Tips from John Cruz of Fender Custom Shop

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  • čas přidán 9. 10. 2011
  • This a video from Fender Custom Shop and it is very useful, imo.
    guitarism-tr.blogspot.com
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Komentáře • 412

  • @roddygogo7772
    @roddygogo7772 Před 3 lety +17

    The technician Legend that is the Mr John Cruz. Our gain...Fenders loss.

  • @gastonruiz10
    @gastonruiz10 Před 2 lety +8

    Smoothing up and polishing the vintage bridge saddles on a Strat is the most overlooked maintenance tip ever.
    I started to have a weird buzz on the high E string no matter where I fretted it and I was starting to lose hope until I found this video. When I restrung I noticed there was a burr on the high E string saddle so I smoothed it out as shown at 1:17 and boom, problem solved!
    Recently, I started having the same problem with the B sting so I can confirm that this really does happen and I can't be the only one... However, I have never seen this issue addressed on any CZcams video or forum on the internet.
    This is CLEARLY a must on any guitar with these type of vintage bent steel saddles.
    Great video, very useful tips!

    • @ramencurry6672
      @ramencurry6672 Před rokem

      I lubricate it with oil about twice a year to make sure it never corrodes and keep an eye on it. If I have to I buff it in a similar he does it in the video.

  • @bluzzedude8111
    @bluzzedude8111 Před 7 lety +5

    My Strat came from your very shop and it is THEE most awesome and balanced instrument I've ever held and when people hold it they are amazed at how this incredible guitar feels..I've had it 17 yrs and it's as beautiful as the day you guys sent it to me ! Thank you so much...and thanks for your great tips on upkeep !

  • @kevindoyle9667
    @kevindoyle9667 Před rokem +1

    The man, when it comes to starts imo, his attention to detail is next to none. His passion for his work is on his sleeve.

  • @dogbreath203
    @dogbreath203 Před 6 lety

    Thank you John! It's awesome to get info straight out of the Fender Custom Shop! I really appreciate you going out of your way to do this!

  • @SuperJak1989
    @SuperJak1989 Před 7 lety +3

    John is the man! I love how detail oriented he is and his precision !!! I used to work as a CNC operator (the only one in the plant) for a company that makes parts for Fender and I am much Like John with my work ethic, if everyone Put this much care into their work my what an amazing amount of product could be designed! unfortunately its easier said than done and its why Fender Has its amazing custom shop! Love you guys wish I could afford the real deal , but my Squier HSS Affinity does me justice :) its not just a run of the mill guitar anymore after 3 weeks of evenings and weekends tonight She is about to be played for the first time my fingers are already tingly!

  • @brianwalker6849
    @brianwalker6849 Před 5 lety +2

    I love watching John do his maintenance on his relic Guitars so professional and you can understand everything he says !! BW.From the U.K.

  • @drippinglass
    @drippinglass Před 2 lety +3

    I like John. His Master builds were stellar when at Fender Custom Shop. 😀

  • @RandyFricke
    @RandyFricke Před 7 lety

    Another tip for setting up the string tree to help keep the high E and B strings come back into tune is to raise up the string tree by turning out the screw so the strings have less break over the nut. That one thing has helped my Strats immensely.

  • @guitardudeguy3139
    @guitardudeguy3139 Před 7 lety

    Very key to a good working tremolo on a strat. I've been doing similar for years, it works great.

  • @Steve-nq8jc
    @Steve-nq8jc Před 6 lety

    Some great tips!
    I never got Relic'd guitars before I owned one. The feel is completely different, even down to the roadworn ones.

  • @tonelocrian
    @tonelocrian Před 7 lety +6

    thanks a lot John Cruz - good basic maintenance tips to review.

  • @randallabracadabra
    @randallabracadabra Před 6 lety

    Balancing the trem spring tension helps a bunch too. Usually more tension on the bass side springs than the treble side springs, until you get a musical sounding dive with the strings all in tune with each other, during and after trem use.

  • @emmanuelmeyermeyer1083

    Very informative and nice tips! Good job. Bring us more please. 🎸

  • @firdausHITMAN
    @firdausHITMAN Před 10 lety +6

    How do I remove the groves from my guitar saddle without using the ball thing John uses? Thank you.

