FENDER® ROAD WORN™ Series Guitar Treatment
Dear Friends in Guitarville,
There's been a lot of talk this year about the FENDER® ROAD WORN™
Series guitars and how they compare with other factory relic jobs. Players seem to unanimously agree that the Road Worn series deliver in the important areas: tone, playabilty, looks, comfort and vintage inspiration.
Have you purchased a FENDER® ROAD WORN™
Series Stratocaster® or Telecaster® and found, however, that the factory set up was not to your specs or liking? Do you feel that the frets are too sharp or fretting out? Is the bridge set too high? If so, then you might want to consider a pro set up. Indeed, as this model increases in popularity, more and more of them are being brought to me for some AB TLC and upgraded pickups. The idea is to get even closer to the feel, sound and mojo of an expensive custom shop relic, or even an authentic, 45-year old vintage guitar.
I have developed a Treatment that is designed to make your FENDER®
ROAD WORN™
Series guitar feel and sound even BETTER.
'60s Stratocaster® TreatmentTreatment consists of:
Champfer frets and polish
Raise String Tree
Buff and rub out body, headstock and neck
Wax body
Stain neck inlays, knobs and worn areas on body .. seal with nitro
Seal tip and trem tip with nitro
Install Sheptone pups (optional -see below)
Set up, intonate, adjust neck
Seal and stain neck
Smooth out and oil finger board
Set tremolo to stay in tune
Adjust action
A recommended option is changing out the pickups to the Sheptone Strat® AB Custom 60s (Alnico 2). Lead w/ base plate (increases output 10-15%). Middle RW/RP, 2 & 4 position hum canceling. As of this writing I have these in stock. Visit sheptone.com/strat.htm for info and sound clips.
Turnaround time: 72 hours
Pricing
Sheptone Alnico 2, matched set, 6.3K Bridge, 5.9K Middle, and 6.0K Neck, 2 - 4 position RW, with bridge base plate...$190.00
Labor ... complete treatment with Sheptone pickups installation.... $225.00 (save $15)
Labor for treament only (no pickup install).... $150.00
'50s Telecaster® Treatment Treatment consists of:
Champfer frets and polish
Buff and rub out body, headstock and neck
Wax body
Stain neck inlays, knobs and worn areas on body .. seal with nitro
Seal tip and trem tip with nitro
Install Sheptone pups (optional -see below)
Set up, intonate, adjust neck
Seal and stain neck
Smooth out and oil finger board
Adjust action
A recommended option is changing out the pickups to the Sheptone Tele® Alnico 5. Visit sheptone.com/tele.htm for info and sound clips.
Turnaround time: 72 hours
Pricing
Sheptone Alnico 5, matched set, 7.3K Bridge, and 6.8K Neck, potted, neck pickup RW/RP ...$165.00
Labor ... complete treatment with Sheptone pickups installation.... $225.00 (save $15)
Labor for treament only (no pickup install).... $150
You can listen to an audio a clip of an Andy Brauer-voodoo modded FENDER® ROAD WORN™ Series Stratocaster® on myspace.com/andybrauermusic. On this clip, I'm playing through a pedalboard direct. The pedals on the board are a Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer, Klon Overdrive, Dino's Rust Box and Roland CE-1 Chorus. Guitar cable is the Dynamic Arc Ultra by Solid Cables.
I am happy to provide free, complete written estimates for your guitar servicing needs. When you call, mention this blog.
Thanks for reading! I look forward to working with you on your guitar projects!
Sincerely,
Andy Brauer
Andy Brauer Guitar, Bass and Amplifier Repair and Musician Services
5437 Laurel Canyon Blvd. mobile (818) 631-3777
For more than 3 decades, Andy Brauer has been playing, tweaking, and collecting guitars, and has become one of America's leading authorities on getting the right sound on stage and in the studio. Andy Brauer is recognized in the field of electric and acoustic guitars, basses and amplifiers, having served some of the biggest names in the music, film and television entertainment industry. Brauer has recently worked for some big names, including Al Di Meola, Rooney, the All American Rejects and Blind Melon.
Andy Brauer is not an agent of, nor affiliated with, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. FENDER®, STRATOCASTER®, STRAT®, TELECASTER®, TELE®, ROAD WORN™, and the distinctive headstock and body designs of the STRATOCASTER and TELECASTER guitars are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.