Welcome Alan Ratcliffe!

NorioDS

Wow, I almost wet myself when I saw you joined us, Alan ?

We've never met but I have your Electric Guitar book and it's AWESOME. I re-strung me floating bridge Ibanez without (much) hassle thanks to you and that book!

Welcome! (I feel like a kid -- you're a celebrity in my books ?)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how I can improve the forum. It's growing slowly.

Cheers and thanks for joining! ?

AlanRatcliffe

Geez. You're making me :-[

Great to see a local guitar-related forum. I'm sure I'll become a mainstay if things take off around here. I'll do what I can to spread the word.

NorioDS

Thanks man ?

You going to the Brett Garsed guitar clinic?

AlanRatcliffe

Probably not ☹ I'd love to - he's one of the few really impressive players from the "new breed".

The first (and most hectic) instalment of my next book is due on the 3rd of Dec. I'm going to be pretty limited for time until March. I'm going to do my two workshops on Saturday (both on the same day to save time), then Jethro Tull on Wednesday. Otherwise my calendar is completely clear to make space for writing and the other stuff that goes with it. I need photos, so I'm building a Strat/Tele hybrid, refinishing a Fernandes, touching up neck and body dings, installing a whole host of parts and wiring and generally anything I can take pics of and describe how to do.

BTW, do you have a banner ad system installed? If so, you might be able to swing banner exchanges with some of the shops or distributors web sites. I can help there.

NorioDS

Do we get the odd sneak preview of the pics that will be going into your book?

I'd love to see what you come up with.

I'll get a banner ad system installed -- thanks! That will help a lot!

AlanRatcliffe

Do we get the odd sneak preview of the pics that will be going into your book?

I can't post the exact pics to be used in the book, but I'll see what I can do. It's mostly nuts and bolts stuff anyway, but I can post pics of the end results. Maybe a series of before and after pics.

BTW: I usually have a "to do" list at http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/todo.shtml
At the moment, I've also got a list for the partscaster I'm building: http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/partscaster.shtml

NorioDS

Alan Ratcliffe wrote I can't post the exact pics to be used in the book, but I'll see what I can do. It's mostly nuts and bolts stuff anyway, but I can post pics of the end results. Maybe a series of before and after pics.

BTW: I usually have a "to do" list at http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/todo.shtml
At the moment, I've also got a list for the partscaster I'm building: http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/partscaster.shtml

I can't wait to see the pics ? I dig what you do but I reckon I'm one of those guys that would want the results without all the effort ?

For example, I've got a strat-like Starfire here that was my first guitar and I'd love to heat it up to the point that it's actually playable but man it sounds like it's over my head ?

By the way, how do you get a hold of a good luthier up in Gauteng? I've got an old acoustic Yamaha with a bowed neck that I'd really like to have fixed. It's almost unplayable right now but the tone is really tasty. I just don't want to take it to someone who doesn't know what he's doing!

AlanRatcliffe

This is one I finished earlier today - my main guitar these days, a Cort G-VT. I'd done a lot to it already, but I swapped the bridge out yesterday (for a Wilkinson VSV400P) and on a mad whim, decided to change the white pickup covers and switch cap for black - effectively "tuxedoing" it. Not a look I usually like, but somehow it works in this case. Having a steel block and six pivots, the bridge is a nice tonal upgrade from the stock two-stud "reliced" one with cast block. I also fitted Graph Tech Ghost piezo saddles (although the other bridge had Ghost saddles too - some prototype "FerraGhost" steel ones).

I must still change the two jack sockets for Neutrik and a few small cosmetic things (maybe an African blackwood pickguard), but essentially all the big stuff is done now: pickups, bridge, nut, piezos, wiring, strap locks and a battery compartment. It's looking good and sounding great.

Pic below, and a big version at www.alanratcliffe.com/sundry/cort.jpg

NorioDS

Any chance we can hear it in action?

I like the black pickups but I'm not a fan of the tuxedo look either. Actually, I just generally don't like white pick-guards! But, in this instance, it's quite snazzy. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the polished-stone look of the pick-guard.

AlanRatcliffe

Any chance we can hear it in action?

Sure, come to Cape Town. ? I've been very slack lately, but I'll see what I can do to record a few clips soon.

I like the black pickups but I'm not a fan of the tuxedo look either. Actually, I just generally don't like white pick-guards! But, in this instance, it's quite snazzy. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the polished-stone look of the pick-guard.

I don't like white either, but pearloid is a special case. It's all about balance and matching things together. I may still refinish in a transparent dark blue, which suits the pearloid tuxedo and chrome look perfectly. Something like this:

NorioDS

Sure, come to Cape Town. ? I've been very slack lately, but I'll see what I can do to record a few clips soon.

