Installing carbon fiber neck rods in a Ritchie Valens style StratoTone 

What Ever this Guy Charges ...he's worth every penny

Did I say that Dan is a national treasure? Well, he is.

This guy has literally taught me everything I know about guitar repairs lol if it’s not something I’ve seen Dan do then I don’t have faith in it. This man is a living legend

What a cool guy - so skillful I always thought a guitar with no truss rod and a bent neck was for the scrap heap. He even played a Ritchie Valens lick on the restored instrument.

"Oh yes, this is hide glue...yep...from 1952...possibly May...uh, from horses living in the midwest of U.S.A....uh, possibly 7 years old, fed on small grass, before the rain..."

I didn't know sniffing glue was considered a guitar mech trade secret. I've been doing that since I was 12! *I'M LIKE A PRO!*

When I grow up I want to be as cool as Dan Erlewine sniffing vintage glue.

This is the bob Ross of guitars, love his voice and personality :)

Dan is the Godhead when it comes to guitar repairs. The absolute best of the best a true craftsman. I could watch his videos all day. Thanks.

Had a Stratotone in the shop where I work for a while. Whatever that cheap little pickup is sounded incredible.

I've just seen some precious details that enrich my knowledge on guitar repairs. Great video, thanks for posting.

Not only is he a master craftsman that executes his work to with immense precision - he also has time for a little glue sniffin' as he goes about! Amazing!

Another person here who has been learning from Dan for many years now. Nearly 2 decades of learning, if I count my very first book on repairs. That glue sniff bit though, is something he could only teach in person. You are an inspiration to gear head wrenchers. You are a gentleman and a scholar, good sir!

He has forgotten more than I know at this point. It takes him twice as long to prep something then it does to do the thing, I wish I had this man's patience. Hopefully it comes with age. Dan is legend.

Talk about perfect timing. I'm just about to do the same with an unsupported neck to a 1920's Curtiss parlor guitar. Thanks Dan! Seeing your methodology really helped! And RL R, if Dan had said that the glue was from a seven year old, grass fed, midwest horse from 1952, and it had a unicorn's horn, I would believe him. The Nation of Japan recognizes and honors their craftspeople who are working at the highest level of skill as the national treasures that they are. I wish we'd do the same and I'd say Dan should be one of the first so recognized. His tricks and shared insights have pulled my bacon out of the fire more times than my pride will allow me to admit.

Picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

I want to see a truss rod installed. Since it's a 24" scale guitar, Dan can also show us how to cut, and thread, one of the truss rods from the Stew-Mac catalogue. Please do it - I love these videos!

Great to watch someone work smoothly, steady, not rushed, making progress all the time. You can learn a lot watching someone work in this way, thanks.

Great stuff! I have a late '30s Harmony Monterey that had exactly the same problem (except it had a steel rod, but the slot for it was cut way too deep and the neck just bent around the rod) and I fixed it the same way as Dan did this one. Total win!

Dan, you're a hero to many. I hope you live a long and happy life. You and a few others in Athens, Ohio turned me into a repairman - even if unknowingly! Keep up the good work.

Doing RC aircraft modding work, it was suggested to me that cutting carbon fiber can be dangerous. I've learned to either cut it with a constant spray of water to minimize dust, or even cut it just below water to keep any dust from being able to float into the air. Hope this is a helpful tip!

I'm a drummer and ran into your videos. Makes me wish I was a guitar player so you could fix one of my axes! Keep posting please!

Dude has some serious woodworking skills, lots of tricks and old school methods combined!

"When you get into glues, you'll know..." Didn't anyone ever tell you to not sniff glue?

On my first neck thru bass build, i used your 1/4 inch square graphite reinforcing rods. I routed them in at the same angle as the edges of the neck for extra triangulated strength. I also used your gibson style aluminum channel truss rod. I glued the stewmac ebony fretboard on clamped to a brass I beam. It took about 4 passes with a radius block to get the board flat. I used your brass call in an arbor i made with my drill press. The neck was so stiff and strong that just for fun i strung it with a five string set, .125 E .105 A .85 D and .65 G. Then tuned it up standard pitch. That neck took it in stride, but my fingers couldnt! Lol do to the full 5/16 full center thickness of that awesome ebony board, and those chimey rods, i ended up having to shave the back of the neck with my minny spokeshave to the point where the graphite rods show just to get get upbow for fret clearance!!!! Oh and i carried Dans fretting book for a month! Lool also, using the fret caul and pressing them in slow and careful, i did NOT have to level and recrown the frets.

