Attack of the Mad Axe-son. Feline Guitars fixing a Schenker Flying V

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FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
edited July 2015 in Made in the UK tFB Trader
A guitar in need of the Guitar Doctor(Doctor)

Michael Schenker's son Tyson brought in one of his Vs for some much needed attention. 
The guitar was a gift from his father and Tyson has owned it for the best part of 10 years.
The guitar had suffered a few injuries from all the travelling it had done 
We knew we had a few things to do, but more issues reared their head and we agreed to do everything needed to make it work again, and maybe better than it ever had before.

Tyson was happy for us to share the workflow with you as it looked like it would be an involved job.

Tyson has two V's . The baby one was a present given to him when he accompanied his father on a MSG world tour as a child and the other is his full size V that was a gift from his father and it is that guitar we will be dealing with this time.

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I think the writing under the truss rod cover saying Schenker #1 lets me know who this guitar belongs to.

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Unfortunately the neck to body join had sustained a break that hadn't been dealt with. There was a small degree of flex which suggested that there was a break in the tenon inside. We were going to have to break the neck out to get a chance to fix it up properly.
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Earlier we popped the frets out, as once we are done we will definitely need to relevel the board and refret this beast.
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OK - getting the neck out was a bit of a task but we got there . 
We were a bit busy and didn't get any pics of that process but there was a lot of effort and a few swear words too.


Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

  Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

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  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    Think I'll use this opportunity to true up the 12" fingerboard radius, as it's easier to handle it out of the body.image

    You can easily see the areas quickly touched by the radiusing beam, and those areas that we still need to keep sanding to reach. This process will prove to be very worthwhile to the final result.
    image

    Ok - we have the whole board levelled and radiussed to a 12" camber. But we do want to add a little fallaway and compound radiussing at the top end so we can set the action low and still have the upper regions of the neck play without rattle and allow silky smooth string bends
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 3reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • martmart Frets: 5205
    Looking forward to seeing the rest of this!
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  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    edited July 2015 tFB Trader
    We've elevated one end of the neck and it makes it easy to get the higher fret areas to taper away just the right amount.

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    And here we go - lovely fallaway and now I just need to blend the two areas
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    All sanded and smoothed up to 2000 grit - much smoother than they do at the Gibson factory.

    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 3reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    Ooh - silky, shiny wood!
    image


    Glued a chipped out piece of the tenon back on.
    There is still part of the tenon firmly stuck in the body rebate, which will be good to help align the neck perfectly again.

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    Not pretty , but it mates perfectly with the body , so looking forward to getting a good glue joint.

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    Surfaces all clean and ready to take fresh glue. We had to remove any traces of the old glue as we want a good wood to wood joint.

    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 2reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    We found the piece that was always loose in the body pocket and firmly reglued it back before proceeding with our body to neck repair.
    image


    And there she goes back together in a dry run before we glue her properly. I think we'll use a shaped radius block against the fingerboard to firmly hold that down when we glue her back together.


    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    The pickguard with a pair of Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 pro humbuckers (again a present from Schenker senior). The guitar came in with failing electrics so we'll see what she needs to get her going.
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    Right - this is where the original problem was (all fixed up now).
    Firstly - why do Gibson and Fender put such faith in the components being earthed simply from their contact with a flimsy bit of foil under a pickguard (or a metal control plare with fender). As soon as the guitar gets dirty or things come loose everything loses it's earth path and cuts out. A proper soldered wire is what was neede... See More


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    We now added some screening paint - a layer of nickel that will help keep noise and interference away from the pickups and wiring harness.

    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    Neck all glued in and solid - Tyson asked us not to go too made touching in the chips as he kind of likes the distressed look of the guitar - says it suits him and also it tells a story of the life the guitar has had.
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    When we cut the fretwire , we remove the tang for a small portion at each end . The wire is cut overlong and the tang is cut to exactly the width of the fingerboard or maybe just a whisker under. This means that we don't have tang sticking out the sides of the neck.

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    Here is the rack of wire being prepared

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    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    you can see as we lie the fretwire on the neck that the tang is just long enough for the width of the fingerboard. The ends of the overhang will be pushed firmly down and then trimmed when the wire is installed

    image


    For the main part of the fretboard we will use a mix of the fret press and a trusty hammer(mainly for the ends)

    image


    So here we go - most of the main part of the board is done. We will now have to switch to one of ouur other presses as the arbor press starts to risk fouling the body joint.

    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 2reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    For the main part of the fretboard we will use a mix of the fret press and a trusty hammer (mainly for the ends)
    image

    So here we go - most of the main part of the board is done. We will now have to switch to one of ouur other presses as the arbor press starts to risk fouling the body joint.
    image

    We pulled out one of our other specialised presses - known as Jaws 3 (the sequel). 
    This can be fixed to the neck and can apply downward pressure to the fret to fix in the slot 
    (We ALWAYS use glue as well).
    The brass former holds down at the correct radius and we can increase the pressure on this to ensure proper seating of the fret, although the hammer gets things started .
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    An aeriel view of Jaws 3 doing it's work
    image

    All the frets are now in, neatly seated and glued in place.
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 2reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    The fret ends are still quite square and will need the faces blending in with the sides so that they are smooth to the touch.image

    we use a specially modified swiss needle file with a very fine cut to round in the corners of the wire. The sides of the file have been smoothed tomake them safe and no longer cut, although we still mask alongside the fret to be worked to protect the wood.
    image

    Here we go with the ends rounded in , so that only a triangular facet shows outwards. This will be further smoothed after we do the fret dressing.
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    To dress the frets perfectly we use the Dane Erlewine designed neck jig that was available from StewMac. We were early adopters of this method and this jig dates back over 15 years to the late 90s.
    It allows us to simulate string tension on the neck and level the frets perfectly under the same conditions it will be under when the neck is fully strung
    image


    Frets are now all dressed, recrowned and polished and the guitar is ready to be rerassembled.

    image

    On go the strings
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader

    We installed an Earvana nut that will improve the intonation and how in tune the guitar sounds.
    image


    The evidence of the previous neck damage can still be seen - we didn't touch this part of the guitar at all
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    Pleased witrh the strength of the redone neck joint. I would have liked to and done some refinishing , but Tyson favoured the beaten up/reliced look
    image

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    And the front of the guitar - all "Ready To Rock"

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    A view of the rear
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    Tyson collected the guitr and spent time playing her and was really happy with the action , playability and sound.

    Got a message a few days later from Tyson : 
    "Guitar is awesome. Thanks again"

    A good outcome!

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 8reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Awesome work.

     

    ... and the fact you have such high profile clients... speaks volumes about the quality of your work.

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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 16253
    Excellent read. :)
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • BucketBucket Frets: 7751
    Awesome. :)
    - "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
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  • richhrichh Frets: 449
    Lovely job, very impressive!
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  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11496
    tFB Trader
    thanks chaps

    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • oldfoxyoldfoxy Frets: 39
    Another epic rebuild story. Love reading these, brilliant
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