Mi NASHVILLE BLOG
Adjusting a Fender Bridge: Guitar Setup and Maintenance (Video)
https://youtu.be/mTlnr5jxnwI If you are adjusting a Fender Strat-style guitar with a floating bridge, this is the point at which you will balance the trem so that the strings will pull the bridge base off of the body. Floating Strat bridges do have tuning and...
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Adjusting a Tune-o-Matic Bridge: Guitar Setup and Maintenance (Video)
https://youtu.be/t5Aiw-ROmBk Tune-o-Matic bridges are actually pretty easy to adjust, since the entire bridge sits on two thumbwheels at either side. The radius should be adjusted at the factory, but a good setup tech will check this to make sure that it is...
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Adjusting the Truss Rod: Guitar Setup and Maintenance (Video)
https://youtu.be/4On1PFHc3iw In any setup on a guitar with an adjustable neck, the first step will always be to adjust the truss rod. A guitar neck that is properly adjusted will have a slight amount of relief (not completely flat), which is what allows each fretted...
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Introducing Our Guitar Setup and Maintenance Video Series (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYe6azOyr2c In our new Guitar Setup and Maintenance video series, Guitar Craft Academy instructor and professional Nashville luthier David Johnson will walk you through each step of the setup process and also cover cleaning electronics...
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Performance Tip from Bruce Buckingham: Why Guitarists Should Read Music
I never use tablature. Especially with jazz guitar students, I discourage them from using it. All the energy you put in learning tablature, you could be putting into learning to read music. You have to remember, tablature is just a guitar thing that the rest of the...
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Student Profile: Jesse Peery
Jesse Peery has been building things his entire life, first while growing up on his family’s East Tennessee farm and later as a mechanical engineer. But there’s always more to learn about what makes things work, which is what led him to Guitar Craft Academy. "I enjoy...
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Practicing Tip from Ryan Madora: Self-Motivation
The most difficult part about practicing is physically sitting down to do it. We all have obligations, work, families, and social engagements that easily get in the way. Suddenly, another week goes by without any progress. I think it’s important to figure out how to...
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Student Spotlight: Brandt Jewell
Brandt Jewell jokes that he's the black sheep of his family. Although his family members aren’t musical at all, he says he found himself drawn to guitar from an early age. After hearing an iPod commercial featuring the U2 song “Vertigo,” Brandt decided he wanted...
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Tech Tip from Mark Lacey: How to Repair a Back Bowed Guitar Neck
(Mark Lacey is an instructor at Guitar Craft Academy Nashville and the owner of Lacey Guitars.) Ideally, a guitar neck should have a small amount of forward relief, approximately 0.008 inch, so that the strings won’t buzz on the frets. Back bow usually occurs when...
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Tech Tip from Dave Johnson: Steaming Out the Heel of an OM-18
(Dave Johnson is an instructor at Guitar Craft Academy Nashville and the owner of Scale Model Guitars in Nashville.) I'm currently working on a restoration of a 1931 Martin OM-18 for Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville. This job will include a neck...
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