We really love these new strings from Aquila for restringing a uke or classical. These are made in Italy of a trademark material called Nylgut. Aquila says that Nylgut sounds like actual traditional gut, but doesn't suffer from instability due to temperature and humidity like gut. The basses on the classical set are traditional silver wound. In our opinion they have a great, lively, bright sound, and a higher tension than nylon, especially nice if you are already used to steel strings and move to classical. The high tension also attributes to the projection of these strings. Restring a uke with these and it nearly jumps out of your hand! Stop by and grab a set today!
It's a Fake.
Can you believe it? This Gibson Les Paul Custom is a blatant fake that was brought in by a regular customer who had suspicions that it might be counterfeit. We looked it over and determined it was indeed a forgery. How can we tell? See photos below:
This nut and trussrod cover were two of the first things we noticed.
The nut is plastic and cut very deep, true Gibson guitars have a string nut made of Corian and are cut much more shallow. The shape of the trussrod cover did not look right as well as the screen-printed silver model name. This is usually white and engraved.
Picture courtesy of Samash.com
Then we turned around the headstock and saw that the serial number looked funky.
The serial number looks too crisp and deep, and is white either from buffing compound or missing finish.
The serial number is impressed into the back of the headstock before finishing at the Gibson factories. This serial number looks like it was cut after finishing.
Picture courtesy of Samash.com
Finally we removed the trussrod cover and saw....no brass nut!
Uh....... that don't look right.
There should be a brass nut threaded onto an exposed rod like this.
There was a hole with a 4mm allen adjustment hiding inside. This was most definitely a forgery most likely made in Asia where many guitars are produced with cheap labor. For more info on how to spot a fake check out this page at Sam Ash.
Aftermarket Hardware
These beauties are Schertler Swiss-designed individual tuners for classical guitar. We replaced some original individual tuners on this Washburn classical, although these tuning machines could be used to replace "3 on a strip" style machines as well. If you are interested in any type of aftermarket hardware like this, let us know. We'll get it on order and install it right!
Electronics In A Can
This '77 Les Paul was in for a standard rewire. The pots were scratchy, and weren't cleaning up very well with contact cleaner and the customer wanted to install push/pull switching pots in the volume positions to split his humbucker coils. These pots work as normal controls but also have a switch that is activated by pulling them up. Gibson used a shielding can to incase it's electronics to keep out interference in the signal. We also shield electronics cavities, but use conductive shielding paint. Jeff mounted the new pots and "orange drop" caps on the original plate, attaching the bridge pickup connections to split to the slug coil when the pot is pulled into the up position. The neck pickup does not have 4 conductor wire which is necessary for coil splitting. We installed both push/pull controls on the customer's request since he will later be purchasing an appropriate pickup. When it was all done Jeff reinstalled the shielding can after replacing the missing mounting bolts. He also installed a bridge ground wire, which connects the bridge and therefore the strings to the common ground of the circuit. This also helps to reduce noise and interference. Now this LP is dead quiet, and has good reliable new solder joints and pots.
New pots and caps on the old shielding plate.
The Can
Fixing up a guitar for the holidays? Time to bring it in!
Yes, it's that time of year already, Christmas is right around the corner. Do you have a guitar player in mind, but need a gift idea? How about a little service on their favorite instrument? Here are some common maintenance services we can provide:
Restring - $15 plus the cost of strings
A basic restring is the most economical way to spruce up an instrument. This service includes: replacing the old strings, polishing the frets, conditioning the wood of the fingerboard (if rosewood or ebony), cleaning the guitar, and checking the truss rod.
Complete Setup - $60 plus the cost of strings
Every guitar (electric or acoustic) needs an adjustment from time to time. Instruments that have never been setup professionally will usually see a marked improvement. This service includes: Adjusting the truss rod, nut slots, action, intonation, pick up balance (electrics), cleaning electronics, polishing frets, conditioning fingerboard, cleaning the instrument, changing strings.
Player's Combo - (Fret level and Complete Setup) - $150 plus the cost of strings
Instruments with fret problems are a common sight, and a common repair here at GTS. Frets are where the rubber meets the road on a guitar. Most players will notice problem spots, dead notes, or buzzing in specific places on the fretboard. This can be caused by frets that have never been leveled or have sprung up since manufacture. A fret level involves filing the frets with great care and attention under string tension, to create a perfectly level playing surface. A complete setup has an even greater result once frets have been properly leveled. The Combo includes: Leveling the frets under string tension, crowning (re-rounding) frets, polishing frets (to make them like new), all of the services listed above for comp. setup.
Other repairs
Let us know if you need electronics repairs, modification, hardware installation, or any number of other repairs. These can be quoted on an individual basis.
Sometimes during the course of one service we will find other issues that our customers should be aware of. We will always call and discuss your options if we find any problems before continuing work.
Strings and Accessories
How about a tuner for a beginner, or a guitar humidifier for the acoustic player who needs to save their instruments from the dry winter. Or a special order of almost anything guitar related you can think of. Come see us!
Remember to get your instruments in soon and let us know if it is a holiday repair, so we have time to work on it and get it back to you on time!
Happy Holidays from all of us at GTS!
Emergency Repair!
Last Friday night Brad James and his wife, Anne Pollard James, were attending the Natalie Merchant/Tulsa Symphony Show, at T.U. During the show Brad noticed (from the 6th row) that Natalie's guitar player, Gabriel Gordon, was playing a Taylor with a bad crack in the top. Brad mentioned to Anne that if he was to meet the guitar player he would tell him about GTS and offer to fix the cracks.
The next morning Anne was at the Woody Guthrie Center where she met Natalie Merchant and Gabe. Anne told Gabe about Brad's offer. Gabe called Brad immediately. Within minutes Brad had picked Gabe up at the center, driven him to the hotel to pick up the guitar, and they were headed to the shop. Within an hour or so the guitar was diagnosed, glued up, and in clamps! Gabe enjoyed an afternoon in Tulsa while the Taylor was in recovery, then used the guitar on stage that night. Natalie shared the story with the audience. Gabe even made made it down to the Colony after his show and played the last set with the Brad James Band!
Just another example of those service oriented guys down at GTS saving the world one guitar at a time.
Superfan
Sittin' in