Singer /Songwriter Interviews coming soon !

I'm going to be reaching out to a lot of great artists/musicians  I've been fortunate enough to know over the years... with the intent of getting the odd interview in here. If you're interested in being featured...just give me a shout and we'll get it happening! I will email you a Q&A and you can just fire it back to be featured in the coming weeks. Cheers, PT

80's Takamine headstock repair and set up !

Layla had me pick up this early 80's Tak which really had seen it's better days...but still had a lot of good years to offer ! The headstock was cracked vertically and the tuner screw holes were all stripped as well as a bow in the neck causing high action. First order of business was dealing with the cracked headstock. I used a glue syringe to deliver the glue as the gap was very narrow. I also drilled 3 small holes on the top of the voided area inside the headstock to ensure good coverage of the affected area. I also mixed mahogony sanding dust with weldbond glue to fill the tuner screw holes and inserted toothpics to create a solid repair for future pilot holes to be drilled .I clamped the repair for 24 hours and proceeded to start sanding with at first a 100 grit, then 400, and finiallyan 800  grit paper for a super smooth finish...ready for repainting or to recieve stain. In this particular instance, my customer wanted a retro finish to match the rest of the back of the guitar...which shows considerable wear and there's a story or two behind every little nick and scratch...as well as a considerably sized piece of glass embedded in the top. Apparently a thrown glass missed it's target and found the Tak ! Who says it not a dangerous job ???  Everything turned out really great and after restringing and adjusting the neck, this Tak played just beautifully and was ready to earn it's owner another 30-40 yrs. of  live gigs ! Really enjoyed this one ..... something about reviving an old work horse back to the musical fields of song !

Guild Songbird NT Cracked headstock (vertical) BONDRITE sandable glue

I just finished repairing the vertical crack on this Guild Songbird NT. When I went to the local hardware store to pick up some Weldbond Glue for this particular job, the clerk asked me if I had ever tried a new product called "Bondrite" ... a sandable glue intended for filling seams/cracks with the ability to sand after it has set. They offered a free sample and I was intriqued enough to want to give it a shot...... I'm always game for free stuff !After removing the strings and tuners I opened the crack as much as was possible and wedged it with some toothpics to keep it open enough to apply BondRite and then proceeded to clamp it for 24 hours. The following day I happy to see a solid repair and the seam of the crack was rock hard and ready for sanding. I used a 400 grit paper and began to very gently sand the repair. I was very impressed to find that the BondRite was indeed very sandable and slowly but surely revealed a very nice finish after I used 800 and then a 1200 grit paper. This product is also tintable with stain and I was able to get a near perfect match to the original finish. After restringing and setting up the Guild, I was super pleased that everything was solid and it now plays and stays in tune ! BondRite Sandable glue is a fast setting, non toxic made in Abbotsford BC product that I would very much reccomend ...wheather it's a guitar repair or a favorite old antique chair. A Great new product by Twin Maple Marketing,,, A Canuck Co. ! http://www.twinmaplemarketing.com/catalog.php?cat=6

Paul's Pick of the week ! Larrivee ST 60

                                                    I came upon this Larrivee ST 60 today @ Tom Lee Music in Richmond ! I sat down with it for 10 min. and gave it the PT once over to see what I thought. I was completely blown away ! Wow, this guitar delivers on many fronts... incredible bottom end ....coupled with very sparkly highs and just a very full rich sound ! This ST 60 was clearly made for finger stylist...the fingerboard seemed a little wider than normal(though I didn't measure)but the spacing was very comfortable for picking ! It appears to have a sitka spruce top w/ Indian rosewood back and sides & a mohogony neck w/ ebony finger board & open headstock . If I was looking for a new guitar, I'de seriously consider this one ! To add to the wonderfullness...it's on for $1499.99 marked down from $2999.99 (50% off) WOW ! I'm going to give this pc. a 5 out of 5 for it's very unique sound and all around comfortable feel ! Larrivee ST 60 .... a real gem !

Stella

Found a new home for Stella this weekend..... new owner Charlie was the perfect guy to take over ownership...his enthusiasm for this ol gal was beyond anything I was expecting ! With that said, I'm real happy to pass Stella on to someone who's gonna appreciate and play it everyday !  Cool.

Fishman Matrix Infinity Acoustic P/U

Fishman really stepped up to the plate with their latest version of the "Matrix" under saddle P/U ! I have the previous version and thought it couldn't be topped ... well, here you go...a much improved version where the folks at Fishman really had the advanced player in mind ! Note the easy access to the Vol. and tone controls...and if you just reach in behind the Tone control you'll find the Voicing switch for Bass boost or Flat settings....I love that ! Also, the innovative tone control wheel lets you choose between a natural undersaddle sound with no EQ on up to a "scooped" tone with emphasized treble and bass and reduced midrange.  Fishman gets an A+ for this latest addition to the line of Fishman acoustic p/u's ! I installed this in one of Vancouver's coolest, most talented guitar slingers... Mr. Russell Marsland's Washburn D42S Dreadnaught...and I really couldn't be happier with how this guitar sounds plugged in.  With it's array of sound variation settings, this system definitely helps the experienced diversified player shine wheather it's performing solo.... or having to cut through the sound wall of a band ! A very good investment @ $150.00 + installation !

January 2012

Patrick V. Tobin  RIP

"Time Flies"  is a song I wrote in memory of my Dad. you can find it on my album "all Night Blue" 

Step into the light !

Paul Tobin songs