Nethan Vines

  Everyone has different ways of shaping a new nut or saddle from a bone blank. Is there a right or wrong way? Nope. There are definitely ways that are a lot faster than others. It typically only takes me about 5 minutes from start to finish…possibly less if I’m in a hurry. It is an important  guitar part  and good to gain knowledge on this. Let me show you how I make one in our shop. Here you can see how much material is needed to be removed. It is a lot, especially if you are going to try to sand it all away. The secret to getting the thickness down quickly is to use a table saw, a long board, and our template double side masking tape. Next, attach the double side tape to the board and then attached bone blank. Make sure to put some pressure on them to make sure they are securely attached. I like to attach the original nut (or saddle) in front of the blank to use as a guide for setting the thickness. Place the board against the fence and set the thickness I want the bla...

Working on increasing your picking speed is not just for the hell fire speed wannabe’s. Once your speed increases your whole style of playing loosens up. Your fingers will feel light and flexible and you’ll gain much more freedom in your playing. Your fingers will float easily across the strings without trying so hard. It’s an important skill to work on and to maintain. Increasing your picking speed comes with obstacles, victories, ups and downs, lots of patience and hard work. It’s all about practicing and equally important “the right way of practicing”. Just practicing a lot of hours doesn’t necessarily increase your picking speed if you don’t do it the right way. One can get genuine guitar picks from FaberUSA - Online store for guitar parts. Every individual has it’s own specific hurdles to overcome, but if you focus on these tips you are already off to a great start. You can do it too! 1 –  Practice slow Most people know this already but don’t have the patience ...

I cover pick choice and pick technique in detail in my course Rockstar 101 – Essential Guitar Skills For Beginners but today I`m going to give you some specific advice about choosing the best guitar pick. A few hours ago I finished a lesson with a student who has been playing for roughly 9 months and is making great progress. We had a very productive lesson, and it`s a lesson I often enjoy teaching as it`s one those lessons where a  small change makes a BIG improvement for the student . It is the lesson where I go though which I deem are the  best guitar picks – especially for beginners.  I show the student a variety of guitar picks and we look at which ones are suitable for which type of  song, guitar and genre  of music. By the end of the lesson my student knew exactly which 3 picks he likes for which song, guitar and genre and we both both noticed big improvements in the sound coming from his guitar. This information helps to unde...

Guitars are amazingly durable instruments – but they need a little help once in a while to function properly. Whether you play jazz, metal, classical, virtually any style, your guitar will suffer the stresses of string pressure and, because it’s being manipulated by a guitar player, succumb to the normal effects of wear and tear. This means the gear will need some form of maintenance and even the occasional setup. You can have a reliable individual do this for you, for a price of course, or you can do it yourself. Personally, I’ve found players fall into basically two categories: those who have no problem spending the money to have the work done for them, and those who are hands-on preferring to do the work themselves. A Few Tools Since we’re not servicing jet engines, the tools we need are fairly humble. Here’s a short list: Side Cutters String Winder Large and Small Philips Screwdrivers Large and Small Flat Screwdrivers An Assortment of Allen Keys ...

One of the first things a new guitarist learns is how to tune their instrument. The accepted method of tuning (EADGBE, from lowest to highest string) is known as standard tuning. It has been in use practically since the guitar was converted from a five-string to a six-string instrument in the 17th century and serves most guitarists quite well. But there's more than one way to tune a guitar. In fact, the number of tunings at your disposal is limited only by your imagination. Guitar tuner buttons play an important role to make it a perfect one. Alternate tunings are deviations on the tried-and-true standard tuning. Open tunings refer to any tuning that forms a full chord when all open strings are strummed together. They are common to blues and folk music as well as for playing with a slide or bottleneck. If you've never heard of alternate or open tunings, or if you've shied away from giving them a go because you find a departure from the ordinary utterly baffling and a bi...

