10 Guitar Hacks You NEED To Know

[@RhettShull]

My first video course, The Tone Course, is now available. Check it out below! flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course

[@roddieruddie4545]

Dire straits

[@yehudajames3334]

sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot my password. I love any tricks you can give me.

[@joshuadamon3394]

@Yehuda James Instablaster ;)

[@yehudajames3334]

@Joshua Damon i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@yehudajames3334]

@Joshua Damon It worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out !

[@JV-rx3ov]

So you're saying I should STOP throwing my guitars away when they get dirty or scratched?!?

[@TheSolfilm]

Where do you live and where is your trash container ??

[@megacahh870]

Wdym

[@kyleboren7372]

not at all...juat send them to me and I'll dispose of them for you 👍👍

[@richtfingers]

I throw them away when they go out of tune. But you would not want them then, they sound awful.

[@iccus62]

pressure washer for that really clean look

[@almightytreegod]

I think it’s worth mentioning that some knobs have screws on the side. I have a bass like that and a knob puller would be a bad idea for that. Check the knobs and see if they have a screw in the side first!

[@slavesforging5361]

i replace all my push-on knobs with set screws. it's just easier on the pots. for installation as well. not just pulling off. allows me to buy solid shaft pots too, which don't break as easy. But that being said i did notice that he was really used to working on classic rock guitars. all pickgaurds and plastic knobs in his thinking.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Yeah, I almost destroyed a synthesizer module just trying to put different knobs on it... there were screws holding all the knobs on.

[@almightytreegod]

Scrambles the Death Dealer yikes

[@martinkuliza]

yeah... but you're a BASS player, it doesn't count HAHA i think the way you guys replace your knobs, is , you turn the amp up to volume 7 and keep hitting that Low E on the Bass and....... you just watch the knob vibrate off LOL or...... You can slap it off

[@almightytreegod]

Martin Kuliza for the record, my Duesenberg 6-string has screws on the knobs too... yeah I know you’re joking, but just wanted to mention that. Blow them knobs off ftw

[@AlbusBand]

👏👏👏👏 to Rhett for first forcing Dave onto IG, I’ve loved watching and interacting with him. And then double 👏👏👏 👏👏👏👏 👏 for the future channel/merch for Dojo; this dude really is a wealth of knowledge, a wicked guitar player and from what I’ve seen, just an all around good dude. Can’t wait to see ya again and actually meet this dude. All Love, Aaron

[@katherine1368]

When he said “i see lots of guys...and girls with guitars...” I went 🥺 yes it is nice to be included lmao

[@syberpunk]

Technically, “guys” is a gender-neutral term, so don’t feel left out if someone says it! “Hey you guys!”

[@Dragonette666]

@@syberpunk yeah he should have said guys, girls, and non-binary otherkin. /s

[@mylestheward]

@@Dragonette666 😐

[@truffeltroll6668]

Your not a bloos dad?

[@KatzeARL]

@@syberpunk Same here.

[@martymusch1375]

I recommend cutting down the set screws in the saddles of Stratocasters. If you are anything like me, you will like that feel much more. Just unscrew them 1 at a time, use the hex key to help hold them while you grind off the other end.

[@HellcatCustoms]

I personally don't get steel wool anywhere near my guitars unless I'm working on an unattached neck or finishing a guitar body. High grit wer/dry paper works just as well with no mess.

[@nilton61]

When Nashville winding/locking as shown 1/2 turn is enough. I've been doing this for decades

[@Liquormans]

Thanks for these videos Greetings from Toronto Canada

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

I’m always dumbfounded when I find out someone who’s a really good guitarist is clueless about the tech aspects of guitar. My older brother, who taught me to play, is the same way. He’s been playing since he was 13 and he’s never adjusted a truss rod, never taken the pick guard off by himself. His friends or teachers have always done that stuff for him. It boggles my mind.

[@cedricremond1612]

While I'm definitely interested on how to do my guitar tech stuff myself, I kinda understand those people. I know how to drive my car but I have very little knowledge of how to do basic maintenance on a car, I just want my car to work. I guess some people are the same with their guitar.

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

@@cedricremond1612 Good point. 👍✌️

[@orlandocarrillo8730]

@@cedricremond1612 That's a great analogy. I can change strings and do minor adjustments but I'd always take it to my guitar tech. Personally, I rather spend more time playing than fixing my guitar. But that's just me.

[@brettadkins7563]

I’ve been playing around twenty years and am just now becoming more acquainted with the tech side of things. Embarrassing actually.

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

@@brettadkins7563 I was just like you until two years ago when I decided to take on the task of refurbishing my brother-in-law’s Fender Mustang. It was filthy and rusty and I asked him if I could take it home and clean it. He said no. I couldn’t stand seeing it in that condition, so l literally stole it out of their house when they were out of town. It was bad, the pots were scratchy and the switches didn’t even work. I took it completely apart and the whole project took months to complete. He was starting to mad about it toward the end but I promised it will be worth the wait, and it was. I learned so much from that project, and all of it was from KZbin videos. I even did some soldering work on the switches and pots. It gave me the confidence to start working on my own guitars, and I just kept learning more and more. A lot of the motivation came just from my inability to pay someone to do something I know I can figure out, and do myself. I see it as something I should know how to do anyway. I know nothing about working on cars, and it annoys me, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be that way about something I actually care about. I still suck at doing a good setup job on my guitars though. Fret buzz is still my archenemy. It’s pretty frustrating. ✌️

[@frederickthompson8686]

This is a terrific channel. Smart advice delivered by knowledgeable guitar people. What a concept!

