Was absolutely brilliant.
To see Andy work on a guitar and just understand how to fix the smallest of problems is a sight to behold. Attention to detail is key and Andy is one of the finest!!

Thanks Gearhead for organising, I'm there next week again for sure!! Karma'd

OK.... Here's some photos. Note that I can't make it next week (will be at TJs), so somebody else please take a camera.

I asked Andy if it was OK to take photos inside his shop. If anybody wants any of the photos here removed then please PM me.

Blues and Brent talking about.... it couldn't be GUITARS could it?


Everybody got there in good time. Which turned out to be a good thing as Andy had plenty to tell and show us. Note the hi-tech video system...


Gearhead was the backstage boy for the evening...


Some of Andy's tools. Most of these got used or shown during the evening.

There were some interesting items in the shop. Some for sale. Some for repair.

This is a funky old Dia electric, sent in for repairs by another shop in Jo'burg.


A Ramirez 10-string and an electric banjo. Next row back on the extreme right is a Taylor electric.


And of course, you expect to find a harmonium in a guitar shop...


Another Ramirez. This one is in for set up. It had been exposed to rather too much dry weather. Andy's shop is humidity controlled, so this was hung up near the humidifier and with two in-hole humidifiers for good measure. Once the wood has taken up some moisture the guitar will be re-evaluated.

Several people bought guitars to be checked out during the practical phase of the evening


Andy telling us all about nuts....


The rapt audience. Note the notepads. Lots of notes were taken.

Andy's lecture included a little of his own and his business's history, woods, truss rods, nuts, frets, humidity and his trouble shooting methodologies. After this we moved on to the fun part of the evening. Guitars were presented for diagnosis.

I had bought the Smoothtalker along because everybody wants to see it, but during one section of the lecture Andy described a problem that I was experiencing and so the Smoothtalker was first on the bench so that he could demonstrate the symptoms, test and cure for that particular problem.


Andy cleaning up the nut slots on the Smoothtalker.


Next up was Brent's Larrivee. This also received some attention to the nut.


Tailon's 12 string. At first glance this looked like a humidity problem with the top concave between the bridge and the soundhole. But it has a laminated top and thus should be less troubled by low humidity than a solid wood guitar. Andy checked further and found a loose brace under the top.


This Cort needed a lot of relief taken out of the neck. Andy tweaked the truss rod.


Next week's session will be focused on electric guitars. BE THERE! You will get several times your money's worth of information and insights.

I am sure I can speak for all who were present last night in giving a big thank you to Gearhead for arranging these workshops and an even bigger thank you to Andy for his time and wisdom.

I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for everyone involved. Unfortunately alot of the terminology and such flew right over my head but like I said to master Tailon it'll probably all make sense sooner now. I was a sponge nonetheless! ?

Apart from the really painfull drives there and back I'm really glad I decided to bite the bullet and go, got home to a loadshedded Pretoria North about half past 12 last night, so now in a bit of spin this morning as nothing's packed or ready for trip to Durban that starts in a few hours. LOL

Really looking forward to getting my absolute prized possesion (My strat) out again Sunday night and starting the setup process up again.

Wow, what a great evening. Andy is a very down to earth and friendly guy. Not only understood most of the presentation, but also enjoyed the way he presented it, what a nice bloke.
I would highly recommend next weeks workshop to any one who is able to make it. Was also great meeting so many of the other guys on the forum. Only got home at 1 this morning, but it was well worth it.

Yes, it was excellent. Andy really put a lot of effort into this and was kind enough to stay till nearly 12am fixing guitars and explaining things. He really is an expert at what he does.
We also had lots of fun lubricating Bobs nut.
Thanks to Andy and to Gearhead for organising such an excellent event.

Lethe wrote: We also had lots of fun lubricating Bobs nut.

Perhaps I should offer a clarification here: This is NOT a reference to pouring oil over my head.

That clarification cleared everything up, Bob, yessir.

Thanks guys for the kind words and the karma ?
Let's make next week as useful; we have lotsa topics left...

X-rated Bob wrote: Andy's lecture included a little of his own and his business's history, woods, truss rods, nuts, frets, humidity and his trouble shooting methodologies. After this we moved on to the fun part of the evening. Guitars were presented for diagnosis.

I had bought the Smoothtalker along because everybody wants to see it, but during one section of the lecture Andy described a problem that I was experiencing and so the Smoothtalker was first on the bench so that he could demonstrate the symptoms, test and cure for that particular problem.


Andy cleaning up the nut slots on the Smoothtalker.

So the problem was that the Smoothtalker was hard to keep in tune. And it wasn't going flat, it was going SHARP. Sometimes it would be in tune when I put it away, and the it would go sharp again whilst in the case overnight.

As I understand it this is because of friction in the nut slots - either because the slots are too narrow or because of small sharp edges. Andy cleaned up the slots for the 4th and 3rd strings with a file and then used a scalpel in the slot for the 2nd. The 2nd string was the one that had really been driving me crazy. He finished off by flossing the slots (no kidding) and then applying a little teflon.

The results are good. The guitar is now far more stable. It improved immediately. Yesterday I put new strings on it's staying in tune waaaaay better now.

Andy also checked the nut for intonation and pronounced that pretty good.

So for those of you who were taking notes, Andy's methods did the trick - though I still wouldn't try it myself.

It was very interesting. Very nice to meet all the guys and girls from the forum. Hope more people can make it this Thursday, It really is worth it

Ah man, that looks amazing.. Wish i lived in jo-burg.. one of the very few times i wish that.. ? That place is far to cold! ?

Is the second one on tonight whats happening

Week (or part) 2 of the workshop........I'll leave the report back to Stratisfear. For me it was worth more than the small fee charged. Andy is amazing.

1. Andy discussing Set up and Intonation on Stratisfear's Foto Flame Strat.......from left to right... Andy, Gearhead, Brent and Stratisfear.



2. Gearhead and Stratisfear.......in silent prayer??



3. Jenny and Mike during the short break......

aubs1 wrote: Week (or part) 2 of the workshop........I'll leave the report back to Stratisfear. For me it was worth more than the small fee charged. Andy is amazing.

1. Andy discussing Set up and Intonation on Stratisfear's Foto Flame Strat.......from left to right... Andy, Gearhead,

Bollocks it is! That's Tom Verlaine.

X-rated Bob wrote:

aubs1 wrote: Week (or part) 2 of the workshop........I'll leave the report back to Stratisfear. For me it was worth more than the small fee charged. Andy is amazing.

1. Andy discussing Set up and Intonation on Stratisfear's Foto Flame Strat.......from left to right... Andy, Gearhead,

Bollocks it is! That's Tom Verlaine.

Bob, Bob, Bob........I don't get it???? Am I a bit dof this am?