Who can I trust to repair my Gibson

[HL]

Hi
I have a Gibson Les Paul that has seen better days. This model had a whammy bar, its quite unique. The gold plated tuner pegs are pitted, as well as the bridge. I made a bad mistake of changing the original pickups for some cheapo lousy stuff many years ago.

I'd like to send it to someone who's really good and reliable (and very meticulous) to help me fix it up, change back the original pickups. I'd also like to change the metal fittings (tuner pegs, bridge) to stainless steel if possible (and available).

Price is not my first concern (although its still a concern), but I'd really like to find someone who can do a professional job. I want someone who works on the guitars of professional musicians, like Rex Goh or something, not hobbyists.

Thanks for any recommendations!

 

[stillwater]

Hi HL
just like to share my personal opinion with you. Changing pickups, and other hardwares... doesn't really seem too much of a difficult task.

I've seen some of those "well-known" and "professional" ppl whom some softies have mentioned as "God" or some well-respected heroic shit titles. Witnessed the way they handle the guitars when the owners were not around b4, n I just felt like beating them up. Won't want to elaborate more and make enemies.

The point I would like to drive at is, if you can, do it yourself. Replacing all these hardware doesn't seem difficult. For example, if u're unsure of the size of your tuning peg, u could take out a sample and bring it to shops like Davis to compare size b4 buying... Good luck

 

[Praetorian]

Indeed. Not to mention stealing your pickups and replacing them with crappy lookalikes that make your guitar sound like cardboard.

I've reccomended this person to many, and I'll do so now. Beez from Yamaha Plaza Singapura. Meticulous, and you don't have to worry about him putting up a front, because everything that needs to be done to your guitar is done right infront of your eyes, to your specifications.

 

[pooo]

Indeed. Not to mention stealing your pickups and replacing them with crappy lookalikes that make your guitar sound like cardboard.

Now that i haven't heard of, and haven't experienced either.
But i second Praetorian's recommendation about taking your guitar to Beez.

 

[Praetorian]

There used to be a shop. Closed down, owner moved to Peninsula. Not sure which shop.

Hired lots of part timers, especially western kids. Let's say for example you have brand new DiMarzio's and the DiMarzio's on his guitar are getting totally screwed up. He'd jack u behind your back and swap your pickups.

Or if unfortunately your pickups are decent, but have no markings whatsoever, like stock, then say goodbye to them. He'll swap with some crap pickups that makes your guitar sound worse than before it reached the shop.

 

[pooo]

If you do find out who he is, or if he's still in business, expose the sob so the rest of us don't fall into the trap.

 

[chiagerald]

Yo HL,

I would like to recommend Malcolm Tan... you can contact him at 97612037... or at his email (empty71@hotmail.com). He did an excellent job on my Fender Strat and after some bad experience with other repair personnel, watching Malcolm work on my guitar was not only a relief but pure joy! I believe Malcolm actually graduated from the states learning all the guitar repair stuff and actually worked there for a couple of years too. So he's the real deal! He's a true professional with a decently equipped workshop at his home. I would not hesitate to go back to him for other jobs cos I know he puts 100% and won't rip you off.

He builds his own guitars too... I heard some for Chinese pop stars as well...

Now my guitar really sings and I love playing it!

BTW, I have nothing to gain from this... ust wanna share and recommend my good experience to you! :wink:

 

[HL]

Yo Mr Chia,
Hahaha......Gerald and I are going down to see Malcolm tomorrow, and I'm bringing my guitar along for a quote. Sounds good! Guys, thanks for the recommendations! Will let you know how it goes.

Really excited to play my long "retired" and forgotten Les Paul again. Its been too long...I bought this guitar when I was 18 by working part time and eating biscuits from the office pantry everyday, so it does mean a lot to me...

 

[HL]

Just to share a story abt people stealing pickups from customers, I sent the same Gibson to Sw** L** to change the pickups, I think the current ones are Di'Marzio or something. I now suspect there was nothing wrong with my pickups, rather my action was set wrongly so the thinner strings were buzzing badly on the frets, when I set the settings to treble, the sound was very soft, so I thought my pickups were bad.

When I went to collect my guitar, they did not return me my original pickups. When I asked for them they said they left it somewhere else and I had to come back another day to collect it, they seemed really reluctant to return them to me. But I went back to collect it back after all, but I was thinking hmmm......

 

[Praetorian]

Wow. I never really trusted Sw** L** in the first place, but damn, this really opened my eyes.

 

[gordonzz]

EDITED-

lol.. cannot say shop's name ah people! cannot! LOL :lol:

 

[Newbie]

=/ Damn my post got removed. Lol sorry Lalalala

 

[gordonzz]

chey! no wonder i cannot reply to ur sweo leo hahaha... kena deleted

 

[mikemann]

I heard Malcolm charges are quite the premium, since he has all those qualification and experience.

You might want to consider guitar connection at excelsior, opposite davis. Good to go weekdays afternoon when shop has less customer, then can be served undisrupted. Look for kevin, if he not busy, very good to chat with. Lots of experience too.