[@ratiug75]

And yes, Dave needs to be on youtube! Dave is the manl

[@laurentlaenen6696]

0:06 I love that Yoww

[@wildwood20147]

Great video Thanks Dave & Rhett!

[@aidansgaming550]

Around and down, you actually take the slack of the string before tightening it and have the end of the string prior to cutting it pushing itself to the tuning peg while tightening it. A half a revolution and it won't slip. And it equals more sustain. Because the more revolutions you put on that tuning peg the energy or the frequency still will travel around the string on the tuning peg even after the nut.

[@stevesolo16]

Hack #8 Nobody wants a busted knob. Get it polished frequently. Great advice.

[@bessat5780]

always with the quality videos man , thank you .

[@jackmaniacmusic]

Rhett is holding a dream guitar for me in the thumbnail.. I want one of those Airline/supro/national guitars so bad. The originals sound wack and i love it.

[@enchantedkeyboard7674]

even the pot's split shafts are gold!

[@ross3818]

Hack #3(a): bag the body. Little tiny bits of steel wool will seek the magnets of your pickups. The bag will fool those bits. They'll think they found home but...

[@hunterjessup]

My grandpa built and set up my guitars my whole life. I had no idea how lucky I was to have an expert in the family.

[@mbehringer4614]

Rhett and Dave, thanks for a good list of care tips. Well explained, clearly demonstrated and you guys really look like you love guitars. My only suggestion would be to go with two cameras so there isn't a bunch of refocusing between shots. I'm going to pick up a knob puller for two reasons; it's a good tool and I like the idea of telling the rest of the band the name.

[@GRequinBlanc]

Five watt world shirt! Yes!!

[@joeurbanowski321]

When the strings are off,should the “peg” on the tuners have a little bit of wobble..? It’s a fairly new Fender Tele…

[@Zoso981]

Should I use the Meguiar's #2 and #7 on a SATIN finished nitro Les Paul?

[@trevorclarey3336]

I found bit of grime & scratches on pick guard stops static .

[@Lovell93]

Gun oil, eh? Never thought of that, but I have plenty of it. Think Balistol will be okay or is that not a good idea since its a cleaner and lube mixed? I have some other gun oil, i just really like Balistol lol.

[@jounikorhonen]

In heavy industry, there is a lubricant, often called "anti-seize" for nuts and bolts, made out of graphite (also aluminum, copper, etc.) and oil. I bet a luthier-person might get through one jar on his career. :D ...lubricating those nuts.

[@kneurotic138]

Domo arigato, Mr. Onorato. The 4th string on my tele just started sounding annoying this morning and I thought I might need a new nut, then this video happened to pop up and told me to put graphite on the nut. Problem solved.

[@benlineberry1]

Need a video on how to find a good guitar tech.

[@mars6433]

@17:25 Actually, on a guitar, that's an "Output" jack. Just sayin'.

[@tonybruns]

Thanks Guys. Dave - I'm not on Instagram so you have to get on You Tube! Thanks again.

[@andersestes]

A knob puller... I've got two of those

[@muchomusiclibre]

Anybody know how to fix those jenky Epiphone Les Paul knobs? I've read online that its a common problem. When the guitar is new, the knobs are positioned correctly, but they end up being all crooked after a few months of playing the guitar. It's really annoying and Gibsons don't do this.

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

...there can be only ONE Guitar Hack!!! 🤘🐰 these are just helpful tips...lol🤣

[@-Kannon]

I trusted every word he said until he said “evaporize”

[@darrenmcferran]

I trusted every word he said until he said 'handles' instead of 'tuning pegs'

[@madarain]

@@darrenmcferran Tuning pegs? They are tuners, or machine heads (if you like Deep Purple) but they are not tuning pegs, unless it's a violin.

[@darrenmcferran]

@@madarain You're absolutely right sir (or a viola, cello or double bass)... don't know what I was thinking! P.S. Like the Deep Purple reference!

[@RomanticBastard]

Hey, I know that guy! Dave Onorato is one of the best luthiers in the country. No joke!

[@acexxxoasis]

LOVE the shirt. 5ww is amazing channel

[@RandalSmith]

Good info. I’m a repair tech for Epiphone, and I’ve played guitar for 60 years. I can tell Dave knows his stuff. And yes, he needs his own KZbin channel.

[@bigrig4385]

I wish you lived near me so I had someone I trusted with my 90's Les Paul Standards

[@willscott6928]

Thanks Dave I learned a lot today

[@eric_has_no_idea]

for cleaning frets, and the bridge, use bamboo skewers. Super soft wood, will never scratch anything. When it dulls or gets gunky, shave it down with a blade, keep going.

[@alistersutherland3688]

good tip. makes sense. will try.

