Changing Strings And Cleaning A Guitar I Got On Ebay Scott Grove

[@mylemonblue3070]

It's great to see the entire process of how you clean up and re-string a used guitar from arrival to finish. Every minute of the video is gold. Thanks for doing videos like these. ❤️

[@Grandpa.Dan8881]

Great video, as usual... I am 73, but never too old to learn new things. We may all think we know how to change strings or set up a newly acquired guitar, but the more we review the way other folks do things, the more we can refine the way we go about it. Thanks again Scott, you da mann...

[@x9417m]

still the best video i ever watched on this subject, always come back every few years to watch again

[@groovydjs]

Now THIS is what it's ALL about! Thank you. I'm so glad that it was THAT video in particular that "did it" for you. I was told that I couldn't teach lead guitar with no scales nor theory. THERE IT IS. I had that video out the very next day and it has quickly become everybody's favorite video I've done. It really ties the whole neck together seamlessly so quickly. I would love to check out your video when it's done! You let me know where to buy it and I'll be the first one in line my man!

[@TheSchmeevils]

Hey Scott,just a quick note to you.I really appreciate your straight up style of giving us guitar info.I been watching your videos for a while now,and I got a tell you,your the truth brother!I know some folks might find you a little abrasive,but personally I find your no bullshit approach quite refreshing.Thanks for taking the time to set shit straight.Rock On!

[@groovydjs]

You are so very welcome. Someone wanted me to simply turn on the camera when I changed strings next and just TALK while I was going through it all. So, that's where this video came from. If anybody gets anything out of it....that's great! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@groovydjs]

Thank you my friend. I'm still battling the problems every day. But, it is what it is. The basic outlook is that they will simply have to try to give me a couple of liver transplants since all of the meds that they have me on are eating though mine and each liver won't take this abuse for more than 7 years. So, that's my future. I really thank you for you well wishes! Those I can certainly use!

[@TCS_Aquatics82]

Even in that kind of used shape, that is one of the most badass guitars I have ever seen. Love that, at first I wasn’t thinking it was a factory finish until you mentioned it. Would love to play some Nugent on that thing!

[@groovydjs]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! You've got ME and what I TRY TO DO, figured out down to a "T". Yeah, I talk pretty rough on some of these, but just out of the love of guitars and my frustrations with all of the myths that have been formed and that the masses believe them. I want nothing more than to help folks, but if some are unwilling to change, it's not because I didn't try. Those that want to at least TRY some of these things will be much happier for it. I'm so glad that you see what is what 100%.

[@groovydjs]

AHHHH! Great question. I don't have a dulcimer video, nor a dulcimer. But, I'll gladly buy one, learn it, and put out some videos. It sounds like a blast and I love the sound of them! Thanks for asking. New project time!

[@groovydjs]

I would be honored to have it my friend! Thank you. Yeah, there is a lot more to be said by playing from your heart and soul than from your head or crap you saw on a piece of paper that you just read, spew out and don't own it. You can't put a price on someone that has the talent to move you with the true gift of milking some raw emotion out of a guitar and getting it to the listener's ears and being able to take them on a little journey. There's no book learning involved with that.

[@groovydjs]

My total pleasure my friend. It was just a casual "sit down" and ramble. But, I figured that SOMETHING may help somebody out there and that's what I try to make my channel all about.....trying to help. Cheers! Scott

[@bondo5696]

Another keeper for me, I have new knowledge to apply to many things I do, not just what is shown here - thanks you for practical knowledge shared. My guitar friends need to see this.

[@RB-zh1eq]

Man, I'm glad I discovered you. I've been playing over 40 years, and the misinformation I got early on, that I took for gospel, you completely dispel. It was my understanding that you didn't want a lot of windings around your posts: something about the strings stretching on the post causing it to go out of tune often. And guitar polish, and all that bullshit. Right on. Thank you.

[@fredparker5801]

Scott thank you for all the information you give us. I found and purchased a T-60 Peavey which is a beast. I bought it because of the information you provided. I got it for just under 500. dollars. It still needs to be set up correctly but still plays well. Thanks againfor your information.

[@ContentsMayDiffer]

The bit about proper stringing and stretching was a revelation. Thank you!

