Guitar Player Repair Guide [Paperback]

Dan Erlewine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1990

Whether you simply want to maintain your guitar or hot-rod it into a radical new incarnation, this book is the ideal guide. By the columnist of Guitar Player's popular Repairs and Modifications column, this comprehensive book is a must for any guitarist who needs information on beginning repairs through advance enhancements. 8-1/2 inch. x 11 inch..

Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: GPI Publications; Second Edition edition (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879302917
• ISBN-13: 978-0879302917
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Erlewine wrote the chapter on structural issues and repairs. He is a guitar repairman, tool designer, author, and producer of instructional videos. He is also a guitarist with a lifelong love of Gibsons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The *Real* techniques form a master, May 9, 2000

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Guitar Player Repair Guide (Paperback)

Dan Erlewine is undoubtably one of the great masters of guitar repair, but what really sets him apart is his willingness to share the techniques and tricks he's picked up over the years.

Too many books gloss over the details- "now attach the bind..." Atach it? How? To what? WIth what glue? The reader is left wondering, and eventually gives up or tries hit and miss to figure it out.

But Erlewine takes you through the whole process step by step, assuming nothing. He'll show you how to replace a bit of chipped inlay, or a cracked top, using tools you can buy and some you can make yourself as well.

Simply the best book for the beginner and the expert alike.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive introduction to guitar repair/maintenance, July 7, 2002

By 

sir_isaac_newton (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guitar Player Repair Guide (Paperback)

This is a good book that provides a lot of information -- far more than most non-luthiers will ever need... but it is there just in case. I found that it helped me talk with my local luthier about getting my guitars set up, and it gave me the confidence to make a small repair myself (glue down a loose fret end). There is some uncommon advice that could only be given by somebody who had done this work for years e.g. don't use lemon oil, which although popular tends to discolor plastic trim. The book also took the time to consider the stratocaster style guitar and Les Paul style guitars separately -- a good idea since Fenders particularly can have a range of issues (e.g. related to the neck attachment and tremolo) that are not relevant to the Les Paul. Dan also includes set-up information from some top guitarists (such as BB King). So if it is that darn good (and it is) why only 4 stars? Well, the book is looking dated now -- it could with a good overhaul, not from the author but from the publisher, to make the text more readable and the images clearer (like the excellent DK range of books).

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gave me the confidence to dig in., August 12, 2003

By 

'64 Dodge 330 (burbank, california United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Guitar Player Repair Guide (Paperback)

I've been playing for years, but never did much more than change my strings. I decided it was time to learn how to start adjusting my own guitars so I bought a few books on the subject; this is the one that I keep turning to. Very thorough instructions with helpful illustrations and photos; recommendations for a basic journeyman toolkit all the way up to what you need to start your own repair shop. Separate sections are included for Fenders and Gibsons, recommended setup tolerances etc; The interviews with the master guitar players are interesting, if a little superfluous, but their techs are also interviewed, and provide useful tips and tricks. I have only 2 nits to pick: some of the illustrations- such as the one on how to wind strings properly-could be more clear. Perhaps with arrow directions (I know this probably makes me sound like a ..., but this book is so close to a 10 that I figure I'll just mention it .) Finally, it's getting a little bit dated, having been written in the early 90's right after SRV's untimely death. Certainly the principles and methods of guitar repair and setup haven't changed since then, but a new millenium edition would be great. Overall, an excellent, book and if you're like 99% of guitarists out there who need a guide that will show you how to set up your collection with confidence, but don't need to become a luthier, this might be the only book you need to get.