So much craftmanship in an old guitar. You get them from the supermarket for £70, clean sound and a nice amp thrown in. It's all good but when you see what goes in them, even anything is a miracle of technology! I know, I'm a philistine!

Every time I see a Dan Erlewine video, I have to say what a GREAT Luthier he is and what an honest and unpretentious man he is . Listen to him because he is GREAT!

I could seriously listen to Dan talk all day long. I put on these videos whenever I wanna go to sleep, practicing, anytime I want to chill out.

I've been watching you for years sir. Also read a lot of articles. You have helped me with so many bass projects.. Thank You!!!!

Love Stew Mac, I keep coming back, is like a warm place for luthiers, guitar techs, enthusiasts, etc

I’ve never liked working with wood. Prefer to work with metal because it’s much more precise, but man you make working with wood a science and as precise as you can get with it. Great videos.

He is possibly one of the most endearing people ever! Seems like he's very genuine and knowledgeable people in the world! Keep up the videos and we'll keep watching!

I could watch these videos all day. What am I sayin’? I am watching these videos all day!

8:50 what my parents said when i showed them my first gf

Great Job, I think most repair guys would just say it's a lost cause. but now you have given it new life...

He is real magician and sweet nice guy. I'm only player, not the luthier, but love to watch this man's professional work.

This man knows what he’s talking about. True craftsman. I just subbed. I gotta watch more of this mans work. 👍🏻

You are the best, Dan. I appreciate your sharing your techniques and thoughts. I could watch you all day.

This man is a national treasure.

I love how much time and care he takes not rushing the job making sure it doesn't break

Dan, you're the best. I love your videos, and the layman's way you explain them. I'd listen to you all day. The stories you must have.

Not to forget to mention all the wonderful StewMac tools he has ! I wish I had all of them !! But I would still be lacking Dan’s knowledge ,which takes a lifetime to acquire . Such a luthier genius!

I really like the way you convey all your years of knowledge. Very eloquently and intuitive. You are so talented the way you fix I bet everything. You are a joy to watch and learn from. Sincerely Glenn

I'm sure there's many luthiers out there that don't even know that these techniques existed, you're awesome Dan

A fascinating video, it is amazing how a craftsman with such experience makes the job look so easy. I hope to see many more examples, absolutely superb job with minimal intrusion to the originality.

This guy is a true master, love watching him work his magic.

Funny coincidence. I am doing this exact same operation of adding 2 CF rods to my 1940 Harmony archtop with no truss rod, a 3/8" string action, and a slight twist. I wish my fingerboard came off that easy, mine was a serious struggle the whole way. There is a reinforcement rod slot in the center half filled with glue. I'm going to plug that with some hardwood and cut the 2 slots for CF rods like Dan did. Well, my jig is different, but whatever. Glad to now have confirmation my plan is valid.

Another excellent job, Dan! You always work with quiet authority.

Wow! A true Master craftsman at work! This guy is amazing! What a treat to be able to follow along! Can you imagine this guy setting up your guitars? They would be perfect! Thanks for sharing the repairs, I love watching.

I had to watch this again. I’ve probably watched it about 10’times within a year or so. He does such great work.

Love your movies! Thanks for taking the time & trouble to make such great little clips. Can sit and watch them for hours! So informative and interesting... I have some guitars I made when I was a teenager and I now know where I was going wrong!!

Pretty cool. He made the job look easy. However as good as Dan is he said in the beginning he thought about how he was going to do this. Not proud but a true professional. Thanks again Dan.

I don't even play guitar, but I love this dude.... best channel ever. It's like Bob Ross and Bob Vila all rolled into a guitarsmith.

That was so therapeutic to watch. This man is a true artist and guardian of the craft! 💪🏽❤️

Never hurts to have a little hot water around. Thank you, wise sage.

A exceptional human being. What a joy to watch him work.

These stewmac videos are really great. One really learns a lot from watching. I have always enjoyed working on my own guitars, and also did a little work on violins when I worked in a music store. I love it.