  • @michaelbrusse4840
    @michaelbrusse4840 Před 7 lety +2

    Great stuff ! At last I was able to get my Strat in tune. Thank you very much.

  • @davidallen346
    @davidallen346 Před 10 lety +4

    its funny making the old parts looking new and making them look old again.

  • @IamBetaCloud
    @IamBetaCloud Před 8 lety

    excellent tips john, very cool! thank you my friend!

  • @HeROsiNhEaVeN
    @HeROsiNhEaVeN Před 7 lety +10

    John wound up the B and E strings on those vintage tuners like the wizard that he is......for the normal guy like myself , to seat those 2 strings in the center of the tuner and keep it from slipping off while winding it......is a monumental task...!...the 2 thinnest strings are always a challenge on those vintage tuners...

    • @Nightbreed82
      @Nightbreed82 Před 7 lety +6

      For the two thinnest strings, try putting a tooth pick down in the peg hole after you poke the string in. Then you can tighten the strings without them slipping out of the tuning pegs. When they are tight, just pull the tooth pick out.

    • @HeROsiNhEaVeN
      @HeROsiNhEaVeN Před 7 lety +2

      Paul Leach thank you kindly Sir, I will give it a try next time I change the strings or work on the guitar, which will be soon....

    • @Nightbreed82
      @Nightbreed82 Před 7 lety +1

      You're most welcome sir!

    • @j_freed
      @j_freed Před 7 lety +2

      You can see he pre-wraps a few times around each peg by hand before
      winding & with the hand that's not doing the winding KEEPS tension
      to the peg until it's safe to let go.
      It's easier than it looks & actually saves time because you need fewer turns of the tuning peg if you first secure the string with a few manual wraps.
      On non-slotted tuning pegs you can get started by going through the slot hole with the string end then wrapping the string once over & once under the string end, pulling it secure and holding it tight with the right hand & then tuning up the slack with the left as before.

    • @HeROsiNhEaVeN
      @HeROsiNhEaVeN Před 7 lety +2

      jonas brave I'm not referring to fender standard tuners, but the "vintage"tuners are more of a challenge, it is a different animal....you have to seat the strings in the center of the peg straight in a downward position, then wrap it around the peg, while holding the string in position but because the B and E strings are so thin, it usually slips out even if using your finger to hold it in place when you begin to wrap it....it usually takes me a couple of tries before getting it....this only occurs with the two thinnest strings...it's pretty common.....I guess when you do it for a living, it becomes second nature as in John Cruz case....

  • @jimcamp2423
    @jimcamp2423 Před 2 lety +1

    Agree, I like an extra wrap or two on the pegs. One can even reuse the same strings if you ever swap a part elsewhere. I swapped a pickguard, the strings were totally unwound from the pegs intentionally. They went right back on as the strings still had plenty of life left in them. The Strat I bought the seller had cut the strings too short an couldn't figure out why the 9 wouldn't go back on it as he was trying to sell a 5 string in the parking lot out of the trunk of his car.
    Those saddles& bridge plate need to cleaned up more thoroughly to look new again, just take them off and clean them with WD40, dry them off and put them back on. If you're taking the trouble to polish the saddle notches, just do the rest of it. Then again maybe this guitar is meant to have patina relic elsewhere. I figure the string change is the ideal time to oil Rosewood or whatever Fender uses these days that isn't maple and get any other crud off the fretboard & fret. I do that once a year for that annual string change point, regardless of how many times during a year I changed strings out.
    I find Q-tips don't retain excessive amounts of solvent or lubricant and the cotton tip threads is easy on spreading it, doesn't take much and the Q-tipis ideal. Anyway, everyone has their own method and cleaners. I've had zero issues with the things others say to never use. the Q-tip is sparingly miserly and controls excessive lubricants so the cleaners others say no to use never mess up the guitar.

  • @j_freed
    @j_freed Před 7 lety

    The other friction point is behind the saddle, at the oval hole going into the top of the bridge block. You can slide a small piece of electrical insulation on the string so that it does not grab this sharp area or break or go out of tune. Another Rene tip.

