UK guitar luthier

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 06:51 AM

The reason my banjo is totally dismantled on my workbench is to give me something to do, so that I don't keep pestering CCGX over how it's going with my D-18, which I otherwise would.

And, breaking down a banjo, you get an otherwise unavailable opportunity to clean components like the tone ring which is almost always tucked away out of reach.

BUT DON'T REMOVE THE NECK FROM THE POT IF YOU ARE NEW TO BANJO MAINTENANCE. If that's you, you should take the banjo to a banjo tech.



-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 07:44 AM

You mention banjo tech as if they are legion, when they are few and far between in the UK these days. I agree that removing the neck is best avoided, but it’s one of the tasks you have to learn yourself eventually, given that you can’t replace the head properly on some older models otherwise.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 08:04 AM

Jerry,

Yes, you should ideally learn how to remove your banjo neck. However, if you're new to banjo and it's your ONLY instrument, trying to do it and maybe not succeeding and sitting there with possibly no access to a tech and wishing you'd left it alone...

Banjo techs are not numerous in the UK, and I never said they are, but a quick online search should bring up 2 or 3.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 08:21 AM

As far as replacing the head, I'd say enjoy your banjo, play it, have fun and if, down the road, you want to experiment with different heads, fine but get a little experience first. Don't try too much too soon.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 09:53 AM

Is this an invitation for the banjo jokes?

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 10:25 AM

LOL.

I get that banjos don't appeal to all, so I'll leave it there and get back to thread topic :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 10:36 AM

'cos I have time on my hands, it was a toss- up between banjos and posting a list of guitar techs whose work I found poor.

I decided I couldn't do the latter 'cos their bad work may have been a one-off and not typical, so banjos got it lol.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 11:23 AM

The beauty of banjos is that, unlike guitars, you can dismantle them and then put them them back together to improve the set-up, but I have long since learnt that once you have one well set up, it’s best to leave it alone. Otherwise, it’s a bit like FatherTed’s slightly dented car, trying to get it back to the original state.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 04 Sep 25 - 11:54 AM

Jerry,

Absolutely, that IS one of the beauties of a banjo.

The tinkering, though, can become a frustrating search for the Holy Grail :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 06:32 AM

Expecting a call this afternoon from the Plek operator, Kim Rodgers, to go over a few last details before my D-18 goes in the machine.

The wheels are turning!

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 09:49 AM

So, took the call from Kim.

Gone for a setup with EJ16, so 12's.

Should be ready for shipping back in 2-3 weeks.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 10:28 AM

One thing Kim DID say, after seeing the D-18 is that the neck was "Too straight" at 0.006", knowing my playing style. 0.010" is more me. And I rarely go beyond the 5th fret without a capo, my favourite being a G7 Newport.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 06:40 AM

I'm having a hard time resisting the temptation to text CCGX Plek operator Kim Rodgers over how it's going with my D-18.

Will I get pictures? Will some big noise like Clapton jump in and commandeer my D-18's Plek slot?

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 11:53 AM

It’s weekend, he’s probably in the pub! Enquiries along the lines of “How’s it going?” Invariably make the job take longer.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:05 PM

Ray,

And that's why I've avoided the temptation. The job will take as long as it needs to. At some point I'll get a call and the D-18 will be shipped home.

In the meantime, I've got a banjo to assemble and a Strat I can borrow if I need to :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:38 PM

By the way, Ray, heard of The Setup Shop? They're not too far from you in Warsop, Mansfield. They carry out repairs, re-frets, setups, and they have a website if you'd like to take a look.

Never been to 'em, so it's not a recommendation.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 04:02 PM

Not that near, Fred. 57 miles as the crow flies.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 05:04 PM

^ blimey, didn't think it was THAT far.

I don't drive and rely on a mate. A tame tech within pushbike range would be ideal for me!

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 05:34 PM

Drove down from the Scottish borders this morning - not even looked at a guitar for over two weeks.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 04:44 AM

Ordered 10 sets of EJ16, microfibre cloths, JD 01 Fretboard cleaner, nut sauce, so that they're here before my D-18 is shipped home - and, for me, bicarbonate of soda to tame my toxic sweat!

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 09 Sep 25 - 10:09 AM

No word from CCGX but at least my banjo is re-assembled.

