Dealer Spotlight – Benny Cryan – Guitar Repair Centre

Name
Benny Cryan

Name of Business
Guitar Repair Centre

Shop or Workshop
Workshop

How many years in Business?
6

First Guitar owned
Hondo Acoustic

First Guitar Sold or worked on?
Hondo Acoustic

Favourite Guitar
Hondo Acoustic

The Workshop

Beatles or Stones
Stones

Jeff Beck or Clapton
Jeff Beck

Marshall or Fender
Fender

Tweed or Blackface
Tweed

Rich Tea or Digestive
Digestive

Bridge mounted volume control for acoustic guitar

Most common repair
Nut

Most disliked job
Finish repair

Do you ever get to build a complete guitar?
Not at the moment

Any specialities?
Electronics

Opening hours
10-6, M-F (12-8 Thursday)

Car Parking
Easy

Website
www.guitarrepaircentre.net

FAQ’s

Can I fit your Les Paul style/pre-grooved plastic knobs on my splined split-shaft pots?

It depends on whether you have fine or coarse knurled pots – American e.g. CTS, pots have  fine-knurled 24-spline shafts; non US pots e.g Alpha or mini pots, typically have coarse-knurled 18-spline pot shafts.  They’re about the same diameter so if you’re desperate you can force them to fit by running a drill up the inside of the knob to remove some of the knurling.  It’s better though to get pots & knobs to match. Our Strat style knobs are not pre-grooved so will fit either type of splined shaft. The shafts on splined shaft pots are slightly smaller diameter than those on solid shaft pots, so if you want to fit metal knobs with the larger internal diameter you can fit one of our brass shims (EP-0220-008) to sleeve the shaft out.

Related products:

Blog

Just a brief note this week to whet your appetite – more info and pricing next time
In stock, soon we will see:

• Resonant plastic nuts – the difference between the new Resonant Plastic and standard plastic nuts is obvious just by picking up the raw part and dropping it on a hard, flat surface. That sharp and crisp sound you hear is the product of a proprietary material blend and manufacturing process. The result: clearer and cleaner tone.

They’ll be available in bags of 5 – at £10 inc VAT retail, for Fender, Steel String Guitars and 4-String & 5-string basses

• bridge pin sets – 6 new sets, including our very first snakewood part!  Each pack is composed of 6 bridge pins and one matching, larger end pin.

The new materials are: buffalo horn with pearl dot, snakewood, snakewood with pearl dot, boxwood with pearl dot, camel bone  with ebony dot, and plain ebony.

• knob puller – introducing the Allparts Knob Puller Tool.  It’s a tool, from Allparts, that pulls knobs.  This is already selling well across the pond.  More details next time.

• Duo-Sonic bridge – a 3-saddle top loading bridge in chrome for these increasingly popular older instruments.

This week’s spotlight falls on Jon Dickinson.  He runs a guitar and amp repair business from Crystal Palace and has developed a range of valve pedals and amps, notably used in serious gigging action by Matt Bellamy from Muse.  He answers our 20 (ish) quick questions designed to reveal the true history and measure of the man …..

Name

Jon Dickinson

Name of Business

Jon Dickinson instrument Repair and Dickinson amplification

Shop Workshop

Workshop

How many years in Business?

15

First Guitar owned

82 Jap Squier Strat

First Guitar Sold or worked on?

82 Jap Squier Strat

Favourite Guitar

1964 Guild D40

 

Beatles or Stones

Stones

Jeff Beck or Clapton

Jeff Beck

Marshall or Fender

Fender

Tweed or Blackface

Tweed

Rich tea or Digestive

Digestive

Most common job

Guitar set up

Most common repair

Headstock

Most disliked job

Making nuts

Do you ever get to build a complete guitar?

No

Any specialities?

