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The Fret Files: the guitar workshop podcast

Started by The General, January 11, 2014, 12:11:00 PM

The General

The Fret Files on UFOShip.comhttp://www.ufoship.com/?cat=13
The Fret Files podcast RSS feed:  http://www.ufoship.com/?feed=rss2&cat=13
The Fret Files on iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fret-files/id797906942

I am in the process of making this podcast a reality.  It will be a guitar technology podcast.  Anything relating to the building, maintaining, hot rodding, repairing, or restoration of guitars will be discussed.  This has been my profession for many years, and I think it will make an entertaining podcast for guitar players, other guitar repairmen and builders, and maybe even a few non-guitar people.  I'll be interviewing manufacturers, repairmen, pickup makers, etc.  I will also take calls and emails to answer your guitar tech questions.

Want to participate?  You can call the show and leave a comment or question for me to use.

757-774-8482
which is also
757-77-GUITA(r)

If you prefer to email your question, you may submit a question for the podcast  here

I hope to have the first episode ready soon. 
It will be available through UFOship.com, itunes, etc...

onan

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 12:11:00 PM
I am in the process of making this podcast a reality.  It will be a guitar technology podcast.  Anything relating to the building, maintaining, hot rodding, repairing, or restoration of guitars will be discussed.  This has been my profession for many years, and I think it will make an entertaining podcast for guitar players, other guitar repairmen and builders, and maybe even a few non-guitar people.  I'll be interviewing manufacturers, repairmen, pickup makers, etc.  I will also take calls and emails to answer your guitar tech questions.

Want to participate?  You can call the show and leave a comment or question for me to use.

757-774-8482
which is also
757-77-GUITA(r)

If you prefer to email your question, you may submit a question for the podcast  here

I hope to have the first episode ready soon. 
It will be available through UFOship.com, itunes, etc...

I'll give it a go.

aldousburbank

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 12:11:00 PM
I am in the process of making this podcast a reality.  It will be a guitar technology podcast.  Anything relating to the building, maintaining, hot rodding, repairing, or restoration of guitars will be discussed.  This has been my profession for many years, and I think it will make an entertaining podcast for guitar players, other guitar repairmen and builders, and maybe even a few non-guitar people.  I'll be interviewing manufacturers, repairmen, pickup makers, etc.  I will also take calls and emails to answer your guitar tech questions.

Want to participate?  You can call the show and leave a comment or question for me to use.

757-774-8482
which is also
757-77-GUITA(r)

If you prefer to email your question, you may submit a question for the podcast  here

I hope to have the first episode ready soon. 
It will be available through UFOship.com, itunes, etc...
Luvz me myz gitarz! Let's roll!

b_dubb

I have a Guild (I think) acoustic guitar that I picked up used about 15 years ago.  The frets have been worn flat.  The tuning heads are about to pop right out of the head stock.  I've wanted to get it fixed for some time but when I've inquired about repairs people always say "oh it's not worth it" because the fool that had the guitar before me stripped the finish off of it and refinished it with an oil or some bullshit.  It's a pretty cool guitar - made of rosewood or some other dark wood - and I like it.  If you need an "example" piece to work on for your podcast, I'd be happy to ship it to you and pay for materials, etc. 

The General

Quote from: b_dubb on January 11, 2014, 01:47:49 PM
I have a Guild (I think) acoustic guitar that I picked up used about 15 years ago.  The frets have been worn flat.  The tuning heads are about to pop right out of the head stock.  I've wanted to get it fixed for some time but when I've inquired about repairs people always say "oh it's not worth it" because the fool that had the guitar before me stripped the finish off of it and refinished it with an oil or some bullshit.  It's a pretty cool guitar - made of rosewood or some other dark wood - and I like it.  If you need an "example" piece to work on for your podcast, I'd be happy to ship it to you and pay for materials, etc.
Oh, man, thanks so much for the offer, b_dubb, but I'm just absolutely drowning in actual guitar repair work right now.  A guitar like that is 'worth it' if it's worth it to you to pay to have it done, but that could be an expensive project... I don't know really, I'd have to see it..

However, I may use your post in my podcast in some way or another.  Thanks!

eddie dean

terrific news! I am really looking forward to your new podcast!
I've been playing guitar for over 25 years. The past few years, I've been dabbling with setup and general maintenance.  Stewart MacDonald  (www.stewmac.com) is like a candy store for me!
Never attempted any fret work, which my 1991 fender strat HR needs badly. I've botched the wiring on a telecaster pickup project too. :-[  Soldering wires to the housing of the volume/tone pots is tricky business.
I will be listening and calling in.
If I can help in any way, please let me know.
good luck General!