Dan.. thanks for knowing so much and sharing it with us.

Dan , you are the master ! Thanks for a great video ! There seems to be no limit on guitar repairs for you . You had a book out years ago that I still use as a reference when maintaining my guitars !!!

Watching you work and listening to your running commentary is an inspiration. Thank you so much for your videos.

The Bob Ross of guitar repair! I can't stop watching!!!!

It’s always amazing to watch a master at work like this.

i have an original 1950 yard brush , 16 new heads and 10 new handles .laughing aside, i still think you are a true master of your trade.

Absolutely incredible. This man is a national treasure.

Awesome Dan Thanks for sharing and rescuing a Very cool vintage Axe to be played again for years to come.

There just aren’t too many people as cool as Dan! Awesome

Thanks, Dan - you never cease to be an inspiration. I am a luthier who also does restorations and repair. Not a day goes by when don't I think "Now what would Dan do?" Personally I would have pulled a top and bottom fret to drill guide pin holes to keep that fingerboard from sliding, but you obviously didn't need too....

Astounding. I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. Watching a master do good stuff is a pleasure.

Love watching you work, my friend. My pal Gary is teaching me how to set up my guitars on my own, since he's moving away soon. Always a pleasure to learn from someone who's been doing this a long time. That's one cool guitar.

I could watch these videos all day.

I would love to apprentice under this man, and learn this trade. The videos fill the void.

Always a pleasure to see a master at work. Nice!

This guy makes me so happy.

I love these videos. Craftsmanship at it's finest.

Dear Dan, can you make a video just on hide-glue to get more used to what kind of temperature is right, how to get more time...if there are certain woods that work better with it or some that don't. I'd glad to get another cup of your wisdom. When i watched that video, I remembered that I watched it before and YT just threw it in there but I still watched it again to recap and to enjoy.

A master craftsman showing us how it's done, thanks.

This is the kind of craftsmanship we need to preserve. The big word is Craftsmanship.. This is the future.. not the past.

love watching this guy work. so much info & experience to share

I love to see these old guitars improved with modern technology!

Dr Dan guitar surgeon thanks for the peaceful shows

Excellent, as usual. I have about as much work area as a toaster takes up. In fact, I'll have to move the toaster to find it. I had two of these babies...and super clean surfaces on them. Had to raise the bridge on one by adding some felt under it...even sold it that way. Wonder how long it took before the guy.....Mark Ribot plays these, and turned Waits onto them. That sorta thrilled me, as back then I had two of these.. and in way better condition.

Such a joy watching him work!!

Such a 50s look, particularly the headstock. Beautiful

A Master Luthier. So enjoyable to watch such precision

That was a great show, Dan.

A real master of his craft, unbelievable skill

You are my new favorite youtuber. What a character. Aside from the expertise and wit, you seem like someone that would just be fun to hang around. Your vid. and aud. were spot on too! I'm smiling!

Dan makes such superb Guitars.

Great job dan,I think I will do this to my 1950s rosetti lucky 7 that was the first electric guitar that my late father bought me as a child. I'm now. 66!!

Did I realy sat through 9 minutes of this?? worth every second, it'is like watching wizardry

CRAFTSMANSHIP LIKE THIS IS A LOST ART...I WAS IMPRESSED THE WHOLE TIME.

I have a Jimmy Reed Twin without truss rod. I've thought of adding truss rod, Never thought of carbon fiber. Has been on the shelf for years. Every now and then I have pulled it out, all original.

Stewart is the man. Exquisite craftsmanship.

After watching the video several times I did this to my Stratotone that had the same issue. Worked great! Thanks!

GREAT WORK I HAVE AN OLD STEWART ELECTRIC SINGLE PICK-UP LED PAUL SHAPED GUITAR THAT I HOPE ONE DAY TO RESTORE AND AFTER WATCHING YOU I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE AGAIN THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION.🎸🎼

Aside from the amazing job, this is such a great unintentional ASMR

Dan, you are an amazing craftsman.

Gotta love the way he makes anything he needs, this guy is my hero!

Marvelous! Dan Erlewine is the hero again.

Ya when you see a master at his work it is wonderful...this man knows his buisness..