[@axemanchris]

Yeah, and I do not suggest using steelwool for cleaning a fretboard even if it is unfinished, steel on wood, even if it is 0000.

[@jakewilliams8328]

I always clean my fretboard with an old credit card lol.. same logic.. use something softer than the material your cleaning and be gentle

[@patrickwayne9074]

I always used toothpicks and still would if I was still cleaning stuff

[@kidcoastless8575]

@@patrickwayne9074 toothpicks are also always handy for stripped screws too. Get some glue, some toothpicks, and something to knock it in, and you'll be able to start again fresh

[@bldallas]

Here’s one I learned yesterday: Drier Sheets. While playing a Strat thru a vintage ‘65 Champ, I started noticing random scratching sounds. I assumed it was a patch cable or one of my pedals, so I fiddled with that stuff, but it didn’t do anything. I finally focused on my guitar and noticed it happened whenever I touched or rested my hand on the pickguard. Turns out it was static electricity that had built up in the plastic pick guard. I was happy to learn a couple strokes with a plain old anti-static drier sheet would cleans it up. And it did. Amazing.

[@JanetGraceMuse]

Thank you.

[@andrewjager4220]

God bless you good sir. Was about to tear apart my gear till I read this, thank u so much!

[@tm1180]

This is the polar opposite of your other "Guitar Tech" video, from winding the strings to the sanding the fretboard across the grain with steel wool

[@dave101t]

hack: tilt your cup gently when drinking water to save spillages!

[@zetetick395]

This method can be improved - try momentarily not breathing while taking in fluids through the mouth! PRO DRINKER TIP!! 👍

[@mbehringer4614]

@@zetetick395 Except your lungs can hold more beer than your stomach, but only once.

[@dalibormarinkovic2297]

38 is no v50 Dr k0T9XZvEA4XqrgT-6IX4Ag&q

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

don't forget to part ur lips for best results ............

[@joeb3590]

this wins 2020

[@syn707]

I was setting up to play a gig and when I went to plug the cord into my arch top, the jack got pushed inside the body. I immediately shook the guitar like I was trying to make a pick fall out of a acoustic guitar, and got the jack to come out thru the F hole. And that’s how I played the gig! 😂

[@zordakAU]

Went into the local guitar shop, asked for a knob puller and they threw me out! 😲

[@Lucifer2066]

Knob puller? I use a high-tech, sophisticated engineering marvel called a flat tip screwdriver with a piece of tape on the end to prevent scratching the finish. Or just my fingers really.

[@frantisca]

LOL :)) A shoelace wrapped around under the pot knob will also do the trick ;-)

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Ya can't be scratchin' your nuts while asking a question like that.

[@Peasmouldia]

Are you sure you didn't start playing Stairway?

[@Lucifer2066]

Now that I think about it, asking for a "knob puller" might get you something you don't necessarily want.

[@Tyron95]

0:35 hack 1 2:10 hack 2 4:18 hack 3 7:40 hack 4 9:35 hack 5 11:23 hack 6 13:31 hack 7 15:13 hack 8 17:15 hack 9 18:07 hack 10

[@pallhe]

Dave is just like a dentist with Rhett's guitars: "Oh, for shame, you need to floss better behind the last molars!"

[@jamesbamford230]

..... Yeh

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

When the dentist's office asks if I'd like to schedule a cleaning: "Not really, I don't really want my gums bleeding for the next week."

[@kimmllkimmll7267]

Watching this guy scrub against the grain of the wood on the neck!4:28 Ouch. With steel wool! Holy shit, don't do this to your guitar!

[@scottlaw1525]

I know I about had a heart attack

[@Benesat]

Holy crap thank you I thought I was going insane and was taught wrong

[@progdude]

I use steel wool to clean fretboards and to polish frets but NEVER against the grain.

[@davidwinston1627]

Totally agree. Was cringing when I saw that.

[@mwarnken1234]

just the steel wool alone is cringeworthy! use fret erasers or micromesh sanding cloths

[@thrash8315]

I once cleaned my fretboard with 0000 steel wool going perpendicular (crossways) and it completely dulled it. To get it back then it original look, I used 0000 steel wool and went along the grain. Lesson learned. Surprised an experienced luthier would do that.

[@Sooby007]

Oh I misunderstood. I thought I was gonna be featured.

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

All in good time...maybe Rhett will do a "The Guitars Of The Green Room" video and feature all of us...

[@youKnowWho3311]

Wait wait...... I got nice nuts. LOL

[@HairySon92]

This comment just made my day 🤣

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

You win.

[@davegreeley]

I have to disagree with locking the string like that due to the struggle to remove for next set.

[@Myfukinusername]

DO NOT use magnets to get shavings off of pickups. This can change damage the magnets in your pickup

[@arlenmargolin1650]

And for god sakes don't ever use gorilla glue to put on your volume control knob

[@brettadkins7563]

@RedKing I rhino line mine, AMAZING tone

[@MediHusky]

I JB welded my guitar to make it more metal.

[@jeffreybuckingham3782]

Silly putty works well for removing shavings. I always cover pickups with tape. But for those errant shavings try the Silly Putty.✌

[@kaylmaryjane1810]

The "lemon oil" referred to here is lemon scented mineral oil. Essential lemon oil would be very bad for your fretboard.

