Guitar Care Tip #1
A good general rule-of-thumb for guitars of all
types; keep them in an environment which would
be comfortable for a person. Guitars are made of
and made with materials which are temperature, and
humidity sensitive. Protect your guitars from
drastic changes, or extremes, of temperature and
be sure to hydrate during the home heating season,
or if you live in a dry climate area.
Here in the Northeast, we are just entering the dry
season in late September and it will be time again to
remind owners to start hydrating your guitars.
Pay close attention to changes in the guitar's playability
or in it's appearance. Wood grain telegraphing through
finish, action going up or down suddenly, sharp fret
edges, sunken tops on acoustic flat-top guitars are all
likely to be climate induced ills that are often repairable
by returning the instrument to a healthy climate.
Most manufacturers and repair shops recommend about
45-50% relative humidity, and typical temperatures for
humans as a healthy environment for guitar storage.
I will have further posts regarding some of these issues,
feel free to add comments or questions.
Regards,
Dave
About Me
- Dave Dick
- Guitar repairman, Union Music, Worcester, MA. Member of Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band. Multi-instrumentalist, producer, teacher, and performer. Generally easy to get along with.
Find More about Dave Here:
Blog Archive
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hello folks,
A maybe-not-so-quick history;
In 1986 I found myself joining a band, Southern Rail,
which had aspirations to go full-time, or at least do
around 100 dates per year. This forced me to make
a decision to become a repairman or to continue
my position as store manager at Gordon Music. Since
repair could be done on a part-time schedule, and
I thought I might like repair better, I made the choice
and got started. At that time, Gordon did not have a
repair shop in Worcester.
I gained a lot of experience in the first year or two,
then I left Gordon Music and went out on my own
for a short time. I was subcontracting repairs, some
from Gordon, some from Union Music, and also from
a few other stores in the area. Eventually I started
working at Union Music around 1991 part-time.
Union Music was offering Setup services at that time and
here I learned to perfect my ability to setup guitars. This
has become the basis for everything else I do. We take
guitars that are dirty, and out of adjustment and return
them to clients all spiffy clean and playing great for a
reasonable cost.
All the while I was learning as I went along. I did have a
brief apprenticeship with A.B (Bear) Acker up in Amherst,
MA where he taught me to assemble a Martin 00-18 guitar
kit. But mostly it was figure-it-out-as-I-go.
Meanwhile my music career went pretty well, I
traveled around the U.S. and Canada with Southern
Rail, then left in 1996 to join Salamander Crossing
from Amherst, MA. This group traveled more than Rail
so I remained part-time at Union Music, although as
my skills improved and my reputation evolved more
and more work came in.
Eventually the two jobs started to clash and I found my
personal goals and interests changing. In 1999 my wife,
Paula, and I bought a home, my mother passed away
and I discovered that I didn't want to be out on the road
anymore. I left Salamander Crossing, sadly in 1999.
At that point I decided I would change gears and look
at my repairing career as my primary objective, and play
music as a high-end hobby. In October of 1999 the band
Northern Lights called me to join. At that time they were
only part-time which appealed to me and fit into
my career path. I played with them until 2006.
Another group had formed in 1998, this group was
put together just to perform once for a town common
gig. It was the birth of Blackstone Valley Bluegrass.
This was the first time I was a charter member of a band,
and also the first band I was in with my brother, Bob.
We only played infrequently during the Northern Lights
period, as Bob was also touring internationally with
Colorado-based Front Range.
During this time, I added hours at the repair shop and
eventually worked up to the schedule I maintain today.
After I left NL in 2006 we decided to make Blackstone
Valley Bluegrass our main musical project. Today, I'm
fortunate to have a comfortable balance between work
and play (so to speak).
As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe that my
experiences as a working musician add to my depth as
a repairman. I'll never say that it specifically makes
me a better repairman, but I do believe it helps not only
with the tools-on-guitars part, but also with easier
interaction with other players.