[@neilshome]

Very nice!!, loving your videos mate. I've been playing for 40+ years and you have taught me so much since watching your videos that I was never aware of before. Been doing so many things wrong for so long, but not any more!!

[@groovydjs]

LOL, I loved that movie. I feel ya. I'm a die hard KISS fan that grew up playing hardcore country his whole life. lol But, somehow, the influences of both worked out just fine. The same way the worked out for Garth Brooks. He was another big KISS nut and he brought the attitude and stage show and smashing guitars and fire etc. to the Country stages and the world ate it up big time. So, yeah, Jerry was just so far ahead of his time and could hold his own with NO problems today.

[@eekleefeld]

I just discovered on my own (though I'm sure lots of other people have figured this out before me!) a nice trick: You *can* manually wrap the string around the post using your hands, for the number of winds you want, without twisting the string core itself. The trick: Pull the string taut, and keep it taut, and pull it straight in circles. This way, you're not actually twisting it around the post, so much as you are using your hands to carry it on a quicker version of its long journey that you would've otherwise done by cranking the tuning key. Then when you get the number of winds you want, you thread it through the eyehole, then bend the loose end to lock it into position. Continue winding just enough to get it securely in place, and then cut the rest of the string super close. Then once you get up to pitch, it'll only take maybe one wrap around the post, max. I hope I described this properly, and it makes sense to somebody reading it!

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, this is one that only a mother could possibly love. lol I've got a few of these Explorer III's. The Camo finish was by far the nastiest looking of them all. That's why I had to have it. It just looks like someone got sick all over the thing. lol

[@groovydjs]

Thanks my friend. Amazing what can be learned just by candidly taping a typical cleaning and string changing on a new (old) guitar arrival huh? lol I'm really glad you enjoyed it! I was hoping that someone would!

[@groovydjs]

I love them! Stainless strings, stainless frets, stainless nut and bridge. In a perfect world....that's how it would be. Of course with stainless rollers on the bridge and nut. Just use the pedal steel guitar methods that have been tried and true for many decades. They sustain more than anything, they go out of tune less than anything......no friction! It's the way to go. People just don't see it. It's been under their noses all of the time. I hope you and the family are GREAT!

[@groovydjs]

100% of the time. 9's on all electrics and 12's on all acoustics and every instrument I own has nothing but Elixir Polywebs on them. Since string gauges have zero impact on the tone of an electric guitar, I might as well play something that is nice and comfortable. lol

[@groovydjs]

Thanks so very much! Still walking through that storm, just not getting as wet as I was. lol I was left with 2 major fears though because of it. The fear of telephones and of going outside. Pretty strange huh? It's crazy what will happen when you get your brain scrambled. My long term memory is here, but I don't remember much of anything over the past 7 years. I don't even remember making most of these You Tube videos. But, I'm glad that I did. lol Thanks again!

[@groovydjs]

Yes, there is a HUGE difference. Elixir tried to pull a fast one and put out a bunch of sets without the anti-rust plain strings and they rust in a half hour with my acidic level. So, you really have to watch out with them. The sucky thing is, I even order the anti-rust ones and they will send you some of the old, shitty ones. You need to return those if you get them. Guitar Center doesn't carry the Polywebs at all, you have to custom order them or simply get them from Ebay (best plan there).

[@DarthBrutalous]

This is a great vid Scott. I sat through the whole thing and it's funny cause I take a guitar class in my school and my teacher was trying to show us how to change strings and he uses that fast fret crap and that string lube and shit. I corrected him & he got pretty pissed, but I was then put incharge of guitar maintenance. I used everything you taught us through the vids. I love when you put out these vids they're great. Really good for beginners. I've been playing for only 3yrs & I learn a lot

[@groovydjs]

Thanks buddy. I feel 80 years old. I hate it. It's probably why I have such a PLEASANT outlook all the time. lol

[@groovydjs]

Hi my friend. If you have a guitar that is worth a lot of money and it's going to kill the guitar's value, then go with the good, old Dean Markley pickup to put in there. It won't sound very good, but there isn't any sound hole pickup that will. The kind with the Fishman, B-band, Roland preamps that are already installed in the guitar are really the only way to go in order to get a great acoustic sound. The sound hole pickups make your guitar sound more electric than acoustic my friend.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, you can hit everything with the steel wool as long as you have quality parts. You won't harm the magnets at all. Hit your rusty screw heads with it, your pickup covers and pole pieces and on and on, even your chrome tuners. Have at it.