MV/Liberace!

i think this is an example of perfect podcast topic selection.  this will be a hit.

The General

Quote from: eddie dean on January 11, 2014, 02:30:50 PM
terrific news! I am really looking forward to your new podcast!
I've been playing guitar for over 25 years. The past few years, I've been dabbling with setup and general maintenance.  Stewart MacDonald  (www.stewmac.com) is like a candy store for me!
Never attempted any fret work, which my 1991 fender strat HR needs badly. I've botched the wiring on a telecaster pickup project too. :-[  Soldering wires to the housing of the volume/tone pots is tricky business.
I will be listening and calling in.
If I can help in any way, please let me know.
good luck General!
Thanks!
As for soldering to the housing on tone/volume pots... it's all about temperature.  The soldering irons most folks have, the pencil type from Radio Shack or if you're lucky maybe even a nicer one, they don't really get hot enough to work properly for that.  You gotta get the big guns out for that...
[attachimg=1]

MV/Liberace!

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 04:11:35 PM
Thanks!
As for soldering to the housing on tone/volume pots... it's all about temperature.  The soldering irons most folks have, the pencil type from Radio Shack or if you're lucky maybe even a nicer one, they don't really get hot enough to work properly for that.  You gotta get the big guns out for that...
[attachimg=1]

that's the soldering station that rests on my work bench.  i love it, although i do need to buy a wider variety of tips.

The General

Quote from: MV on January 11, 2014, 03:05:54 PM
i think this is an example of perfect podcast topic selection.  this will be a hit.
Thanks for the enthusiasm, MV... but let's not get tooo excited. 
It could also tank like an Ovation Breadwinner.
[attachimg=1]

MV/Liberace!

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 04:15:41 PM
Thanks for the enthusiasm, MV... but let's not get tooo excited. 
It could also tank like an Ovation Breadwinner.
[attachimg=1]

fuck that.  this podcast is going to get you knighted, sir.


The General

Quote from: MV on January 11, 2014, 04:12:50 PM
that's the soldering station that rests on my work bench.  i love it, although i do need to buy a wider variety of tips.
I love my Weller.  It's the bomb.

eddie dean

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 04:15:41 PM
Thanks for the enthusiasm, MV... but let's not get tooo excited. 
It could also tank like an Ovation Breadwinner.
[attachimg=1]

heh.
I never really liked Ovations.
Particularly the acoustic. The curved back design is idiotic and completely uncomfortable.
Never liked the tone either.

Thanks for the soldering tip. I was indeed using the small pencil type.

b_dubb

Ovation sucks.  I like Guild, Fender, Gibson and Tokai (Japanese ... not Korean).

The General

Quote from: b_dubb on January 11, 2014, 04:53:50 PM
Ovation sucks.  I like Guild, Fender, Gibson and Tokai (Japanese ... not Korean).
Ovations are the Edsel of the guitar world.  Any time someone brings one in to my shop to get repaired, it's very difficult for me to tell them about their guitar without them leaving my shop feeling ashamed.

"You're guitar is made of plastic.  From the 70's."

jazmunda

I have no interest in the topic but I like the challenge of bringing down another obscure show.

Just kidding. I freaking love guitars.

eeieeyeoh

Although usually normal, this is not a topic for a woodie. But yea, a wood guitar made of the right wood sounds unbelievable without amplification. I think in the New World it was known as the Adorandac Spruce, and sold to European markets for violins and such till almost extinct and now a protected species. Martin's have always been made < 40 miles from here.

Quote from: jazmunda on January 11, 2014, 05:18:46 PM
I have no interest in the topic but I like the challenge of bringing down another obscure show.

Just kidding. I freaking love guitars.

Bwaaaahahahahaha.... ;D

eeieeyeoh

To Treading Water, the skill of understanding and playing a guitar can be nothing less than a gift.

I never heard of a podcast about it though.

But if you want to get into the electrical theory of amplification, I'm game.

Quote from: eeieeyeoh on January 11, 2014, 05:55:54 PM
To Treading Water, the skill of understanding and playing a guitar can be nothing less than a gift.

I never heard of a podcast about it though.

But if you want to get into the electrical theory of amplification, I'm game.

