good repairs take time. thats just the truth of it. i have a mid 70s marshall amp i brought in for repair and i told the guy to just make sure its done right, i dont care how long you have it. 6 months later it sounds amazing and im a happy customer
as a guy that has abused... allll of my guitars, yes they are companions, but they are companions that channel a great deal of emotion... not all of that emotion is bright shiney and happy... my les paul's are still cheaper then any therapy and probably more effective.
Hello Grettings from Valencia Venezuela 🇻🇪 Congratulations master luthier, you really know how to fix all with a great technique and ingeneering. I am not a luthier but I like to repair my guitars and watching your videos have learned things, that I am trying to recover my 43 years old Ovation 12 strings guitar with a damaged , by myself, lol, truss rod. Good work!!
The headstock repair was solid and the finish work makes the repair look splendid. I’m truly looking forward to see how you get the bridge on the LG off. That looks like a world-class challenge…
I liked the way you repaired the headstocks, and loved the tune you played at the end. Your skills in guitar repair is awesome, but your musical skills are great also. Thanks for the weekly fix!
Hi Ted, as a fellow tech, I really hope that you are taking time for yourself. I know we have to work (and a lot) to make enough money to survive in this industry. But I see you posting on a Sunday and I am hoping that you are not working. Please take care my friend, and remember to be good to yourself.
Hey Ted - Adam Savage gave you another shoutout in a recent video. Said you were the reason he was using hide glue on his scabbard project. You inspire the masses AND the minor celebrities.
I would happily watch you do these repairs in real time, regardless of how many similar ones you've done before. I just love watching you work and seeing the expertise and care that goes into it.
The great thing about you, is that I've seen many guitars NOT hit the dumpster. I have an obsession with guitars and cringe every single time one is smashed in the garbage and the owner says "it couldn't be fixed". You have an uncanny knack for coming up with some simple (but not obvious) strategies that will work. It may not be perfect, but it will keep the guitar going indefinitely. For some of us, there is a certain amount of loyalty to our instruments no matter what they look like. It's VERY nice to see you always coming up with new and exciting ways to fix problems and keep them strumming!!
Another very good video. And to those that would complain about about how long it takes to repair the guitar, properly, just have no clue as to what all is involved in wood working and refinishing. You did a very nice job and I would trust you to repair any of my guitars.
6:42 I'd love to see how boards glued end to end faired after a few years of differentially expanding along the joint surface. People jump to conclusions before we have any data about the most important thing- stability over time. Great video, thanks!
Ted, I know this probably sounds funny, but I save your videos to watch late at night. Your careful craftsmanship, which is WAY beyond my skill level, is extremely peaceful and puts me in a good place to sleep. Thank you for your videos.
Funnily I too watch at the end of the day once all the shouting's over. I save them for days before watching though. They are my absolute favourite videos and I like to keep them in reserve
Watched this repair & fascinated all the way….then after , I went to my music rm and opened up my 55 J45, My wish in life to have Ted do the reset and refret on my 1955 Gibson , it so should be heard and be an easy play . I never heard an acoustic sound so alive ,
Based upon viewing your videos focused on the fragility of Gibson necks and headstocks, I went to examine our J160 E which had been living in its case since August. Low and behold, a hairline fracture running across the neck beneath the headstock. I took it to our friend Dave Boehlke, a talented luthier and repair guy and while examining the fracture in the mahogany neck he described the challenges of using penetrating glues in the acidic environment of mahogany. He said before gluing he’d apply a subtle amount of a base solution to neutralize the acids. I imagine he uses baking soda and water and lets it dry out after cleaning for several days before gluing. Fingers crossed that his methods will work. We have the greatest of confidence they will. Thanks for sharing all your insights and talents. I truly enjoy your videos.
Ted! At 13:12 is the image of "How I remember my Guitar when it was perfect, and just aged!" That is why we come from outside Canada with requests for your artistry in the care of the repair. And I do practice your advice with excellent local Luthiers in small shops like yours. My 64 J45 is cherish old and perfect, never dropped one fret set and some hopefully unseen modifications to open the voice. Owned since new, played daily, it is a true workhorse and lots of music to go!
I know how hard it is to create these videos and do your full-time job at the same time. Thanks so much for sharing this stuff with the world. As an armature luthier I've learned so much from your videos.