[@groovydjs]

Yep, just as I said in the video, I'll do it on Saturday after I finish setting it up.

[@groovydjs]

Thanks my friend. Yeah....imaging if they didn't take all of the strings off to change your frets. lol The thing that pretty much EVERYBOYDY overlooks when they argue over this whole mess is that the truss rod is there to keep your neck's tension on it. No harm can come to the neck at all with that piece of steel running through there keeping the majority of the tension on that puppy. I'm glad that it helped to put your mind at ease. Clean that thing! lol Scott

[@groovydjs]

Hi my friend. The Mesh wire is not a good idea. Do they have the chrome covers on the pickups? If so just use a good metal cleaner that is non abrasive. You can always unscrew the screw pole pieces and soak them in something harsher to get them clean. If they don't have covers on them and you can see both coils of the plastic pickups, that's going to have to be a lot of elbow grease. Things such a paint thinner or acetone will melt the plastic on them. So, be very careful with that part.

[@SquierStrat72]

That was a fun video, and your're right, as usual. Years ago, as a young player, I fell for all that alternate string winding crap. After a while, though, I just realized there was nothing there. Best thing I ever did for my tuning stability was go back to just making clean, simple windings, and stretch as I go. Once I get that final tune, it stays. Even on my cheapest Squier. I string up almost the same way you do and it just works.

[@groovydjs]

If you don't mind having the string trees gone, it's always better to do away with them. If your nut is cut correctly *better yet...a roller nut), as long as you use your head and wind the strings down far enough, there is NEVER any need for the string trees and that always means less tuning problems due to friction that doesn't need to be there.

[@groovydjs]

That's too cool my friend. Please drop on by and chat any old time. I like to hang with folks that are as screwed up as I am. lol Really, great to have you aboard!

[@demetrios4699]

I always knew deep down that the people who kink their fresh strings at the post and insist on "only two wraps max" are spouting religion under the guise of science. Thank you for confirming my long held suspicion. More importantly, thank you for telling the truth. Many years to you, good sir.

[@triad5766]

Are you Orthodox Christian? I know this was 6 years ago but God bless lol

[@spalleesjp]

Again, thanks for the lesson Scott. I really hope your health is better, and wish you well with your recovery and continued healing after your stroke (your way too young dude!). Jon from Chippewa Falls, WI

[@POLARIS2]

A guitar cleansing lesson AND life lessons......what else could anyone ask for? Love the commentary, Scott!

[@groovydjs]

My pleasure. I'll do my own string changing video.

[@groovydjs]

The Terrycloth on the body will damned near wipe your finish off the guitar. It will 100% leave streaks and scratches on it that will never come out. The cheese cloth will not do it nearly as bad, nor as quickly. The thing is not to use ANY PRESSURE when you clean your guitar body from the day you buy it. Just clean it. If you do circular motions, you'll leave swirls etc. You simply have to use the cheese cloth and wipe the guitar, don't RUB the guitar. Go Poly and no problems at all.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, the hand you get dealt isn't always what you hoped for, but you have to play it and hope for the best.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, it's a wacky finish for sure. I really like the P-90's in one of the 3 modes that the axe has. Actually, the other modes work out great if you're going to be using distortion etc. I'm a squeaky clean country player for the most part, but I hate to be stereotyped by playing a boring Tele or Strat. I love the wild body styles, but the classic single coil tone and these P-90's in a Strat configuration add just enough balls to the normal Strat sound to really sound huge! Thanks much!

[@groovydjs]

Yes, just the really fine steel wool. I've used the one piece for over 10 years now.

[@ScarletEyeMoon]

Your video wasn't boring. I'm really interested in this stuff and you talk allot to keep it interesting. Also you confirmed what I always thought, which is water is perfectly safe for rosewood fingerboards as long as you don't use too much.