[@yametesupereme1352]

I would recommend Goby Labs or Gyser Fingerbourd conditioner

[@heinrichthiessen]

Yep, you need to use non organic oil. Organic oil will go moldy. But like he said, every "lemon oil" made for guitars will do.

[@cultfighter]

@@heinrichthiessen Made for guitar was not said any lemon oil from the hardware store was said and that is bad advice

[@arlenmargolin1650]

I don't know I used lemon oil for long time probably since 19 62 and never had any problems I even got a good crop of lemons one year grew right out of the sound hole

[@owenlecounte]

"We need more lemon pledge."

[@RhettShull]

Thanks to Dave Onorato from @dojoguitarrepair Follow him on instagram! Heres the supplies we mentioned in the video Amazon Affiliate Links Deoxit D5 amzn.to/2qgi1l3 Knob Puller amzn.to/2KzvUBu Meguiars # 2 Compound amzn.to/2pyWtQa Meguiars #7 Polish amzn.to/33X9imk

[@zebfernandez]

Sorry, but ask any descent pickup maker/winder/repairer, steel wool is a NO NO. Over time, lots of metal shavings make their way inside the guitar.. the pickups being magnetic.. Once enough gets inside the pickup - game over. Say Goodbye to invaliable 50s & 60s pickups.

[@UrquidiGuitars]

@@zebfernandez Tape your pickups, remove all excess with an old toothbrush, remove tape. Your'e done.

[@teddybasterd9415]

Rhett Shull PLEASE EDIT YOUR VIDEO NEVER NEVER USE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON PLASTIC !!! Oil will soften plastic switch to a silicon lubricant for your graphite concoction, silicon lubricant are safe for all plastics 3in one is a bad choice.

[@jfeal]

And it smells nice lol

[@copflyer6569]

Knob puller is good, but you have to back off the small machine screw first on some guitars and amps.

[@moparbryan]

Omg I didn’t even catch the part with the “just use a magnet to clean your pickups” any magnet as strong or stronger than your pickups magnets which aren’t that strong can very easily damage your pickups and with all the cheap rare earth magnets that are available today you could really degauss a pickup in a heartbeat!

[@meadish]

The "lemon oil" referred to here is lemon scented mineral oil. Essential lemon oil would be very bad for your fretboard.

[@onpsxmember]

Jep, you can get medical grade white mineral oil in the pharmacy that'll last for the rest of your life.

[@nazmoking3171]

While it might work fine, suggest folks use pre-mixed oils designed specifically for the fretboard like the Nomad stuff to be sure you don't do any damage or accidentally loosen your frets.

[@TheBoomtown4]

Blake Griffith yep, I went against the grain on one of my rosewood f/b’s and it’s scratched up even after piling

[@TheBoomtown4]

Blake Griffith “oiling”

[@tomsneden2469]

Wood wind "bore oil" is my go to fingerboard treatment.

[@fuckenps3]

Turn on captions/subtitles for 10:45 : "I don't go out on the road without having a cannabis"

[@fredstevens799]

me neither!!! ;)

[@virtuallyadvententured6176]

lmao

[@BubblesBubbles]

Me neither.

[@TimurIskhodzhanov]

I heard it this way the first time :)

[@Guilhem74]

Particularly important when cleaning your pot...

[@pked9]

OMG... ..... lets tune up this video 1. i do not see him adjust gear lash / is tightening machine head /tuner ! 2. is pretty good / but is a lot of fighting the strings and can not re·wrap if needed/ ......2.1/2 to 5 wraps depending string on size as it is supposed to be, is best/ 5 for thin string. 3. do not use steal wool like this premature ware / use wd40 or any other gun stock wood oil for cleaning./ do not use lemon oil it will dry out (limonene oil is company brand of mineral oil) mass people get this mixed up) use gun stock oils. 4. do not use car polish/ petroleum solvent is not to be used / very clean pure carnauba wax is a possibility. i use wd40 on plates as well for 40 yrs no problems (the only petroleum product i know is safe on guitars). 5. deoxit is good , tf cleaner better but was outlawed in spray cans 1990 / is not plain grease in pots, bug is carbon piles braking down do not use unless you have scratchy pot/you will have to spray every 6 months or so in this case/ the but companies spray tip nozzle leak 90% of time, buy buy $30 can of gold deoxit . / real fix get new pot $5 do not over heat the pots soldering. 6. string cutting = bad saddles and or bad string stretching / use Ernie Ball RPS. i have never had this problem with the 5 major companies of strings ever. / SRV must of had bad techs. dremel is crude / used jewelers files. /plastic will dampen sustain, and not a fix, not for me. 7. oil strings under nut is good/ other is to much work. do not sand , premature ware string height/ dry chattering is the real problem. 8. knobs use 2 butter knives , the steal is soft 9. lock tight blue , lock washers that are made are scratchy and come loose on me after 1 yr. 10. this ones right for all finishes / pouch is good, make sure to read how to maintain the pouch/ do not use humidifying regulating tools!!! unless its for repairs / a fast shift in temp and humidity cause to crack faster, about 4 degrees an hr max. and about 40% humidity + /- 10 ....../ real cause is bad lacquer paint mixes. i have worked with fender and gibson custom shop s closely for over 30 yrs . .

