Tech Talk: Guitar Repair Info and Tips
Tech Talk: Guitar Repair Info and Tips
The articles below are part of an ongoing effort to provide clear and detailed answers to common questions about guitar maintenance, modifications, and repairs.
While not intended as a step-by-step guide to servicing your own instrument, we hope that you will find value in the information provided.
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Electric Guitar String Ground
Potential sources of EMI are all around us: cell phones, radios, computers, and fluorescent lights are just a handful of common sources. To compound the issue, the human body is a natural antenna for electromagnetic interference.
To eliminate the EMI that a player inherently adds to the signal, a wire is attached in such a way as to connect the guitar strings to the instrument’s electronic ground.
While the player touches the strings, this wire effectively cancels out the noise that a players body adds to the signal by giving it a path to ground. This crucial length of wire is known as the “String Ground Wire”.
Mitchel’s PlateMate
The bridge plate is an integral part of the internal support structure of an acoustic guitar. As part of the bracing system, it helps to support the instrument top and resist the pulling force exerted upon the instrument by the strings.
Mitchel’s PlateMate is designed to protect your guitar’s bridge plate from damage caused by ball-end strings. It is made from solid brass and installs in minutes. Should the need arise, the plate can be removed almost as easily!
Acoustic Guitar Bracing Repairs
In an acoustic guitar, bracing is the internal support structure that holds the instrument together. By design, the top, back, and sides of the guitar body must be fairly thin and are typically made from wood. A series of comparatively thicker pieces are then glued to specific locations to provide stability in high stress areas; This is the bracing system.
Without sufficient bracing to reinforce it, the instrument would buckle, crack, and fall apart from the substantial force put upon it by the strings.
Highwood Vintage Contoured Strat Saddles
Fender “vintage style” stamped saddles have been used for decades on Stratocasters and many other S-style guitars. Made of bent steel, they are highly adjustable and posses a classic look.
However, for some playing styles, these saddles have a major drawback. Highwood Guitars Parts HG Contoured Vintage Guitar Saddles retain the look of the original Fender design with key improvements.
Fret Sprout – Sharp Fret Ends
Sharp or poorly shaped fret ends can be a real drag on your playing. When mild, it is an annoyance; Severe cases however can render an instrument effectively unplayable without risking cuts to the player’s hand. Careful filing of the fret ends is the only way to remove the excess metal and get the frets flush to the side of the neck.
Taylor Guitars Expression System
The Taylor Guitars Expression System is a series of proprietary electronics designed from the ground up to maintain the unique sound and aesthetics of Taylor Guitars. The expression system is fully optimized for the Taylor sound and is unlike any other guitar pickup system.