July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 by Kirby Francis

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francisguitarrepair

What do you do with a neck that was left out in th

What do you do with a neck that was left out in the weather? A customer found some guitars in a snow bank, and kindly brought them to me for parts salvage. The neck was shot, but the headstock made a nice tap handle for a friend.

#FenderSquireBass
#FenderAle
#OhWaitAGreatBeerNameWouldBeFenderBender

I don’t sell things using Social Media that ofte

I don’t sell things using Social Media that often, but thought I’d throw this out there. As most of you know, I’m a Fishman dealer. Fishman accidentally mailed me a Loudbox Mini, instead of the amp my customer actually ordered. I’m going to send it back, of course, but thought I’d let the local folks know I’ve got one of these in stock, in case you’re looking for one. Let me know within the next 12-18 hours if so.

The Loudbox Mini is, simply, the best acoustic amp on the market for those of us who gig small venues with an acoustic instrument and vocal mic. YouTube that baby, and you’ll see what I mean.

Same price as Sweetwater or GC, just no shipping, and a local business that gets supported if you purchase it though me!

#AwkwardCommercialsByLuthiersNotMarketers

Google up some images of a 1975 J-55. No, serious

Google up some images of a 1975 J-55. No, seriously. This post will wait for you.

These guitars have a party trick - the original tortoise binding disintegrates, and bleeds into the end grain of the top. Notice how the “sunburst” in the waist is less than around the end grain exposed areas? That’s because it’s celluloid leaching into the wood’s pores.

I got this instrument when I was in my apprenticeship program. It had a neck break and top cracks, in addition to the binding issue.

Fixed the neck break as part of my apprenticeship, put it into its shag avocado-green carpeted case, and left it for years.

Until a very special customer one day told me he wanted a vintage acoustic, without the insanely inflated prices of the online market. He was willing to wait for me to put new binding on it, and repair the braces and cracks. And accept the crumbled edges of the original finish where the celluloid took hostages. No refin required.

I was thrilled to get the maple binding finished with Tru-Oil, get it strung up, and hear the instrument at long last. And now I’m thrilled that it’s gone to a wonderful home!

#GibsonGuitars
#GibsonJ55
#AvocadoGreenShagCarpetGuitarCaseIsTheHastagYouDidntKnowYouNeeded

Another customer build! Alder body, plastics and

Another customer build! Alder body, plastics and Hipshot tuners courtesy of @stratosphereparts,

So much fun to build these - and even more fun to see the customer enjoy the fruits of their own creativity.

#FenderCantBuildThemAsWellAsCustomersCan

Ibanez glued the bridge to the finish. Guess what

Ibanez glued the bridge to the finish. Guess what happened next?

Ok, I’ll tell you. The bridge started to remove itself. So we excavate the black paint until we find wood. We make a wood to wood joint. And then it stays put.

Bone nut, bone saddle, and a bridge that’s actually joined to the top. Makes a big difference in an instrument’s sound.

#Ibanez

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