Strats 'n' Cracks

Hey Ted; My daughter's Taylor 810 has just arrived back to me in the Chippewa and I have to express my gratitude for your expert work, thoughtfulness and eloquence. You did warn me that the crack would be visible after the repair and the results would easily pass anyone's close scrutiny. I do hope that this repair can also be a stepping stone to repair the fissure that has developed between my daughter and I. My kudos and thanks Ted.

As he's playing notes on the middle strings to check for buzz I said to myself "a little bit" right before he says "a little bit" and I've never been more proud of myself.....

That crack just looks like a dark grain mark, nice repair.

I never thought I'd be someone who waited all week for a YouTube video, but here we are! I suppose it replaces waiting all week for serialised TV shows which doesn't really exist anymore now we all stream TV.

Anyone else push thumbs up before even watching?

Man your videos are literally helping me through depression and hopelessness thanks 🙏

Best guitar channel on YouTube. Thanks for your time and effort!

You sir are a great teacher and and a top notch craftsman....thanks!

Oh yes. Saturday is complete.

I watch these videos not so much to learn how to do it myself (I know my limitations) but for what is possible and practical for a pro to fix as my guitars get older and "worn in" starts to become "worn-out"... But it is so satisfying to watch.

Nice repair on the top with the spline. Good tip about scoring around the frets before pulling them out so the tines don't tear up the fretboard.

When setting up a trem I use a block to hold the trem in the desired final resting position. Depending on the trem, the block could be on the underside or the top. Tighten the trem claw springs to the point where the bridge is firmly resting on the block. Tune the strings to pitch. Then, very gradually, loosen the trem claw springs evenly on both sides until the block is just loose enough to remove. Strings in tune, bridge in proper place, no hassles with iterating back and forth between tuning and trem claw. Works for Floyds and Strats. Side benefit - no fear to remove all strings when changing strings, so you can do a good neck clean (much better than changing one string at a time).

I have only just started my journey with the strat, and this is the best set up video I have found, thanks Ted...

Hearing you on the Strat with the whammy bar and I said "Is that Jeff Beck???". ;-)

Wow, flashback city! One of my first few electrics was a metallic red HSS Strat copy much like that. Sold it at a yard sale about 20 years ago. I'm more of a LP/Tele single-cut guy, but I could see a Telestrat in my future (Tele with Strat pickups and a go-out-of-tune lever 😀

I got a Taylor that had identical cracks to that. Left it out of the case over Christmas break, came back after a week of -30 degrees and let's just say you only make that mistake once.

I absolutely love your illustrations of what you're doing, they're extremely informative & very comprehensive. thank you for all that you do.

It's so funny to me. You say, I've done quite a few refretting videos recently, so no need to explain everything, but end up telling us the step by step anyways. I love your work ethic. Even though the guitar isn't in for a refret or something else you've noticed it needed after getting into it you just can't not address it. Your work ethic & pride in your work is top notch.

I couldn't see the cracks at all once done. Magic!

That might be the best video you ever did. Definitely the best Strat setup video I've ever seen!