  • @leehunter1246
    @leehunter1246 Před 7 lety

    It makes sense to polish and lube the saddles. Thanks

  • @stevebakerguitar
    @stevebakerguitar Před 9 lety +7

    John Cruz is a builder /player. I think i spoke to him on the phone thru a sound guy while i was playing at the HOB in Vegas.... I grew up in Fullerton ca. worked at fender in the 70's then helped Leo open musicman the the switch to g&l.... I was friends with john English worked with him & his dad Jay... on tone & setups... Leo said to me many times. More than 2 winds on the machine head will make it stick and go out of tune... Only graphite the nut if you have to.... Clean your guitar every time you change your strings... I still have a strat from John English one of the shop builds we fell in love with... We argued many times on this relic idea.... He was right it will make a lot of money... I Miss John.

    • @mnevison1319
      @mnevison1319 Před 9 lety

      stevebakerguitar My favorite amp of all time that I used for years was a Musicman RD 100 Greatness

    • @onpsxmember
      @onpsxmember Před 7 lety

      If it won't go out of tune if you do the proper stretching and if the windings are one turn below the other. They even increase the tension on the nut without the stringtrees, that's why some guitar techs do more windings. They also want the last turn of the string before it goes down the neck to be below the hole on the tuning peg. The edge of that hole can break strings. The last part of it gets moved during bendings and tuning...if the string breaks on the tuners, that's the main cause.

    • @danielstoddart
      @danielstoddart Před 7 lety

      Agree-how you wind the strings makes all the difference if you're concerned about tuning stability and good downward pressure on the nut. You want the windings to progress evenly down the tuning post. You see Cruz doing this by holding the string down against the headstock with his index finger while the other hand winds the string. If done slowly and carefully, this makes it easy to ensure that the last wind leaves the tuning post as low (close to the surface of the headstock) as possible.

    • @NoelAndersonhere
      @NoelAndersonhere Před 6 lety

      I have a CS John English strat from 1995. Would love to know more about the man.

  • @67stratify
    @67stratify Před 3 lety

    Great video, Thanks John

  • @ivanmaguina4974
    @ivanmaguina4974 Před 7 lety +4

    Buenos consejos, gracias.

  • @SJ.71
    @SJ.71 Před 5 lety

    Excellent tip and technique

  • @angrytroll27
    @angrytroll27 Před 2 lety

    With buffing up the saddles can you do something similiar with a floyd rose saddle?

  • @ralphbenites1819
    @ralphbenites1819 Před 2 lety

    Great a tips.if you got the time to clean the saddle bridges remove them one by one and really detailed it to a shine.

  • @conpappas1066
    @conpappas1066 Před 2 lety

    Thanx John that's great. Show us more of your secrets.

  • @juliocavalera9293
    @juliocavalera9293 Před 7 lety

    hai thanks for video , i want to ask about pickup and pots wiring, is the voltage of caps like an 160v&200v&400v&600v take effect or not for sound or its important influence or notthing???

  • @Babillonia
    @Babillonia Před 7 lety

    John Cruz - what r the components of the cream SRV tech used to lubricate his guitars?

  • @guitarfoundry
    @guitarfoundry Před 6 lety

    i recently sold a John Cruz fiesta red relic strat with a birds eye neck..Lovely guitar..I had it for years, but could never quite gel with it....With some of the money i made fro the sale (i doubled my investment), i purchased an old vintage reissue..although it doesn't have the 'mojo' of the relic, it is so much nicer to play, and sounds far superior..i loved it immediately...I have several custom shop guitars and i love them all, but JC just had something missing for me...

  • @shakeyperspective3981
    @shakeyperspective3981 Před 7 lety

    Were the strings already pre-cut or did he just not cut and utilize the full (uncut) string. Anyone? I've always used the "2 tuning post" rule of thumb then cut, but can never get more than 1-1/12 wrap.

  • @GuitarGemme
    @GuitarGemme Před 7 lety

    Flitz is the best safest polish you can use on the wood as well as fretboard. Used it for years. They are NAMM usually.. Or Flitz International Waterford ,WI

  • @john-zw9rw
    @john-zw9rw Před 4 lety

    Look at that beautiful fretboard....... thats a nice piece of wood...

