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Guitar Doctor
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Guitar Doctor
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Doc answers real-life questions about guitars |
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Here are some questions that have come up many times
over the years.
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•Topics include tuning, Floyd Rose string change, used guitars, lessons
and other frequently asked questions.
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Basic Legal
Disclaimer |
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Your Question |
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What are Guitar Doctor's store hours and how can I get there? |
Monday: Appointments only
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My guitar won't stay
in tune.
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We really can't be specific without seeing the guitar, but...
depending on the guitar that you have it could be caused by any number
of problems, but it sounds like it all would indicate that your guitar
is in need of a good "set up". That's when a qualified guitar
tech would go over your entire guitar and check / adjust / repair /
calibrate each component. Guitars, like cars or any mechanical thing,
can get out of whack now and then. If you have a tremolo guitar this is
especially true. Perhaps it may need some repairs to the machine heads,
nut, neck or bridge, too. Humidity also effects guitars. You should be
able to find a qualified shop by checking your local Yellow Pages, or
even by asking friends. I know that it would be well worth your money.
Like I always say, "trying to play an ailing guitar is like trying
to drive a car without a steering wheel." It's pretty frustrating!
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What is the proper procedure for installing strings using a Floyd Rose locking tremolo system? |
Well! I could go on
for a while on the ins and outs of a Floyd, but I'll see if I can make
it as simple as possible.
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Can you replace the
frets on guitar necks.
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In a nutshell refrets
run about like this:
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I have a vintage guitar with a cracked neck. I have not been able to find an original replacement for it anywhere. Can it be repaired? Is it worth it?What would a repair cost? |
Yes, it is definitely worth fixing, as an original replacement neck would be very difficult to impossible to find. The cost of repair would be somewhere between $100-$200, but I can't be more specific without seeing it. I can make a copy of the neck from scratch, but that would be more expensive than repair, and of course, I'd still need to have the guitar and neck to do it. My motto: "If it's wood, it can be fixed."TOP ↑ |
What's a graphite neck? What are the advantages? How much is it? How
about graphite nuts?
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Graphite necks run about $500 and up. There are several ways of
making them involving resin and heat molding of fibers of pieces as well
as cutting them from pre-cast billets. I've never seen it done or
conversed much with designers familiar with the process, but the number
one criteria for using one must indeed be the acceptance of man-made
materials. Purists will forever pooh-pooh "synthetic" guitars.
HOWEVER! A graphite neck is very stable and resistant to the effects of
humidity and yields a certain degree of "predictable
performance". I've found that most graphite necks have a certain
"stringy & uncolored" sound. Different neck woods
definitely have an effect on tone that allows the builder some
manipulation of the resulting tone. With graphite, string response seems
to be "uninhibited" and the harmonic content of the notes is
typically more complex. Manipulating that fine balance between resonance
and sustain, in terms of neck shape and thickness, is perhaps more
predictable using a material like graphite. Nuances of fingering
technique and pick attack are definitely more prominent as well with
graphite necks.
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What are my choices for bass tuning keys (2X2)? |
There are several good
choices for bass tuning keys. If you like the big keys with the open
gears like on a Fender bass, they are available in 2 x 2 as well as the
usual 4-in-line. I would recommend the Schaller heads for that style.
The other option is enclosed heads - usually called "mini's".
These are available from Schaller as well and are fairly expensive. You
can get a comparable key from Gotoh for half the money. Those are high
quality Japanese heads. (The Schaller are German.) I think Gotoh makes
the big open-geared type as well, but I'd go with the Schaller on that
style. They run typically $80 or so.
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I have broken the neck tension rod cover of my guitar. Can you help me with one, or find one? |
The best thing to do is to contact the customer service department of the manufacturer and request a replacement for the model you have. A custom cover can certainly be made at a higher cost if need be.
TOP ↑ |
Do you have a catalogue? What guitars and gear do you have for sale? |
No, we do not have a catalogue at this time. All of our larger inventory (guitars, amps, etc) can be seen through our homepage at http://www.guitardoctor.com. We try to keep it updated daily. The stuff is all at our store, too, at 659 Bedford St., Whitman, MA. There are just too many small items to list and keep current on the website, but if you email us at GDOC1@aol.com or call us at 781-447-4520 we can get what you need.
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Do you give guitar lessons at your store? |
If you'd like to have guitar lessons please give us a call to see what
time slots are available. (781-447-4520). Lessons cost $18.00 for a
private 1/2 hour session. Lessons are usually weekly: same day, same time,
same teacher.
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What is the best age to learn to play guitar? |
A parent should start a child on any instrument as soon as any propensity or desire is apparent or expressed. Some people are naturals, but typically the younger you start, the better you’ll be. It is not unusual for a child to lose interest in time, but they usually come back to it when they are ready if it's really for them. The same goes for adults. We have had beginner students well into their 70's who learned to play, just as they had always dreamed. So, the basic answer to your question is: any age is a good age, as long as the desire is there.TOP ↑ |
Is this inexpensive old guitar worth fixing? The neck is definitely broken. |
Is it worth it? Well, perhaps. Sentimental value goes a long way and I
have fixed many guitars on that basis alone.
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How can I place an order or buy an item from you? What are your payment policies and options? |
Please see our How to Order & Policies pages. |
Do you have any other repair or custom work advice? |
Please see our Repairs
& Restoration and
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What's this about Traditional Archery Supply? |
Traditional
Archery Supply was originally conceived of my passion
for this ancient and noble sport as a hopefully "break-even"
venture
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More Questions and Answers » |
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