Your enthusiasm and knowledge makes me deliriously happy, ‘glad to discover you today. I built my Page Dragon partscaster from a reseller body/bridge, it was my first Tele. I opted for a U.S. neck, 4-way switching and boutique p’ups and all assembly/finishing myself. I loved it so much I’m building another with B&G benders. I’m grateful to see your work and learn new tips, thanks
A little trick with intonating double saddles - raising the saddle on one side has a similar effect to pushing the saddle forwards. Similar because what happens is the string will pull sharper. Usually the higher pitch string of the pair, the middle pair reversed. Set the longest scale string spot-on, intonate the other string by raising and lowering its side. It doesn't take much and barely noticeable.
It's better to adjust the truss rod *before* changing the strings. It saves a lot of time because you can check the relief of the neck with the old strings on and it's no different than if they were new strings. Then just remove the old strings, remove the neck, adjust the truss rod, replace the neck, and string up with new strings. Much simpler that way.
this was nice to watch...ive been tinkering with guitarsetups for a while, but never got into fixing the sadle, seems scary =) and you need expensive set of files and wht not ... how do i dip my toes into this? =)
Glad you liked it man. The nut files are the only real luthier tools you'll need the rest you can get from any hardware store. You used to be able to get single files of the gauges you want but looking around they don't seem to be sold like that now. I'd call a Luthier tool place and see if they can sort you out
@@Montysguitarsandpickups I looked around and you can get sets for whatever strings you use...so 10-46 for example. But I wonder about what to think of when you start on the nut/sadle ... Angles and depth and so on. Cus if you file away to much its not much to do...
@@mudfly3 Hey man sorry for the delayed reply. This is a tricky one but there are ways to fix it if you do go too low, I'll try and do a video specifically on that very soon.
I got the JP mirror tele. It's an absolute beast. The neck pickup is magical. You got anywhere I can have a good listen to your 69 Strat set pickups? cheers
I do on my guitars but I love the silky feel you get with freshly polished frets but you don't need to do the t-cut every time. I would recommend naphtha and instrument food every time though. Cheers M
Thanks for putting this together, Matt, very interesting. You briefly mentioned compensated Tele saddles. I'm interested in your opinion on them. Are they systematically a great improvement in terms of intonation? Do you have a preference for the "enhanced" saddles, or the ones where the saddles themselves look just like traditional ones, but which are offset (tilted)? Could this be an idea for a future video?
Defo could do a full video on these. My absolute favourites are the Gotoh Intune Saddles they look like the standard vintage ones but with the intonation points in the correct place, and they don't cost the earth too which is an added bonus.
@@MontysguitarsandpickupsI'm looking forward to it so much I've subscribed! In fact, the subject area is wide enough for two videos; one on compensated saddles, and another one focusing on solutions where the entire Tele bridge is replaced by a six-saddle bridge (Fender make one themselves), or a more contemporary bridge such as is found on the MIM Nashville Deluxe and Player Telecasters, or even the American Elite series. In each video it would be really interesting to see a comparison between the results you were able to attain just doing an accurate-as-possible intonation setup with the traditional 3-pair saddle arrangement, and then seeing to what extent it could be improved by either using compensated saddles (first video), or changing the bridge entirely (second video), on the same - I would suggest affordable - guitar. Just suggestions. I'm sure whatever you put out will be fascinating for Tele aficionados.
@@Montysguitarsandpickups thanks for replying Monty, that sounds amazing, please let me know if you plan on doing pickups and also what products work best on dark ebony bass wood : ] love the channel
Absolutely brilliant .... love watching your videos on insta and on here ! I have a Jimmy Page Tele and now I have seen this I'm wondering if it would be possible to send my jp tele to you for the brilliant upgrade service you have just performed lol ??? Also what kind of price would we be talking ? All the best Matty .
Hey dear chap, glad you liked the video. I can gladly help you out with that. For getting booked in and costings etc email mail@montysguitars.com and the lovely George can fill you in with availability and all the info. Cheers Matt
@@Montysguitarsandpickups Thank you so much Matt , I really appreciate it I will get on to this soon as I get the chance and the dosh ... Thank you again buddy ps... it was me that asked you on insta about re-stringing my Ibanez RG to the E-BALL size 8 but I haven't got a clue how to reset the tremolo :) lol .. thank you ASH
It's a little depressing that for a $1600 guitar you had to go through the trouble of dressing frets and fixing the action. Great video on the process though!!
Why not remove the strings the way most roadie guitar techs do: just cut them off? Saves having to use a drill before snipping them off anyway to pass through the ferrules.
it's about trauma Jefferson . Releasing tensile tension all at once can store unnecessary compensatory tension aberration for posterity. Physics of wood fibers is interesting. Study recurve bows.
@@Montysguitarsandpickups -be super careful. Tape them up and vacuum particles carefully after you finish. A small particle can finds its way into your pickups and destroy them.
The best way is with lighter fluid and a toothbrush. That will get rid of any stubborn grime. If it is a lacquered board I would polish it with Muc-Off miracle shine, if it is an unlacquered board you Instrument Food or something similar.
@@Montysguitarsandpickups It's All about sound and audio right? :) You can make a microphone like you do pickups... very good pickups. Same thing different name. Ok I'll stop ;) Thanks for the video!
