Professional

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!

I came to Twelfth Fret with an all original 1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean which I had purchased online. The guitar was barely playable, would not tune and was just a very expensive disappointment. After a consultation with Scott, he came up with a plan to see if this guitar could be brought back to life. After great communication, Scott put his skillful hand to work and gave me back one of the greatest guitars I have ever played!
I went from totally disappointed with this guitar, to it being one of my favorites. I don’t know how Scott did it, but unbelievable. Great communication throughout the process, incredibly skillful work, and most of all just a real desire on Scott’s behalf to bring this thing back to life as best he could. I went from having totally given up, to very boastful to own this guitar. Completely blown away.

Absolutely no hesitation bringing any future projections to Scott and the rest of the staff. Thank you so much!

Thank you!  I was messing around with a capo at 3rd fret and made this first recording of it.

 Keith’s Recording :

This is definitely the bluegrass sound I was yearning for and was not able to get out of the Eagle. Thanks again!

Happy Customer Keith.

I want to send you this happy mail and thank you for your help and patience. The Saratoga is ringing and plinging and has accepted me as her user. My fingerpicking is improving and I am happy in every way. 

Next year I will buy a  good open back banjo and I mean to buy it from you. I don’t find the Saratoga to be ideal for claw hammer so we must look into the matter. Maybe a fine  top end instrument already used and treated with songs? Greetings from Norway!

Hello Grant. Just want to let you know that my banjolele arrived on Monday afternoon, so the postal strike didn’t hold it up too long. I’m delighted with the quality craftsmanship of the instrument and I was right that the shorter fingerboard is much easier for my 81 year old hands! So, here’s a shot of me with it in my studio with my dog Dusty laying beside me. Now just to harden up my fingertips and loosen up my finger joints! (Dusty loves it too!)
Thanks for everything.

Best. John.

John McConnell – Deering banjolele

October 2018
(Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

Max, just writing to let you know that this guitar is awesome!  Very impressive in every way. I’m keeping it for sure.  Thanks!