My many years at Union Music have refined me as
a repairman, but also as a businessman. Carl Kamp,
who is Union Music's owner has taught me (mostly by
example, but sometimes by direct instruction) a set
of valuable business ethics, and customer service
skills which form the basis of how the company presents
itself. This combined with my own musical and technical
expertise has resulted in a successful repair business with
a fairly large, loyal customer base. None of this is ever
taken for granted, but instead very much appreciated.
I hold instruments in very high regard, whether a gorgeous
vintage piece, or a bland beginners instrument. Each has it's
value to it's owner and this value must always be respected.
Maybe it's the musician in me, but wonderful music can be
made on any instrument, and if I can make it easier for the
player to make their own music, then I've succeeded.
We also try hard to give a lot of service for a reasonable price.
Sometimes this means I have to do some extra work, or
spend a little more time than planned. I've found that
in the long run, this always is best not only for the client,
but also for me. When customers tell you they got more
than expected you have delivered a good quality service.
Well, this post has become "a lot of post for a reasonable price"
so I'll wrap it up here. As always I welcome your comments,
or suggestions.
Regards,
Dave
A maybe-not-so-quick history;
In 1986 I found myself joining a band, Southern Rail,
which had aspirations to go full-time, or at least do
around 100 dates per year. This forced me to make
a decision to become a repairman or to continue
my position as store manager at Gordon Music. Since
repair could be done on a part-time schedule, and
I thought I might like repair better, I made the choice
and got started. At that time, Gordon did not have a
repair shop in Worcester.
I gained a lot of experience in the first year or two,
then I left Gordon Music and went out on my own
for a short time. I was subcontracting repairs, some
from Gordon, some from Union Music, and also from
a few other stores in the area. Eventually I started
working at Union Music around 1991 part-time.
Union Music was offering Setup services at that time and
here I learned to perfect my ability to setup guitars. This
has become the basis for everything else I do. We take
guitars that are dirty, and out of adjustment and return
them to clients all spiffy clean and playing great for a
reasonable cost.
All the while I was learning as I went along. I did have a
brief apprenticeship with A.B (Bear) Acker up in Amherst,
MA where he taught me to assemble a Martin 00-18 guitar
kit. But mostly it was figure-it-out-as-I-go.
Meanwhile my music career went pretty well, I
traveled around the U.S. and Canada with Southern
Rail, then left in 1996 to join Salamander Crossing
from Amherst, MA. This group traveled more than Rail
so I remained part-time at Union Music, although as
my skills improved and my reputation evolved more
and more work came in.
Eventually the two jobs started to clash and I found my
personal goals and interests changing. In 1999 my wife,
Paula, and I bought a home, my mother passed away
and I discovered that I didn't want to be out on the road
anymore. I left Salamander Crossing, sadly in 1999.
At that point I decided I would change gears and look
at my repairing career as my primary objective, and play
music as a high-end hobby. In October of 1999 the band
Northern Lights called me to join. At that time they were
only part-time which appealed to me and fit into
my career path. I played with them until 2006.
Another group had formed in 1998, this group was
put together just to perform once for a town common
gig. It was the birth of Blackstone Valley Bluegrass.
This was the first time I was a charter member of a band,
and also the first band I was in with my brother, Bob.
We only played infrequently during the Northern Lights
period, as Bob was also touring internationally with
Colorado-based Front Range.
During this time, I added hours at the repair shop and
eventually worked up to the schedule I maintain today.
After I left NL in 2006 we decided to make Blackstone
Valley Bluegrass our main musical project. Today, I'm
fortunate to have a comfortable balance between work
and play (so to speak).
As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe that my
experiences as a working musician add to my depth as
a repairman. I'll never say that it specifically makes
me a better repairman, but I do believe it helps not only
with the tools-on-guitars part, but also with easier
interaction with other players.
My many years at Union Music have refined me as
a repairman, but also as a businessman. Carl Kamp,
who is Union Music's owner has taught me (mostly by
example, but sometimes by direct instruction) a set
of valuable business ethics, and customer service
skills which form the basis of how the company presents
itself. This combined with my own musical and technical
expertise has resulted in a successful repair business with
a fairly large, loyal customer base. None of this is ever
taken for granted, but instead very much appreciated.
