Dave's question thread

[pagedr]

Originally Posted by LeDave

I'm going to start utilizing this one for my questions.

Are luthiers at Guitar Center reliable? If they even have luthiers at all?

Depends on the specific store and what sort of work you need done. I don't think GC employs anyone who would be considered a luthier except maybe at their big time flagship locations (the Hollywood location here in LA for instance). For the most part they'd just be guitar techs or repair people.

Anyway, if your guitar just needs something simple like sanding the saddle down to lower the action, changing pickups in an electric, etc then that's something I'd trust them to handle, at least on a cheaper guitar. Probably wouldn't take a vintage/expensive guitar there for anything unless I knew the repair person. But they are generally competent enough to handle the easy stuff.

That said, you're in a pretty big metro area, I'm sure there are some better shops/individual repair people who would be more reliable than GC. I'd recommend finding someone who can handle bigger repair work and going to them even for small things, so you can build a rapport for sometime down the road when you need work done that you wouldn't trust GC to do.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by LeDave

I'm going to start utilizing this one for my questions.

Are luthiers at Guitar Center reliable? If they even have luthiers at all?

I don't know of any Guitar Center stores that have luthiers.

A Luthier is one who builds guitars/violins/etc. Most of the GC stores have a repair technician who can repair or upgrade instruments, but I haven't seen one who actually builds them.

I know this is picky, but I think it's better to use the word "Luthier" properly, and address those who fix guitars as repair technicians.

Lastly, the quality of work performed at GC varies store to store. There are some who do excellent work and others who, sadly, don't.

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by LeDave

Are luthiers at Guitar Center reliable? If they even have luthiers at all?

My luthier/tech says that fixing the problems created by Guitar Center's tech give him a good chunk of his income. I've been inclined to believe him.

Bob

[MakingMusic]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

My luthier/tech says that fixing the problems created by Guitar Center's tech give him a good chunk of his income

My luthier said exactly the same AND I was one of the ones with a GC problem he fixed!

[3notes]

Originally Posted by LeDave

Thanks a bunch guys. I'll try to limit how much I ask because I can ask all day...

Don't limit it now.!! You've got a great streak going.

[LeDave]

Has anyone ever tried using Fretboard F-One Oil on their guitar?

Another member just PM'd me and asked if I ever wanted to darken my fretboard, and that it is irreversible. I would have to use it on my bridge so it matches as well...

I believe my fretboard is made of mahogany.

[CoryB]

I've used F-One oil for a number of years. Nowadays I tend to use Gorgomyte cloth on the fretboards but still use the F-One on the bridge.

It's a good product. You should be happy with it.

[EZYPIKINS]

Originally Posted by MakingMusic

My luthier said exactly the same AND I was one of the ones with a GC problem he fixed!

I made some pretty good side money fixing the problems caused by GC guitar tech's. Even writing GC guitar tech is giving me cramps in my fingers.

[jcpharm]

i use F-One oil (Music Nomad brand) on my guitars. if it is darkening my fretboard, i can't tell (yet). i also use it on my bridge so no biggie i guess. i use it sparingly barely a drop every few frets at every restringing which is every few months. i hear dunlop has a good fretboard oil too.

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by LeDave

I believe my fretboard is made of mahogany.

You may want to double-check this. Mahogany is pretty soft compared to more common fretboard materials. Mine are all either rosewood or ebony.

Didn't we determine, on the second post of this thread, that your fretboard is walnut?

[LeDave]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

You may want to double-check this. Mahogany is pretty soft compared to more common fretboard materials. Mine are all either rosewood or ebony.

Didn't we determine, on the second post of this thread, that your fretboard is walnut?

Thanks for reminding me, I totally forgot!

[Brucebubs]

Here's a sequence of shots showing how F-One darkened a spare Rosewood bridge I had hanging around.

[Duck916]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Here's a sequence of shots showing how F-One darkened a spare Rosewood bridge I had hanging around.

Oooh, don't think I like that.

I've never oiled anything on my guitars. Maybe I should. I don't want them to throw a rod or spin a bearing.

[pickinray]

Originally Posted by CoryB

I don't know of any Guitar Center stores that have luthiers.

A Luthier is one who builds guitars/violins/etc. Most of the GC stores have a repair technician who can repair or upgrade instruments, but I haven't seen one who actually builds them.

I know this is picky, but I think it's better to use the word "Luthier" properly, and address those who fix guitars as repair technicians.

Lastly, the quality of work performed at GC varies store to store. There are some who do excellent work and others who, sadly, don't.

I don't think it's being picky at all. There is a huge difference between being able to build a guitar from scratch (a luthier) and doing basic repairs and maintenance (a tech). It's like the difference between a chef and a short-order cook. I like to shop at GC, but they would not be my first choice for repair work on my acoustic guitars. On the other hand, I would be OK taking my electric guitar to GC for repairs because Telecasters are pretty basic instruments.

[Ralph124C41]

Originally Posted by pagedr

Depends on the specific store and what sort of work you need done. I don't think GC employs anyone who would be considered a luthier except maybe at their big time flagship locations (the Hollywood location here in LA for instance). For the most part they'd just be guitar techs or repair people.

Anyway, if your guitar just needs something simple like sanding the saddle down to lower the action, changing pickups in an electric, etc then that's something I'd trust them to handle, at least on a cheaper guitar. Probably wouldn't take a vintage/expensive guitar there for anything unless I knew the repair person. But they are generally competent enough to handle the easy stuff.

That said, you're in a pretty big metro area, I'm sure there are some better shops/individual repair people who would be more reliable than GC. I'd recommend finding someone who can handle bigger repair work and going to them even for small things, so you can build a rapport for sometime down the road when you need work done that you wouldn't trust GC to do.

I had a GC "luthier" tell me my electric guitar was humming because one or both of the pickups were defective and would have to be replaced. It turned out it was a short as the bridge post on one side was not connecting properly. Another guy fixed it for free when I had him do a setup. Way to go, GC!