Best Dan Erlewine book/update to looking for opportunities with PRS

[PRSfanboy46]

Hey y'all, quick update is needed!

Well due to Covid 19 (of course) they can't let the general public in, BUT, when they can open back up to the public and when Hogan say's so, they will put up internships on their job page. I am glad that they truly did consider me and Shawn (Shawn Nuthall) told me to contact them in a year. I am still looking forward to that. And now I am going to tie in my question.

Shawn told me that I could take many paths in the guitar repair world, a tech, luthier or factory worker at PRS. However, due to miss Rona (coronavirus) I can't really have an internship given our current situation. I watch StewMac very often and I just love Dan Erlewine's method's to guitar repair. I have been told to look into his books and luthiery books in general, but there are SO MANY! I know Dan is seen as one of the most well known and I have looked at some of his book's online for price reason's but what is the best for learning how to set up and repair and work with instrument's from Dan Erlewine?

Thanks!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I’ve had this one for years:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/guita...YAiABEgJ-f_D_BwE#isbn=0879302917&idiq=1906550

Plus, the cover doesn’t make me wanna puke.

I’m by no means good at modding or repairing guitars, but I am pretty fearless.

My best advice is to buy some beaters and try an’ fix ‘em up. Sure, you’ll ruin a bunch of ‘em but: You learn by failing, not succeeding.

 

[bodia]

I’ve had this one for years:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/guitar-player-repair-guide-how-to-set-up-maintain-and-repair-electrics-and-acoustics_dan-erlewine/310606/item/1906550/?mkwid=|dm&pcrid=448938662877&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=109793399012&ptaid=pla-894509663962&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1I2nrJrL6wIVD77ACh0Gnw0mEAQYAiABEgJ-f_D_BwE#isbn=0879302917&idiq=1906550

Plus, the cover doesn’t make me wanna puke.

I’m by no means good at modding or repairing guitars, but I am pretty fearless.

My best advice is to buy some beaters and try an’ fix ‘em up. Sure, you’ll ruin a bunch of ‘em but: You learn by failing, not succeeding.

Solid advice. I'd also recommend hitting up your local Pawn Shop for a cheap guitar, and have at it. Doing is the best way to learn. Sometimes you just gotta roll up your sleeves and dig in. I learned more as a kid, and later as a technician, by taking things apart, figuring out, in a logical order, how they worked, and putting them back together. Later in life, as a manager of technicians, too many of the younger ones wanted to be shown how to do it. Like they lacked the ability to think for themselves. Those are the ones that didn't last long. And, most important, have fun doing it!

 

[alantig]

I'll add a suggestion to get a subscription to Vintage Guitar magazine. Erlewine has a column in there where he details various repair jobs, including having some lesser experienced staff performing parts of the repairs. A sub also includes online access to their back issues, so you'd be able to review the older columns.

Another thing I'd recommend is reaching out to Greg Platzer at BCR Music in Lemoyne, PA. Greg used to post some of his repairs to the Hamer Fan Club board, and the dude is a wizard. It'd be a couple hour drive for you, but you might be able to arrange a visit and get a chance to pick his brain.

 

[garrettb]

I’ve had this one for years:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/guitar-player-repair-guide-how-to-set-up-maintain-and-repair-electrics-and-acoustics_dan-erlewine/310606/item/1906550/?mkwid=|dm&pcrid=448938662877&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=109793399012&ptaid=pla-894509663962&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1I2nrJrL6wIVD77ACh0Gnw0mEAQYAiABEgJ-f_D_BwE#isbn=0879302917&idiq=1906550

Plus, the cover doesn’t make me wanna puke.

I’m by no means good at modding or repairing guitars, but I am pretty fearless.

My best advice is to buy some beaters and try an’ fix ‘em up. Sure, you’ll ruin a bunch of ‘em but: You learn by failing, not succeeding.

I have owned that same book for a couple decades now. I haven't gotten into nuts and frets yet, but I will tinker with that stuff soon. My weakness is a lack of patience, though.

Agree on buying up some beaters. I got a Bullet Tele for like $130 a few months ago. Once the weather gets decent in the fall I'm going to practice fret leveling and then do a full fret job on it. You can do all kinds of horrible things to them without feeling bad. Purposefully ding it to practice finish repairs. Strip the paint and practice finishing. Replace the nut. Etc, etc, etc...

 

[PRSfanboy46]

I have owned that same book for a couple decades now. I haven't gotten into nuts and frets yet, but I will tinker with that stuff soon. My weakness is a lack of patience, though.

Agree on buying up some beaters. I got a Bullet Tele for like $130 a few months ago. Once the weather gets decent in the fall I'm going to practice fret leveling and then do a full fret job on it. You can do all kinds of horrible things to them without feeling bad. Purposefully ding it to practice finish repairs. Strip the paint and practice finishing. Replace the nut. Etc, etc, etc...

Well I mean I am building my own kit guitar currently so I am learning how to do stuff

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I have owned that same book for a couple decades now. I haven't gotten into nuts and frets yet, but I will tinker with that stuff soon. My weakness is a lack of patience, though.