Acoustics, & wiring on electrics

Opening hours

9-5  Monday-Friday

Car Parking

Easy

Website

Dickinsonamps.com

Pots – log or lin – in brief

This is quite a complicated topic but can be summarised simply thus:

• use log (logarithmic) for volume.  Log pots are also called audio pots.
• use lin (linear) for tone
• most guitar makers have used log for both volume & tone, so you end up with all your tonal change happening at one end of the tone pot sweep or turn
• log pots change resistance to give a volume change in line with how we perceive volume change – logarithmically.  A log pot at half a turn will show maybe 10% of its total resistance; a linear pot would show half its overall resistance.  There are different log tapers – for graphs see this link from John Cooper at http://www.planetz.com/?p=1506.

The ear responds logarithmically (each doubling in signal is perceived as an equal step in volume). The ear is more sensitive to changes at lower volumes, so an audio volume control varies the signal slowly at lower settings and more rapidly at higher settings. The net effect is that the sound seems to vary smoothly through the pot’s range.

• check out this youtube clip for practical demo of the differences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdfIZEB2rdM

• confusingly altho log is often called A taper and linear B these designation seem to vary between USA and Europe, and between makers e.g CTS call linear D taper.   I suspect Ibanez B pots are actually log but I’ve never checked them

• For further info see here http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/vres.htm for a simple clear explanation and good ole Wikipeida for more  thorough background http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer

Starting at the lock nut we can supply:

• complete locknut assemblies, either Schaller or copies, in different nut widths and string spacings and finishes
• the nut blocks and screws
• nut block screws only
• locknut clamping bolts

Down at the other more complicated end we can supply:

• trem arms, both the knurled locking collar type and the screw in type
• replacement saddles  in two different styles – remember they are different heights to match the neck radius
• the intonation saddle lock-down screws
• the knurled fine-tuning screws
• the string lock screws – both the long original style Allen bolts, the shorter fatter Schaller screws and the really short Allen bolts for the lo-pro type trems
• and last but not least the string lock blocks themselves

All these parts fit most Floyds but Ibanez have their own take on the locking trem and have numerous different arms and saddles.   Their website (click here to view) gives a really comprehensive listing of parts searchable by guitar model and we can supply some of these ex-stock or by special order from the distributor.

Hope you found this little lot of interest.
That’s all, folks.

Allparts UK

Update

Just a brief update in this holiday season

We’re looking forward to a couple of forthcoming products due in from Houston in the next few weeks.

First off – another Allparts exclusive product – Taihan Black Bee capacitors.

These new oil and paper capacitors provide great performance at an unbeatable price. At nearly half the price of other capacitors with identical material and specifications, Black Bees are the smart choice for a simple repair, a new product to stock your shelves with, and everything in between:

EP-4397-000 – .022uf 1500 volt Black Bee capacitor.
EP-4398-000 – .047uf 600 volt Black Bee capacitor.

We’ve also got some brand new electric mandolin parts:
PU-6516-000 – Single Coil Mandolin Pickup
MB-1508-010 – Electric Mandolin Bridge
MB-0508-PR0 – Piezo Mandolin bridge made of Rosewood.

 

This week’s I didn’t know you did that ….. is:

The answer to the loose/revolving Tele cup jackplate/jack socket problem – the Electrosocket AP-5270-***. This is a cast insert, threaded to take a Switchcraft jack socket with two diagonal fixing screws to stop it spinning round or becoming loose.

That’s all for this week.

Enjoy the sunshine …

Allparts UK

Tool time

Tool time
I thought this week we’d have a look at the various tools & gadgets we supply, drawing attention to some new, and some old, and a couple of classics.

New tools
Recent additions to the really useful box are:

• BulletTM guitar jack tightener (LT-1400-023)  - see what Fender have to say about this  gadget here
• The Bench Wrench – 5 inch & 5 metric Allen keys with Philips & flat screwdrivers (LT-4204-000)
• A multimeter – volt/ohm with test leads (LT-4233-000)
• Digital calipers – 150mm range – inch & metric – stainless (LT-4237-000)
• A return of an old classic – the tapered reamer (LT-0815-000)

I didn’t know you did that …
Candidates for this week’s selection are:

• Adjustable toggle switch wrench for tightening the round nut on toggle switches – this is another return of an old classic (LT-4200-000)
• Toggle switch box spanner – for tightening the round nut on toggle switches. Metric and Standard ends. Black. (LT-4201-023)
• H.I.P. (Handy Insert Puller) Tool for removing, aligning & cleaning string block from locking tremolo saddles (LT-4203-000)
• The Key – intonating tool for Floyd Rose tremolos (LT-0868-000)

Not only …. but also ……  old classics

• Nut slotting files – individual sizes and sets
• Fret shaping files – the Gurian tool and individual files
• Fret nippers
• Fret bender – a mighty tool
• Box wrenches for recessed truss rod nuts – metric and Imperial

And last but not least,
Always read the instructions and be safe – check out some advice from Tim Allen in a selection from Tool Time.

