The Fret Files

In this episode, Eric takes a question about removing residue from the finish on a pre-CBS custom color Fender Stratocaster, and interviews Rick Tish from playersgearmusic.com about Rick’s shop where he sells used and refurbished guitars, and does repairs also. The big news is that Rick has started manufacturing Neck Straightening Irons and is offering them for sale at his website. Fret File...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions about humming Charlie Christian pickups, Eric’s “secret” out of phase wiring trick, cool Japanese guitars to look out for, brass bridge pins, refretting an ebony fretboard and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.co...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions about cryogenic fret wire, Jazzmaster wiring, linear pots, adjustable saddles on Gibson acoustics, adjustable polepieces on a P-90 pickup, and does tone really “come from the hands?” – credit to @stevievaguewrong on instagram for the meme. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions about nickel hardware, Gretsch Guitars, a hipshot multibender, switch tips that won’t stay on, lacquer recommendations, and more. Also, Eric gives Melissa a surprise quiz, “Knob or Pickup?” – and she gets most of them right! To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8...

In this episode, Eric takes questions concerning when and how to lubricate tuning machines, fretting a compound radius, why are luthier’s turnaround times so long, when is a guitar a lost cause, and more. Also, we replay an interview with Scott Freilich from 2018. Scott passed away earlier this year, and this is our tribute to him. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with you...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa share listener submitted gig horror stories!! Not for the faint of heart! Eric also shares a few of his own. Also discussed is nitro over poly revisited, what happens if there’s no volume pot, fingerboard oil, and strap locks. Enjoy! To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show,...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions concerning locking tuners, steel wool, starting a guitar repair business, making a guitar lighter, capacitors, Halloween candy and of course the earth’s magnetic field and what it has to do with your guitar pickups. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, vi...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions concerning Tom Bukovac, Ibanez lawsuit era quality, touching up the finish on a Parker Fly, straightening a backbowed neck, case repair, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions concerning potentiometers, undersaddle pickups, are the frets really in the “wrong place” on vintage Gibsons, can you lacquer over poly, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions concerning 335 wiring problems, string trees, rusty polepieces, paulownia, shaped neck joint heels, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions concerning a stripped truss rod nut, pickup polarity, when to use sealer in the painting process, bass setups, vintage waterslide decals and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa talk Gibson lawsuits, bakelite vs. garrolite, left handed guitar parts, matching the copper on a vintage Danelectro and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa talk price increases at Reverb.com and the missing 1959 Gibson Ledger. Questions are taken regarding Wilkinson roller nuts, lacquer potted pickups, wiring up separate tone controls on a Tele, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click t...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa talk price increases, a 1961 Custom Telecaster for sale , and a great youtube channel called “ Rescue and Restore .” They take questions regarding super glue in fret slots, neck pickup effect and placement, seam separation knives, pickup shorts, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-7...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions regarding Fiesta Red, Eric Johnson, James Cotton, Jack White, 1950’s Telecasters, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions regarding Washburn guitars, rewiring a 335, lacquering over headstock decals, touching up paint, intonation, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa take questions regarding fret removal, fret crowning tools, microphonic pickups, residue removal, and ‘overdoing it’ when it comes to oiling fingerboards. Eric also gives Melissa a quiz called “Blues Musician or Guitar Color.” She hated it. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa talk guitar news and then answer questions about Alnico magnets, pickup phase and hum cancelling, refretting, coffee snobbery, and why Eric uses ash for most of his guitar builds. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer questions about string gauge, Danelectro volume and tone controls, how often to oil your rosewood fingerboard, shielding guitar cavities, ground loops, and how to make your guitar ring out like a piano. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer questions about how to get started in a guitar repair career, guitar wiring, tune-o-matic post spacing, refret process, vintage guitar prices, neck resets, and some effect pedal/delay talk. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the co...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer questions about tune-o-matic bridges, guitar straps, fingerboard inlays on a Harmony Meteor, how long does it take for a guitar to ‘settle in’ after a set-up, and more in this special commercial free 100th episode. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show,...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer questions about ebony fingerboards, fake ebony fingerboards, warped fingerboards, reverse headstocks, Danelectro binding edge tape, and which shipping service is best. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not FedEx. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eri...

In this episode, Eric interviews veteran luthier, guitar repair guru, and Taylor Guitars employee Dave Staudte from San Diego, Ca. Eric and Dave talk about all kinds of repairs and techniques from neck resets to finish work. Dave also gives us a little peek behind the scenes at Taylor Guitars. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer emails with questions about pickup polarity and “phase,” rewiring the electronics in an archtop, fixing a wobbly bridge on an Epiphone Casino, straightening out an old Harmony neck, and the proper use of locking tuners. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show,...

In this episode, Eric and Melissa answer emails with questions about removing fingerboards, polishing nickel hardware, removing minor scratches, Eric’s favorite guitar tech books, and how to glue down that peeling Danelectro binding tape. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com an...