guitar repair

Watch a ’59 Strat & a ’59 ES-335 Get Refretted in Under 10 Minutes

In the debut episode of our new DON'T Do It Yourself? series, repair gurus from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville demonstrate an exceptionally delicate procedure on two classic axes.

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Replacing a stripped truss-rod nut can be an inexpensive DIY repair—if you know how to approach it.

Recently a client brought a fairly new American Fender Strat into the shop. The neck had too much relief, but otherwise the guitar was in great shape. No problem, I thought. Tighten up the truss rod a bit and we’ll be good to go.

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Photo by Andy Ellis

Fighting your axe instead of making great music? Review the fundamentals of a great setup with Nashville luthier Tony Nagy.

We all know the feeling: Inspiration strikes and you grab your guitar to explore some cool riff, phrase, or chord progression before it gets away. But instead of nailing the idea, you wind up wrestling with your instrument and getting sidetracked. Maybe the strings feel unexpectedly stiff, or everything sounds a bit sour and out of tune, or an annoying buzz keeps distracting you. The muse slips away and frustration sets in. Bummer.

No one says playing guitar is easy, but the condition of your axe can create additional hurdles that get between you and the music inside trying to get out. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned pro, having your guitar in optimal playing condition is essential if you want to sound your best. No amount of modding is going to transport you to sonic nirvana if the foundation—the essential physical platform—isn't adjusted and tweaked to operate correctly.

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