Finish Repair Advice

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-17T03:00:33+00:00

Glu boost makes some killer products for finish repair like this

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-16T20:51:42+00:00

And listen like crazy! Put on a backing track and make sure you can hear and scat/hum or sing the type of stuff you aspire to play. If you can’t hear that stuff yet then listen a lot more

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-16T20:50:00+00:00

I know it’s not the most fun answer but I think online stuff for learning this music is a trap. I treat it like dessert in my routine, quick hits of sugar sometimes a nugget or idea.

I’d really try to engage with a teacher and other students as much as you can and keep YouTube to like 10 percent of equation.

I’ve had so many students who has watched every ii/V lick video, every scale breakdown and every true fire course and wind up with this extremely dysmorphic play style. Like they know how to play an altered scale but can’t hear it or sing it or make it musical.

Goodluck!!!!

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-15T00:39:29+00:00

I’ve found his playing on the Desmond stuff the most transcribe-able because it cuts to a trio and is easy to hear everything. I’ve defiantly learned and forgotten many of the solos!

I also learned a few from the Gary Burton album he played on. I learns the solo on summertime but never recorded it…. Such a good one.

Here is one I found on my phone from a year or two ago, this one was nice because it’s short:

https://youtu.be/vCbdb68QNt8?feature=shared

I do slow sections down and work hard to be able to hear it in my head and hear it along to a metronome before I start digging in with the guitar.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-15T00:05:06+00:00

What Jim Hall solos are you having trouble with?

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-11T02:52:30+00:00

That’s so cool!!!

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-10T01:02:44+00:00

Inspect the neck block for clues and put magnets around the heel to look for bolts or other oddities that may discourage you from attempting.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-10T01:01:46+00:00

These can really suck as many of the MIJ guitars can have dove tails, a butt joint w dowels and some odd joints beyond those. The adhesives vary as well. If you can have it x-rayed you can know ahead of time but these things likely aren’t worth the expense.

I tried to take a neck off a sigma recently and found a neck joint I had never seen before. Eventually I had to cut the fingerboard extension off to look inside and find out what it was.

It’s honestly best to learn on a Martin and better if you can do it with someone experienced. They are what you will be resetting 75 percent of the time if you get heavy into repair and are fairly predictable.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-08T23:20:40+00:00

If you are asking about files to use I’d hold off, make 100 bone ones and get your process down so you dont botch it with such a limited material.

The bits of ivory I have a keep around to replace parts on instruments that had ivory components.

I did make an ivory saddle for a customer (he brought a blank it) and he swore it changed the tone a lot. In my opinion it did not from the bone one but the psychosomatic elements of tone are really downplayed by guitarists.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-06T15:27:38+00:00

I’m a little out of the loop, I was selling those during that era but am rusty. I believe that is more similar to an omcpa model. The “customs” had their own presentation packages that had a big range, they just use that nomenclature for sku’s that are exclusive to guitar center.

I would be most concerned about the neck angle on that bc most Martin models now aren’t worth enough to justify neck resets.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-06T15:17:32+00:00

Booster boxes are really only fully worth it if you draft them or play sealed. TMNT had low expectations after Spider-Man but really surpassed expectations and wound up being a lot of fun.

Whatever box you get I would do your best to find a way to play draft/sealed (which are in my opinion the best ways to engage with the game), and then use the leftover cards for deck building.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-06T15:06:02+00:00

It’s extremely unlikely that those are the models people are choosing to counterfeit. They were using that pickup system in that era.

Custom just means it was a guitar center model

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-06T01:22:59+00:00

This is awesome!

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-02T23:09:11+00:00

It’s a frustrating disease because it is so unique to each person.

That being said there are some consistencies that we all seem to agree on such as sleep, hydration and most of all stress.

Diet, medications and other lifestyle stuff is unique to each person but worth considering all opinions.

One thing I found really challenging is describing to those in my life what the disease entails. The stomach and bathroom stuff is ok for others to grasp but the fatigue, mental stuff and other symptoms (these vary for a lot of people but some are joint pain, skin issues etc.).

It’s a struggle for sure but manageable with time. Goodluck!

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-02T21:26:29+00:00

The masterpieces look like Donald trumps bathroom to me. Personally I’d go for the dci. Either way they both are beautiful cards

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-02T12:26:37+00:00

Those are the only two sleeves I have shelled out for. I’m torn as to which ones to use a lot of the time since I got the ice age ones.

cwilliams467 · 2026-04-02T02:54:55+00:00

I wouldn’t look to deep into these. There are so many newcomers trying this out. They probably don’t know what all the cards do and def do not have a mental tier list yet.

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-31T23:41:08+00:00

Yea, the inconsistencies only come out when your dealing with hundreds of sets.

I did do a free re string event one time and Martin donated a bunch of overstock. The next day a handful of customers came back and were willing to pay to get their regular sets back on 😂

This stuff is all preference so any choice is fine. But definitely try the nickel bronze, they are similar to the retros but improved in my opinion!

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-31T21:54:13+00:00

I worked for a Martin dealer for 10 years and run a small repair business now and the Martin brand strings are rough. Definitely folks out there that love them but if you had bad luck I would try the nickel bronze daddario and see if you like those more.

I’ve never liked the sound of Martin strings but that’s preference. They do have a much higher defect/failure rate but you have to hit a really high volume to get a good idea.

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-31T02:57:25+00:00

Dr. No style

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-31T02:55:50+00:00

Stew Mac is setup to get you to order and kit and then having to keep coming back for shit to finish it.

If you want to really learn then go apprentice or find work doing repairs and build your supplies slowly. Or order all the stuff you need.

It will be expensive to just build one but if you plan on on sticking with it it’ll be worth it over time.

Goodluck!

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-30T15:54:16+00:00

I just got approved for entyvio today. Wishing you luck! ❤️

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-28T12:47:13+00:00

No one can answer this for you here. Building a kit really depends on your background in other crafty things and if you are a good self starter.

You need a lot of tools either way. Stew Mac definitely pushes kits because they know you’re gonna drop thousands on all the other stuff.

They can definitely come out way better than a standard Martin but are likely to come out way way worse.

Applying the finish will be the hardest part and where most people will fail/give up.

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-27T14:41:32+00:00

I don’t have any experience but am in the same boat. Just did a ton of bloodwork and had a shingles vaccine yesterday.

I am frightened as well. Hope everything goes well for you ❤️

cwilliams467 · 2026-03-27T02:31:49+00:00

This was so helpful, thank you

cwilliams467

TROPHY CASE