Happy fettling
The Allparts UK team

Blog Update

New items

Here’s a bit more about the Stetsbars – we are now acting as distributors on behalf of Madison and Fifth (check out their website www.madisonandfifth.co.uk for other interesting goodies for guitars)  for the full Stetsbar range and are able to offer trade discounts to all our dealers.

      

Here’s what Stetsbar (at www.stetsbar.com) have to say: Stetsbar is the modern, professional, linear tremolo system that retro fits to stop tail, hard tail, Tele and Strat style guitars without any modification – no new holes, no routing! Hi-tec micro roller bearings combine with a bridge that moves with the trem to give the Stetsbar unrivalled pitch range and stability for its class coupled with a extremely smooth up and down action.

With a straight forward, rapid fit to guitars like the Gibson Les Paul, SG, ES335, Flying V, Fender Telecaster, Stratocaster and many more, Stetsbar is the trem of choice for professional and amateur guitarists worldwide and – with the OEM version – for guitar builders who need the best.

Available in four models and gold, nickel, chrome and black finishes, now is the time to experience the difference that Stetsbar will bring to your guitar!

The range includes: stop tail, t-style, s-style, hard tail, oem models

Other new items

All the Bigsby parts are now listed on our site- click here to see the list online.

I didn’t know you did that …….

One of the phrases we hear regularly is “ I didn’t know you did that ……”. So we’re going to highlight some of the more unusual bits that you’ll only ever see in the catalogue when you’re doing some latenight bedtime reading …..

This week’s offering comprises parts for Hofner style guitars and basses:

TP-0425-010  Hofner bass trapeze tailpiece 4-5/8 inch long   chrome £48.00
BB-3200-0R1 Hofner style bass bridge w base   rosewood £52.00
PU-6420-010 Hofner style bass pickup – chrome cover – 11K ohms  £24.00
PU-6421-000  Wired control plate for Hofner style bass – 2 volumes 3 switches – pearloid £36.00

GB-2515-0R1  Hofner style guitar bridge   rosewood £56.00
PK-3280-000  Hofner style teacup knobs (2) with gold reflector – with set screw – fits split shaft pots  £11.60

FAQ’s

We also hear various questions time and again so we shall develop a list of these ‘frequently asked questions’ and post them on the website.

First off is, “can I get a single tuner?”  And the answer is, as with many things, it all depends … if it’s a commonly used tuning key then we’re happy to sell just one, but if it’s an unusual key then maybe not.  So that we don’t split up our sets we can special order single keys from Gotoh and Sperzel but this can take 6-8 weeks. Some we do stock as follows:

Single keys that we frequently get asked for are the top keys on a Les Paul and also the top E Kluson style key for a Strat so we can do these.

For Les Pauls with the vintage mint-green tulip buttons we currently can’t supply Gibson branded keys so the choice depends on whether you have a push-fit bush around the string post, fitting into a small hole in the headstock, or the screw-through type which fits into a 10mm (3/8”) hole.  The former replacement would be a Gotoh part ref TK-0770-??? or the latter either Grovers, with one ring tulip button (TK-7940-???) or Schallers, with two ring tulip buttons (TK-0771-???). (The question marks allow for  the colour code options)

Top E vintage style keys in nickel for Strats would be part ref TK-0880-001-top E.

Hope this helps

Best wishes
Allparts UK

Blog update

Hi,

Just a short update today – nothing too exciting!

Product focus

A customer came in recently to buy some Lava cable and right-angle jacks to make up a pedal board.  He’d not used the solder-free jacks before & neither had I so I had a go at showing him – it proved remarkably  quick and easy to strip the wire and assemble the jacks.  Well worth a try for your next pedal board project or custom length jack cable. See the parts here.