Always develop a good relationship with your luthier, so you will be more assured.

 

[Newbie]

LOL Hiaks hiaks. Shhhh dont say anything.

 

[soft]

:smt045

ya, dont post names else later people :smt067 us.

unless you are the person who has suffered unjust treatment and you want to share your experience with fellow SOFTies.

 

[gordonzz]

try mikeman! he good oso.. electronics!

 

[gordonzz]

:smt045

ya, dont post names else later people :smt067 us.

unless you are the person who has suffered unjust treatment and you want to share your experience with fellow SOFTies.

Okie! share mine!

DAN ENTERPRISE!

Okie.. it was like 2 years ago when and where i was still a noob (now also noob lah).. my samick strat had this cracking sound when put in cable.. the jackhole loose la... went to dan eneterpise...

He changed the jackhole inside for 25 bucks... -.-.... correct me if i'm wrong.. it should cost like only 5 bucks for one? and the handling fee of 20? -.-...

den he told me that new jack cannot put in the strat, as the jack too big for the hole... would be very tight if u put cable in (wtf?).. need to sand the hole bigger... he say he charge people 100... discount give me charge me 45 -.-.............. and lucky i din have enuff money that day.. so ...only 25..... (i've never even heard of this hole too small shit before.. correct me if im wrong)

My friend bought his japan bought fernandes there... wanna do a setup.. and one of his knobs falls off... all he does is slip it back on (which drops off sooner later).. and just take a clothe wipe wipe.... with like 2 drops of polish... den retune the strings... den like anyhow screw the pickups.. last time dono anything thought that's setup.... so............... yeah... i think he charged 30 for it.. or 35.. forgot..

and yea.. so i nv went there again, DAN ENETERPISE!
......................i felt cheated and i never went there again to get my stuffs.

 

[empty71]

I heard Malcolm charges are quite the premium, since he has all those qualification and experience.

That's true but I don't consider my prices unreasonable or exhorbitant. My repair slogan's "Quality work with prices to match". My rates are a wee bit lower than what a top U.S. luthier would charge Think Roger Sadowsky and John Suhr. I'm not a guitar tech per se. I build and design guitars for a living. Matter of fact, some of the guitars I'd design and built will be on stage when Jonathan Lee and Emil Chau comes to town next month

I stand behind my work and don't accept payment unless the customer 100% satisifed. I invest in quality tools and know exactly what I'm doing or rather know the best way to go about what needs to be done. The last time and I pray it will be the ONLY time, somebody was unhappy with my work, I bought the guitar off the guy and it was a custom ordered Ibanez guitar so we're talking about a couple of grand here. Hey, one complaint in 13 years of guitar repair and restoration is not so bad a record right?? Just for the record, I did my best on the guitar but the owner's expectation was unreasonable.

I'm honest in my appraisals. If I'm not confident of doing a good job, I don't accept the job. I have also rejected jobs when I think the owners can handle what needs to be done themselves with a few pointers from me.

I've seen more than my fair share of "hacks" trying to pass off as guitar techs. Most of them do the job "quick and dirty" and some of them don't even know what they're doing. I never use a customer's guitar as a learning experience!!! I always work on an instrument bearing in mind that some other guy or gal may be working on the same guitar later so most of my repairs are non-invasive. I now impose a surcharge if the guitar has been worked on but some hack before me coz it takes me more time and effort to "undo" the "damage".

I'm available for guitar repair and restoration. E-mail me at empty71 at hotmail dot com for quotes and appointments. Be warned, quality work with prices to match. Chances are you'll be grinning ear to ear lugging your guitar home and your guitar has never played better.

 

[gargamelesp]

Hi, im gonna bring this old thread up because i just got my guitar setup by Malcolm (EMPT71). He charges $120 for a setup on a non floyd bridge. I was thinking to myself, most shops do a setup for $50, why do i have to pay so much? In the end i took the "risk" after reading his profiles and im not disappointed. Oh and for the record, im not ranting just because i already paid thr $120. Heh

1.He sets up the guitar right in front of you and tells you what he is doing

2. He seeks your opinion on things that i personally never knew were part of a setup. Eg. Whether for a vintage trem, the brigde should be set floating or flat. And that the height of the strings are supposed to conform to the radius of the neck.

3.Ive never seen other guitar techs work but he is totally meticulous in his work and i learnt a lot of things

4. He spent 4 hours on my guitar including the installation of a new pickguard and pickups and we ended at 12 midnight. Thats dedication for you. Of course i was more than willing to watch him complete it.

The bottom line. if you want to get your guitar setup but ure short on cash, save a little more and take it to this guy. You know what ure getting and wont come home unhappy with the guitar as he really makes sure ure satisfied with it. If i could choose btwn plugging down $120 on a new effetcs pedal or a setup, id go with the latter. After all, your primiary tool for making music should be good before you add extras Im saving and brining my Floyd Kh2 to him really soon!