DIY

All the World’s a Gain Stage

July 16, 2018

A beginner’s guide to what makes tube amps growl, bark, and purr—from preamp tubes to output transformers and every cathode in between.

DIY: No-Brainer Mods!

April 17, 2018

Michael Adams

How to transform four affordable axes—a Gretsch Jet Club, an Epiphone Les Paul SL, and a Squier Vintage Modified Jag and Precision bass—into absolute gems.

Bass Bench: Chasing Grounding Gremlins

March 23, 2018

Heiko Hoepfinger

If you hope to eliminate noise and hum from your bass, here are the important things to consider.

Acoustic Soundboard: There’s the Rub

March 22, 2018

Andy Powers

Understanding why and how frets wear (hint: it’s not just from fretting) could help extend the life of the ones on your guitar or let you know when it’s time for a complete replacement.

Mod Garage: The Triple-Threat, Solo Humbucker Wiring

August 18, 2017

Dirk Wacker

Like to keep things simple? Here’s how to coax three sounds from a stripped-down guitar sporting one 4-conductor ’bucker.

DIY: Build Your Own Rotary Speaker!

July 6, 2017

Yoel Kreisler

Dig those head-spinning tones? Here’s a step-by-step guide for making your own Leslie-inspired cabinet.

Mod Garage: Build a Pickup Phase Tester, Part 2

June 25, 2017

Dirk Wacker

When installing replacement pickups from different manufacturers, it’s a crap shoot whether they’ll be in phase with each other. This fun DIY project helps you avoid out-of-phase nightmares.

Mod Garage: Build a Pickup Phase Tester, Part 1

June 2, 2017

Dirk Wacker

Do you like to try out different pickups in your guitars? This handy, inexpensive device will spare you a lot of potential grief.

DIY: How to Refinish Your Axe

April 18, 2017

Erick Coleman

StewMac tech guru Erick Coleman on how to give your instrument a sweet new look in five easy steps—sans fancy tools.

DIY: How to Set up Jazzmasters & Jaguars

April 12, 2017

Michael Adams

Offset addict Michael Adams reveals setup secrets for making Fender’s ingenious, sorely misunderstood axes sing.

Ask Amp Man: Upping the Gain on a Super Reverb

September 26, 2016

Jeff Bober

How to get more drive with a simple mod.

How to Buy a Used Amp

July 22, 2016

Tim Schroeder

Tim Schroeder—amp builder for Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline—offers seven tips for avoiding the post-purchase blues.

Guitar Shop 101: How to Repair Delaminated Neck Binding

June 21, 2016

John LeVan

Got some loose fretboard binding? No worries—here are a few easy steps to fix it.

Thurston Moore Gets His Yuri Landman / Premier Guitar DIY Drone Guitar

June 9, 2016

Yuri Landman

Check out the new video footage of Yuri and Thurston chatting about the instrument’s unusual design, then watch Moore test the guitar at a gig the same night.

Mod Garage: Restoring Vintage Guitar Tuners

June 3, 2016

Dirk Wacker

Old tuners can seize up—especially if they haven’t been used in years—but it’s not hard to bring them back to life.

Mojotone Introduces the Studio One Amplifier Kit

May 31, 2016

Press Release

A DIY kit that can drive anything from a 1x8 speaker cabinet all the way up to a 4x12 without breaking noise regulations.

Guitar Shop 101: Curing Sticky-Neck Syndrome

May 20, 2016

John LeVan

Do you feel like you’re fighting your guitar’s neck? Here’s how to create that smooth, “played-in” feel.

DIY: It’s Alive!

April 29, 2016

Frank Falbo

Luthier Frank Falbo on the Dos and Don’ts of building a parts guitar.

Mod Kits DIY Introduces the Step Ladder

April 29, 2016

Press Release

The Step Ladder is ideal for anything from getting a slight boost while playing single-note acoustic guitar leads or for jumping from clean to overdrive in a high-gain electric guitar amp.