  • @richardmartin1491
    @richardmartin1491 Před 6 lety

    Would like to know what other people think of their American Fender Stratocaster Eleit!!
    Or if you just happened to test one out! I love it's playability an easy up and down neck!
    I would not trade mine, but was thinking of, making the S-2 SWITCH , near the second tone switch
    When pushed, work and not lose control of my volume! But besides that I think it's real veritil. Adding
    That Gibson like sound with and fender, the best of both! I play mine through a Marshall JVM 410 h.

  • @josephliptak
    @josephliptak Před 8 lety +1

    what's the name of that grease, lube for the saddles?

  • @jake2355
    @jake2355 Před 5 lety

    The top of my saddles have turned black and I can’t get it off. The guitar is only 2 years old.
    What actually causes this ‘blackening’? Is it corrosion from sweat or?...

  • @intrsoul
    @intrsoul Před 10 lety +1

    @Geotubist- he's not "polishing up the relic" he's cleaning up areas of wear and tear from playing. Maintenance.

  • @1sttvbn
    @1sttvbn Před 3 lety +1

    He built my sunburst ‘69 Strat. About 20 years ago.

  • @PRStremonti97
    @PRStremonti97 Před rokem

    I have a srv strat i just noticed the tuners are staggerd apposite, are they supposed to be like that because of the flipped bridge?

  • @DavidLeighAlsace
    @DavidLeighAlsace Před 7 lety

    So do you pre-cut your strings to a specific length before winding? I see that you're just putting the strings in the tuners and winding tight right away. I have excess to cut off AFTER winding (though I have the hole going through the tuner pegs instead of that hole in the top of the pegs like on this video).

  • @ariamach1
    @ariamach1 Před 7 lety

    So any formula for the string lube aka nut lube bridge lube?

  • @Feckerhead
    @Feckerhead Před 9 lety

    Nice video looking forward to these ideas out when the time is right. Oh and do you guys sell those Custom shop button UP's I totally want one?

  • @NealB123
    @NealB123 Před 6 lety

    I have an American Dlx with the LSR roller nut. I don't use the trem so I decked it using 5 springs and tightening the claw screws but it still won't stay in tune. Strings immediately go flat on bends (well stretched strings). I think the strings are binding in the roller nut but that's the problem that roller nuts are supposed to eliminate and I don't know what to do about it. Any ideas?

  • @logangabriel7066
    @logangabriel7066 Před 7 lety

    I love watching people who are good at their craft do what they do. this guy was like watching ballet! that string change made me tear up a bit.

  • @quiggycarboncat4280
    @quiggycarboncat4280 Před 8 lety

    Hi John - How can I get a Fender Custom Shop shirt like your wearing? I'm a 5XL tall. I have a 1989 Strat that you built and I love it - Thanks for all that you do!

  • @guitarcheologist
    @guitarcheologist Před 7 lety +1

    What surprises me is that a guy who knows so much still has the height adjustment screws poking up so they's dig into the side of the palm. Many of us have figured ways to get around that and make for a much better playing experience.

  • @JohnOhkumaThiel
    @JohnOhkumaThiel Před 2 lety +2

    I went with GraphTech nut, trees, and bridge saddles, plus Fender locking tuners on what was originally a Squier Bullet Strat. My guitar doesn’t go out of tune except with a change in temperature, even with all the bending and using the tremolo-so pretty much the same effect where everything is smooth and slippery, no friction and no slack. Before all that though, it was a nightmare; it was difficult to even get it in tune, any bending immediately de-tuned the guitar, and using the tremolo was absolutely impossible.

    • @mefirst4266
      @mefirst4266 Před 2 lety

      YEA WHY USE A FUCKING RUBBER !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • @ramencurry6672
      @ramencurry6672 Před rokem

      Graph tech is high quality. An upgraded Squire can actually surpass a Fender if it’s modded awesomely good,

  • @frankquinn1296
    @frankquinn1296 Před 7 lety

    I have one of the rosewood front and back neck strats, and has the same saddles, but i cannot get it to set up right, the saddles are sitting at and angles and if i bend a string i have to move the strings back to the middle of the saddle, its a complete pain in the ass , i wish i knew how to fix it without having to pay 120 bucks for a set up for what is basically a brand new strat

  • @rustycockering9925
    @rustycockering9925 Před rokem

    I notice he makes no mention of the break angle of the strings over the nut. I wonder if there is an ideal angle for tone and for tremolo usage? The low E ends up having the sharpest angle when you wind down the post, as John does here. Eddie Van Halen used to wind the low E up the post, believing a shallower angle helped prevent the string from getting hung-up in the nut when using the trem.