Agree on buying up some beaters. I got a Bullet Tele for like $130 a few months ago. Once the weather gets decent in the fall I'm going to practice fret leveling and then do a full fret job on it. You can do all kinds of horrible things to them without feeling bad. Purposefully ding it to practice finish repairs. Strip the paint and practice finishing. Replace the nut. Etc, etc, etc...

Yes! I’m not afraid of handling nuts or a level and crown, but ultimately I’d love to learn to do a full re-fret.


Edit: And oh yeah, It’s too bad I can’t go buy a bag of patience, I’m always in short supply.

 

[garrettb]

Well I mean I am building my own kit guitar currently so I am learning how to do stuff

That's a great start. Especially something with a glue-in neck that you have to prep for finish and all that stuff I don't have patience for. If you get into PRS, chances are very good that you will be doing a lot of sanding.

I just like to screw stuff together and melt solder.


Oh yeah, I also have this book, Make Your Own Electric Guitar: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907

Another great resource is the TDPRI forum. There are some really great luthiers who share their work and tips there. The site has sub-forums dedicated to building, finishing, and even tools. A lot of real-world experience to tap into.

 

[bodia]

I'll add a suggestion to get a subscription to Vintage Guitar magazine. Erlewine has a column in there where he details various repair jobs, including having some lesser experienced staff performing parts of the repairs. A sub also includes online access to their back issues, so you'd be able to review the older columns.

Another thing I'd recommend is reaching out to Greg Platzer at BCR Music in Lemoyne, PA. Greg used to post some of his repairs to the Hamer Fan Club board, and the dude is a wizard. It'd be a couple hour drive for you, but you might be able to arrange a visit and get a chance to pick his brain.

+1 on a Vintage Guitar sub. Great stuff in them on repairs.

 

[PRSfanboy46]

That's a great start. Especially something with a glue-in neck that you have to prep for finish and all that stuff I don't have patience for. If you get into PRS, chances are very good that you will be doing a lot of sanding.

I just like to screw stuff together and melt solder.


Oh yeah, I also have this book, Make Your Own Electric Guitar: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907

Another great resource is the TDPRI forum. There are some really great luthiers who share their work and tips there. The site has sub-forums dedicated to building, finishing, and even tools. A lot of real-world experience to tap into.

Yea I'm doing a glue in neck. It's an LP style neck and it's real nice. I need to sand the headstock because the tuners are a bit short and I just need to get it sanded down to a height where they are tall enough. I need to also drill some holes for pots and switches (I got hipshot locking tuners, CTS pots and stuff and then seymour duncan distortions) so that's my project for now!

 

[RC Mike]

A potential source of cheap beaters: https://www.shopgoodwill.com/

 

[PRSfanboy46]

A potential source of cheap beaters: https://www.shopgoodwill.com/

Ehhhhhhh idk about that chief good will is a bit sus after seeing what Trogly did with his finds, and the good stuff is rare to come by. I'm fine with just making better adjustments, maybe replacing a fret or two on my squire strat

 

[RC Mike]

A beater to learn on isn’t supposed to be a good guitar. It’s supposed to be cheap and have no emotional value.

 

[PRSfanboy46]

A beater to learn on isn’t supposed to be a good guitar. It’s supposed to be cheap and have no emotional value.

Well I've had it since I started but its all beat up and relic'd by my own doing and I wouldnt mind doing stuff to it

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Heck...Good will, Flea Markets, and yard sales have picked up again...find a couple 20.00-50.00 junkers and have at it...
I'd research sanding (Hand and mechanical) and finishing first, as that's most likely where you'd start down at the factory.
next, I'd personally practice SOLDERING...cuz I suck at it...

And I have the book mentioned above...its awesome.

 

[Davey]

I’ve had this one for years:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/guitar-player-repair-guide-how-to-set-up-maintain-and-repair-electrics-and-acoustics_dan-erlewine/310606/item/1906550/?mkwid=|dm&pcrid=448938662877&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=109793399012&ptaid=pla-894509663962&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1I2nrJrL6wIVD77ACh0Gnw0mEAQYAiABEgJ-f_D_BwE#isbn=0879302917&idiq=1906550

I have owned that same book for a couple decades now.

And I have the book mentioned above...its awesome.

You guys sold me...book ordered!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

You guys sold me...book ordered!

It’ll be good to have if the interweb goes down during the apocalypse.

 

[Davey]

It’ll be good to have if the interweb goes down during the apocalypse.

Yep and that pile of old guitar player mags that I never gotten around to throwing away.

 

[PRSfanboy46]

Yep and that pile of old guitar player mags that I never gotten around to throwing away.

I collect thrasher magazine (skateboard magazine) and im currently sitting at like 17 and I just keep them for the collection and stuff

 

[Egads]

I collect thrasher magazine (skateboard magazine) and im currently sitting at like 17 and I just keep them for the collection and stuff

You aren't alone on the skate collections when it comes to this forum!