I made and put a mid booster preamp circuit, battery, level pot and all in the sound hole of an early ES 335 once, and had to make it like a puzzle box of a few pieces so it could be removed, you had to take out the battery, remove two screws, turn the tabs and pull it up a bit, and then turn and slide it just the right way for it to come out! I made the wire harness to plug in/out. What a huge job! I also supplied instructions how to remove it, as I was sure anyone trying would have had a very hard time figuring it out, and possibly damage it for believing it can't be done!
I don't cut too many losses anymore by quoting high enough to cover cans of worms, or even having the Client give me carte blanche. I often come in way lower, but take fewer losses. I mean just quoting something like that is a real bitch, because you have to spend a lot of time figuring things out thoroughly before you start making anything, and for not being routine and made from scratch only once, harder to tell just how long it will take. I don't waste my clients, or my own money if I can avoid it!
Seeing a repairer of your caliber pack it in on a repair that could be a total sink is reassuring to me. So many times I’ve stuck to a repair and lost so much time to it and ended up losing cash because I felt the hit to my reputation, or more aptly my pride, would be worse than being straight up with the customer that I’m not going to be able to do it. Thank you for sharing this video.
Been following him for over 4 years now, he has had at least 3 L's total that he has shared with us unfortunately. No one wants to see Ted succeed more than me. The best luthier teacher one could ask for.
@@MaxCohen-mx2rf Definitely. The one where he had to build a whole new neck... that had to be heartbreaking. Also the Japanese Epiphone (I think?) where he did a bunch of work only to have the action right about at the same place it started.
I respect Ted as it shows us all even the best cant do everything... and be profitable. In the end, its a business and sometimes you just cant do things you want/need to do because its not a good financial decision. I really was looking forward to the preamp sound, but I suspect it likely wouldnt have sounded much different than the stock pu.
Papa wants! I'm a bassist, and not even a fan of resonators, but that's a thing of beauty. I love the top and sides, whatever that gorgeous wood is, that tasty little inlay, and the armrest. It's like... I just want it so I can adore it. Prolly better in the hands of someone who can make it sound as good as it looks. ♥
Thank you, Ted. As one that also run's my own shop, it's nice to see that even you can't walk on water. My clients think I can fix world hunger too. Thanks for an honest post.
Bummer. I was about to comment on how great this installment was and then the bad news. It's still great, but I can't help but to feel bad for you. It was a brilliant solution that didn't pan out probably because of a preamp requirement or something. I hate to see your fine craftsmanship get thwarted. Such is life. Thanks for sharing!
As someone who's been in a similar situation in a different field, you have my respect and condolences. Sometimes you just lose, and that sucks. Wish you the best, man.
Man, that control module you did was headed for greatness. I understand you setting it free. I am very surprised you didn't mock up the rig outside the guitar to test it worked prior to doing the woodworking, you usually do the proof of concept
He said he tried numerous things off-cam, putting it together and taking it apart, etc. I'd be stunned if that wasn't part of his testing, albeit after the woodworking. I got the impression the pre tested ok. If it was a dud it wouldn't be a mystery. Just get another one.
I guess Ted's head got hung up on "will this stuff fit in the soundhole?". He somewhat got two proof of concepts on his hand and unconsciously choose the wooden one.
Nothing is more frustrating. There is great wisdom in knowing when to walk away. Beautiful work, as always. If everyone took the care in their work that you do, the world would be a much better place.
Wow, so many teachable moments here. The quality of the work (as usual!), the judgement to cut your losses when it hit the wall, and the wisdom of your non-invasive design and planning in the first place.
knowing when to through in the towel is pure wisdom. Although things didnt go according to plan, you still made a great video.Im just very happy to see you back. Thank you
This is one of my favorite videos in a while. That was some awesome custom work, hated to see it not work and was surprised. Ol well can’t win em all. Guitar sounded great though. Thanks for the content.
Great show! It's no fun to pick yourself up and dust off the blues. I tell my students as long as you don't through the instrument your making out in the street after a mistake you can grow!
Elegant solution, well thought out and masterfully executed spoiled by component failure likely insufficient battery power. Great to watch a master at work as always
It's quite a man who can admit to being in over his head. It's something else entirely to be confident enough to show that shortcoming with the world. I show up to see a skilled craftsman at the top of his game, but this is so much more. Thank you for sharing.