Thanks Ted. Always inspiring. I appreciate the care and attention you bring to each project and I’m encouraged to get back on all my old projects as well.
Always a joy to watch a master craftsman like yourself practicing your craft. I look forward each week to your videos because you are often presented with the craziest of problems, but always seem to have a plan to resolve even the most fiddly of issues! Thanks for sharing your love of the craft with us (even when it frustrates you)!
As a player who has payed good money for poorly done repairs, I'd be happy to wait for work of the caliber you've displayed. Thanks for the content, big fan!
Thanks as always for sharing your work with us. You're absolutely right that repair on any old contraptions, be they wood or iron can't be scheduled precisely. It's just not the nature of repair.
I must say I find your videos very therapeutic. I don't play guitar, although my son does very well, and I wish I did.... but there is something about your skill and engaging commentary that has me hooked.. One thing though that is so amusing is the use of imperial units, that are soooo convoluted, I just cant imagine what these huge fractions begin to represent in visual terms... I went to school in the UK and I'm certainly a fair bit older than you are, but we never used imperial.. The country changed to metric in the early 70's so I have never really known most imperial units other than pounds in some areas, and miles for distance...I thought Canada went metric in the 70's also.. I've been in France for getting on 35 years, so imperial is a very distant memory... Anyway I look forward to you videos.. Salutations de France..
Excellent work as always, the guitarists in your neck of the woods are very lucky. I haven't seen any luthiers on TH-cam who go to the same lengths as you do to finesse & fettle a guitar.
ted, thanks so much for the great tutorials on all things guitar. I have been learning so much about the many forces that are in play in a guitar body. Will I ever do a neck reset? Time will tell about the circus in the wishing well. peace&love.
I bet the guy that glued the bridge. Actually, it is set out loud "who needs to get a luthier repair guy." "It doesn't get any better than that." Another amazing job. Thanks for sharing 👍.
It's always a pleasure to watch you work. The highest level of craftsmanship. While I would probably never attempt 95% of what you do, I do learn a lot, and "knowledge is power," as they say (or used to say, anyway! lol). Thanks for these incredible videos.
I watch another guitar repair channel on TH-cam and man do you do a better job. You take so much more care than they do. It's all in the small details.
*I built a wooden box, drilled a couple holes, stuffed one with a heat gun and baked my 1st 2 necks!* Turned out great with minor damage on both, but the first just needs buffed, the 2nd well, I melted some binding lol. I will heat it up, smooth it over, sand it and then glue fill with some coloring. *I also drew a line on the heat gun's thermostat for what melted the binding lol* Best neck I own melted, HOWEVER, the warp is gone and the repair will come out ideal and invisible. *Now 20+ guitars to go!*
Question for you on the smiling Gibson. Second guitar you repaired. Could you have used something similar to a g-string to go between the crack and kind of act as a saw to clean out some of that glue? My idea comes from some '70s mirrors that were in my dining room and were glued to the wall rather than create serious drywall work for myself I used picture frame wire and simply saw through the glue on the back end we're pretty good.
After 10 years of professional YT viewing, I still find it puzzling that someone would take the time out of their lives to thumbs down vote a video to someone who is so obviously a master!
I don't think end grain is necessarily any weaker to glue to than gluing along the grain; But wood isn't isotropic. It just doesn't have the same strength across the grain as along the grain, That is, the lignin bonds between fibers is nowhere near as strong as a solidly crosslinked continuous unbroken cellulose beam, so we need to lower our expectation of an end grain glue up to be NOT as strong as a solid beam of wood grain-wise, but it should be about as strong as the wood 90 degrees to it. Or so I think. Those two guitars turned out great!
I gotta say. After watching for years now. Your color matching and blending techniques are excellent. You’ve showed us many different techniques and they all work out great! Hahah easy for me to say from just watching a 15 minute video. But teds soothing Morgan freedman esque voice makes it all good!😂. Not that you sound like Morgan freedman. But ya know😂
Any old instrument has some kind of story to tell. And some have been rather abused with botched repairs over the years. You never know what you are getting into until you start the job, that's for sure.