Not meant as an insult to anyone.  I plan on listening to The General and am sure I will learn many things. 
I consider any musical talent a great gift--one I absolutely do NOT possess.  I've heard The General play.  He's one of the truly gifted.   :)
BTW, Martin is my choice for, well, something really nice. 

eeieeyeoh

I actually thought that I forgot something to say. Not only is it a gift, but what's behind extreme effort to be good. I most respect those that survive the effort and still play a tune. On stage is noble. Behind that controlling amplification, is nothing ever perfected. Only the efforts can show through.

So maybe the next time I call an internationally broadcasted show of my voice, will be treated as me an equal regarding something about guitars, you can hear me as I really am without having to figure out what words to write, and most likely won't mind any questions asked. I'll probably just be eeieeyeoh. However, I'll have to catch the beginning of that live podcast designed to take unscreened callers. I'll let The General figure it out from there if actually the host.

Win-win situations being equal don't seem so bad for my future. I mean, how else do you think I shop at local stores for food?

eddie dean

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 05:13:53 PM
Ovations are the Edsel of the guitar world.  Any time someone brings one in to my shop to get repaired, it's very difficult for me to tell them about their guitar without them leaving my shop feeling ashamed.

"You're guitar is made of plastic.  From the 70's."

LOL.
Ovations are not cheep either, a grand or more!
They might have a slightly passable sound when plugged in,  in a live situation. Some people love em'.
I would rather own a cheep Epiphone or a Hello Kitty guitar.


jazmunda

Will you have a segment where you talk exclusively about banjos and ukeleles?

eddie dean

Quote from: jazmunda on January 11, 2014, 10:57:25 PM
Will you have a segment where you talk exclusively about banjos and ukeleles?

I just got a cheep Uke. It's fun to mess around on.
But I WILL NOT be playing any Don Ho covers, so don't even ask Jaz.

The General

Quote from: jazmunda on January 11, 2014, 10:57:25 PM
Will you have a segment where you talk exclusively about banjos and ukeleles?
uhm, no, sorry.
Don't hesitate to shoot me a voice mail at the above number with all your wacky questions, guys.
E

jazmunda

Quote from: The General on January 11, 2014, 11:07:52 PM
uhm, no, sorry.
Don't hesitate to shoot me a voice mail at the above number with all your wacky questions, guys.
E

If you get aldous and guildnavigator to co-host may I suggest a show name change to Highly Strung?

Heather Wade

Great idea General.  There is so much to learn about guitar upkeep, and nowhere to really learn it.  It is a dying art and I'm stoked that you're going to do this show.

I dig fender acoustics (they sound 10x bigger than life!), Martins, of course, and Gibson for electric.  Though I've ripped a few Washburns that were worthy, too.

We need to make more music!!! 


analog kid

I have five guitars that are all in bad shape. None of them have ever had a proper setup, and humid LA climate reeks havoc on intonation.

I'd like to see some truss rod adjustment tips. It's something I've never messed with. I have a Baby Taylor that's especially susceptible to climate, apparently, and the intonation is bad enough now that its unplayable (humidifiers are out of the question in Southern LA).

Frankly, I'm chicken about doing the nuts and bolts adjustments to my guitars. I don't know that I'll ever try a fret dressing on one of them.

The podcast is right up my alley and looking forward to it.

The General

Quote from: (Redacted) on January 11, 2014, 11:30:23 PM
Great idea General.  There is so much to learn about guitar upkeep, and nowhere to really learn it.  It is a dying art and I'm stoked that you're going to do this show.

I dig fender acoustics (they sound 10x bigger than life!), Martins, of course, and Gibson for electric.  Though I've ripped a few Washburns that were worthy, too.

We need to make more music!!!
Glad you're stoked, it's going to be fun!

Quote from: analog kid on January 11, 2014, 11:41:40 PM
I have five guitars that are all in bad shape. None of them have ever had a proper setup, and humid LA climate reeks havoc on intonation.

I'd like to see some truss rod adjustment tips. It's something I've never messed with. I have a Baby Taylor that's especially susceptible to climate, apparently, and the intonation is bad enough now that its unplayable (humidifiers are out of the question in Southern LA).

Frankly, I'm chicken about doing the nuts and bolts adjustments to my guitars. I don't know that I'll ever try a fret dressing on one of them.

The podcast is right up my alley and looking forward to it.
Fear of tools is a good thing.  It means you respect them.

The General

Quote from: jazmunda on January 11, 2014, 11:14:04 PM
If you get aldous and guildnavigator to co-host may I suggest a show name change to Highly Strung?
I'm going to attempt to do this alone... sans co host.  It's a lot harder, but I think I can do it.

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