I'm sad to see it play out this way. But I can tell you that this video evoked more emotion in me than the usual success story. The project may not have worked out. But the story told was a winner. Thanks for the great content.
Somehow sounds odd that some amp would work either 9V or 6V with just smaller battery capacity. It would be closer to normal that it would be a lot quieter and whatever is the capacity difference between CR2032 and 9V (as the CR2032's are in series it doesn't double the capacity). Third away from the voltage seems a huge difference that could definedly affect the performance of the amp.
As a recent subscriber I am learning something from each vid. A lesson about cutting one's losses is a good lesson! Since I only work on my own guitars, I am able to put the work aside, then come back days later and try something else. All I lose is time!
My gosh Ted, as someone who shares that same mindset (albeit in a different field) I am impressed you can put it down and walk away. Incredible work though sorry it didn't work out.
Yup, same with automobiles. Sometimes, new parts are bad. My bet is the battery holder. Something is jumping inside. Ho-hum. ✨️✨️✨️💁♂️💁♂️💁♂️🍸🍸🍸🤔🤔🤔😜😜😜🐒🐒🐒😎😎😎
Hey there! Cheers from the South Carolina Lowcountry! Been watching for two years. My wonderful friend that plays bass with me retired from Gruhn Guitars(luthier).
I wish i was closer to your shop than far far away in a state far below Canada.... Like to get you to fix my basses... Thanks for the upload Ted... Have a great day ...
Thank you for another informative & interesting video, I always smile when I see that you have released another one and sit myself down comfortably so that I can watch it. This is such a beautiful guitar and, as usual, your work was of superb quality, how frustrating to be derailed by non functioning electronics. I am sure that if you had no time pressures (like us hobby guitar builders/repairers) you would have solved the mystery. One of the downsides of earning your living by being a luthier is that you don't have the luxury of infinite time to expend on a task like this.
Hello. I’m new to your channel and have been gorging myself on your videos! I love your work, and your knowledge. I have learned so much from watching you and mostly listening to you talk about guitar history. I am an older amateur player, I was a bassist in the 1960-70s, but now just play guitar for pleasure. I just wanted to thank you, I enjoy watching you work, you are an artist. Thank you, especially for spouting little interesting bits of history (Martin, Gibson, and guitars in general). I actually use your videos as a way to relax, sort of a meditation 😀 Thanks!
That guitar is gorgeous! Sorry about the pre not working. I understand how frustrating that is and how annoying and sleep stealing it can be when you can’t figure out why. FWIW I never would have come up with the idea of making a piece to fit the sound port. That was terrific.
What a bummer! I too have the mind to keep fighting with crap like that, I am not getting paid, nor does my livelihood depend on how much time I spend on a project that is being difficult. But even then I say screw it, and move on eventually. Good call on this one, you did try, it just wasn't going to work out.
I acknowledge that it is a Waste of our Time to reply to Ted in the comments...But Damn, That Guitar sounds FANTASTIC without electric amplification. That said, as a retired physicist, from a family of luthiers... the Soldering (or Soldering) temperature to attach the leads cooked the pre-amp. Saw that one coming the instant you showed us. Still, Thank You Ted, Respect!
Being in a service and repair business for 30+ years, one thing I learned,.......a new part doesn't guarantee a good part! Thanks for the videos. I look forward to them each week!
From what little I know, a reso should have soundhole(s). Te highs tend to come out of the cone, the lows from a soundhole, as anyone who ever tried to mic it should know. Sorry for my poor self taught english, thanks and cheers for another excelent video.
Engineer here who works in semiconductor testing. The chips don't always work, even after we have tested them to be good and operational. Don't know if this is your issue of course. Technology can be great and just stink sometimes. Beautiful guitar.
Thanks for showing the work despite it not working out. I'm intrigued as to why you could not test the pickup and preamp outside of the guitar (without all the re- and dis-assembly). Out of sheer cussed curiosity, I'm going to have to track down that preamp and check out its operating voltages and impedances now!
ohhh man, that pickup cover was just brillant... i'm sad :/ but good for you for knowing when to stop, I hope the owner appreciates the effort (and payed lol )
Absolutely excellent work! I was just making some laminate today too. love your tuner clamp thing. Sorry about the bad electronics thats probably not your fault. Thats why I don't do repairs for a living just make custom guitars with some specific characteristic you can't get in a mass manufactured instrument and if some one wants to by one il'l tell them the price.
