GuitArcher

...If I had a million dollars...  I'd continue to buy used guitars.  It's just more exciting than new if you ask me.  Scouring Kijiji and having that great piece of gear pop up like a light in the fog. I'd probably look to bigger things first, but once the house and car and family were taken care of, I'd probably spend my days driving around buying cheap gear and writing about it.  Once the guitar room was full, I'd sell them all, and write about that too.  I promise I wouldn't mark anything up... too much? Until that day, window shopping will have to do. Marshall JCM1-C - Swap/Trade I'm not sure that I could be any happier with my DSL1-C.  A perfect little practice amp, it sounds great at just the right volume for late night playing with kids sleeping two floors away.  Better still, with the attenuator off and the amp cooking at a FULL ONE WATT, it's enough to keep up with my daughter's junior drum kit. This version is the JCM 800 ve...

My first electric guitar was an MIK Squier Stratocaster, with a rosewood fretboard, in an aged Olymipic White with a black guard and white plastic.  I traded that guitar towards a Yamaha Pacifica, thinking that I was taking a big leap forward. Aside: I wasn't, but that doesn't mean the Pacifica was a mistake.  It was, and still is, a solid beginner guitar.  Don't believe me?  Check out Rob Chapman's latest video here .  When I finally purchased a USA Fender though, it was a Telecaster.  I'm not sure if it was Pete Anderson, Jimmy Page at MSG, or a combination, but I wanted a Tele, not a Strat. Years later, it was because of the Squier that when I had the opportunity to buy my Eric Johnson Stratocaster in White Blonde, I jumped.  The first thing I did was put a black pickguard on it. When I came across a "like new" Squier 51 in Vintage Blond, a Frankenstein of a Stratocaster, Telecaster, and early Fender bass, I knew it was time for a n...

Work continued on the Ses Taul today.  With the buzzing seeming to come from a nut too low, I was set on raising my new right nut. I had decided against more TUSQ.  With shimming material lying around, I figured I could cut and sand a piece down, saving me material and time. In short, I'm an idiot. LET'S LEARN THE HARD WAY!!!! I set my plan in motion, using the utility knife to cut the rough shape of the piece I would need.  The idea was to use the thinnest end of the shim (the looked solid). Like tracing, but with a knife Unfortunately, it became apparent that even at it's thinnest, the shim was much too high.  Sandpaper seemed to be the solution, right? Even the slide player thinks this is too high Except not, because after 15 minutes of rubbing a tiny piece of wood on some scratchy paper (how's that for technical?), this happened: Oh for F$%K sake. I went through the process again, but was finding myself frustrated by the time it wa...

...where "right" is a synonym for "correct".  What do you think I meant? A quick trip to the local music store and I scored a TUSQ graphite nut in the appropriate size.  The color is a bit off from the aged yellow of the binding, but actually matches the color of the inlays better.  I also sanded off the excess glue from fret board between the nut and the first fret. No more creepy shine on the board.

So this morning I returned to the cave to examine the Stagg. Things were good: The smell was gone.  The neck hadn't snapped. Excellent. I decided to grab the bridge and tailpiece and string it up.  May as well find out if I can tune and intonate it, right? Holding it in playing position, I noticed the nut was hanging past the edge of the high e side of the neck. Dammit Janet. The glue all over the fret board indicated that the nut job was a shit show, and this pretty much confirmed it.  The nut spacing was clearly wrong for the neck, and the nut was seated improperly (too much glue for one..). In the pic below you can see the overhang.  How did I miss this? TOO BIG MAN!!! Well, a bit of wiggling and some light prying with the Gerber and POP - Nut is off. Busted a nut.  Phrasing. This is probably a good thing.  I can use a razor blade to clean off the excess glue, head to a music store and get an appropriate nut blank.  Whil...

A few months ago, a family member came to town on a visit. He brought a guitar. I had mentioned on a previous visit that I had taken some of mine apart and replaced parts, and he was eager to find out what I could do with his. Challenge accepted? Well, I've let it sit around for a few months, but I've finally made some progress... But we've got a long way to go.

Repeat after me: Used instruments are better value.  Every time I hear someone has gone to a big chain and spent way too much money on a guitar that is worth way too little, I die a little on the inside. Unfortunately, I'm up against the marketing departments of all of the big companies (Fender, Epiphone, etc.) who want to sell newbies a $300 "Starter pack" with a terrible guitar, a terrible amp, terrible picks... You get the idea.   One stop shopping for the lazy if you ask me.  With no inherent resale value, too often "junior" is left with worthless gear that he/she can't sell to buy drugs or smokes or ballet slippers or whatever he or she is into (take the good with the bad parents).