Is it inherent fragility in the design, or the wood? Seems less likely a maple neck made in the same way would break near as easily. Mahogany with no scarf joint seems like the worst way to make a tiltback headstock.
Hi Ted, your channel is my favorite watch of the week. Thanks so much. I enjoy learning from you. I have a small suggestion for you. Make a bigger footprint acrylic base for your router. It will give you a lot more reference surface on your jig, taking some of the high wire, close to the edge, thrill show out of the task at hand. Nice work sir! ☮️ Jeff
Meanwhile, here in Southern New England, it rains hard and prolonged every 3rd day, and we've only had one 4" snowfall and a couple of little dustings. Temperatures in the upper forties or higher on a daily basis.
I never get a response from my comments because when you get 13K views in 5 hours since your posting, I understand. Congrats on your Channel- when I started watching your channel I was watching Dave's World of Fun Stuff, Rosa String Works, and good ole Stew Mac. I prefer your channel (still watch the others) because of the dry humor, intricate detail on the work being done, and your reality based approach to repair- plus you reveal the mysteries from behind the curtain that others hold to their vest. Thank You, I enjoy your channel and NO, I won't send you guitars from Leesburg, Florida. Congratulations on your well deserved success.
Not in this video, but seen in others, you use what looks like a 2x5in silicone heating pad. I was looking to grab one myself but seeing a range of 50-300w. What wattage do you use? Got an SG someone re-glued the neck on wonky the stripped/sold the parts off it, but nice and wanna rebuild. Also bought an acoustic that needs a neck reset to practice what I've learned from your videos. 😁
“I’ve dropped mine a dozen times and it’s never broke” to which my response is “What’s wrong with you.”
I love your clarity.
good repairs take time. thats just the truth of it. i have a mid 70s marshall amp i brought in for repair and i told the guy to just make sure its done right, i dont care how long you have it.
6 months later it sounds amazing and im a happy customer
"to which I respond . . . what's wrong with you!"
😂😂😂
We live in a golden age where madness is virtue.
Saw a video where many were applauding J Mascis knocking his guitars together "cuz there just tools"
That routing work is a real nailbiter. You never fail to amaze with your skill, confidence and final result. Can't wait to see the sequel!
Yeah, ted is the router master, what he can do with that little tool os no joke
as a guy that has abused... allll of my guitars, yes they are companions, but they are companions that channel a great deal of emotion... not all of that emotion is bright shiney and happy... my les paul's are still cheaper then any therapy and probably more effective.
Headstock! yay!! I love headstock repairs!!
Headstock repairs are my favorite of yours to watch
Always a pleasure to watch your work. While I'd never attempt these repairs it's fascinating to see how it's done. Keep on polishng,Ted!
Hello Grettings from Valencia Venezuela 🇻🇪
Congratulations master luthier, you really know how to fix all with a great technique and ingeneering. I am not a luthier but I like to repair my guitars and watching your videos have learned things, that I am trying to recover my 43 years old Ovation 12 strings guitar with a damaged , by myself, lol, truss rod. Good work!!
The headstock repair was solid and the finish work makes the repair look splendid.
I’m truly looking forward to see how you get the bridge on the LG off. That looks like a world-class challenge…
Another great video and repair. As crazy as it is, I find myself waiting and watching for your next release. Thanks
I liked the way you repaired the headstocks, and loved the tune you played at the end. Your skills in guitar repair is awesome, but your musical skills are great also. Thanks for the weekly fix!
Always a pleasure to see you working.
Hi Ted, as a fellow tech, I really hope that you are taking time for yourself. I know we have to work (and a lot) to make enough money to survive in this industry. But I see you posting on a Sunday and I am hoping that you are not working. Please take care my friend, and remember to be good to yourself.
By the way, I think you are the best there is. A true inspiration. Cheers!
Hey Ted - Adam Savage gave you another shoutout in a recent video. Said you were the reason he was using hide glue on his scabbard project. You inspire the masses AND the minor celebrities.
th-cam.com/video/Lq9GHJqHn5U/w-d-xo.html That's the video. He mentions Ted slightly before 17 minutes.
This makes me happy
"What would Ted Woodford do?"
I love how evil the acoustic sounded at the end, would make a great cover of Hellhound on my trail
I suspect he used that chording to express how he feels about that particular job 😅
Nice to see you back.
