How To Repair Use Wire

Download Article

Repairing guitars becomes easier as you become more than skilled at diagnosing the problem and replacing parts properly. Here is a tutorial on the complete repair of a Les Paul example.

one
Discover your trouble. In this case everything that tin can become a problem with the cervix that inhibits the playability has happened except for a warped neck or anything that involves removing frets and/or major repair of the truss rod.
- If you have a warped neck or major truss rod repair, obtain a genuine replacement cervix exist it the cervix alone or from a donor guitar with a thrashed trunk across restoration.
2
Supercede its tuners. What kind of tuners you buy is entirely your option and also how they are arranged. Les Paul and other similar headstock are chosen three x 3, three tuners on one side and three on the other and normally are in a unlike orientation than 6-in-line tuners on a Stratocaster blazon of headstock.^[i]
- In the event you have a different setup involving an uneven number of tuners, detect that same exact fix in the same orientation. You can also use in-line tuners but they will be left or right depending on how you play, but you lot are able to tune normally.
Advertisement
3
Replace the nut. If necessary, replace your nut with any material of your choice. Many times a Les Paul nut type volition break at both E strings considering of string tension forcing force per unit area to break the nut. Also, the nut may interruption or has broken because of dry rot to the fabric or any defective pieces.^[2]
- Unless it'southward cleaved and volition demand to be replaced, start with obtaining a new nut that is anything to your liking, preferably a blank nut rather than a pre-cut to avoid improper cord height. If cutting a bare endeavor copying your old nut and make adjustments if needed using the neck as a guide subsequently cutting out the nut. To do this accept a sharp blade that is piece of cake to work with such as an Ten-acto and cut the finish that holds the sides of the nut. Make sure to cut all of the finish as it will break autonomously when you take out the nut.
- Next, using a hitting tool such equally a regular screwdriver and a hammer gently tap out the nut. When the new nut is ready to be placed in, mix together a small corporeality of water and wood glue (l% glue/ 50% water) and coat the bottom of the nut cut in the cervix and fit in the nut.
4
Redress frets. Be very cautious when trying to do this if you don't have feel and always tape or protect your fingerboard until yous have gained plenty skill. When trying to find high frets, mark each one with a permanent marker and and then take a sanding block that has 120 dust sandpaper and simply sand off the marker.
- If the maker comes off early that's a high fret, if it doesn't come up off that's a low fret, if a bundle comes off those are properly placed frets. If you need to detangle frets use a series of files and carefully scrape across the neck in the angle of the fret ends. E'er reference other tutorials for dressing frets or replacing them.
5

Repair bolt-on holes. If the screw holes in your cervix are stripped or are larger than the threads, identify in pre-glued toothpicks or scraps of wood and how many depending on what you demand into the pigsty and look for it to dry, then effort re-threading the hole past screwing in the bolt.

Advertisement

1

Repair torso wings. These wings class the chief body shape and may have been broken past dropping the guitar or other dissentious methods. If you practise not properly glue in the wings you lot will need to use extra caution equally to not break the bond. Repairing wings or whatsoever body wood is rarely necessary, especially on a thick guitar body such as a Les Paul Standard. Information technology may be needed on a smaller bodied guitar much similar a Les Paul Junior.
2

Repair strap buttons. Many times strap buttons become loose and somewhen come up out. Use the same method as repairing a commodities on cervix hole mentioned above, be conscientious not to over-tighten any screw and always utilise an appropriate screwdriver.^[3]
3

Repair bridge holes. Rarely does this occur merely sometimes if an inexperienced tinkerer had stripped the Melody-O-Matic and/or end-bar you volition demand to follow the same method as to repairing a strap button.^[4]
four

Repairing or correcting the neck joint. Sometimes a cervix joint tin can interruption at the sides or at other cuts and if this happens repair them properly and the same method as repairing body wings. If the bottom of the joint where the screws bolt on is damaged in any style then you must repair the body properly or supercede it entirely.

