Product
FAQ's
Frequently
Asked Questions
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Q
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What
tuners will fit my guitar?
Read answer
This can
be difficult to answer without inspecting the instrument. Many
manufacturers use a variety of different tuners on their guitars,
sometimes within the same model run. The technical specifications
of the tuners we stock can be found online and in our catalog. We
suggest comparing your existing machines and peghole dimensions to
our listed specs to help determine the best replacement.
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What
specific motor do we recommend for the Buffing Arbor?
Read answer
To power
our Buffing
Arbor we recommend a 1/3 to 1/2-horsepower motor with a 2" pulley
that runs at 1725 rpm. Dayton Motors model 3K772 is a common motor
that is available from a number of suppliers.
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Can I
build a left-handed instrument from your guitar kits?
Read answer
Though our
guitar
kits are intended for right-handed players, the soundboard bracing
patterns can be reversed to build a left-handed instrument. You can
make a left-handed bridge from scratch using one of our bridge blanks.
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What nut
files do you recommend for my guitar?
Read answer
Choose nut
slotting files that are the same size or no more that a few
thousands larger than your individual string gauges. For more
details, visit www.stewmac.com/nuts.
A smaller file can also be rocked side-to-side to widen a
slot to the desired size. For example, you can cut a .036" slot
with a .035" file by moving it around a bit.
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What
should I use to slot my Tune-o-matic saddles?
Read answer
Nut
slotting files work great for saddles. Simply use the same
techniques you'd use for nut slotting. After filing to the desired
depth, we suggest polishing the slot with Mitchell's
Abrasive Cord to remove file marks and burrs.
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Q
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Will your
attachments for Dremel fit my generic brand or other moto-type
tool?
Read answer
If your
tool has a removable nosepiece with a 3/4-12 thread, it should work
with our attachments.
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Which size
truss rod wrench do I need?
Read answer
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Can I make
my own custom-scale fretboards?
Read answer
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Do you
stock gold powder for Goldtop guitar finishes?
Read answer
No. It's
manufactured by the Crescent Bronze Powder Company in Chicago, IL.
Their product number is 256, although Dan
Erlewine sometimes uses 255 depending on the instrument. For
application details, see our book Guitar
Finishing Step-By-Step.
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Can you
ship nitrocellulose lacquer outside the USA or recommend a source?
Read answer
We cannot
ship nitrocellulose lacquer outside of the USA, and we don't have
an overseas source to recommend to you. An internet search should
help you find a supplier in your area.
However, we'd like to recommend our ColorTone
Waterbased Guitar Lacquer, which we can ship internationally. It
is non-flammable, and is available as a Brushing
Varnish. It is formulated to work with ColorTone grain filler,
pigments
and liquid
stains.
Learn the standard process for finishing an instrument with
waterbase lacquer and application tips. Click
here to read more...
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I just
finished a bolt-on neck with a maple fretboard. I read online that
I should spray the lacquer directly on the frets, so that's what I
did. How do I remove the lacquer from the frets?
Read answer
Don't use
any kind of solvent to remove lacquer overspray from frets, or
you'll damage the fretboard finish. Instead, the finish can be
carefully scraped off. Using a nut slotting file of the appropriate
gauge, you can make a custom scraper using a nail, X-acto blade, or
something similar.
Dan Erlewine uses a 16-penny nail. He simply files a notch
in the nailhead, just deep and wide enough to fit over the fret
without touching the fretboard. Using an X-acto knife, he carefully
scores the lacquer on both sides of the fret to prevent unwanted
finish chipping. He then slowly scrapes the lacquer off of the fret
with the slotted nailhead. For details and photos, see our book Fret Work
Step By Step.
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Can I
replace a modern Fender American Standard Tele bridge with a
vintage style 3-saddle bridge without modifications?
Read answer
Installation
of a Traditional
Bridge for Tele on an American Standard model requires additional
drilling. The mounting screws on the vintage models are in a
different location. The string mounting holes match, however.
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Q
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How do I
tell the difference between the gauges on my Double-edge Nut File,
they're not marked.
Read answer
We
recommend that you make a cut on a scrap piece of bone or wood with
both sides of the Double-edge Nut
File, then measure the width of each cut with feeler gauges to determine which
side is which. Guitar strings
of known gauges will also work as measuring tools in a pinch.
Once you have determined the proper edge, mark the file
accordingly with a permanent marker.
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Q
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I'm
interested in getting into guitar building and repair. Do you
recommend any specific books or DVDs?
Read answer
We offer a
wide variety of books and
DVDs that
cover repair and building procedures, from beginning to advanced,
as well as specific areas such as fretting and
finishing.
Outstanding resources for general information include the Guitar Player
Repair Guide and Dan Erlewine's Maintenance &
Setup DVDs. A variety of excellent books are also available for
building a complete guitar.
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I don't
have any experience with this type of work, do you think I could
fix my...?
Read answer
Take your
instrument to a reputable local repair shop for an evaluation. That
way, you can determine if you're comfortable doing the repair
yourself, or letting a professional do it.
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Q
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Does
Stewart-MacDonald offer custom shop services or custom woodworking?
Read answer
We don't
offer custom services. A luthier or woodshop in your area may be
able to help you with your project.
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Does
Stewart-MacDonald have an in-house repair facility that I can send
my instrument to for repair?
Read answer
We don't
offer repair services. We recommend that you take your instrument
to a reputable local repair shop.
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