Regards Richard 🇬🇧
"What is wrong with you?"
That Q and the way he asked it was spot on.
I sure sometimes many of this projects barely pay for themselves, at that point it becomes a labor of love. Carry on Geppetto.
I don't know why, but headstock repairs always seem therapeutic.
Agreed. A headstock break is so catastrophic looking that it's deeply satisfying to see them repaired.
Every Norm Abram "New Yankee Work Shop" project starts with "lets make a jig".
Cool video. I like to see all the different headstock break approaches
THANK YOU!! I know it's hard to make these videos. But your videos are more than instructional, they're therapeutic!! Gracias!!
I would happily watch you do these repairs in real time, regardless of how many similar ones you've done before. I just love watching you work and seeing the expertise and care that goes into it.
Always a wonderful start to the day when I see you've uploaded a video. Thank you so much for sharing with us mortals!
Fascinating attention to detail 👌 . I like your picking too 😀 👍
I wish you would focus on Fender Headstock issues. Oh WAIT, Fender guitars don't have the headstock issues. Nor do most other manufacturers.
Astonishing level of craftsmanship.
The great thing about you, is that I've seen many guitars NOT hit the dumpster. I have an obsession with guitars and cringe every single time one is smashed in the garbage and the owner says "it couldn't be fixed". You have an uncanny knack for coming up with some simple (but not obvious) strategies that will work. It may not be perfect, but it will keep the guitar going indefinitely. For some of us, there is a certain amount of loyalty to our instruments no matter what they look like. It's VERY nice to see you always coming up with new and exciting ways to fix problems and keep them strumming!!
Awesome craft. And very nice playing, too! Narration is absolutely spot-on.
Another very good video. And to those that would complain about about how long it takes to repair the guitar, properly, just have no clue as to what all is involved in wood working and refinishing. You did a very nice job and I would trust you to repair any of my guitars.
6:42 I'd love to see how boards glued end to end faired after a few years of differentially expanding along the joint surface. People jump to conclusions before we have any data about the most important thing- stability over time. Great video, thanks!
I can see your Fret Guru Dagger on the wall. Awesome file brother.
Ted, I know this probably sounds funny, but I save your videos to watch late at night. Your careful craftsmanship, which is WAY beyond my skill level, is extremely peaceful and puts me in a good place to sleep. Thank you for your videos.
I save em for a morning with my cereal and coffee. :)
Funnily I too watch at the end of the day once all the shouting's over. I save them for days before watching though. They are my absolute favourite videos and I like to keep them in reserve
I do exactly the same
I respect the patience. This may be one of the key elements that excludes many from the profession. Hats Off Ted
Great work as always Ted, keep it up :)
Watched this repair & fascinated all the way….then after , I went to my music rm and opened up my 55 J45,
My wish in life to have Ted do the reset and refret on my 1955 Gibson , it so should be heard and be an easy play . I never heard an acoustic sound so alive ,
From an Inspired subscriber Alberta Dave 🏅
Your work is amazing - and your dialogue is the most engaging on the web.Thank you for taking us along
Appreciate the regular output. I look forward to these every weekend.
I could watch your videos day in day out,love your sense of humour as well ,thanks
Thank you sir for sharing this!
Based upon viewing your videos focused on the fragility of Gibson necks and headstocks, I went to examine our J160 E which had been living in its case since August. Low and behold, a hairline fracture running across the neck beneath the headstock. I took it to our friend Dave Boehlke, a talented luthier and repair guy and while examining the fracture in the mahogany neck he described the challenges of using penetrating glues in the acidic environment of mahogany. He said before gluing he’d apply a subtle amount of a base solution to neutralize the acids. I imagine he uses baking soda and water and lets it dry out after cleaning for several days before gluing. Fingers crossed that his methods will work. We have the greatest of confidence they will. Thanks for sharing all your insights and talents. I truly enjoy your videos.
Ted! At 13:12 is the image of "How I remember my Guitar when it was perfect, and just aged!" That is why we come from outside Canada with requests for your artistry in the care of the repair. And I do practice your advice with excellent local Luthiers in small shops like yours. My 64 J45 is cherish old and perfect, never dropped one fret set and some hopefully unseen modifications to open the voice. Owned since new, played daily, it is a true workhorse and lots of music to go!