Next, set the action by adjusting the height of the saddles. Saddle screws can vary, so use the wrench that came with your guitar. For this Strat, I used a .050" hex key. 1. Tune the guitar to pitch. 2. Place a capo on top of the 1st fret. 3. Measure the action at the 12th fret using an action gauge or precision metal ruler as described in Step 1. 4. Beginning with the 1st string, turn the height adjustment screws located on either side of the saddle to raise or lower the string to your preferred height. For a modern Strat fretboard with a radius of 9.5"–12", such as on this guitar, official Fender specs are 4/64" for both the 1st and 6th strings. However, string height is personal, so this measurement will vary according to your technique and string gauge. After each adjustment, retune the string you’re working on and re-measure the action at the 12th fret. 5. Repeat this process for each string until you have the action where you want it. The go...

Your guitar comes with a whole panoply of features that should be able to tweak to get it into shape, and most of these adjustments can be made with nothing more than a screwdriver, a little care, and some patience. Find out how… Warning/disclaimer  The information in this article is provided free of charge, in good faith, and on the condition that it will only be used responsibly and entirely at your own risk. The procedures outlined are based on 20 years experience of tweaking guitars, and have been confirmed through consultation with professional luthiers, etc., as good practice. However, even something as simple as adjusting a pickup may be fraught with danger – simply dropping a screwdriver can horribly damage the finish on your guitar. It is up to you to proceed carefully and at your own risk, taking note of all the tips, tricks, and warnings where applicable. Guitar set-up and troubleshooting So, you just bought a new guitar and it’s producing ...

Whatever your playing abilities are, if you are serious about your playing it is worth asking yourself the question: Is my instrument as good as it could be? And if the answer to that question is not a resounding  “yes” , then the Plek Station might be able to help. Over the years, Plek has devised a way of measuring the curvature of the neck – known as neck relief – as well as the height and relief of the frets and the fret radius over the entire neck, all in microscopic detail. THE BEST POSSIBLE SETUP But how do I get the best possible setup for my instrument? Basically, that depends on you. Setups are the combination of string action adjustment, trussrod adjustment, and changes in the heights of the nut, bridge, and frets that are made to make the instrument as well- -suited to the playing style of the individual player as possible. Individual setups totally depend on the playing style of the player. If for example, you play with a lot of attack, you are goin...

There are many different styles of electric guitar tuners or machine heads. Some tuners have notched string posts like classic Tele tuners and some have string holes like modern Strats. Other tuners have locking mechanisms to clamp the strings in place while most tuners don’t. There are many different styles and brands of tuners that essentially do the same thing: try to keep your guitar in tune. How to Fix Broken Electric Guitar Tuners There are many different ways tuners can be broken. The two most common tuner problems are worn tuners gears and broken tuner buttons. Worn Tuner Gears Many tuners wear down over time. The gears inside the tuning machine wear down from constant pressure and no longer fit together or grip each other properly. Worn gears can also cause tuners to skip gear teeth. You will most likely notice this, as you tune your guitar to pitch. A tell tail sign of severely warn tuner gears is the near inability to bring your guitar to pitch. As you place more te...

A professional guitar setup is a process which includes an inspection, adjustments, and basic guitar maintenance. The difference in a professional setup and a DIY setup is significant. A truly professional setup requires specialized tools and a good understanding of the mechanics of a stringed instrument. It is very important to know what every part does, how they relate to one another, and specifications. This is especially true when your setup involves adjusting a truss rod, troubleshooting specific issues, and doing guitar repairs. It is good to know vintage Gibson guitar parts such as guitar neck, tuner buttons, screws and sound system. An acoustic guitar setup has distinct differences versus an electric guitar setup. Firstly, you’re going to need luthier type skills to work with many types of wood, wood bridge, framing. If the acoustic has an amplification system that’s unlike working with pickups on an electric guitar. When working on an acoustic guitar it’s common to fin...