[@paulwest3905]

Thanks Dave, good stuff. Lindy Fralin advises to just tape over the pickups when using steel wool - no magnet. It is too easy to demagnetize your $$$ pickup with a strong enough magnet. Doh! Keep up the great channel Rhett- I just missed you in Richmond, VA the other week, so next time around bro!

[@mrofnocnon]

You can also file off the edges on the bridge to prevent string breakage.A small round file is more effective and easier to control than a dremel with less risk of damage.

[@edciurczak9351]

Exactly! However today for $9.00 use a FINE diamond flat file. Can also be purchased in a rat tail shape. 🙂

[@edciurczak9351]

Awesome.....I use alcohol pads to clean my strings. After playing for hours ill wipe each individual string from one to six. Amazing what comes off. They add longevity to a set.

[@dbj7617]

This guy literally does EVERYTHING that Ben Calhoun at Big House Guitars in your other video says DON"T do...uh so who do we listen to, lol.

[@MultiDoug50]

I'm a 59 year old disabled vet just learning how to play guitar. I love all these videos on tips and learning, years of wisdom at easy reach. thank you.

[@skinnykarlos710]

MultiDoug, Yeah, we certainly are fortunate to live in these times of instant communication worldwide. Anyone learning (as you are) can find most all of their needs on the interweb, reducing the need for weekly guitar instruction. While pretty good at giving a shitload of information, the web shouldn't be relied upon to give all the instruction necessary. If you can afford it fortnightly lessons, especially in the early stages, can really cut down on the possibility of forming bad habits (correct plectrum/pick holding, left-hand technique and many other seemingly small, somewhat insignificant issues that can be poorly approached initially but are just as easily approached properly and will cut down on difficulties later and make things better and/or easier on the player. It's just a suggestion if you can afford it but of course, if you're happy with KZbin videos you'll do alright and I wish you all the best in learning the guitar. My only point in writing all of this is that one on one lessons really do help the student to progress much quicker than they do alone. All the best with the guitar.

[@MultiDoug50]

@@skinnykarlos710 I take weekly lessons also

[@skinnykarlos710]

@@MultiDoug50 You're ahead of the pack then. A lot of youngsters think that Jimmy Page or some such didn't take lessons so they don't have to. If quite musically inclined they may get away with it but in any endeavour learning from someone who has been around the block cuts down on time and helps ensure that one's time isn't wasted practicing the wrong thing, the wrong way. At our age time spent "smart not hard" is the way to get ahead quicker, eh? Good luck with this beautiful yet, at times, most perplexing of instruments.

[@mbehringer4614]

@@skinnykarlos710 I'm reading the Jimmy Page bio No Quarter. I recommend it. Jimmy really put his time in to be the great guitar player he became.

[@skinnykarlos710]

@@mbehringer4614 I'll have a look at getting a copy. Zeppelin were/are a huge influence on me and Page's guitar playing most of all. Thanks for the tip.

[@rogermorrison2948]

Lemon oil & an old toothbrush has always worked for me on the fingerboard.

[@brianhyland4140]

Good one, must try that. Thanks🎸

[@axelibarra5022]

Don't, lemon oil fucks up your fingerboard

[@nehemiahzo_]

Axel Ibarra only maple

[@bennycheca9426]

It does mess up the fingerboard if it's pure lemon oil but the Dunlop 65 is basically the only way

[@krisverding3908]

Hallo , linseed oil from grocery store here.

[@garnetwahr]

#10 Storing a guitar... a friend of mine had his Takamine in a dry unheated room for 20 years or longer (played aprox. 10 hours per year): 50 degree Celsius in summer, -20 C in winter. No cracks and the best sounding acoustic guitar i ever heard. just saying ;-)

[@khall187]

Hack: aim your stream outside the toilet to avoid splash back

[@Ndlanding]

But first rub a litre of "lemon" oil into your shoes, to protecy them. (Hack #11.5)

[@zetetick395]

And, just like the Ghostbusters, never cross the streams, unless you have some MMA training first! Yo! Be down wit dem municipal urinal hacks! 😎

[@BAJARACER43X]

Steel wool? Thats bad news

[@victorramsey5575]

You can more safely pull knobs with a microfiber cloth. YES I said cloth! 1) Slide cloth under the knob 2) Keep cloth tight as you wrap all the way around under the knob 3) Twist excess cloth into a 'ponytail' TIGHT 4) Pull knob off. Knob pullers can damage the finish on that $4000 Les Paul! C'mon guys!

[@escapeape5573]

I use the handles of a plastic bag under the knobs and it works great.

[@markdeffebach8112]

Careful with lemon oil on a bound neck, the fingerboard can swell and crack the binding at each fret. This happened to me with an ES 175 that had been hanging on a GC wall for three years before they sold it to me in 2000. They told me it was really dry send needed a lot of lemon oil for the rosewood. Rosewood is an oily wood by nature. That's why it's usually not covered in a finish. It doesn't need lots of oil. A little oil goes a long way.

