Recent content by Mad Hatter

Very interesting.  Over the last 30 years or so, I've replaced lot's of stuff and never seen them even attempt to repair something.  Usually they don't even look twice at it.  I think I've been to both the department and hardware stores.  I wonder if that's something regional?  I'd be pissed if...

For any precision work like instruments or firearms, I almost exclusively use an armorer's bit set anymore.  I can always find a tip that fits any head with zero slop, which is what leads to marring and stripped heads.  Brownell's sells several different setups depending on your needs and/or...

Sears will still replace any of their hand tools, no muss no fuss.  After my grandfather died, we cleaned out his garage and I found a craftsman 3/4 breaker bar from the stone age that was busted at the pivot.  Took it in and got a new one.  When my screwdrivers get worn, chipped, bent, etc. I...

That thing is awesome!  I tend to go a little Strat/Tele-blind on here.  They're fine and all, but I like seeing someone off the beaten path, and I love dyed quilt tops.  Looks like you built a gorgeous workhorse.  Nothing has better upper fret access than a V.  Tasteful build!! 

I actually just built a soloist with a three way blade switch in it, and the actual switch arm was hitting the ends of the slots in the body.  Not enough to prevent it from going into position, but flipping it back and forth in a live setting, I noticed it was actually chipping the clear coat on...

Sounds like my piano teacher when I was little.

String it up, and measure your action at the 12th or 17th fret on the D and G strings, then measure the action for the outside strings.  The difference is what you need for shim thickness to make them all the same.  Tear it down, pop the needed shims in, and you should be good to go.

I just got a roasted maple neck with ebony fingerboard and had the moonglow side dots put in for the same reason; there are frequently dark spots on stage or pauses between light changes etc.  Right before I ordered the neck, I saw the video Warmoth put out claiming that if you charged them for...

:laughing7: Haha.  You just hang the appropriate amount of lead sinkers off the bottom strap mount.

Sounds like summer fun ahead.  Can't wait to watch the build.  :headbang1:

I consider myself a pretty skilled craftsman, and even though I've hammered who-knows-how-many nails, I still hit my thumb from time to time.  Does that mean I suck?  No, it just means I hit my thumb due to a moment of inattention.  The same is true of any company that provides services.  Before...

I can't, in good conscious, help you out.  I say, do it.  Every build doesn't have to be platinum level.  Sometimes the budget builds wind up being the most fun; the challenge of using parts on hand, or finding sweet deals on used ones, or making your own, doing an experimental finish, etc.  If...

Definitely regional; I would take UPS over USPS any day.  They come much quicker and the packages are usually handled better.  If USPS can get 51% of it in my mailbox, that's where they are going to leave it.

Nice job man!!  :bass:  WINNER WINNER

Having done expensive builds, as well as cheap builds, I would say the answer to question 1 is "yes", with a qualification.  Over the years, I've bought lots of "beater" guitars, just because I liked the way they looked and thought they'd be fun to play on stage, but they still have to be...