Questions about restoring an instrument from damage to a playable or like-new condition.
13
votes
4answers
367 views
How do you successfully share another drummer's kit at a show?
The typical indie band showcase has 2 or 3 bands on a bill, and it usually makes logistic sense to share a backline (drums, bass amp, and maybe guitar amps). Some stage managers, or entire festivals, ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Guitar produces hum due to poor soldering
Is it possible that a guitar could produce a low hum after replacing a pickup? I own a guitar that I (poorly) replaced a pickup on when I first started playing, and I was wondering if there was some ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
Repairing cymbals?
I have a bunch of cymbals that are in various fairly poor states of repair. One has a few small cracks near the rim. One is just bent out of shape entirely (I don't know how that happened).
Is it ...
5
votes
3answers
217 views
Saxophone sometimes out of tune by nearly a fourth
Our band's saxophonist has a bizzare intermittent fault with his soprano sax (so normally uses his tenor or alto sax).
Sometimes it's fine and sings beautifully, but other times it'll be out of tune ...
4
votes
3answers
91 views
Stripped strap pin screw
You may have seen my question a while back about how to handle a faulty strap pin. I found another pair in my 'accessory kit' that are of much better quality. The dilemma now is removing the strap pin ...
4
votes
2answers
308 views
Trouble with schilke trumpet valves
(Sorry if this is off topic. I couldn't really tell from the FAQ, and there was at least one other, unclosed repair question)
I'm borrowing a Schilke trumpet (serial 55xx) and I'm having some trouble ...
4
votes
2answers
941 views
Reinforcing an acoustic guitar's bridge
Background:
I recently found a guitar in a dumpster, a steel-string acoustic. It's not the best guitar--an Galveston WJ-750, probably discarded by someone who gave up on guitar lessons--but it has a ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you access the electronics on a hollow-body electric guitars ?
Some models of electric hollow-body / electric arch-top guitars do not have seem to have any kind of access to the electronics (switches, pots, caps, wiring) beside the "f" shaped sound holes.
I ...
3
votes
3answers
93 views
Am I able to repair the pegs on my violin?
A couple years ago, my cousin gave me her old violin that she never played, and it is for sure over fifty years old. When she found it, the pegs were really loose and they will not stay in their place ...
3
votes
1answer
366 views
Acoustic guitar damaged by impact. How to repair?
Introduction
My acoustic guitar has suffered damage at four locations. It still sounds very good, and it is more than twenty years old.
The damage done
The different damage locations are pictured ...
3
votes
2answers
112 views
What glue to use to repair maracas?
I was recording a percussion part the other day, and one of my maracas broke during the take.
It wouldn't be all that much money to replace them, but I like the sound they make. I also have ...
3
votes
2answers
662 views
What pickups should I install on my telecaster?
I have some texas specials on a telecaster right now. The were fine when I was back in the army but now I'm playing a wider combination of music that needs solid rhythm (even acoustic sounding would ...
3
votes
2answers
800 views
How do properly repaired cracks in the body of an acoustic guitar affect sound (if at all)?
A guitar I'm looking to buy (acoustic flamenco guitar, Alhambra) has a crack in the top (is that the correct term for the "audience-facing wooden panel"?), running closely alongside the neck all the ...
3
votes
1answer
246 views
Sousaphone repair suggestions
I've recently bought a cheap battered second (probably mode) hand sousaphone on a garage sale. It is in faily bad shape, but the valves look ok.
The instrument is made of a metallic grey alloy which ...
3
votes
1answer
357 views
How to free up a rusty trombone slide?
I just bought a crap old trombone for $50. It has a few dings, but sounds fine. The problem is that the slide is slightly rusty (little fleck marks on the inner slide, I can't see inside the outer ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
How do I fix a stripped pickguard screw?
I have a Gibson Faded Flying V (Mahogany) and recently the guitar cable was yanked, pulling and stripping a screw from the pickguard. Is there a good way for me to fix this?
2
votes
3answers
109 views
Guitar self repair tutorials and forums
I have a fender squire strat . It goes out of tune very frequently, even after i bend my string once and also is a bit out of tune towards the higher notes.
Are there any good blogs or sites which ...
2
votes
2answers
436 views
Tool to adjust truss rod on a bass guitar
As a follow-up to this question:
What tool will I need to adjust the truss rod on a bass guitar? The guitar in question is a Peavey T-40 with too much relief on the neck.
While I've found a ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
How to glue a crack in the front panel of a classical guitar?
It was probably caused by dryness or bad storage. The crack goes all the way from the sounding board hole to the bottom edge of the guitar (assuming it's standing).
1
vote
2answers
76 views
Is there a way to repair key on a digital piano?
We have a Kurzwell digital piano and one of the keys sounds louder than the others. Any way to fix this?
1
vote
3answers
249 views
Is there any easy way to replace a saddle?
The "saddle" on my acoustic is broken (like it looks shattered/cracked) where the G-String makes contact with it. This makes the string sound dead. Is there an easy way for someone like me, who has no ...
1
vote
1answer
466 views
Remove Mouthpiece Tarnish
I have a fifty year old F.E. Olds & Sons Ambassador cornet. It lay unused for 30+ years (it is now oiled and greased properly). There is considerable tarnish on the mouthpiece and on the slides. ...