I'd appreciate that. I'd also be happy to buy some tracks off on eMusic.com or something like that if they're available.

I don't like white either, but pearloid is a special case. It's all about balance and matching things together. I may still refinish in a transparent dark blue, which suits the pearloid tuxedo and chrome look perfectly. Something like this

Yes, that is very sexy! And at least now I know it's called "pearloid" ?

Your book is going to be really popular among me and my friends. Deaan, a mate I've started jamming with, has a stratalike called a "Live". He, like me, won't sell it because it was his first guitar so we'd both love to hot them up and use them for the odd song or gig.

By the way, I read somewhere that you don't do Luthier work for people anymore but, just trying my luck here, what would you charge me (per hour or something) to hotrod my guitar?

I'd say that if it was really expensive (R5000 an hour or something) then it could be worth your while -- because I can understand the smaller jobs get irritating and menial.

(Not that I can afford that now but it would be something I'd do)

AlanRatcliffe

I read somewhere that you don't do Luthier work for people anymore

I don't do it as time is a major issue. In fact the last fret dress I needed to do I eventually gave up trying to find the time and had someone else do it (I wasn't happy with the job done either, but that's besides the point).

Rather than charge someone to do work, I'd rather sell them a book that tells them how to do it ("teach a man to fish" and all that).

I'd also be happy to buy some tracks off on eMusic.com or something like that if they're available.

If I ever stop re-recording parts every time I get a new guitar (or tweak one) and actually finish some material, I'll probably just make it available for download.

NorioDS

Yup, that makes total sense.

Well, get on with writing then! We can't wait much longer ?

What do you think of the resources available to guitarists and luthiers in SA? I find it a bit harder (than say in the UK) to find gear, parts and stuff like that.

Even certain DVDs aren't that easy to find. Like stuff from the 80s (Gambale) and more.

Once this forum is pumping, I'd like to import stuff and sell it online. There's just so much space to fill. It's a shame no one else has really taken the opportunity yet.

AlanRatcliffe

Well, get on with writing then! We can't wait much longer ?

I would, but people keep asking me questions.... ?

What do you think of the resources available to guitarists and luthiers in SA? I find it a bit harder (than say in the UK) to find gear, parts and stuff like that.

Local resources for luthiers? Oh, how I laughed...

Even African tonewoods have to be bought from the US and even with common and popular pickup brands for instance, there's not much of a range available locally. Luckily, it's easy these days to order what you need online, shipping isn't too expensive if you go USPS and wait the 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. With many of the online companies they will even have deals in place to ship with Fedex or UPS relatively cheaply, then it's three to six days. Customs have sorted out the delays they used to suffer and most smaller packages they don't even bother with.

Support and backup have been good. Stewmac replaced a faulty set of Sperzels, no questions asked, and when the replacements also turned out faulty, supplied Schallers and only then asked for the faulty sets back - to take it up with Sperzel (they offered to pay for the shipping back of the Sperzels too!). Luthier's Mercantile forgot some analine dyes from an order and when I told them, they Fedexed them to me at a $75 cost to them (for a $20 item), and I had it in 5 days.

As an example, I just got a parcel from Guitar Fetish with a Wilkinson Tele bridge and tuners, knobs, string ferrules, a neckplate and screws. Parts cost: US$ 80, shipping (USPS) US$20. That's R650! It was all in a small box and it came through customs without any VAT. Took two weeks to get here. I can order a Fender pearloid Pickguard from a local shop and pay R350 for it or order a clone from GFS for under 18 Dollars. Add a few parts and the total shipping cost per item comes down radically.

Also, If you are prepared to buy in bulk, you can save a fortune on strings - especially common brands like Ernie Ball or D'Addario. Most of the online string stores charge a flat fee for shipping which is quite high, but the more you order, the cheaper it becomes. Perhaps we can all join together sometime and make a huge order for everybody. R25 -R30 a set

So, let's see... cheaper, wider range, better service and backup, faster. What's not to like?

Even certain DVDs aren't that easy to find.

Amazon.co.uk - especially for the harder to find stuff. But the Hot Licks and REH DVDs are expensive wherever you get them - I have no idea why.

karel_appel

I enjoyed this website to much. It is wonderful !!

NorioDS

Alan, that's so sad to hear! But we're still young and there's a whole generation of musicians on the way so maybe, in 5 or 10 years, we can expect some really good imports and even local musical equipment?

I'm holding thumbs.

NorioDS

karel_appel wrote I enjoyed this website to much. It is wonderful !!

Thanks Karel ?