[@markdeffebach8112]

@C De Stradivari didn't have fret slots to deal with. Fret slots wick up lots of oil causing finger board swelling and possibly fret lifting.

[@markdeffebach8112]

@C De I'm currently doing a french polish on my gypsy jazz guitar.

[@AndreaAustoni]

No steel wool anywhere near my guitar, thanks. Look at all those shavings making a mess, clinging to the pickups and building up under the frets. There are better tools now.

[@humancentered3447]

Great vid. Tons of great necessary stuff. Here's some ways to make some of this even easier and even a little cheaper 1) "gears" are your tuning machines, tighten the bushings, tighten the screws on the knob ends to give you a tighter feeling turns 2) you can make a functional "string lock" by just turning your first turn over the top of the string through the hole and then as it passes by the string again in subsequent turns, lift the loose end up and move the string under. That makes quick changes way easier than wrapping it and you won't break your string by pulling it too quickly at too tight of an angle. Also you can use more turns (3-4) to pull your string down and get a better break angle over your nut. That does not happen with 1-2 turns. 3) do not steel wool your frets back and forth without a shield, run it up and down the neck with the grain and put a cloth over your pickups so you do not get shavings inside your pickup cavity. 4) do not over-oil your fingerboard because it will loosen your frets 5) when your pots are scratchy you can literally just turn them back and forth post to post quickly to get rid of the scratch and then if it doesn't clean it you can use any PLASTICS AND PAPER SAFE cleaner. Deoxit is awesome but expensive, CRC makes one that's 4x the amount at half the cost available at any big box hardware store. Or support your youtuber here and buy the cleaner in the link if you have the cash. 6) to clean up the hard edge on your bridge plate just get a $1 pin file from harbor freight and file out the edge but just to round it on the top side of the plate. if you do it too much you'll make a knife edge. 7) the nut tips are super clutch and everyone should be doing those things. MOST people who think tuners are a problem with guitars "going out of tune" are experiencing a binding nut. you can open up the slots with an old would string that's a gauge up from the slot you're in and running it back and forth widening the slot a little bit 8) to pull knobs just put a piece of cloth underneath, touch the edges to make a pocket, wrap it upwards and pull. That tool isn't going to prevent a shaft coming out if its loose or defective, you're pulling on the shaft either way. Scrap t-shirt is free. Your polishing cloth can also do this.

[@nuthinbutlove]

Yeeesssssss 🙌

[@ronnyrono782]

If you've been playing for a while and haven't figured this stuff out on you're own get another hobby

[@brendanhay8838]

Big thanks to Rhett for featuring Dave Onorato! This just proves we need The Dojo Guitar KZbin channel. First subscriber right here.

[@rsv2828]

Absolutely, I had been wishing for Dave Onorato _ The Dojo Guitar You Tube Channel _ for about 1 1/2 year, since I started my subscription to R. Beato & Rhett’s Channel , love Keith Williams Channel - Big fan of the 5 Watts World.

[@brentcgp]

Ditto

[@markbrown3244]

Great video. Is there a trick to estimating the right amount of slack when putting on strings? I suck at this, lol. One string I might barely get two wraps, then the next one I am winding forever. Maybe I just don't change string often enough to get a feel for it.

[@voiceofexperience]

Same here... I'm so bad at this. Sigh.

[@bryangibson4090]

I was on board for everything but not completely taping your pickups when using steel wool. The steel wool can eventually work its way into the windings and even cut through them in pickups that aren't extremely overpotted. Steel trumps copper in hardness. Normally its more of "when" than "if", if it makes it in there and the probability goes up the more you use this technique. Add even more if they are open coil. Micromesh pads do they same thing at the same or higher grits with no metal cast off. Dangerous tip.

[@fakeemailbox]

Yes...that's an absolute must when using steel wool on frets. Also thought amount of lemon oil was excessive which could lead to fret lift in cheaper guitars. And and "magnet against a magnet" for steel wool dust is also a common no-no...could change magnetic dipole or weaken magnets. Quite a few "hope nothing goes wrong" tips...

[@zebfernandez]

Yes yes yes. Simply just AVOID ANY STEEL WOOL. $2 Nail buffing boards get frets up to an incredible mirror lustre.

[@frantisca]

Polishing rubbers are a good alternative. Combined with a fretguard, you get beautiful, polished frets without having the disadvantage of metal scrap going into the pickups

[@randolphpatterson5061]

@@zebfernandez I'm not above using dollar-store items for maintenance & repairs. Those nail-buffing boards are great, and so is an ordinary ink eraser. For masking off anything, I just go to Walmart or Menards & get the yellow frog tape 'Delicate Surface' variety

[@kyleboren7372]

Right!!?? I just use a dry green brillo pad and toothpick for fretboard cleaning...I would never dream of using steel wool... Ive found that the best routine is to use lemon oil after removing the strings during changing (every 1-2 weeks because I play alot and do setups for my buddy's band who gig every weekend) and then brillo pad after every 4-5 string changes...all the fretboards on mine and my buddys' guitars look and feel like new

[@audiophileman7047]

Dave Onorato isn't just a great guitar tech; he's also a cool guy who knows how to speak well and present information well. Yes, I hope you start a channel, Dave if you haven't already! 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@bigdbearkiller5115]

do not use the bullshit string locking method he shows here on a steel stringed guitar. it is totally and completely unnecessary unless your guitar is a nylon string classical . im a pro luthier and ive been around for 61 years so trust me i know what im talking about. it pisses me off every time someone brings a guitar and there strings are done like he is showing.i stopped watching as soon as i saw that because that just showed me that he doesn't know what he is talking about.