I hold instruments in very high regard, whether a gorgeous
vintage piece, or a bland beginners instrument. Each has it's
value to it's owner and this value must always be respected.
Maybe it's the musician in me, but wonderful music can be
made on any instrument, and if I can make it easier for the
player to make their own music, then I've succeeded.
We also try hard to give a lot of service for a reasonable price.
Sometimes this means I have to do some extra work, or
spend a little more time than planned. I've found that
in the long run, this always is best not only for the client,
but also for me. When customers tell you they got more
than expected you have delivered a good quality service.
Well, this post has become "a lot of post for a reasonable price"
so I'll wrap it up here. As always I welcome your comments,
or suggestions.
Regards,
Dave
Monday, September 14, 2009
Hi again,
I think it might be helpful to explain how I
became involved with guitar repairing. My dad,
Harold, is a brilliant person, and very adept at
all things mechanical. Even though he and my
mother were not musically inclined, nor is my
older brother Jonathan, I found an interest in
the guitar at age 7. This must have been from
watching Chet Atkins and Roy Clark on TV, but
I don't specifically remember.
Where my musical abilities came from is still a
mystery to me, however I'm quite sure that any
mechanical skills I have must have been inherited
from my dad. Growing up I always enjoyed helping
him fix the lawnmower, the car, the washing machine
restoring the old house; whatever he was working on,
I found it interesting. Tools became nearly as
fascinating as musical instruments.
I suppose it was a natural evolution for me as I
was trying to eek out a career as a full time bluegrass
musician based in Massachusetts, that my second
profession would be in repair. I tried working in sales and
management (in music stores of course) however I did
not do well in retail. Eventually I decided to start doing
really basic fixes (replacing tuners, restringing, adjusting
truss rods, and the like) and this evolved over a few years
into performing more advanced work. Back in the late
1980's there were not as many sources for repair techniques
as there are today, but I did benefit from Don Teeter's
dated, but fine guitar repair manuals, as well as other
sources I could find.
Many clients were very patient, and understanding with
me in those early years as I more or less learned the trade
doing a lot of repairs by improvisation and feel. At times
is was pretty much like walking around blindfolded; just
reacting to whatever I bumped into. Sometimes it's still
like that, but I was always guided by my musician's sense,
and the mechanical abilities my dad taught me.
Experience can be a good teacher if you pay attention
and always look at yourself as a work-in-progress.
I find it personally inspiring to always look at tasks,
even the simple ones, as techniques I'm still trying to
improve upon. I believe the learning never ends.
It's also noteworthy that there are now a lot of great
repair websites, books, and videos readily available.
These can be extremely helpful, however I believe
strongly that you must jump right in and develop your own
personal senses to do any avocation to your potential.
My next post will discuss more specifics on how I decided
to structure my repair shop. There are some general
principles with which the business is guided and I'll
share them with you in my next contribution to the blog.
Regards,
Dave
I think it might be helpful to explain how I
became involved with guitar repairing. My dad,
Harold, is a brilliant person, and very adept at
all things mechanical. Even though he and my
mother were not musically inclined, nor is my
older brother Jonathan, I found an interest in
the guitar at age 7. This must have been from
watching Chet Atkins and Roy Clark on TV, but
I don't specifically remember.
Where my musical abilities came from is still a
mystery to me, however I'm quite sure that any
mechanical skills I have must have been inherited
from my dad. Growing up I always enjoyed helping
him fix the lawnmower, the car, the washing machine
restoring the old house; whatever he was working on,
I found it interesting. Tools became nearly as
fascinating as musical instruments.
I suppose it was a natural evolution for me as I
was trying to eek out a career as a full time bluegrass
musician based in Massachusetts, that my second
profession would be in repair. I tried working in sales and
management (in music stores of course) however I did
not do well in retail. Eventually I decided to start doing
really basic fixes (replacing tuners, restringing, adjusting
truss rods, and the like) and this evolved over a few years
into performing more advanced work. Back in the late
1980's there were not as many sources for repair techniques
as there are today, but I did benefit from Don Teeter's
dated, but fine guitar repair manuals, as well as other
sources I could find.
