The Rickenbacker bass is a staple of rock music. They have an instantly recognizable look, with a unique feel and tone. These instruments have found a place in the hands of icons, such as Geddy Lee of Rush, Motorhead’s Lemmy, and even Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles. However, there is always room for improvement. The Hipshot Rickenbacker replacement bridge is just that!
Hipshot Rickenbacker Replacement Bridge for Bass Read More »
The Kluson Revolution Series of tuning machines are designed specifically to meet the needs of modern players who demand performance and reliability. These models are an easy retrofit to many vintage style tuners commonly seen on Gibson and Fender guitars, with no permanent modification required!
Kluson Revolution Tuning Machines Read More »
It’s easy to forget that wooden musical instruments are made of materials that were once part of the trunks of living trees. In their past life, their function was to transport water from the tree’s roots to its leaves. Towards this end, wood is what’s called “hygroscopic”. This means that the moisture content will change depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. When humidity increases, the wood absorbs moisture from the air causing the wood to expand. If the humidity decreases, it releases its water into the air and the wood shrinks. Though a fascinating marvel of the natural world, this property does present a complication for owners of musical instruments.
Guitar Humidification Read More »
The Jazz Bass is an iconic Leo Fender design. The second of his ground breaking solid body basses, Since its introduction in 1960, this instrument has been fundamental in the development of players sounds in musical styles across the spectrum: funk, disco, Reggae, progressive rock, jazz fusion, etc. Below are a few ideas to help you put your own spin on this classic design.
Fender Jazz Bass Mods and Upgrades Read More »
Simple changes to an instruments hardware can make a huge improvement in the feel and tone. For some players, half of the fun is picking and choosing the mods you like to create a personalized guitar that fits your needs and tastes.
Mods and Upgrades For Fender Stratocaster Read More »
Musical instrument strings are not recycled through municipal recycling programs. That means that strings cannot be put in the recycling bin at the curb. As a result, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million lbs. of instrument string metal could be put into landfill every year.
Fortunately, TerraCycle and D’Addario have partnered to create a free recycling program for instrument strings and clippings. Calico Guitarworks is proud to participate in this great initiative.
Guitar String Recycling Read More »
Before a setup can be performed on a guitar or bass, it is crucial that the instrument’s fretwork be in good shape; The frets should be level relative to one another, with a nice rounded profile and smooth playing surface. This is especially important for players that are sensitive to string buzzes, have a discerning ear for intonation, or that prefer the string action to be set very low.
Fret Work: Level Crown and Polish Read More »
There are many things to consider when shopping for a guitar or bass. It is easy to get blinded by excitement and overlook problems that might be right in front of your eyes!
After finding what is hopefully the model you want, in the right color, at a price you can afford, you will next want to be certain the guitar is healthy. The following checklist contains the types of things that we look for during an instrument evaluation.
How To Test A Guitar Before Buying Read More »
The guitars “action” refers to the height of the strings in relation to the top of the frets. The action being either “too high” or “too low” are among the more common complaints that bring clients into the guitar shop. If the action is too high, strings far away from the fretboard, the guitar can be difficult to play and may not intonate properly. If the action is too low, strings very close to the frets, the guitar may have an audible chattering or a muted buzz in certain positions as the strings vibrate against the frets.
Depending on personal taste, guitarists strive to have their playing action fall somewhere in-between those two extremes. The “sweet spot” is as varied as the instrument and its owner.
Guitar Action Adjustment Read More »
Fender’s Corona facility was opened in 1985. While Fender has factories and offices all over the world, this is where the flagship guitars and basses are made. This is also where they assemble their American made amplifiers and the home of the Fender Custom Shop.
In September of 2011, I was able to tour and photograph the facility. At the time, Fender had recently resumed offering public tours. What follows is largely a repost of content that originally appeared on an earlier version of this website. Having rediscovered the photos, I am resharing them in the hope that they may be of interest.
Fender Factory Tour Read More »