[@jaym4958]

I'm not big on really over soaking the board with any oil 😣 a real thin coat and wipe it off quick because of the possibility of frets lifting up coming loose whatevermaybe I'm a little paranoid or just overthinking it but I don't go real heavy even if it's dry a little bit goes a long way but you still Rock Dave and Rhettkeep up the nice camera work read it really shows a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff that no one ever knows about, I kind of feel in my opinion that there is a plan b for some things 😉 thanks for all your help and support 😊👍

[@jacobpetersen5662]

Absolutely agree. It's terrible for the guitar. I actually don't use anything.... unless it's SUPER necessary. It kills the tone too, letting the board absorb that much oil. Kills the high-end. I HATE it.... takes a couple weeks before the guitar Strat sounding right again, not to mention it's bad for the fret joints and makes the frets come loose. IF I use oil, I do it like you.

[@rhendrickson886]

Seems like it should be emphasized that if you use steel wool on your guitar fretboard, you need to completely seal off your pickups--the magnets will pull the millions of little metal fibers to them and ruin them. I'd avoid steel wool at all costs if you can, personally,

[@DavidGarrettGuitar]

not sure going across the grain like that with steel wool can be good for the fretboard. Doesn't that leave some scratches?

[@stephenwolnisty4013]

David Garrett It does and I cringed a bit watching that.

[@infectionsman]

Really stupid advice. You should carefully scrape the gunk off it with a credit card. Then buff with a piece of clean cloth. And the oil should be just a couple of drops for the whole board once or twice a year. Or else the wood can get soggy.

[@DavidGarrettGuitar]

Also, not the best way to wrap a string. Have fun unwrapping that garbage. And what a great way to ruin pickups. Phenomenal job there.

[@diy_mushroomguy]

God i hate when ppl tie the strings like that. It's completely unnecessary and makes it harder to get the strings off. Amateur shit.

[@charlesco689]

He said "you don't wanna scratch your fingerboard" just after he firmly passed the steel-wool 90 degrees to the fingerboard veins.... OMG!!!

[@lasancheofficial1933]

Caught that too. When he did that I yelled at the screen. How many kids are going to fuck up their guitar doing that. Then bringing it to this guy to repair. Same with the wrenching down on the tuning keys to where they dent the face of the headstock.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Veins? More like Grain. 😬 He didn't wrench down on anything either.. He was careful and he explicitly said Not to wrench down on them, just make it snug. Ffs, guys.. 😐

[@DavyHulme]

@@R3TR0R4V3 "veins" is obviously a minor spelling or autocorrect error. 'cleaning' a fretboard with wirewool across the grain of the wood is an outright error, advising other ppl to do the same is a major error of judgement, so is endorsing it ffs, but you do you

[@stephenwolnisty4013]

As a guitar tech, I HATE that string “locking” technique. It’s a pain to remove the strings and doesn’t hold tune any better than wrapping the first wind over the string that is exiting the tuning peg before continuing the rest of the wraps winding down towards the headstock.

[@TinselKoala]

Yep. That's the way we do it: string thru the hole in the peg, make a right angle bend where it exits, then first wrap Over, subsequent wraps Under. This pinches the string tightly at the peg hole and it can't slip. It is as good as locking tuners. Make sure you have at least 3 or 4 complete turns around the peg for the plain (nonwrapped) strings.

[@mwothe]

Ya me too. it seems like that's gonna be a weak point too.

[@iridios6127]

+Stephen Wolnisty But many wrapping (more than 2) --- don`t hold tune well, then you use your tremolo.

[@jeremytappero]

Agree 💯

[@the_nondrive_side]

I don't even do that and never have slippage. I have swapped to locking on 2 of 13 but that's not required. Who has this as a problem?

[@PierceThirlen2]

I highly recommend grinding the end of the socket FLAT and then carefully deburring the edges. This allows nearly full engagement with the thin nut flat of the tuning key. Normally, sockets are rounded on the inside to more easily fit over a full height nut. But with thin nuts, the engagement of the socket with the nut flats is reduced, greatly increasing the chance of damaging the flats of the nut. Box end wrenches can also be ground flat and deburred for use with thin nuts.

[@JackRainfield]

Wow, great suggestion!

[@mbehringer4614]

Good tip. I keep a separate socket for my electronics and instruments to avoid getting car and constructions gunk on my stuff. Finishing the edges makes sense. I'm surprised StewMac hasn't started selling something like this. LOL.

[@SrDeMaFp]

M Behringer I’m sure they’re lurking, reading and putting way too much thought into how they’re gonna make it seem special so they can charge dummies way too much $ for it haha

[@AndiPicker]

Or use a spanner.

[@willer3399]

Guitar spanners work very well for the hardware tightening, and you don’t have to take the strings off.

[@fivewattworld]

Buy Dave’s t-shirts to encourage the channel. Have to make it worth the master’s time.

[@mwarnken1234]

i rarely use steel wool anywhere around a guitar anymore... too much scratchy nastiness comes off it! i use micromesh polishing cloths which go from 1500 grit to 12000, or i use fret erasers which won't damage the wood/finish...

[@jeffreyburley4033]

Great hacks, lots of common sense. With that said, if the "sharp" corners in the saddle are causing string breakage (which seems to be a major problem), why wouldn't the manufacturers correct that issue before it gets to the customers? Your idea of slightly rounding those sharp edges in the saddle where the strings ride is a no brainer to me. But a slightly better saddle design from the manufacturer with less sharp corners would eliminate that potential.

[@humancentered3447]

because the man hours involved in rounding off punched saddles don't make financial sense. They did fix this by casting saddles or making graphite saddles.

[@kneurotic138]

IT'S A CONSPIRACY, MAN! ERNIE BALL IS BEHIND THE WHOLE THING! THEY'RE BLEEDING US DRY!!!

[@jlf6458]

That's why I like kahlers. They have rollers in the saddles

[@babyyoda3467]

My strings would break a lot like that but it was because I wasn’t stretching them

[@chrybrstLesPaul]

YOOOO. As a touring tech and repair tech for over a decade, do NOT use steel wool AGAINST the grain! Once you condition the fretboard, you’re gonna see a ton of scratches on your fingerboard. ALWAYS run steel wool along the grain. And if you do go against the grain, at least run it along the grain to finish it off and hide your scratching! Jeeeeezus Christ I can’t believe he’s paid to do that. 🤢🥴🤐🤭🤯🤬

[@alohamark3025]

I would not mess with any abrasive on a Braz or Ebony board unless I were a pro. Use a microfiber cloth to oil or clean the fretboard.

[@christopherdyson]

Although I understand the stability of wrapping a string like that, you sacrifice a lot of speed in string changes especially in a crunch when you break a string. If I had done this back in the day my on-stage tech would have punched me. A well wrapped string on the post, just like suggested of no more than two wraps and stretching the strings after installed will work just as well. Of course this is just my opinion.

[@edoardobaria8636]

I use extra-virgin olive oil on my fretboard, but I'm Italian and i don't know if it works for not-italians too😂

[@bgoumas]

I use coconut oil lol

[@Frozenguy1]

@@bgoumas are you from hawaii?

[@bgoumas]

@@Frozenguy1 no, i'm just a bit of a nut

[@AlessandroTinella]

Lo uso anche io 😂

[@warpdriveby]

@@AlessandroTinella Yikes you have a smeltboard now! Yuck 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Peasmouldia]

Dave must be a good fella, 'cause he's wearing a Kieth Williams 5 watt world shirt. K.W. is the go to guy for gear history on tube. I knew the hacks, but then I'm not your target audience. Thanks buddy.

[@fivewattworld]

Ian Bunyan Thanks Ian!

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

Knob puller. Someone in the U.K. is cracking up laughing right now.

[@CS-fj3ml]

Be careful using too much lemon oil. (I would personally never use the method demonstrated in video) It can soften the wood to the point the frets could pop out. AND NEVER NEVER NEVER USE STEEL WOOL. No matter what you do it'll end up in your pickups. And never put a magnet near your pickups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAD ADVICE!!!ALERT ALERT ABORT AND HIRE A NEW LUTHIER!

[@GayorgVonTrapp]

Very useful video indeed, and thanks for being straight talking and to the point and not trying to be gimmicky and overly comedic. Really really felt like I got something out of this.

[@MattSyversonthePaperbackRocker]

Tightening nuts is an innovative hack. I love this modern age.

[@glassslide]

Awesome video---some great tips except I find that if you wrap the strings like that, taking them off becomes a major PITA.

[@klepetar]

DO NOT DO HACK NO.2.. this is a pain in the butt .. Sometimes the strings get stuck....it's USELESS and you will regret doing this especially if you are playing live and you need to change the string fast.. this is sad to hear this way of stringing your guitar on this channel.. Rhett.. you deceive me on this subject..

[@jshphysicistatyahoo]

Thanks so much. I thought I'd know a lot of these. Turns out I maybe knew one, about removing knobs, because I really f---ed up my pots switching knobs the stupid way. Thanks again. Saving this video for later.

[@chrisdiceart]

@Rhett Shull - Man I wish you'd do another one of these with Dave. How about showing some of his narliest Gibson Broken Headstock repairs? Old school neck shaving? ( Like Page...). Tips for tuning stability, restringing?

[@josephbusuttil3030]

Man oh man, I got a headache watching this .... ... not from the guitar-tips, but from all that unnecessary & excessive camera movement & blurry focusing !

[@voornaam3191]

Second hack. Do not do that weird lock. Strings do hold on two tight turns going through that hole. All those weird knots are just a pain in the A when removing these strings. Strings do BREAK at a knot. Third hack. Finished fingerboards are killed fingerboards. You want wood. Remove that finish or think about selling that guitar. Do all those hacks have a better hack? What is going on, here?