Many clients were very patient, and understanding with
me in those early years as I more or less learned the trade
doing a lot of repairs by improvisation and feel. At times
is was pretty much like walking around blindfolded; just
reacting to whatever I bumped into. Sometimes it's still
like that, but I was always guided by my musician's sense,
and the mechanical abilities my dad taught me.
Experience can be a good teacher if you pay attention
and always look at yourself as a work-in-progress.
I find it personally inspiring to always look at tasks,
even the simple ones, as techniques I'm still trying to
improve upon. I believe the learning never ends.
It's also noteworthy that there are now a lot of great
repair websites, books, and videos readily available.
These can be extremely helpful, however I believe
strongly that you must jump right in and develop your own
personal senses to do any avocation to your potential.
My next post will discuss more specifics on how I decided
to structure my repair shop. There are some general
principles with which the business is guided and I'll
share them with you in my next contribution to the blog.
Regards,
Dave
Monday, September 14, 2009
Welcome to my brand new Guitar Repair Blog!
My vision for this site is to share some thoughts, and ideas concerning
guitar repairing from my perspective. I have been a guitar repairman here
in Central Massachusetts for about 20 years, and I'm also a professional
musician. I play five string banjo, guitar, mandolin, and a little bit of bass,
and lap steel. I'm mostly known as a bluegrass musician, and my history
along those lines is easily found by doing a quick online search (try dave dick banjo).
I also teach private lessons on a VERY limited basis. I'm also quite experienced
with recording and producing acoustic music, mostly from being in bands for
decades, but also with my own home studio. My experiences all together have given
me a fairly well-rounded knowledge of the music business and this all really helps
me in all of the aspects of my career.
I run my repair business at a truly great music store in Worcester, MA called Union
Music (please visit us at www.unionmusic.com). I haven't figured out yet how to post
links, so please be patient with me on that. I've been repairing instruments here for
18 years, and we are somewhat unique in that you are able to easily access me personally
for your repair needs. We are a small, owner-run full-service music store that believes
strongly in providing top quality customer service. Plus, everyone here on staff are all
very friendly and fun to be around.
I will post various things here; it may be an article about guitar care, it may be something
about some interesting experience, or someone fascinating I have met, or I may give stories
from a gig or two. I encourage questions, or discussion on any guitar servicing issues you
may have opinions on. Hopefully, this will be entertaining, and informative for you.
Anyway, I must return to the bench; work is pressing. I'll be back once I get more
of the technical stuff (regarding this blog) worked out.
Regards,
Dave
Welcome to my brand new Guitar Repair Blog!
My vision for this site is to share some thoughts, and ideas concerning
guitar repairing from my perspective. I have been a guitar repairman here
in Central Massachusetts for about 20 years, and I'm also a professional
musician. I play five string banjo, guitar, mandolin, and a little bit of bass,
and lap steel. I'm mostly known as a bluegrass musician, and my history
along those lines is easily found by doing a quick online search (try dave dick banjo).
I also teach private lessons on a VERY limited basis. I'm also quite experienced
with recording and producing acoustic music, mostly from being in bands for
decades, but also with my own home studio. My experiences all together have given
me a fairly well-rounded knowledge of the music business and this all really helps
me in all of the aspects of my career.
I run my repair business at a truly great music store in Worcester, MA called Union
Music (please visit us at www.unionmusic.com). I haven't figured out yet how to post
links, so please be patient with me on that. I've been repairing instruments here for
18 years, and we are somewhat unique in that you are able to easily access me personally
for your repair needs. We are a small, owner-run full-service music store that believes
strongly in providing top quality customer service. Plus, everyone here on staff are all
very friendly and fun to be around.
I will post various things here; it may be an article about guitar care, it may be something
about some interesting experience, or someone fascinating I have met, or I may give stories
from a gig or two. I encourage questions, or discussion on any guitar servicing issues you
may have opinions on. Hopefully, this will be entertaining, and informative for you.
Anyway, I must return to the bench; work is pressing. I'll be back once I get more
of the technical stuff (regarding this blog) worked out.
Regards,
Dave
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