I know how hard it is to create these videos and do your full-time job at the same time. Thanks so much for sharing this stuff with the world. As an armature luthier I've learned so much from your videos.
Thanks for sharing your skills, experience, techniques and approach for repairing instruments.
Thanks Ted. Always inspiring. I appreciate the care and attention you bring to each project and I’m encouraged to get back on all my old projects as well.
Always a joy to watch a master craftsman like yourself practicing your craft. I look forward each week to your videos because you are often presented with the craziest of problems, but always seem to have a plan to resolve even the most fiddly of issues! Thanks for sharing your love of the craft with us (even when it frustrates you)!
As a player who has payed good money for poorly done repairs, I'd be happy to wait for work of the caliber you've displayed. Thanks for the content, big fan!
I couldn't agree more. In my area luthier's let alone Masters are almost non-existent. When you do get some work done, you cross your fingers.
Excitement! Gibson Headstock Break videos are the best 🎉
Thanks as always for sharing your work with us. You're absolutely right that repair on any old contraptions, be they wood or iron can't be scheduled precisely. It's just not the nature of repair.
Your fortitude is appreciated.
I must say I find your videos very therapeutic. I don't play guitar, although my son does very well, and I wish I did.... but there is something about your skill and engaging commentary that has me hooked..
One thing though that is so amusing is the use of imperial units, that are soooo convoluted, I just cant imagine what these huge fractions begin to represent in visual terms...
I went to school in the UK and I'm certainly a fair bit older than you are, but we never used imperial.. The country changed to metric in the early 70's so I have never really known most imperial units other than pounds in some areas, and miles for distance...I thought Canada went metric in the 70's also..
I've been in France for getting on 35 years, so imperial is a very distant memory...
Anyway I look forward to you videos.. Salutations de France..
Headstock repairs are so satisfying to watch. I applaud your skill and commitment to greatness 😊
agreed. It never gets old.
Thanks for another interesting and most informative video. Can’t wait to see how the SG turned out!
I love that chuckle at the end!
Outstanding video
You are definitely a master at your craft. Thoroughly enjoy watching your repairs.
Great video. Nice work!
Excellent work as always, the guitarists in your neck of the woods are very lucky. I haven't seen any luthiers on TH-cam who go to the same lengths as you do to finesse & fettle a guitar.
Great work,.as always, Ted Thank you for sharing that with us!
Pigment powder is hard to come by in my local shops but I find crushing up chalk pastels does the trick just as well!
Nice tip.
I love your channel, thank you
As usual another amazing video. Look forward to each one..
ted, thanks so much for the great tutorials on all things guitar. I have been learning so much about the many forces that are in play in a guitar body. Will I ever do a neck reset? Time will tell about the circus in the wishing well. peace&love.
This is suspect, no polishing this week ! 🙃
Thanks for that Ted, always entertaining and interesting to see your work :)
You are a joy to watch and listen to. You probably won’t read this, but I hope it helps the algorithm! ✌️❤️🙏🇦🇺
I don’t think that I’ve ever seen this break problem with a Fender. Thanks! 😎
I bet the guy that glued the bridge. Actually, it is set out loud "who needs to get a luthier repair guy." "It doesn't get any better than that." Another amazing job. Thanks for sharing 👍.
It's always a pleasure to watch you work. The highest level of craftsmanship. While I would probably never attempt 95% of what you do, I do learn a lot, and "knowledge is power," as they say (or used to say, anyway! lol). Thanks for these incredible videos.
Great work
Half Backstrap Overlay? I loved that band!
Thank you for then video. That backstrap is so well done!!
I watch another guitar repair channel on TH-cam and man do you do a better job. You take so much more care than they do. It's all in the small details.
🤟🏻 thank you for making these videos, I love all of them
👍love your fix it all !!
Among all displayed knowledge and craftsmanship I like Ted's home made clamps & frames best!
*I built a wooden box, drilled a couple holes, stuffed one with a heat gun and baked my 1st 2 necks!*
Turned out great with minor damage on both, but the first just needs buffed, the 2nd well, I melted some binding lol.
I will heat it up, smooth it over, sand it and then glue fill with some coloring.
