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A list of technical guitar work

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IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
edited April 2020 in Guitar
After almost 30 years of playing guitar I am still trying to learn how to maintain and repair the instrument, so I thought it would be nice to write and share a list that contains the essential repairing jobs with the general guitar setup. I would appreciate adding other jobs to the list if I missed something.
  1. Complete rewiring including the soldering work.
  2. Testing electronic components.
  3. Grounding the guitar.
  4. Setting up the height of pickups (single coil and humbuckers).
  5. Setting up action (truss rod, bridge, and height of saddles).
  6. Setting up intonation.
  7. Setting up the tremolo (vintage, 2-point, and Floyd Rose).
  8. Re-fretting.
  9. Replacing the nut (graphite or roller nut).
  10. Replacing the neck.
  11. Upgrading the tuning keys.
  12. Cleaning and polishing fretboard. 
  13. Fixing faulty strap screws.
What have I missed?


 
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Comments

  • skullfunkerryskullfunkerry Frets: 4205
    Neck relief? Although you’ve got truss rod in there... I guess with a bolt-on guitar though there’s also neck angle and shimming
    Too much gain... is just about enough \m/

    I'm probably the only member of this forum mentioned by name in Whiskey in the Jar ;)

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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14585
    Finishing.

    Screening of cavities. 

    Where appropriate, drilling holes for stud-mount bridges and tailpieces. Removing existing stud inserts.

    Fingerboard scalloping.

    Refitting the bent metal thing that secures Telecaster jack sockets.
    You say, atom bomb. I say, tin of corned beef.
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  • JMP220478JMP220478 Frets: 421
    edited April 2020
    Fret shaping ; fret sprout correction  ; fingerboard rolling  - minor finish repairs or more depending on your ambition .. saddle replacements ; trem block upgrades .. scalloping ... pickup routing ..  

    and deciding which butter your guitars will most play like after your skillful interventions ...
     
    my trading feedback - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57774/jmp220478#latest
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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3075
    JMP220478 said:


    and deciding which butter your guitars will most play like after your skillful interventions ...
     
     :) 
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
    JMP220478 said:

    and deciding which butter your guitars will most play like after your skillful interventions ...
     
    I don't eat butter.  :#
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  • ColsCols Frets: 7117
    “Plays like low-fat soya-based spread” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
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  • digitalscreamdigitalscream Frets: 26791
    Errr...replacing pickups? Electronics upgrades in general?
    <space for hire>
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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14585
    Custom refinishes à la (notorious eBay seller) TPP.

    Seven to six string conversions. (Another notorious eBaytor.) 
    You say, atom bomb. I say, tin of corned beef.
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  • IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
    Here's an updated list based on your contributions:
    1. Complete rewiring including the soldering work.
    2. Routing for additional pickup.
    3. Testing, upgrading, and replacing electronic components (pickups, pots, capacitors, and switches).
    4. Grounding electronics and shielding the cavities (control and tremolo).
    5. Fixing scratchy knobs and switches.
    6. Setting up the height of pickups (single coil and humbuckers).
    7. Setting up action (truss rod, bridge, and height of saddles).
    8. Shimming for a forward/positive neck-angle (bolt on necks).
    9. Setting up intonation.
    10. Setting up the tremolo (vintage, 2-point, and Floyd Rose).
    11. Re-fretting and levelling frets.
    12. Smoothing sharp fret ends with dressing file.
    13. Finferboard scalloping.
    14. Fingerboard rolling.
    15. Replacing the nut (graphite or roller nut).
    16. Replacing the neck.
    17. Replacing, upgrading, and installing bridges and tremolo blocks.
    18. Replacing saddles.
    19. Upgrading the tuning keys.
    20. Fixing Jack sockets.
    21. Cleaning and polishing fretboard.
    22. Finishing and minor finish repairing.
    23. Fixing faulty strap screws.
    Thanks everybody!  =)

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  • VoxmanVoxman Frets: 4731
    Neck skim
    I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve)
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  • SunDevilSunDevil Frets: 511
    Repairing a guitar you set on fire?

    ...just me and Jimi then? 
    The answer was never 42 - it's 1/137 (..ish)
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  • IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
    SunDevil said:
    Repairing a guitar you set on fire?

    ...just me and Jimi then? 
    This is a fantasy, unless Jimi would be alive again!
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  • StuckfastStuckfast Frets: 2427
    Funkfingers said:
    Fingerboard scalloping.

    I'd be a teeny bit nervous about using a tech who considered this essential. Or even desirable.

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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14585
    Okay. How about scallop fingering?  B)
    You say, atom bomb. I say, tin of corned beef.
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  • ZenOvertoneZenOvertone Frets: 234
    I'm also photographing the gear and noting serial numbers/mods too, just in case...quite a lot of new stuff not recorded yet
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  • daisie_guitardaisie_guitar Frets: 131
    Relicing the neck/body/hardware.  ;) Soap/oil/wax treatment of unfinished necks. Adding/replacing inlays. Fretless conversion. (Ok, I went beyond the "essential repairing jobs with the general guitar setup", but will leave these for now...)

    Routing for additional pickup.
    Filling up pickup/bridge/battery/etc. cavities made during earlier upgrades.  :)


    Re-fretting and levelling frets.

    Might as well list the crowning and polising of frets...

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  • IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
    Stuckfast said:
    Funkfingers said:
    Fingerboard scalloping.

    I'd be a teeny bit nervous about using a tech who considered this essential. Or even desirable.

    I admit this is a bit special even though some legendary guitarists favour their fretboards to be scalloped. Steve Vai has the last four frets scalloped for easier playability on high registers. Back in the day, Rithie Blackmore took advantage of scalloped fretboard too. 
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 19038
    OK, I'll expect the QI klaxon/alert here... but despite @IanShaw having a fantastic attitude toward helping people out, aren't we getting close to reinventing Dan Erlewine's ' How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great" ?


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  • StuckfastStuckfast Frets: 2427
    IanShaw said:
     Steve Vai has the last four frets scalloped for easier playability on high registers. 
    I use those frets so infrequently that the dust makes me sneeze when I try.

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  • IanShawIanShaw Frets: 19
    edited April 2020
    Update# 2:
    1. Complete rewiring including the soldering work.
    2. Routing for additional pickup.
    3. Filling unneeded spaces made during earlier upgrades.
    4. Testing, upgrading, and replacing electronic components (pickups, pots, capacitors, and switches).
    5. Grounding electronics and shielding the cavities (control and tremolo).
    6. Fixing scratchy knobs and switches.
    7. Setting up the height of pickups (single coil and humbuckers).
    8. Setting up action (truss rod, bridge, and height of saddles).
    9. Shimming for a forward/positive neck-angle (bolt on necks).
    10. Setting up intonation.
    11. Setting up the tremolo (vintage, 2-point, and Floyd Rose).
    12. Re-fretting.
    13. Levelling, crowning, and polishing frets.
    14. Smoothing sharp fret ends with dressing file.
    15. Fretboard scalloping.
    16. Fretboard rolling.
    17. Cleaning and polishing fretboard.
    18. Replacing the nut (graphite or roller nut).
    19. Replacing the neck.
    20. Replacing, upgrading, and installing bridges and tremolo blocks.
    21. Replacing saddles.
    22. Upgrading the tuning keys.
    23. Fixing Jack sockets.
    24. Finishing and minor finish repairing.
    25. Fixing faulty strap screws.
    26. Photographing earlier setup and gear status.
    27. Noting serial numbers and documenting modifications.
    Great list!...I may rearrange it. 

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