Category Archives: Repairs & Set Ups

The Electric Guitar- the holy grail of sonic expression. Before heading into the lesson studio in Key West I set up this Gibson Les Paul and,,,

Before I start teaching guitar and ukulele lessons today at my music store in Key West, I came in early to change the strings and do an action set-up on this USA GIBSON LES PAUL electric guitar. This is one of my favorite type of guitars of all time. It’s as iconic and epic as the rock & blues hero’s of mine that played them – like Jimmy Page, Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards, Joe Walsh (who gave Jimmy Page his first Les Paul), Jeff Beck, Slash, Joe Perry, Zak Wylde, Billy Gibbons, Bob Marley, Peter Frampton, Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, and many more.

I put on a set Ernie Ball Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings better know as a “pack of pinks” and tuned it to standard tuning. Lower the action down to a mere breeze. The pick up height needed to be adjusted. The neck pickup was much louder than the bridge pickup. Now it’s set where I like it a little hotter on the bridge pickup than at the neck or middle.

Mmmmmmmmmm time to go plug in and play it for a while – then head into the lesson studio and tell my students about these awesome guitars and people who play them ALL while learning music theory and applying it to the instrument – the holy grail of sonic expression – THE GUITAR.

Have a great day!!

New strings on this acoustic rental guitar & a small neck adjustment to lower the action and now it plays and sounds great!

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After picking up one of our rental guitars from one of the most popular Key West resorts on my way home from our family music store, Island Guitar (home of the Bone Island Music Crew) I decided to give this baby a little attention and some periodic love and affection.

So I headed to my work bench and took the old strings off. I cleaned then conditioned the fretboard before putting on the new strings. (It’s much easier and you’ll do a much better job while the strings are off!)

Then I gave the entire guitar a good cleaning and polish front and back.

Now it sounds so much better with the new strings it’s unbelievable. Dead strings can really kill a guitar’s tone, sustain, and intonation. Dead strings sound BAD. Not only playing hours count towards a string’s death – but also time alone makes them die. Strings have a shelf life once strung. Period.

New model ukuleles, guitars and electric pianos in stock and on SALE in time for the holiday season at Island Guitar Key West

New model ukuleles on SALE at Island Guitar Key West Music Store

Key West’s family owned and operated music store has new model ukuleles and guitars  in stock and ON SALE in time for the holidays.

We have great selection of beginner, intermediate AND stage worthy instruments for sale this holiday season.  We stocked heavey on  ukuleles, guitars, keyboards and everything from harmonicas and tambourines to weighted key electric pianos and replacement parts like guitar strings and drum heads.

We not only sell the supplies that working musicians and students need but also offer the services that go along with these items such as ukulele string changing and guitar and bass action and intonation set-ups.

We also sell gift certificate packages for merchandise, service or repair work, and private lesson gift packages for ukulele, guitar, bass, drums, flute, cello, violin, piano, harmonica and more!

We specailize in great gift ideas and stocking stuffer ideas for musicians and musician hopefuls.

This is my wife Jamie and my TWENTIETH holiday season in the music business and feel like we can help you pick out some fun and useful gifts for the musicians on your gift list – including some great gifts  for ourselves.

Wishing everyone a wonderful  2017 holiday season!

 

Our Key West island music store – guitar ukulele bass drum piano violin & cello lesson sale & repair shop is OPEN regular hours Monday-Friday 11am-7pm Saturday 11a-5pm 305-414-8056

Key West Guitar Bass Piano Ukulele Drum Violin Cello & Voval Lessons& Cooaching
Key West Guitar Bass Piano Ukulele Drum Violin Cello & Voval Lessons& Cooaching

Our Key West island music store –  guitar ukulele bass drum piano violin& cello lesson sale & repair shop is OPEN regular hours:

Mon 11am-7pm

Tues. 11a-7p

Wed. 11a-7p

Thur.  11a-7p

Fri 11a-7p

Sat 11a-5p

Sunday closed

1109 Key Plaza, Key West, FL 33040

305-414-8056

www.IslandGuitar.com

A quick solder repair to the input jack of this Gibson USA Les Paul Standard. Then back to a night of music on world famous Duval street!

 

Island Guitar & Ukuleke Lesson Studios in Key West Offer AUTHORIZED Repairs & Setups

 A quick solder repair to the input jack of this Les Paul Standard by Gibson USA – then the guitar and happy customer headed back to a night of music on world famous Duval street! 

While in for the emergency guitar repair,  a happy guitar player from Italy finds his way to my collection of tone makers and effect pedals – he rented my TREX Replica delay and original Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer along with my vintage Marshall  JTM30.