[@groovydjs]

Cool my man. The email was actually just a picture of this axe. Letting my best friends know that I had a new member to my disfunctional guitar family. lol This one's all yours my friend. I would give you anything that you asked for!

[@groovydjs]

I'll be more than happy to my friend. You've got it.

[@groovydjs]

I really wish they would too. Most people don't like finding out that they are doing something wrong. So, that is the reason that they don't or won't watch. Sad.

[@groovydjs]

Thanks my friend. I wish I could tell you that I'm doing well, but you just have to grin and pretend all is well. Teach folks your passion, leave behind some sort of legacy and be bombarded by young (and old) punks on here that simply want nothing more than to bash you. But, it is what the world is. lol So, I just want to teach what I can and hopefully more on to something better. It has to get better after this.....right? lol Thanks so very much for your concers and wishes! APPRECIATED

[@groovydjs]

Hi my friend. I leave enough so that it will wind down close to the bottom of the peg. So, I tend to wind the entire High E string on there without cutting it and, of course, less and less as I go, but certainly trying to get as many winds as I can before they start to double back up the post. Not a good thing there for sure. lol

[@skot373]

Scott this guitar takes me down memory lane. The one I owned had the dirty fingers which is one of the more rare gems in that series. My finish did the same exact thing around the tuning keys and various cracks around the body. It was actually common on that finish because of the layer upon layers of paint. Anyway, Im still shopping around for one. Glad one of those made it to good hands.

[@groovydjs]

I hear you. I've got my favorite Washburn and Ibanez axes too. Sounds like we're on the same page!

[@groovydjs]

Yes, I know how to do it, but have never done it. I need to get off of my butt and do it and do total refret jobs too. The average refret on a maple fingerboard is $250.00 or more and on any other wood, is $200.00 or more. They actually charge you the extra money on the maple fingerboards because it's harder to pop the frets in and get them out due to the denseness of the wood and because they actually have to be careful not to chip the finish on the front of the fingerboard.

[@miketrew9715]

Love your vids on repair and maintenance man. Greetings fae Scotland

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, it's super cool. I've got the new video up now, so....it's just a repeat of the other one, but a few new facts that I've learned as I keep studying. Never stop learning! So, yeah, it's a GREAT wiring scheme. Gibson did things so cool durning the Norlin years. They just suck again now.

[@dsjjfg]

Scott - as a nurse (oooh! a "male nurse"! scandal!), I was *very* interested in your comments about smoking, your stroke, etc. Congrats on quitting and never going back! You're right about stroke, man. Some never recover the ability to perform some activities...you know...like walking or eating or speaking. Some do not survive at all. Glad you're around to tell about it, and hopefully cure DMFs! --David

[@groovydjs]

Awesome my friend! Deoxit smokes 'em all! I put that stuff in my coffee. lol Great to have you here. Great Avatar too!

[@jimbobjimbob8275]

Great video Scott, I usually clean my old Gibson's with Naptha. Doesnt seem to hurt old nitro finishes at all, even use it on the pick guards without problems.

[@andrewmoran357]

Enjoyed that one as per usual Scott - thanks for reducing the guitardation in the world

[@groovydjs]

I'm always happy to do those videos and I shall. Thanks for asking. I think that any kind of fretboard that is sealed or at least very dense is great. It doesn't change your sound any, so.....I think it's great. The graphite boards are easily the best I've ever found. Those by Modulus and Moses. Nothing in the world compares....plus, no need for a truss rod...now that is a REAL NECK! lol But, I'm all for NEW fretboards for acoustics. It is LONG OVER DUE! Rosewood needs to go away.

[@faunoram]

ive been watching your videos and i must say they have tons of amazing info and the most important thing is they break some myths too ! i was wondering if you can do a video about fret buzz because theres lots of videos here on youtube but i find most of them very confusing and it seems everybody have a different answer for this simple problem ! thanks and cheers !!

[@groovydjs]

I hear you there my friend. Jerry was simply as good as they come. You can't tell me that Brad Paisley didn't sit around with Jerry's recordings and pull his hair out learning that stuff.

[@groovydjs]

Thank you. Yeah, the SE models are great. What kind of sound are you going for?