Been chain-sawing a downed tree a local farmer kindly gave us. Storing it to let it dry out for use in the wood-burning stove - just the job for winter.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 12 Sep 25 - 10:54 AM

A call to CCGX has revealed that it will be another two weeks before my D-18 is shipped home. This is two weeks longer than I was first told.

However, they've Plek'd many guitars for me and the results have always been good, so should be worth the wait *fingers crossed* :)




-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 08:13 AM

Backwoodsman - just to throw some more coal on the slotted bridge/slotted pins argumennt. Two of my Santa Cruz guitars have both slotted a slotted bridge and slotted pins. The third is still in it’s case but I bet it’ll be the same.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 08:49 AM

Yes, sharing the slot also used to be the practice of CF Martin. The slots in the holes and the pins are shallower than they were in fully-slotted bridges and modern slotted pins, and the mass of the string was ‘shared’ between the bridge and the pin. I’m not sure of the dates they began and ended that practice, but I’m pretty certain it was a ‘half-way house’ position between slotted bridges and when they began to leave the pin-holes unslotted and using fully-slotted pins.

So, what point are you actually trying to make?

On another point, the forum rule regarding ‘Guest’ postings is that the ‘guest’ should use a ‘handle’ and stick with that same ‘handle’ each time he/she posts. Otherwise, those of us who are members have no way of knowing which ‘Guest’ they are talking to in the event of multiple ‘Guest’ postings to a thread.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 08:55 AM

And, AFAIC, there’s no fire to throw coal on, no argument. It’s a matter of personal preference - what one believes is the ‘best’ method of providing clearance for the string in a pin-bridge pin hole. Each builder does what they feel is the best (or, certainly in Martin’s case, the cheapest) solution.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 10:44 AM

Backwoodsman - it was me, just continuing our discussion from 28 August.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 10:55 AM

Well in my case, I thought about having the bridge slotted and using solid pins, and I talked it over with CCGX.

However, I wasn't really sure that that's what I wanted, and they picked up on that and weren't keen to do it

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 11:16 AM

Aaahh, sorry Ray, didn’t know it was you! But that’s exactly why Guests are asked to post using a constant handle of course, otherwise there could be multiple Guests and nobody’s sure who’s talking to whom!

Fred - I’ve found that there don’t seem to be many UK techs/luthiers who understand the benefits of bridge-slotting, so I don’t even bother asking them, I do the job myself - I’m reasonably handy with tools, I made my own slotting saw, and I have a set of needle-files that I use to smooth the slots after I’ve finished with the saw. I have one guitar that I’m not sure I’ll keep long-term, and that I haven’t slotted - it’s a year old now and I’m keeping a close eye on the (slotted) pins and the bridge-plate. Going forward, if I see any evidence of the plate and pins getting worn prematurely, I’ll slot the holes and fit solid pins, if not, I’ll leave it alone.

But, as I keep saying, it’s a personal choice. I’m persuaded (by some top-flight American luthiers including Collings) that bridge-slotting is the best route but, if someone is unsure, I guess they should leave their guitars be. I’m not trying to push anyone else to follow what I do.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 13 Sep 25 - 11:45 AM

BWM,

No,but I like this D-18. There's a bond that I haven't felt with any other guitar, so I have a vested interest in taking care of it, preventing damage.

If slotting its bridge will help protect the bridge plate...well, I'd want it doing. CCGX may have delayed it but they haven't prevented it.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 17 Sep 25 - 10:00 AM

Received a call from Kim today. Work has been completed and my D-18 is ready for shipping "tomorrow".

However, I seem to recall that CCGX don't ship guitars close to a weekend as they want to avoid a possibility of them sitting in a courier depot over Saturday and Sunday.

I may be wrong, we'll see.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 06:49 AM

Bumping the thread to say that my D-18 arrives home tomorrow.

Now the excitement level goes through the roof :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 10:34 AM

The replacement nut cracked, so they had to make another!

But, apparently, she rings like a bell. Well let's see if that's true. If I find a fault, I WILL tell you as I want to be honest in the review of their workmanship.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 12:28 PM

Isn’t it a new-ish guitar? Wondering why you needed a new nut?

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 02:06 PM

It's a 2024 D-18.

