This guide will use photographs, diagrams and sketches made by the author and some provided by various manufacturers to teach how to clean, condition, adjust the action and properly intonate your acoustic guitar, as well as: John's trade secrets on hand-carving bone nuts and bridge saddles, wiring and fretwork. John has also included a chapter on identifying and diagnosing problem guitars. It even includes a forward written by Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars. This book is perfect to teach a beginner or a reference for the guitar repair professional.
Chapter 1 - Tools and Materials
Guitar Maintenance Kit - Basic tools needed to perform setups
Materials - Materials and supplies you'll need
Recommended Tools - List of luthrie tools
Sources - Where to purchase tools and materials
Chapter 2 - General Maintenance
Hygiene - Keep it clean
Cleaning and Conditioning - Proper care of your instrument
Restringing - Professional tips and techniques
Transporting and Shipping - Tips on packing and shipping a guitar
Humidity Effects - Too much, too little or too late
Chapter 3 - Adjusting the Neck
Diagram of Components - Frets, fingerboard and trussrod
Measurements - Before and after
Sighting the Neck - Foolproof techniques
Proper Adjustments - Adjusting for playing style and design
Types of Trussrods - Single-action and double-action
Troubleshooting - Identifying stripped and frozen trussrods
Chapter 4 - Adjusting the Action at the Bridge
Diagram of Components - Parts of a guitar bridge
Acoustic Bridge Saddles - Concept, materials and common problems
Tunematic
Hard Tail Bridge
Floating Tremolo Systems
Chapter 5 - Adjusting the Action at the Nut
Diagram of Components - Different shapes, sizes and materials
Angles, Width and Spacing - How to correctly cut string slots
Proper Adjustments - Calculating the correct height for each string
Replacement and Repair - Do I film, shim or replace the nut?
Chapter 6 - Adjusting the Pickups
Diagram of Components - Parts of an electric pickup
Proper Heights and Effects - Pole pieces, adjustable and fixed
Chapter 7 - Intonation
Definitions - What is intonation?
Tools Needed - Tuners, hex keys and screwdrivers
Sharp, Flat and Hopeless
Variables and Tempering - Fret placement, nut placement and Bach
Chapter 8 - Basic Fretwork
Diagram of Components - Tools, jigs and materials
Fret Leveling - My steel bar and buckshot method
Recrowning Frets - A tight crown is better than a flathead
Partial Refretting - How many should you replace?
Burnishing the Edges - Final buff and polish
Chapter 9 - Basic Electric Guitar Wiring
Diagram of Components - Anatomy of a pickup
Pickup Harness Color Codes - So many colors, so little time
RW/RP, LFT/W - Fun with acronyms
Pots, Switches and Jacks - How they work? And what do they do?
Wiring Diagrams - The proper way to read a wiring diagram
Acoustic Pickup Systems - Application and function
Troubleshooting - Pickup failure causes
Chapter 10 - Top 10 Signs of a Problematic Guitar
Electric - Common Problems
Acoustic - Common Roblems
Chapter 11 - Miscellaneous Upgrades and Repair
Strap Buttons - Drilling, countersinks and felt washers
Tuning Keys - Replacement and repair
Bridge Pins - Too loose, too tight and just right
Chapter 12 - Other Training Resources
Apprenticeships - Understudy programs
Factory Training - Crash courses in real guitar repair
Workshops - ASIA, GGAL and schools on guitar building
Guitar Maintenance Kit - Basic tools needed to perform setups
Materials - Materials and supplies you'll need
Recommended Tools - List of luthrie tools
Sources - Where to purchase tools and materials
Chapter 2 - General Maintenance
Hygiene - Keep it clean
Cleaning and Conditioning - Proper care of your instrument
Restringing - Professional tips and techniques
Transporting and Shipping - Tips on packing and shipping a guitar
Humidity Effects - Too much, too little or too late
Chapter 3 - Adjusting the Neck
Diagram of Components - Frets, fingerboard and trussrod
Measurements - Before and after
Sighting the Neck - Foolproof techniques
Proper Adjustments - Adjusting for playing style and design
Types of Trussrods - Single-action and double-action
Troubleshooting - Identifying stripped and frozen trussrods
Chapter 4 - Adjusting the Action at the Bridge
Diagram of Components - Parts of a guitar bridge
Acoustic Bridge Saddles - Concept, materials and common problems
Tunematic
Hard Tail Bridge
Floating Tremolo Systems
Chapter 5 - Adjusting the Action at the Nut
Diagram of Components - Different shapes, sizes and materials
Angles, Width and Spacing - How to correctly cut string slots
Proper Adjustments - Calculating the correct height for each string
Replacement and Repair - Do I film, shim or replace the nut?
Chapter 6 - Adjusting the Pickups
Diagram of Components - Parts of an electric pickup
Proper Heights and Effects - Pole pieces, adjustable and fixed
Chapter 7 - Intonation
Definitions - What is intonation?
Tools Needed - Tuners, hex keys and screwdrivers
Sharp, Flat and Hopeless
Variables and Tempering - Fret placement, nut placement and Bach
Chapter 8 - Basic Fretwork
Diagram of Components - Tools, jigs and materials
Fret Leveling - My steel bar and buckshot method
Recrowning Frets - A tight crown is better than a flathead
Partial Refretting - How many should you replace?
Burnishing the Edges - Final buff and polish
Chapter 9 - Basic Electric Guitar Wiring
Diagram of Components - Anatomy of a pickup
Pickup Harness Color Codes - So many colors, so little time
RW/RP, LFT/W - Fun with acronyms
Pots, Switches and Jacks - How they work? And what do they do?
Wiring Diagrams - The proper way to read a wiring diagram
Acoustic Pickup Systems - Application and function
Troubleshooting - Pickup failure causes
Chapter 10 - Top 10 Signs of a Problematic Guitar
Electric - Common Problems
Acoustic - Common Roblems
Chapter 11 - Miscellaneous Upgrades and Repair
Strap Buttons - Drilling, countersinks and felt washers
Tuning Keys - Replacement and repair
Bridge Pins - Too loose, too tight and just right
Chapter 12 - Other Training Resources
Apprenticeships - Understudy programs
Factory Training - Crash courses in real guitar repair
Workshops - ASIA, GGAL and schools on guitar building
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Typ (fx Lärobok, samling m.m.) | Instrumental Reference |
| Niveau | Nybörjare |
| Sidor | 152 |
| Media | Bog(softcover) |
| Publisher/Producent | Mel Bay Publications |
| Bidragsgivare | LeVan, John (Author) |
| Språk | Engelska |
| ISBN | 9780786639045 |
| UPC | 796279053464 |