[@MrPiper321]

Deoxit is EXACTLY the right stuff. I had an early 80's marshal that was unusable. I removed all the pots and sprayed them through the little hole in the back/bottom and the amp was like new. It is a good tip you shared.

[@groovydjs]

I hear you my friend. I don't ever got to any gig without a can of the Deoxit D5. It's a cure all for sure!

[@CJ-rf9jm]

I've worked in electronics so I use a can of "electrical contact cleaner" which does the trick. If you don't have it a can of WD40 with a shot in the pot will also work.

[@Leftienige]

CJ99 W The only trouble with WD40 is that it doesn't conduct . It insulates .

[@CJ-rf9jm]

Leftienige Blank Anyone must rotate the wipers in each pot so that the dirt is actually fully removed. Anybody who doesn't do so (since the dirt is also an insulator) yet complains about WD40 being an insulator is GUITARDED.

[@Biblicalgiants]

One time when I was a kid my friend cleaned the finger-cheese off of his dad's fretboard. He got yelled at bad! Lol. Good upload!

[@Mikee535]

You are the best Scott, thanks again for sharing took you an hour and I'm still working on my taxes. found some good info online regarding Eric Johnson setup. Always learning and it all makes sense. been looking for those Wilkinson roller bridges you talk about, I searched Amazon and could only find Allparts bridges are those OK for my 2014 Les Paul Classic that I had to do so many mods and so much work to in order to keep it in tune it's a Les Paul custom now!

[@manu9629]

Taking care of your instruments it's a way of art.

[@kurtbarber5116]

I recently purchased a similar guitar. Great video sir. Mine has been modified a bit. I’d like ti get it back to original spec.

[@EalhCoUk]

Hey Scott its amazing what you can do with a bit of water! thanx for the video and your time and I did watch the whole video!

[@groovydjs]

Very cool my friend! Yeah, I did all that same stuff at one point and came to the same conclusions as you. Just string it, wind it straight down the post a few times, give it a haircut and stretch 'em out and you're off to the races! lol More often than not, the simple ways end up being the best. Cheers! Scott

[@sidneymorris2254]

Thanks Scot from Liverpool.

[@kammhron]

True what u say about making loops & kinking the strings around the tuning posts. I have broken many strings using that method, which I actually got from a Martin guitar site. Never again! thanx.

[@groovydjs]

Hi Jerald my good friend! You are so welcome my friend. Save me a slice! When are you going to reunite with the band my man?

[@DetroitDogTrainer]

At 11:32 "You got shit to do" ~ straight to the point as always, and why I like your videos.

[@lasancheofficial1933]

Scott, I just came across this video from 8 years gone. When you were cleaning the frets using the 0000 steel wool. You didn’t tape around your pickups. Now I know what you’re doing, but some of your younger newer viewers might do the same but the steel wool disintegrates so easily it’ll get the steel wool dust in your pickup windings. Should have mentioned that so the newbies won’t potentially destroy their instrument.

[@freeyourmind790]

I wouldn't wanna use steel wool in general because of that risk. What would be a alternative?

[@groovydjs]

Certainly. Just make sure that it don't point downward and scratch the hell out of your headstock. I hate when I get a guitar in that has all of those crop circles etched into it. lol

[@ronthunders6124]

Hahaha "they cant , they won't, they don't" I agree! Those strings are awesome

[@groovydjs]

SUPER! I'm more than happy to help my friend. Yeah, toss the lemon oil away and polishes etc. I'm glad that the Emory board was a good solution for you. I've always used one just because nothing else was in the house. lol Sometimes you just have to make due and if there's a woman in the house....there's probably and Emory board. lol Rock on buddy!

[@twincam825]

Thanks for posting all ways learning good info.

[@juliodefreitas157]

Very nice explora. Thanks for sharing your tips

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

I used commercial cleaners on my fretboard. It looked like the fretboard lost some coloration but once the oil of my fingers got back into the wood it looked fine again.So yeah, they probably put oil there when they make the guitar.