Well the nut slots had been lowered by Stuart, a little lower than I like. I didn't want the bone dust and super glue trick, so I had CCGX make and fit a new one.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 02:40 PM

Were you getting buzzing on the first two or three frets?

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 02:44 PM

I wouldn’t have faffed around with bone-dust and CA, I’d have put a shim under the nut. But it’s each to their own I guess (I think I’ve said that before!). What were the heights? Should be a hair over 1st fret height (maybe 2 - 3 thou over).

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 03:22 PM

There was slight buzz on the G and D.

A string tickler would've loved the action - super low and no buzz.

But I'm a heavy strummer and that action was too low for me. I was having a new saddle, a Plek and thought 'Let's have new nut, too, and let the Plek cut the slots' :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 03:25 PM

Just be sure that when you get it back, and hopefully love it, don't start tinkering with the truss rod again! :-)

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 18 Sep 25 - 03:36 PM

Ed,

You know me better than you think, lad lol.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 03:17 AM

Some might say "Why didn't you try the guitar at Stuart's before you left?"

I couldn't 'cos arthritis was giving me jip in my left hand, and I couldn't go back later 'cos i don't drive these days
and my driver friend was no longer available.

One of the beauties of CCGX (for me) is that they will arrange collection and delivery.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 05:24 AM

My D-18 is back home!

I'll play it today and review here tomorrow, along with string heights at first fret, neck relief and action at the 12th.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 09:52 AM

I can't wait until tomorrow, so here we go!

String height at 1st fret: 0.007"
Neck relief at 7th: 0.007"
Action at 12th: E 6/64ths, e 5/64ths

This is exactly what I asked for.

Playability: 9/10
Intonation: 10/10

Comments: they also repaired a small nick on the side of the body at the lower bout and did an excellent job there.

Sounds great, really got some oomph. I was concerned that going down to 12's might rob me of that but not a bit of it. I beefed up the sound further by adding Martin Liquid Metal bridge pins.

Went over their work looking for faults and found none.

So you know what I'm going to say - highly recommended. But bear in mind this only refers to CCGX's Plek service. I can't speak for their non-Plek setups.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 10:20 AM

If you want to know anything that I've left out of the review, just ask :)

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 12:04 PM

Apart from nut-slot height, that’s exactly my guitars’ setup. I’d find your 1st fret action a few thou too high - mine are all ~0.003” over 1st fret height. But if it’s perfect for you, it’s perfect! Enjoy!

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 12:33 PM

I've a gig tomorrow night, so the D-18 made a timely arrival.

Why that string height over first fret? Well it's all to do with my acidic sweat. I'm having to change strings fortnightly at most, and the 'sawing' back and forth over the slot bottoms would soon create buzzing there I'm sure. So I go higher to get more longevity.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 01:07 PM

”I've a gig tomorrow night”

Is that solo, duo, band? Anyone I might know? PM me if you don’t want to make it public!

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 02:00 PM

Weird and fascinating to see a thread about my partner in crime (Stuart and I run sound for folk gigs)

I’ve sent him a link to this page. Brighten up his day if nothing else.

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 02:09 PM

Solo. Sometimes I duo with my wife, Aileen, and sometimes with her brother when he's up here, but mostly I take all the abuse myself ;)


-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 21 Sep 25 - 12:44 PM

Borrowed an extremely well set up Strat at last night's gig, apparently the work of Johnny Kinkade (apologies if I've misspelled the name).I've heard of him and believe he's way down in the south west. Lovely-playing guitar.

Thanks to Mary H for the chance to play it.

-F

Subject: RE: UK guitar luthier
From: Fred
Date: 23 Sep 25 - 10:01 AM

The D-18 was set up by CCGX with EJ16, that being what I asked for. But I just couldn't get on with 'em, and I've gone back to Martin Lifespan 2.0 12-54, swapped out the Liquid Metal bridge pins for ebony and I'm basically back to the sound I fell in love with in the store, minus a little bass going down to 12's.

Of course, you'll recognise this, it's tinkering, something I can't stop doing. If I'm not messing with my guitar, I've got my banjo on the bench, and if I'm not doing either I'm cycling off-road along the Grantham-Nottingham canal towpath and stopping at the Dirty Duck for a swift half. Maybe I'll see you along the trail one day and we'll spend an hour setting the world to rights :)

-F