I'm retiring end of April and one of the things I'd like to do is to learn how to do certain things including pick-up changing, changing pots, resistors, switch wiring, replacing a guitar nut, fret leveling/crowning etc. I know this is second nature stuff to many of you, but I have no experience & I don't even think I know how to solder properly.
I know there are you tube vids but I'd much rather learn from a real person who can physically help me & boost my confidence as I'm nervous about damaging any of my guitars if I get things wrong. I'm in North London and have been looking to see whether there are any courses I can go on but I can't seem to find any. I'd really like to learn to do this type of stuff for myself. Any suggestions?
I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve)
Comments
just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
I also bought a cheap Strat copy or two to use as test beds for trying stuff on my own. With nothing to lose except a couple of cheap guitars it was a very good way to learn without the fear of terminally breaking something.
As it happens, with some decent tools, some practical and logical thinking, and some time and patience, a cheap guitar can be made to play as well as stuff that is many, many times the price.
There is no 'H' in Aych, you know that don't you? ~ Wife
Turns out there is an H in Haych! ~ Sporky
Bit of trading feedback here.
I'd really recommend the trial-and-error approach. Get an old beater or two (guitars, I mean) and use them as your test cases to develop your skills and confidence.
That is "just" soldering, and knowing which wire is which and where to solder it. Soldering really is quite straightforward, and you'll get that sorted with very little practice. A decent temp-controlled soldering iron, maybe with some different tips (depending on what you end up wanting to solder), the right technique/theory and a couple of practice runs and you'll have it cracked.
That's a bit tricksier than soldering, but is a logical, methodological process. Follow the steps, focus on the detail, and don't try to rush it, and you'll soon get the hang of it. Erlewine has DVDs on this too - they're on my DVD shelf!
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_eguitar_kit.htm
Otherwise work on a budget crap guitar and make it better- This in conjunction with reading or video clips - In my experience the hands on approach with a budget guitar beats just watching a video clip and/or reading
Obviously the right tools are required for certain work so that might deter some for what might be a one off job- ie but files for starters
I’m not what you’d call a guitar tech in that I don’t handle re- frets, broken headstock, re-spray work etc - So not what I call a surgeon- But have competent ability to handle most set ups and handy with many solder/electrical work -I’d suggest going down this route for now
As part of the learning curve I watched loads of videos, often they showed different techniques but I happily take advice in and then pick out what I think is the best route.
Once I'm retired I'll pick up a cheap Thomann Tele and 'experiment'. I have a soldering iron kit including a temperature controlled soldering gun and lots of 'bits' in the kit, plus I even have a 'helping hands' thing to help hold things whilst soldering - it even has a magnifying glass built in! Once I've built up some skills/confidence to change a resistor, pot, pickups, switch etc it will be great to not have to be completely reliant on a guitar tech for everything.
Take care you don't end up with all the gear & yet still not find the right time to do anything, despite theoretically having all the time in the bloody world to do what you always planned to do...
Not unhappy at being busy doing much needed family caring stuff, but would not really have been my first choices
Fix those guitars now! :-D