Brian – the guitar is home! No problems, it took a long time to leave Canada (strikes I presume), but then it was fast, no problems with customs agencies and all. It’s really a great guitar, exactly what I was expecting, it suits perfectly to my playing.
Thanks!

Picture attached: the Piccolo with her old sisters.

Grant, thank you once again for all your help and enlightenment.   I think we’ve found a new guitar shop in you guys for future business.  Very refreshing!

There are not many feelings better than heading down to the 12th Fret with a pocketful of cash looking to buy (another) guitar. Although the store was fairly busy the staff were fantastic in offering help and advice. As I sat and auditioned ten or fifteen guitars no staff member passed by without asking if I needed help. Every question was answered with expertise. There was absolutely no sales pressure – take your time get the guitar that is right for you was the philosophy.  Thanks Grant, Brian and Mike for sharing your knowledge and sage advice.
Finally, there is no better feeling than heading home from the 12th fret with a brand new Taylor 714ce professionally set up and ready to rock ‘n roll.
Thank you all

Gord Brady
(The Brady Brothers)
Bobcaygeon (Hip Town)

I have had this guitar back over a week and I am still ecstatic over what a great job Jay did with that humble Classic Vibe Strat!

After you guys put that Lollar CC pickup in the neck of my tele, I couldn’t find a telecaster style bridge pickup which matched up closely enough with it for my taste while still fitting in a conventional telecaster bridge. So Lollar wound three balanced output CC tele neck style pickup and I bought a CV Strat in order to have something to try them out in.

It was a total experiment. The CV strat had had its fret edges beveled just a little deep and there was some playing room lost on the fret. I asked the fellow who helped me (Scott?), if he could put a new nut in with a bit tighter string spacing to compensate for the loss of playing space and he assured me that he could and we left it at that.

Now as things turned out Jay was the fellow who ended up working on the guitar. Now in a mediocre place when a different fellow works on your instrument than the fellow you talked to, something usually gets lost in the translation. But I’ll have you know, that thing plays fantastic now. The before and after with a new nut and set up was really striking. Way beyond expectations! I had assumed that I would check out how the pickups sounded and change out the neck to a Warmoth or something, once I determined whether it was worth it or not. This guitar is remaining intact now.

I have owned a lot of instruments, have taken guitar building courses and put guitars together myself. Twelfth Fret’s work really is on a different level than other places in this city and it is not only the technical ability but taking the time to understand clearly what the customer wants and treating even less expensive instrument with care.

I couldn’t be happier. This set up has taken this guitar to a different level now. I have a totally unique instrument that can effectively go from playing thick George Benson single-note jazz lines to Dire Straits approved ‘quack’ with the flick of a 5-way switch!

Now that I’ve had it (Manzer 1980) for 24 hours all I can say is WOW! I took it in to my local L&M to order a new case for it and the guys were literally lined up to see and try it out. Also some patrons came over hearing there was a Linda Manzer in the store.  Anyway, I do not regret the investment. Out of the 14 hours of ownership…. I’ve played for at least 10 and showed it off for 2. I think my Taylor 914ce will be looking for a new home. No comparison.

Thanks for everything.

Thanks Gord Barry for you wonderful work on my 1974 Martin D35! It wasn’t in bad shape to begin with but I decided since it was 45 years old it should have that inevitable neck reset. It’s like I have a whole new guitar: it is more responsive, has better volume and tone and all the notes coming out of it are more articulate than ever, just like you said it would be. Even my old and half-deaf bandmates have noticed the difference.
I am in love again!
Thanks so much.