R
ripleyripley
Member
I have probably bought and sold 150 guitars in the past ten years...Not that I am really looking for "the one" but because I like checking-out new things..
The one constant (and I mean the ONLY one constant) is my #1, a kick-ass 2008 Fender Custom Shop HBS-1 Strat...I think I bought it in 2008 or 2009...I always loved the guitar but would have loved it to have been a bit "more". For some reason, in my head I thought that seriously modifying a Fender Custom Shop would be heresy...I added locking tuners and a Callaham block and thought that would be it...I mean , seriously...Can you imagine how crazy this would make a potential buyer? Then one day I realized that was one of the dumbest things I have ever had stuck in my head as I am NEVER selling this to flip, only for food if I cant sell an arm or leg instead...Too much Gear Page, lol!
So about five years ago, I sent it to Jerry Bizon (Luxxtone) and had it re-fretted with jumbo stainless steel frets and added a MCP Nasty Nasty...Man, that was a huge upgrade but I was still stuck with a trem that wouldn't stay in tune with even gentle use...I watched videos and had a couple very good luthiers set it up but still, my ham-handedness would knock it out of tune by just thinking-about touching it.
I have heard only great things about Lee Garver at GMW and decided I would reach-out. He was super prompt with his communication and very clear on what he would do, what the guitar would be like after the modification (small gap behind the right-side of the bridge due to moving it slightly forward) and pricing.
I sent my favorite possession to Glendora, CA and hoped for the best...All along the way, Lee was good to his word. pricing was solid, the timeframe was as-promised and the turnaround was shockingly fast for a guy that does a ton of work and everyone is (or at least should be) aware of...Truly a class act.
Well, what arrived yesterday is exactly what I wanted all along...I have a kick-ass strat with a large neck, locking tuners, jumbo stainless frets and a floyd rose. I couldn't be happier.
Here is a thread on his facebook page where he answers a bunch of questions regarding this build and retrofitting a FR to a V-trem guitar: https://www.facebook.com/GmwGuitarWorks/
It's important to share the word when things go well by people who care and live-up to their word. Lee Garver, I salute you!
Where it started:
Where it ended:
The one constant (and I mean the ONLY one constant) is my #1, a kick-ass 2008 Fender Custom Shop HBS-1 Strat...I think I bought it in 2008 or 2009...I always loved the guitar but would have loved it to have been a bit "more". For some reason, in my head I thought that seriously modifying a Fender Custom Shop would be heresy...I added locking tuners and a Callaham block and thought that would be it...I mean , seriously...Can you imagine how crazy this would make a potential buyer? Then one day I realized that was one of the dumbest things I have ever had stuck in my head as I am NEVER selling this to flip, only for food if I cant sell an arm or leg instead...Too much Gear Page, lol!
So about five years ago, I sent it to Jerry Bizon (Luxxtone) and had it re-fretted with jumbo stainless steel frets and added a MCP Nasty Nasty...Man, that was a huge upgrade but I was still stuck with a trem that wouldn't stay in tune with even gentle use...I watched videos and had a couple very good luthiers set it up but still, my ham-handedness would knock it out of tune by just thinking-about touching it.
I have heard only great things about Lee Garver at GMW and decided I would reach-out. He was super prompt with his communication and very clear on what he would do, what the guitar would be like after the modification (small gap behind the right-side of the bridge due to moving it slightly forward) and pricing.
I sent my favorite possession to Glendora, CA and hoped for the best...All along the way, Lee was good to his word. pricing was solid, the timeframe was as-promised and the turnaround was shockingly fast for a guy that does a ton of work and everyone is (or at least should be) aware of...Truly a class act.
Well, what arrived yesterday is exactly what I wanted all along...I have a kick-ass strat with a large neck, locking tuners, jumbo stainless frets and a floyd rose. I couldn't be happier.
Here is a thread on his facebook page where he answers a bunch of questions regarding this build and retrofitting a FR to a V-trem guitar: https://www.facebook.com/GmwGuitarWorks/
It's important to share the word when things go well by people who care and live-up to their word. Lee Garver, I salute you!
Where it started:
Where it ended:
