Crimson Guitars

David Mead hits the road again with a troubled Gibson SG in hand to see if he can learn enough about the luthier’s dark arts to restore it to life and optimum playability

- David Mead

In the interviews I’ve done I with players over the years, one thing remains pretty much constant – they’re never aware of how their guitars are set up in terms of actual measurements. A common answer we hear is, “It’s more of a feel thing…” After all, most tops of the top players out there have guitar techs who are aware of their employer’s precise setup requirements, down to the last millimeter.

However, I must admit it’s the same story in this neighborhood; I haven’t a clue how high the action is on my guitars in figures, but I can pick up any instrument and tell you whether it feels right for me or whether it needs a bit of a tweak. And when I find myself with a set of screwdrivers and Allen keys in hand, it’s a case of trial and error until my left hand and right hand both agree that everything is tickety-boo. Anything more than this – crowning frets, cutting nuts, replacing tuners – and I’m off to see a professional like a shot.

Like many, I’ve always had it in mind that an electric guitar is a fragile beast and that any heavy-handedness or bungled attempts at maintenance on my part would ruin an expensive instrument forever. I’m about to have my eyes opened…