An Exotic Visitor…

It's not often we get one of these in the shop: a Fender Select Telecaster!

Notes from the bench…

We're asked a few times a week about guitar setup and adjustments, so here are some notes on the subject:

* First time setup: This includes assessing the instrument's overall action (height of the strings from the frets), any factory adjustments that have gone out of spec since being shipped, and any seasonal/environmental concerns. Our goal is to get your guitar 'in the zone' of overall decent playability so that you're less concerned with it's performance and more with yours.

* Maintenance: Like many things, instruments are subjected to the rigors of their environment which includes wear and tear from playing, weather conditions, which in winter includes a significant drop in humidity.Taylor guitars has an excellent support page covering a plethora of guitar 'issues' which can be found here: https://www.taylorguitars.com/support . Scroll down to 'Symptoms of a Dry Guitar' to read more about this issue. When you bring your guitar in for follow up service, we'll address the areas that most often need minor tweaking like the truss-rod (a rod embedded inside the neck that keeps it straight), tightening tuning machines (they vibrate loose over time, believe it or not), fret ends that might be sticking out and the odd fret that might've popped up. On electrics, we make sure the plug-in jack is tight as these often spin when loose and compromise your output signal. Neck bolts are checked and tightened if needed on bolt-on electric guitars.

* Modifications: This is a subject related to maintenence but merits some focus here. What we see most often at the bench is that a customer desires to change the gauge of their strings to attain a variety of results such as dropped-tunings or increased tone and volume which can be attained with heavier gauge strings. Going to lighter strings for say, a new player, especially children, or for someone with a medical issue involving the hands is also something that we consider a 'customization' of the guitar from original, 'standard' setup. On electric guitars with highly sensative tremolo (whammy bar trem, etc.) bridges such as the classic Floyd Rose found on many 'heavy metal' guitars, we've found that these units will almost always fall out of their original settings when different string gauges are used causing action, intonation, and overall playability issues if not corrected.

* The burning question: cost?: This is challenging to answer on many levels but we can say with reasonable certainty that about 90% of all walk-in repairs are dealt with for less than $65. One recent case involved a much beloved Yamaha acoustic from the early 1980's. The owner hadn't played for about two decades leaving the guitar in 'hospitable' storage (ie; not in a damp basement or hot & cold attic) and brought it in for 'resurrection'. Luckily, the guitar responded well to adjustments and was made to play exceptionally well. The cost of extensive setup, restringing and overall conditioning was around $75, on the low side of the guitars market value. In these instances one should carefully inspect the guitar for any issues, or bring it in for us to look it over free of charge, and research the market value as well. In most cases you'll be spending less than half of a modestly priced guitar's value adjusting and renewing it's function. In the case of highly valuable instruments, it's a matter of deciding between function and restoration. Is this a family heirloom, an investment, or a 'working classic'?

We hope this didn't get to verbose for you and helped clarify some of what we do here at Wakefield Music Co.? Since we love playing guitars and basses as much as servicing them, you'll agree it's best not to neglect one of your closest friends!

C O L D !!!

We've been warming up the deals this week so stop in and spot some of our mid-winter reductions on select instruments with bright orange tags! ;)

New Kentucky Mandolins in this week-all solid wood at a reasonable price!

If you're feeling nostalgic about past victories, check out our Super Bowl display of all the half-time artists from 1994 to 2013!

Just restocked this week:

Leho Ukelele's model LHT-CF from their Thinline Series featuring solid cedar tops, flame maple arched back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. They offer an electric acoustic model as well. Amazingly thin at 1.5" thick with a bold, projecting tone! Gig bag included.

January blog special: Take 20% off three of these 'Shredder' guitars! You must come to the shop in person and say 'Shred Black', Shred Honeyburst', Shred Pink'. To get the deal! Good until Jan. 31st. ;)

A fine example of a Selmer Bundy Tenor from 1972 for sale! Details on our 'Used, Consigned, and One-of-a-Kind' page.

http://www.wakefieldmusic.com/Gallery/#9

It doesn't get any rarer than this:

A 1973 Guild F30 LH  Left-Handed.

Yamaha entry to intermediate nylon, steel, and acoustic electrics are well stocked for the new year.

And look-a rare sighting theses days:

 A Deering Goodtime open-back banjo is available for the new year!

Some 'new' old things for the New Year…

Epiphone "Masterbilt' Series AJ500RNS with solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides. This instrument has 'boomeranged' back to our shop from last year.

A really nice Ibanez Soundgear Series SR700 4-string solid body bass. 34" scale, Bartolini electronics, 5-piece Jatoba/Bubinga neck bolted to a mahogany and figured maple body. For a gigging bass, it doesn't get any slicker that this!