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Chicago Fret Works - Guitar Repair

Vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman – Binding Repair and Restoration

by Steve | Aug 3, 2009 | Archtop, binding, finish, Gretsch, Repairs, vintage | 26 comments

When it rains it pours, and my partner Dan has been up to his elbows in binding repairs this year.  Here, he replaces the dried and crumbling binding from a vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman. A common problem on vintage Gretsch guitars is the decay and crumbling of...

Lyon and Healy Mandolin – A Complex Headstock Repair

by Steve | Jul 27, 2009 | headstock, Mandolin, Repairs, Uncategorized, Vintage Restoration | 8 comments

In this post, you’ll see how we tackle a very difficult neck re-repair on a Chicago-made Lyon and Healy Style-A Mandolin. A new customer brought us a remarkable and beautiful Lyon & Healy mandolin that was made here in Chicago nearly a century ago. This is a...

Replacing A Fretboard: It’s Not As Painful As Removing A Tattoo!

by Steve | Jun 23, 2009 | acoustic, bass, Customization, inlay, refret | 10 comments

Thinking of tattooing the name of that special someone on your arm? You might try inlaying a fretboard instead. At least it won’t hurt when it’s time to move on. The owner of this bass had the Guild custom shop inlay his wife’s name on the fretboard...

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