[@groovydjs]

Jerry was a MONSTER and never got enough credit. I would love to give anybody in the shred pool a copy of any recording of Jerry's and say "Learn one song". They would come back crying like little, whipped pups! lol

[@groovydjs]

Exactly.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah, people out there will feed you so much crap and scare you into taking care of your guitar. It's just not right. Take the whole guitar 100% apart and give it a SUPER cleaning if you want......no worries at all. Actually, it's the best thing you can ever do for any guitar.

[@skippynixx]

Thanks for the video, it`s always great to hear some myths cleared up... Keep rockin Scott!

[@DELVIIO]

I just bought an epiphone and it has this thing on the tail price where it's like a spring loaded thing the clamps onto the two poles where it won't fall off when changing strings

[@fanofthewylde2933]

Hey Scott, great video man! Your advice has helped me with my guitars quite a lot. Cheers from Australia! Brent.

[@gutpile6151]

This was great! Not boring at all. I always learn something watching your videos

[@FloydRoseDiscovery]

If I had the money, This would be the perfect guitar for me. Because I want the Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster just for that good classic country sound. I can have both in one awesome guitar. I love this guitar. You know. to be honest at first I didn't like the finish. but the longer I got to looking at it. I think it looks awesome. Hey, I also sent you some more links your to aol of some more guitars.

[@groovydjs]

Yeah! These guitars are a couple grand now. There is one more on Ebay right now. Camo finish and all. It's a couple grand and in worse condition than this one. It's the ones that didn't sell that become the real collectables. Not going to be many out there, time passes, then people finally find them cool. Did you notice, Gibson is reissuing everything from the 70's now! So, everybody HATED the "NORLIN YEARS" Gibsons, now they are worth tons of $. Now reissued. I've got a house full!

[@NicksRecordCollection]

My Dean Tyrant Splatter M. Amott Sig arrived on Halloween and I used your video to do my own setup this time for this guitar thanks for the tips it plays and sound great keep up the good work

[@groovydjs]

I would answer if I knew what you were talking about. I pretty much held every bit of the guitar during that video.

[@groovydjs]

I actually got it from the same guy that I got the Guitarded shirt from on Ebay. Just to to eBay and do a searsh for "I've Got Gas" and it will pop right up. I know.....it's a bit late for Father's Day. Great shirt though! I love that definition. LMAO That's great! We could put that on a shirt too!

[@groovydjs]

There's one other one on Ebay right now for $2,000.00 It has a Kahler Whammy on it (Original.....they offered 3 different bridges on them that year), but the guitar is in a bit worse condition than mine. Hard to find though.

[@tonyn9858]

hi ya scott just found you on youtube. im enjoying your videos, i had a stroke myself and i find i cant play as i used to, but i'm so glad i can still play at all, take care tony from the uk.

[@groovydjs]

Welcome aboard my new friend. Sorry about the stroke! You'll find that if you actually stick your neck out and make a LOT of videos like I do......the kids will make fun of you more than respecting any help that you try to give them. It's a shame, but it comes with the territory. We can understand what is what, how things are and used to be. I hope you get more and more of it back! It can happen for sure. I still have VERY short term memory, even after 10 years past my first stroke. I remember every detail of EVERYTHING before it though. Who wants to remember being OLD anyway. lol I enjoy meeting new people every day, even if they are the same people and I just forgot! lol Glad to have you around! Scott

[@tonyn9858]

thank you and take care , tony uk

[@ckalas]

my reference for cleaning my clean guitar next week, thanks! a question regarding elixirs (which I've used religiously forever), what's the difference between nano and poly? thickness of coating?

[@jasoncompton3498]

Do you know how to dress frets Scott, if they are worn down? I cleaned up an old acoustic you're way, came out nicely. Kudos.

[@anchor4346]

and as a side note, water will cause oxidation of the frets if left too long.

[@robbyknight9669]

man that thing is beautiful

[@spalleesjp]

Hey Scott, can you do an educational video (if for nothing else other than an understanding of the electronics) on replacing tone/volume pots & pick ups? Also, what is your thoughts on the newer fretboard products being used my companies such as Martin - i.e., Richlite boards?

[@DarkHorizonEOS]

I finally find out thanks to you, what GAS means!! Thank you ! Thank you for your many vids and for your sense of humour!