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Chicago Fret Works - Guitar Repair

EKO “Rokes” Rocket Refinish

by Steve | Sep 11, 2012 | Complete refinish, Customization, Refinish, Uncategorized, vintage | 7 comments

We improved on some poor modifications to this Italian-made EKO Rocket. The Rokes were a mid-1960’s English band that found their greatest success when they relocated to Italy. There, the Italian guitar maker EKO developed this awesome, futuristic design for The...

Epiphone Casino – Classic Refin

by Steve | Jul 18, 2012 | Archtop, Refinish, Relic Service, Vintage Restoration | 7 comments

Here’s how we gave a modern Epi Casino a vintage look. The owner of a modern “natural” finished Epiphone casino wanted it to look and feel like a vintage 60’s Casino with a sunburst and lacquer finish.Epiphone uses a polyurethane top finish...

Vintage Les Paul TV Jr. – Neck Restoration

by Steve | Apr 18, 2012 | finish, gibson, headstock, Refinish, Relic Service, Repairs, touch up, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Restoration | 3 comments

Here’s a Gibson Les Paul Jr. that suffered a bad headstock break and a repair that was probably worse than the break itself!  It took undoing much of those old repairs, but we made it look right again. A client of ours spotted this TV yellow 1959 Les Paul Jr for...

Vintage Gibson Les Paul Headstock Repair

by Steve | Feb 22, 2011 | gibson, headstock, Refinish, Repairs, touch up, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Restoration | 1 comment

Keep looking folks. There are still great old guitars hiding under beds, in closets, and in basements. This one was abandoned in the basement of an apartment building and while it showed up in rough condition, it went home looking and sounding terrific. This is one...

Protecting An Autographed Guitar

by Steve | Nov 5, 2010 | Autographs, Complete refinish, electronics, finish, Refinish, touch up | 10 comments

Autographs on a guitar can disappear over time. Here’s how we make sure they don’t. I’ve got a baseball behind my workbench signed by 1970’s Cubs outfielder Jose Cardinal (my favorite player as a kid.) I don’t play ball with it because I...
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