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Chicago Fret Works - Guitar Repair

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 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...

Gibson Les Paul – Body Crack and Goldtop Refinish

by Steve | Oct 21, 2010 | Complete refinish, electronics, finish, gibson, Refinish, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Restoration | 9 comments

This Les Paul looked very different when we were finished with it. This late 60’s Les Paul Deluxe has had lots of work done to it over the years. Its original P90 or mini-humbucker pickups were removed and replaced with full size humbuckers, it has had mini...

Custom Guitar Refinishing – Gibson SG and Fender Precision Bass

by Steve | Apr 24, 2010 | bass, Complete refinish, Customization, finish, gibson, Refinish, Uncategorized, vintage | 2 comments

Sometimes we have to get a little creative with refinishing. Here’s what happens when someone wants an unusual color for their guitar. We had a couple of unusual projects recently that required some creative work with color. The owners of both this 70’s...
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