Do you own a Gibson guitar? Do you know what it's weakest point is? Let us show you a very common repair that we do here at the shop. The way that vintage Gibson guitar parts are constructed- with a tilt back headstock, and no reinforcing volute in the back of the neck- makes them very susceptible for breaks. The wood gets really thin right between the nut slot and the truss rod channel, and if you rock too hard, or your case isn't up to par and your roadie tosses it in the van, or your Gibson experiences any other kind of shock (airplane ride?), this is usually the first thing to give. Fortunately, in most cases, this is not a complicated repair. Owner of this guitar came in with little hope. The neck was cracked in several places, and the more cracks, the harder it is to put together. They were also really long, following the grain of the wood.  The neck had to be properly prepped- any debris and slivers that were in the way of the pieces closing back together had to ...

This way you can do some research on it and ask other people their opinions about the guitar you want to buy. You can also find out if the asking price is a fair one. Buying a used guitar is a lot easier if you already know a little bit about the type of guitar being sold. Ask the seller how long they've had the guitar and what repairs or maintenance it has had. If the seller is honest with you, which they should be, they will also let you know about any problems or scratches or anything that may need to be addressed in the future.   Used to be the only places to pick up used guitars were from music stores, flea markets, or from the hands of friends looking for some quick cash. Today we also have the Internet and sites like eBay and Craigslist. While most guitars you find in a reputable music store have been checked out by the shop's in-house repair team and are sold at a fair price, this isn't always the case with instruments acquired sight unseen. If at all possibl...

An acoustic guitar, in the recording studio, should always be mic’d (if possible, with a stereo microphone configuration). That said, it is obvious that in a live situation, rehearsal or in the absence of adequate gear, recording the guitar becomes a problem. The most widespread method is certainly that which involves a piezo-electric pick-up: alternatively, during the years, magnetic pick-ups (pick-up placed in the sound hole), contact pick-ups (normally installed inside the instrument), microphones and hybrid systems have also become popular. The magnetic pick-up has a huge advantage: unlike all the other systems listed, it is the only one that provides a non-permanent and non-invasive installation on the instrument. Magnetic pick-ups, in fact, being very similar to electric guitar pickups, sound best when placed under the strings towards the centre / neck side of the instrument. The particular shape allows you to hook them to the sound hole of the...

Learning to play an instrument will be one of the best things you do in your life. It’s so much fun and is great for your mental and physical health. Learning to play the guitar is one of the most popular choices as it’s highly fashionable with young people. It’s a skill you won’t ever forget, and you can definitely use it to impress your pals. It’s also easy to move around from one place to another. Here are some of the real benefits of learning to play the guitar. It’s great for your memory One of the real benefits of learning to play the guitar is that it’s great if you want to improve your memory. You have to remember where to place your finger and how to strum, as well as having to memorize a number of tunes. It takes a lot of concentration to be able to remember lots of different chords. Research has found that learning how to play an instrument can improve your memory on the long-term as well. It’s great for understanding music better Another real benefit of learning ...

Gibson is one of the most established and recognizable brands in the history of guitar manufacture. Having been founded in 1894, they have provided musicians with a wide array of instruments, both acoustic and electric, with their most recognizable being Les Paul electric guitar, introduced in 1952. Gibson guitars have been used extensively throughout the years both in studios and on the road and are considered trusty workhorses for the players’ thanks to their sound, stability and classic image. Thus, these instruments are often seen having many wear and tear signs from the many hours of use. If these signs are only cosmetic, like the paint wearing down and flaking off or slight scratches and dents in the wood, and don’t interfere with the playability of the instrument, they are often referred to as mojo and may actually be desirable by some players or collectors, as they give a certain vintage and authentic aged look that is hard to get otherwise. On the other hand, there are also ...

