think every Martin should have one. 

It sounds great now, and the owner shouldn’t be facing this surgery again. 

#MartinGuitars
So this is a wild story. A customer of mine sees So this is a wild story.  A customer of mine sees a brand new Strat offered for under $500.  The story is that it was purchased just before Christmas, but the guy changed his mind.  While trying it out, the seller kept distracting him with other guitars that were for sale.  So my guy pays and comes home with the guitar.  Runs the serial on the neck.  Apparently matches a blue guitar.  Ooops. 

He contacts the seller, who then blocks him on his phone.  Here’s the strange part - he then sends my customer his money back.  And won’t take his calls or emails to take the instrument back!

My customer is still trying to get back to the seller, but loved the body and neck.  Turns out the seller had pulled the pickguard off and sold it, replacing it with an import loaded pickguard.  And he replaced an 11-hole with an 8-hole, forcing screws in sideways where the original holes in the body didn’t line up. 

We put a pearloid pickguard on, loaded with V-Mod pickups, CTS pots, an orange drop cap, and pull volume for an always-on bridge.  And of course, a treble bleed circuit. 

It’s a solid instrument now.  And folks, guitar crime doesn’t pay. 

#WorldsMostIneptConman
#FenderMakesPartsLuthiersMakeGuitars
Let’s talk about Tacomas. No, not the trucks. Let’s talk about Tacomas.  No, not the trucks.  Those are unquestionably awesome and the best pickup ever accomplished by non - cyborg beings. 

I am not aware of pickup trucks accomplished by cyborg beings, which is why I reserve comment on that matter. 

Right, so guitars.  Tacoma guitars are made in Asia from very high quality woods.  The construction is normally good.  Every one of them that I have played sounds amazing. 

You can find them for short money.  Mainly because the models with gloss finish have a party trick of having said finish fall off like a snake shedding its cyborg components. 

Totally worth it, assuming you play guitar to hear beautiful tone, and not to brush your teeth in its glossy sheen. 

#CyborgsDontBrushTheirTeethInTheSheenOfTheirGuitarFinishes

#AtLeastImPrettySure

#ToyotaTacoma

#TacomaGuitars

#CyborgSnakesTheOneBadThingThatDidntHappenIn2020
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Guitar Stories

Every instrument has a story behind it, and the value that an instrument has for its owner is often unrelated to the purchase price.  While I never share customers’ personal information, here are some instruments and stories I have encountered.

It’s the personal connection people have to their instruments that reinforces our commitment: Enhancing your instruments of self-expression.

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