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Tech Tips

inSync Tech Tips cover over 3,800 music and audio topics spanning 15 years of technological development. Look here to find answers to your tech questions, cool tips and tools for making music, and more.

Guitar Tech Tips

Dec 26 2011, 12:00 AM

Semi-hollowbody Pickup and Pot Trick

Changing a pickup or a pot on a semi-hollowbody guitar, such as a Gibson ES-335? It can be challenging to fish the control harness through the guitar's f-holes and to get each pot and switch back into their appropriate mounting hole. Here's a trick you can try: find some rubber tubing that fits... Read more »
Dec 22 2011, 12:00 AM

Check Neck Relief

This time of year, as the humidity drops in many parts of the country (such as here in Indiana) guitar necks shift a bit, and you may find the action on your axe raising up. Usually, the neck has warped forward a small amount, increasing the bow or relief in the neck. Here's a quick... Read more »
Dec 16 2011, 12:00 AM

Frozen Guitar Bridge Piece

Q: I have a guitar where sweat and age have frozen a height adjustment screw on a bridge piece. Is there any way to free that screw so that I can adjust the action? A: This can be a frustrating problem. What you DON'T want to do is strip the head of the height-adjust screw by cranking on it... Read more »
Dec 6 2011, 12:00 AM

Bridge/String Contact

Q: My guitar has a Tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece. The high E and B strings on my guitar are hitting the back of the bridge on the way down to the tailpiece. Is this right? A: Most players prefer the string to only contact the bridge at the actual bridge piece. If the angle of the... Read more »
Dec 1 2011, 12:00 AM

Cool Tool: Ultimate Pedalboard?

Have more pedals than you know what to do with? If you're a stompbox junkie and you need instant access to everything in your collection, then this Cool Tool is just for you: The Pedaltrain Grande! (a.k.a. Pedaltrain 4) from Pedaltrain. For the studio, the Pedaltrain Grande can become your... Read more »
Nov 25 2011, 12:00 AM

Half Nashville versus Nashville Tuning

Q: I see that Wechter offers both Nashville tuned and half-Nashville-tuned guitars. What is the difference in the two tunings? A: With Nashville tuning, the lowest four strings (E, A, D, and G) are all tuned up an octave for standard tuning. With half-Nashville tuning, the middle two strings (D... Read more »
Nov 14 2011, 12:00 AM

Vocals Getting Lost in the Mix

Q: I'm very happy with the big sound of the drums, bass, guitars, and piano in my mix, but I'm having trouble getting the vocals to punch through clearly. Any quick suggestions? A: This is clearly a deep topic, but our first guess: It sounds like you need to carve out a space for the vocals to... Read more »
Nov 11 2011, 12:00 AM

Improve Your Guitar Tone

Here are three quick, easy, nearly free things you can do to instantly improve your guitar tone: 1. Get it in tune — and not just tuned up, but accurately intonated. Playing in tune is the cornerstone of great sound for any instrument. If you don't know how to intonate your guitar, take... Read more »
Nov 10 2011, 12:00 AM

Strap Lock Fit

Q: I'm trying to install Schaller Strap Locks on my guitar strap, but I can't get the washer and nut down far enough to tighten up properly. Any suggestions? A: If the hole in the strap isn't big enough, the strap may "bunch up" around the threaded shaft of the Strap Lock. Use a sharp knife or... Read more »
Nov 9 2011, 12:00 AM

Gibson Torrified Maple Fingerboard Care

Q: I have one of the Gibsons with the torrified maple fingerboards. Do I need to do anything special to care for it? A: A gentle cleaning when you change strings and a little bit of conditioning now and then should keep your new guitar's fingerboard happy and healthy. Gibson recommends the... Read more »
Nov 7 2011, 12:00 AM

Mesa Boogie Power Switches

Mesa/Boogie amps offer a wide range of controls for shaping the tone and feel of the amp. Among these are several that affect the AC power of the amp. Here's what those switches do in their various settings: Full Power, Bold, On — full power supplies 120 volts to the amp (assuming 120... Read more »
Oct 28 2011, 12:00 AM

Tube Gear Warm Up

Q: How long should I let my tube gear warm up before using it? A: The gear will "work" not long after you power it up. However, in our experience, it takes 15-30 minutes before tube gear is sufficiently warmed, and we have found that the tone of the signal can change substantially during that... Read more »
Oct 19 2011, 12:00 AM

Baked Maple?

Q: I see that Gibson has some new models, such as the Les Paul Classic Plus and others, that feature a "baked maple" fingerboard. What is this? A: The first Gibson model we recall with a baked maple fingerboard was the Buckethead Les Paul Studio, which was introduced several months ago. But the... Read more »
Oct 12 2011, 12:00 AM

Does Nitrocellulose “Breathe”?

Q: I have techy guitar friends who tell me that a nitro finish is better because it "breathes," which helps the guitar's wood and sound. Is this true? A: Sorry, this one of many guitar "urban legends." Many players enjoy nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on their guitars because they feel they... Read more »
Oct 11 2011, 12:00 AM

Broken Truss Rod Cover

Q: I was adjusting the truss rod on my Les Paul and when I put the truss rod cover back on and tightened down the screw, the cover cracked. Can this be fixed or do I have to replace it? A: It will be tough to fix, though you can try gluing or Super Gluing it. There are replacement Gibson truss... Read more »
Oct 10 2011, 12:00 AM

6505 versus 6505+

Q: I'm considering purchasing a Peavey 6505 guitar amplifier from Sweetwater, but what is the difference between the 6505 and the 6505+? A: The biggest difference is that the 6505+ has an extra preamp tube for additional gain — if you're after maximum shred, the 6505+ can go way over the... Read more »
Oct 7 2011, 12:00 AM

Dirty Strings Destroy Tone

One of the best ways to improve the tone of a guitar or bass is to put on a new set of strings. But if you want to extend the life of your strings or to restore a bit of their original brilliance, use a string cleaner. Several are available: Tone Gear Guitar String Cleaner Tone Gear Bass String... Read more »
Oct 5 2011, 12:00 AM

Cleaning Pots and Switches

Q: The pots in my guitar are getting scratchy and noisy. What can I do? A: Sometimes simply working the pot (or switch) back and forth a few times will clean up the problem. If not, contact cleaner, such as Caig Laboratories DeOxIt, can be sprayed in the pot. If the pot is too deteriorated, it... Read more »
Sep 30 2011, 12:00 AM

Bigsby Restringing Tip

Here's another tip for easier Bigsby tailpiece restringing: Install locking tuners on your guitar! Insert the string into the tuner first and lock it down with plenty of slack so that the ball end can reach the tailpiece. Pre-bend the ball end and slip it over the post on the taipiece axle... Read more »
Sep 28 2011, 12:00 AM

1/4-inch Jack Problems

Q: The 1/4-inch output jack on my guitar is crackling and doesn't seem to be making a good connection. What can I do? A: First, verify that it is the jack and not the cable. If it is the guitar jack, there are several things that could cause this. The most common two are: 1. The jack is dirty... Read more »

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