Advertisement

1

Repairing pickups. Yous do not take the option of repairing and salvaging the pickup beyond re soldering the roll wire. If you do this be aware you lot are not repairing but instead customizing. Notwithstanding, to repair or restore pickups showtime past re-magnetize the scroll magnets using stiff world magnets. If yous need to re-solder the coil wire, unwind the pickup tape and properly re-solder in the wire accordingly.
2

Make clean or replace switches. To make clean switches use solvent such as contact cleaner in a spray into the toggle itself, you lot may likewise use other solvents such equally WD-forty, always piece of work the solvent around past using the switch equally indented. To supersede switches first obtain a proper switch that applies with your guitar, then soldering in accordingly. Work in a well-ventilated space to avoid harmful fumes from solder or solvents.^[5]
three
Clean or replace potentiometers. To make clean pots use solvents such as contact cleaner or other solvents in a spray can and spray into the small indent on the base of the pot, ever work the solvent around by using the switch as invented.^[6]
- To replace pots start obtain a similar pot that applies with your guitar that has the same reading (usually 50k in ohms, written on the ground plate), and then soldering in abidingly. Work in well-ventilated infinite to avoid harmful fumes from solder or solvents.
4

Clean or replace jacks. To clean jacks use solvents such as contact cleaner or other solvents as a spray and spray the metal parts, clean any backlog solvent with a rag. To replace jacks first obtain a like one that complies with your guitar, then soldering in properly. Work in well-ventilated space to avoid harmful fumes from solder or solvents.

Advertizing

i

Start with the span. Plated or painted bridges and stop-bars (gold plate, blackness painted, and like) should exist cleaned with non-abrasive means such as using manifestly water and a microfiber towel to dry out and remove spots. Chrome and non-plated metal can be restored to a shine with fine steel wool (0000 grade).
2

Replacing pickup rings and restoring covers. These rings are usually plastic and cannot be restored only covers are normally metal on Les Paul styles. You may not want to rub steel wool across your covers and then follow the method of cleaning painted bridges to avoid unwanted scratches. Likewise, supervene upon your pickup rings properly with rings that are the same length and/or color and make sure the screw holes do non need to be resized.^[seven]
3

Replacing or repairing knobs. Knobs are covers for your pots so yous tin easily turn them, if whatever of your knobs are unable to be correctly placed on effort due to cleaved or enlarge holes, place a skillful amount of tape effectually the pot's shaft that covers it and try to go along the the knob on the tape. If yous cannot practice and so then you may demand to replace your knobs.^[8]
four

Replacing switch and jack covers. These are the plastic or metal covers that hold the jack and tells you which switch is treble or rhythm. The switch cannot exist repaired and will need to be replaced, still, a metal jack plate can never break and only volition need to exist cleaned. A plastic plate will need to exist replaced or the screw holes need to be resized, do so properly and make sure every fastener is snug including screws and nuts.

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

How practice I fix my mom's erstwhile audio-visual guitar with merely one string and some minor amercement?

I recommend you accept it to a music store and get it looked at by a professional.
Question

How do I play a guitar with merely one cord?

You can't actually play chords, but each fret is one semitone, and then y'all tin play by just pressing different notes on the string.
Question

I am looking to ready the bridge of a Fender Stratocaster and am wondering if I should supervene upon information technology myself or get a professional to do it.

Rudy Toth

Customs Answer

In order to fix that bridge, you shouldn't tamper with what yous don't know so perchance you should get that professional aid and seek out a video on how information technology's done by professionals so that next time you know what to do.
Question

How can I know that information technology is beyond repair. My mom got me 2 fender guitars. 1 but needs strings and 1 has a loose wire.

Rudy Toth

Community Reply

If i of your guitars needs strings, then go to your local music store that sells instruments and get yourself some D'Addario strings. If the second guitar has a loose wire and you lot know where it is, then go a new piece of wire and solder the new strip of wire to the two posts that ends the loose wire connexion. Just have your time and save coin to DIY.
Question

How do I ready a fender with some hardware damage? I want to gear up a guitar for my blood brother who wants to play guitar.

Information technology depends on what the damage is. You may be able to restring it for a better quality sound, as well as clean information technology. If it is some other sort of damage though, it might be harder.

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your electronic mail accost to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advert

Cheers for submitting a tip for review!

Nigh This Article

Article Summary Ten

To repair your guitar's body, mucilage in any broken wings. Also, repair strap buttons that have come up out and bridge holes that have been stripped by putting glue on a toothpick and applying information technology to the holes. When the glue is dry, you can re-insert the strap buttons or re-thread the bridge holes. Yous can use the same technique to repair commodities-on holes if the screw holes are stripped or are larger than the threads. If the holes are besides large, simply leave enough toothpicks glued into the hole to accept up the actress space before you lot re-thread the screw. For tips on repairing the neck of your guitar or its hardware or electronics, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Cheers to all authors for creating a page that has been read 25,733 times.

Did this article help you lot?