*I also drew a line on the heat gun's thermostat for what melted the binding lol*
Best neck I own melted, HOWEVER, the warp is gone and the repair will come out ideal and invisible.
*Now 20+ guitars to go!*
Question for you on the smiling Gibson. Second guitar you repaired. Could you have used something similar to a g-string to go between the crack and kind of act as a saw to clean out some of that glue?
My idea comes from some '70s mirrors that were in my dining room and were glued to the wall rather than create serious drywall work for myself I used picture frame wire and simply saw through the glue on the back end we're pretty good.
After 10 years of professional YT viewing, I still find it puzzling that someone would take the time out of their lives to thumbs down vote a video to someone who is so obviously a master!
ted I was really looking forward to see you finish that SG
Ah the touch up with the crackles was majestic
That was some dam nice pickin' there at the end!
Really nice music, thank yoo ! 😁
I don't think end grain is necessarily any weaker to glue to than gluing along the grain; But wood isn't isotropic. It just doesn't have the same strength across the grain as along the grain, That is, the lignin bonds between fibers is nowhere near as strong as a solidly crosslinked continuous unbroken cellulose beam, so we need to lower our expectation of an end grain glue up to be NOT as strong as a solid beam of wood grain-wise, but it should be about as strong as the wood 90 degrees to it. Or so I think. Those two guitars turned out great!
I gotta say. After watching for years now. Your color matching and blending techniques are excellent. You’ve showed us many different techniques and they all work out great! Hahah easy for me to say from just watching a 15 minute video. But teds soothing Morgan freedman esque voice makes it all good!😂. Not that you sound like Morgan freedman. But ya know😂
Gonna proudly wear my shirt tomorrow!
Any old instrument has some kind of story to tell. And some have been rather abused with botched repairs over the years. You never know what you are getting into until you start the job, that's for sure.
Hey! I like that tune at the end! Mess up your schedule some more for a lesson? Kidding!
Is it inherent fragility in the design, or the wood? Seems less likely a maple neck made in the same way would break near as easily. Mahogany with no scarf joint seems like the worst way to make a tiltback headstock.
Hi Ted, your channel is my favorite watch of the week. Thanks so much. I enjoy learning from you.
I have a small suggestion for you. Make a bigger footprint acrylic base for your router. It will give you a lot more reference surface on your jig, taking some of the high wire, close to the edge, thrill show out of the task at hand.
Nice work sir! ☮️ Jeff
At 9:40 I was really expecting you to say you were ready to "pear" the wood away 🙃🙃
Ouch! I was waiting for that as well.
It hasn’t got above freezing where I’m at in Colorado in 3 weeks. My furnace has basically been trying to keep up non stop, so I feel your pain.
Meanwhile, here in Southern New England, it rains hard and prolonged every 3rd day, and we've only had one 4" snowfall and a couple of little dustings. Temperatures in the upper forties or higher on a daily basis.
Look forward to your videos every weekend
Cool picking at the end. One of your best so far.
I never get a response from my comments because when you get 13K views in 5 hours since your posting, I understand. Congrats on your Channel- when I started watching your channel I was watching Dave's World of Fun Stuff, Rosa String Works, and good ole Stew Mac. I prefer your channel (still watch the others) because of the dry humor, intricate detail on the work being done, and your reality based approach to repair- plus you reveal the mysteries from behind the curtain that others hold to their vest. Thank You, I enjoy your channel and NO, I won't send you guitars from Leesburg, Florida. Congratulations on your well deserved success.
A Ted and Dan from stew mac crossover episode would be amazing
Not in this video, but seen in others, you use what looks like a 2x5in silicone heating pad. I was looking to grab one myself but seeing a range of 50-300w. What wattage do you use? Got an SG someone re-glued the neck on wonky the stripped/sold the parts off it, but nice and wanna rebuild. Also bought an acoustic that needs a neck reset to practice what I've learned from your videos. 😁
Again.....gob smacked att Your brilliance! Thanks again😊!
That repair was totally inspired by one Mr Ted Woodford 😍😍
Can't wait to see the bridge reglue!
I was wondering if you write a script for your videos, they are exceptionally well-spoken 😀😀
Beauty, eh! Always wondered, whats the intro song?