31. May 2013 · Comments Off on New GOTOH SG381 MG-T Magnum Lock Traditional locking tuners now available · Categories: New products · Tags: , , , , ,

SG381-MG-T Magnum Lock tuning machinesGOTOH MG-T tuners set

The new GOTOH SG381 MG-T Thumbwheel style locking tuners are now available from Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies.  These are GOTOH’s much requested and long-awaited new tuning machines.  The “Magnum Lock – Trad” combines classic functionality with Gotoh technology and quality.  Turning the thumbweel to the left will release and a turn it to the right will lock the sting.  This will allow ease of locking and unlock of the strings during routine maintenance.  These come standard with staggered string posts so string trees are not needed.

The SG381 MG-T comes with GOTOH’s patented Lubri-Coat and Rock-Solid string posts.  The application of Lubri-Coat establishes a better contact between the worm and the gear wheel.  The result is that backlash is minimized during tuning.  Rock-Solid incorporates a special elastic components on the main parts which eliminates post movements.

The GOTOH SG381 MG-T are now available on our website and available in Cosmo Black, Chrome, and Gold finishes.GOTOH SG381 MG-T dimensions

18. April 2013 · Comments Off on Japanese Shinto Saw Rasp · Categories: New products, Tools · Tags: , , , ,

Shinto Saw Rasps

Now available through our website is the Shinto Saw Rasp.  These rasps are made from 10 pieces of double-sided riveted saw blades and will make quick work of your carving needs.  The combination of the saw tooth design and the large open areas prevent clogging that happens with normal rasps.  Use the coarse side for quick shaping and very rapid material removal.  Use the fine side for the finishing pass. Guitar builders will love using these to shape a guitar neck or to work a beveled edge on the guitar bodies.

We also have available the Shinto planer style saw rasps that comes with a removable blade. The two handles are raised above the work surface to allow you to work on larger surface areas without your hands getting in the way.  The blade is easily removed to allow access to both a coarse and fine sides.  By removing More »

13. April 2013 · Comments Off on Vintage style Telecaster® bridges and neck pickup covers. · Categories: New products · Tags: , , ,

A new product we just received in are US manufactured vintage style telecaster bridges and neck pickup covers.

We are selling these in both full and half bridges.  The full tele bridges are direct replacement for US and Mexican Fender Telecaster guitars that were originally equipped with this style bridge.  Both of these are also great for custom guitar builds since they can be strung either through the body or top loaded.  Drilling the holes through the guitar body can sometimes be difficult for the novice builder.  The full bridges also feature a satin finish area on the inside starting just below the pickup mounting holes.  The half bridges are fully polished on the inside.  The brass barrel saddles are uncompensated and can easily be upgraded.

Vintage style telecaster bridges.

From left to right – Chrome, Gold, Nickel finish

The other new product we added are the Telecaster neck pickup covers.  These are standard tele sizes and come in both closed and open styles.  The open pickup covers will give your tele a very different sound then the standard covered neck pickup covers.  Like all of the other pickup covers we sell these are manufactured in the US from stamped nickel silver metal.  These are available in unplated, chrome, gold and nickel finishes.

Telecaster neck pickup cover selection.

From left to right – unplated, chrome, gold, and nickel finishes.

22. March 2013 · Comments Off on New truss rod cover design for Gibson® and Epiphone® guitars · Categories: General, New products · Tags: , ,

New truss rod cover shapes for Gibson and EpiphoneIn early December 2012, we were contacted by the Gibson Corp. about our use of the Gibson bell design for the truss rod covers that were selling.  They asked us to stop producing the truss rod covers and that the bell design was protected by their trademark. We were unaware that the shape of the truss rod cover was protected by a registered trademark.  The protected trademark included the standard Gibson bell shape used on almost all Gibson guitars and the Epiphone truss rod cover with the similar design.

Gibson has no problem with us engraving their own products.  The only problem is that Gibson only sells the Gibson bell shaped truss rod cover(PRTR-010) and none of the Epiphone truss rod covers.  With some help from Gibson, we came up with the above design changes for truss rod covers.   Customers who order a custom engraved Gibson truss rod cover will get a genuine Gibson product engraved by us.  For the full color Gibson and Epiphone truss rod covers we will be using our new truss design.  They still have the same mounting hole locations and share the same bottom edge as the original.  The sides are a little narrower and the top has more pronounced shoulders.

Overall the new design is a good compromise.  This should keep most of our Gibson and Epiphone customers happy.  Because these are our own design, we will allow others to use these on their own guitar builds without worrying about violating any trademark.  If you have any questions please contact us at support.

14. March 2013 · Comments Off on JESCAR Stainless Steel fretwire is now available! · Categories: New products · Tags: , ,

Jescar stainless steel fretwire

We are proud to offer Jescar stainless steel fretwire.  These are pre-cut and pre-radiused to help make installation easier.

Jescar is the leading supplier to the industry of quality fretwire.  You will not find a more consistent wire anywhere.  Many of the top guitar and bass manufactures use Jescar fretwire.

The main benefit of stainless steel fretwire versus nickel silver is the higher wear resistance for greater fret life.  This could very easily be the last fret job you will ever need!  Many players also report that string bending is a lot smoother than traditional nickel silver frets.  Some players have even mentioned that there is a sound difference.   I recently read an article from TONEQUEST where they had a guitar fitted with both nickel silver and stainless fretwire.  The writer and anyone who played the guitar couldn’t hear a hint of difference anywhere on the neck!  Sounds like a very cool experiment to try someday.

The only downside to stainless steel fretwire is that it’s tough on tools.   End nips and cutters will have a very short life.  I used our FastCap heavy duty flush cut pliers for at least 200+ cuts of stainless steel fretwire and they show more nicks now than they ever did cutting nickel silver fretwire.   They still cuts fine but just not as nice as they did prior to the stainless steel fretwire.  I will now designate a set of pliers for cutting stainless and one for nickel silver.   Fret files seem to be holding up very well.  It will absolutely take more time to do a normal fret job and I wouldn’t recommend using stainless steel for beginners.