 

New items

We’ve just received boxes of Stetsbar trems from the US – look out for these on the website soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming soon

We’re working on a full listing of all Bigsby parts – available ex stock here or at Allparts in the US.  Some of the more unusual parts will be to order only, but, hey, having a part number is a major step forward in getting that elusive part.  We just sorted out the small spring for the handle fixing assembly for someone.  Getting the right part is so important.

That’s all this week.
Best wishes
Andy

Allparts UK – Quality parts for quality players – UK’s #1 choice for guitar techs

Weekly Update

Hi,

This week’s update is to let you know about website changes and some stock updates:

Website

Our website is being re-organised to list all products of the same type together, rather than separating out parts by supplier e.g. Fender and Mojo, so you’ll find all pick guards together for example, or all saddles together.  You can search by brand – genuine Fender or other major suppliers will be identified as such.

This is a work in progress so please call if you can’t find what you’re looking for but are sure you saw it once upon a time……..

A major update is in progress but has been delayed by the need to re-write some back-office systems for our intensive use of the software.  Watch this space.

Stock update

The devastating effects of the tsunami in Japan are still  causing some delays in supplies.

Now in stock:

New item GS-3363- ***  Bridge mounting screws for guitar/bass, Phillips oval head, #6 x 1 long are now in stock in nickel & black
AP-6720-003  String Damper by Jennifer Batten for 3 x 3 headstock black – back in stock – 2 left
PU-0419-010 Humbucking bridge pickup for Gibson bass chrome – back in stock – 2 left.

Coming soon

Forthcoming stock additions include the following.  They should be listed fully online in the next week or so and available here in the UK soon after that.

BN-2201-000 – Bone nut for classical guitar – slotted

12 variants of the classic Schaller R-series locking nut:
the R2, R3, R4 & R5 in chrome,  black and gold

AP-6720-003  – Bridge saddles for Tele – Wilkinson compensated brass.  Brass, with screws and springs. 2-1/8 inch string spacing.  Left and right saddles are identical.

PU-6423-025 – Single Coil Bass Pickup – “Vox” Style, White Cover, 5.6K ohms, no screws.

PU-6430-010 – Chrome Pickup for Hofner Style Guitar – 2-conductor Pickup to fit Hofner style guitar, chrome cover, 6.4K ohms.  Measures 2-11/16″ x 1-1/8″.  2-15/16″ mounting screw spacing.  1-15/16″ polepiece spacing.

PU-6450-023 – Dual rail humbucking pickup for Stratocaster® – black.  4 conductor wiring. 11.8K ohms resistance.

PU-6451-000 – P-90 Style Humbucking Pickup, chrome and black with black ring.  Includes height adjustment screws and springs. 9.0K ohms

Coming soon... Humbucking style P-90 pick up

PU-6457-023 – Single Coil Pickup with no hole/blank covers, 6.5K resistance, with screws and springs, black

PU-6457-025 – Single Coil Pickup with no hole/blank covers, 6.5K resistance, with screws and springs, white
TB-5126-010 – Vintage Style short Telecaster® bridge in chrome.  Steel bridge with compensated brass saddles. 2-1/8 inch string spacing. String-through body. Includes mounting screws. Maintains that vintage vibe while making any style pickup available in your new project.

That’s all this week.

Best wishes
Andy

Allparts UK – Quality parts for quality players – UK’s #1 choice for guitar techs

Leo Quan products temporarily discontinued

Hi,

As you may know we have had supply problems with Leo Quan products for some time now, with uncertainty over both time and quantity available.

As of now, all Leo Quan Badass bass bridges are being moved to a status of Temporarily Discontinued – with an emphasis on “temporary”.    We aren’t certain when we will receive more, but we do plan to at some point.

Consequently customers will no longer be able to order Leo Quan products or reserve them on backorder status.  However, all existing backorders will be retained on our system and fulfilled in due course.

Again, this is not a complete cessation of the Leo Quan product line.   Please follow our blog posts and Twitter feed for updates.