There is a multitude of reasons for wanting to learn to play guitar. Perhaps it is a desire to lead campfire sing-alongs that inspires you, or a particular band that blew your mind and made you want to do more than just  listen  to music, or perhaps you're looking to impress a certain someone, or many someones for that matter. But did you know that playing the guitar is actually good for you? The following are ten reasons why you might want to take up the guitar pronto, none of which involves fame, fortune or the sexy factor. 1. Stress Relief If you've ever had a bad day and turned to music for relief, you already know something about how it works to reduce stress. Music is a natural soother. It releases endorphins, those feel-good chemicals, in the body. Playing the guitar, or any instrument, has a calming effect on the mind and body. Studies show that music not only reduces stress, but it helps to lower blood pressure levels as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, music is...

When you first start learning guitar, these techniques might include barre chords, chord progressions, pentatonic scales, arpeggios, and rhythm. Guitar lessons for beginners can include specialised lessons for blues guitar, rock guitar, or classical guitar. Additionally,  you'll learn about fingerpicking, basic guitar chords, fretting, and how to tune your guitar. Playing the guitar is a great way to stimulate your brain and your memory and beginners can start seeing the benefits from the moment they start playing a few melodies, licks, or a common guitar chord. All types of memory are engaged: Episodic Memory:  when you listen to a song, it reminds you of another memory, of a person, or a specific time and place. Semantic Memory:  you’ll develop knowledge-based memories of a particular topic, in this case, the guitar. Perceptual Memory:  that which remembers what your senses experienced. Procedural Memory:  this is the memory that remembers s...

1 Have you ever hung around on the beach with your friends around a nice little campfire while you were playing  your  bass guitar to entertain everyone?… 2 Did you ever take a piano with you, carrying it on your bike on the way to your girlfriend to perform a serenade?… Guitar playing is a great way to: – 4 express your creativity. – 5  learn how to write your own songs. – 6 impress the love of your life. – 7 play all kinds of music genres/styles; jazz, blues, classical, spanish, rock, metal, country, pop, etc. – 8 expand your possibilities. – 9 accompany yourself or another vocalist. – 10 play in a band. Every band needs a rhythm or lead guitar player or else just start your own band. – 11 relax and chill out. ( i prefer my acoustic guitar for this one ) – 12 become a performer. – 13 just show everyone what a cool dude you are. :) – 14 explore and break boundaries. – 15 teach others. – 16  be more mobile and flexible as a musician. – 17 attract attention. ...

Buying Guitar Strings One of the best parts of my job as a sales associate at Murphy’s Guitars in Utah is helping people find the exact tone that they’re looking for. Some customers find it right away and walk out of the store with huge smiles on their faces. Eventually I know that they’ll be back, first of all because I’m committed to giving my customers exceptional service, but secondly everyone will eventually need to change their strings. Today I’m going to walk you through searching for the perfect pack of strings.  Electric, Acoustic, or Classical? When a customer walks in and says, “I need guitar strings” It’s basically a game of 20 questions. Start with general questions, and filter it down to the most specific. The first question that I will ask 100% of the time is, “are these for an Electric, Acoustic, or Classical Guitar?” Seems easy enough, but just to be sure. knowledge on guitar anatomy and parts for Gibson guitars is very important for every guitarist Aco...

As a beginner you should be aware of the types of guitars available, their prices and also be familiar with all the parts. These are quite confusing as there are acoustic guitars, Gibson-electric, acoustic-electric, etc. So knowing their difference is essential. Usually, beginners prefer to buy a Gibson SG, acoustic or an electric model. In this article, we will focus on which is the best choice for beginners. Also, we will highlight the pros and cons. This will familiarise you with the basic parts and their differences.  The Gibson electric guitars are extremely lightweight and portable. Like all guitars, they have components like guitar neck screws ,  guitar saddle screws ,  neck, strings, frets, bridges, etc. Most electric-based guitars need an amplifier so that the sound produced is heard clearly. It is not too loud as sound chambers are absent. You can easily buy the guitar spare parts   for electric guitars. They use pickups based on the magnetic field w...