  • @MrPiper321
    @MrPiper321 Před 7 lety

    Use Navel Jelly for rust. Quick, clean, no wear at all. Great stuff.

  • @kylekoplien2924
    @kylekoplien2924 Před 9 lety +17

    That's gotta be the quickest I've ever seen someone string and tune a guitar, jeez lol

  • @kenlesko7559
    @kenlesko7559 Před 7 lety

    White lithium grease WILL deaden the strings a little. But, tuning stability is definitely increased! A good trade off if using the bar.

  • @wmsollenberger8706
    @wmsollenberger8706 Před 3 lety

    On rust removal, have you ever tried gun oil and a "wheat" penny? kills the rust without changing the surface.

  • @jollyrigger1560
    @jollyrigger1560 Před 6 lety

    Good info/technique. Thank you. Kinda surprised you didn't mention cleaning the neck and oiling the wood. When cleaning guitar necks, what product do you use? I've always been told lemon seed oil.

    • @KennyHolloway
      @KennyHolloway Před 6 lety

      It's the old wax vs. oil thing. I think it depends on the fingerboard wood type, the age and wear of it, the inlay density and the preference of the player. Nothing wrong with lemon seed oil applied in moderation.

  • @N5KDA
    @N5KDA Před 6 lety

    I noticed you run your string tree real high. I can I tell the optimum position for mine?

  • @StevenChisham
    @StevenChisham Před 6 lety

    so what is "this stuff" that is being used as lube?

  • @sergios5825
    @sergios5825 Před 3 lety +4

    What is “the stuff”

  • @alohamark3025
    @alohamark3025 Před rokem +1

    Here's a plug for Rene Martinez: his string lube is GraphitAll, and is available by mail order. Just google the brand name.

  • @rjake61
    @rjake61 Před 9 lety +1

    Dental floss/pick for string nuts. The plastic ones with the pick at the end. No mint or wax, just plain floss.

  • @RodTDavies
    @RodTDavies Před 7 lety

    I use graphteck ferroglides or string savers and graphite all in the nut and string tree, nut and string tree are Tusk,no Mettle to mettle contact,i never break strings or go out of tune.

  • @ericheine2414
    @ericheine2414 Před 7 lety +1

    do you ever tin your strings?

  • @jgpie
    @jgpie Před 4 lety

    What’s the rubber wheel he’s using?

  • @lancefraijo8585
    @lancefraijo8585 Před 6 lety

    what is the ingredient for SPring LuBE thanks John, also what kind of strings did you use ?

    • @KennyHolloway
      @KennyHolloway Před 6 lety

      The string lube he used is available here: www.texasguitarwhiz.com/products/graphitall-white

  • @kleetusd5032
    @kleetusd5032 Před 7 lety

    So, what's the mystery lube? Looks like white lithium

  • @bobwasmycat
    @bobwasmycat Před rokem

    What bridge is that? The plate looks thick and more like a milled plate rather than bent steel like a Fender bridge plate.

  • @Geno5
    @Geno5 Před 6 lety

    Great video

  • @GuitarLava
    @GuitarLava Před 8 lety +1

    A Strat reminds me of a classic car without automatic windows.

  • @wholewheaties
    @wholewheaties Před 3 lety

    Uhh...so what is the substance you rubbed on the saddles???

  • @hhattingh
    @hhattingh Před 2 lety

    What is that 'sauce' from Rene Martinez?

  • @JacobZirkin
    @JacobZirkin Před 4 lety

    Is there another alternative way to clean the saddles like John does?

    • @joshjenkinson1929
      @joshjenkinson1929 Před 4 lety

      Jacob Zirkin you can just use sand paper but it’s more fiddly. Maybe some 400 grit followed by finer grits / polishing compound to shine it back up.

  • @Bluestouse86
    @Bluestouse86 Před 6 lety

    Dream job. Lucky

  • @AlexWBKK
    @AlexWBKK Před 9 lety

    I alsways wonder about the different saddles from Fender. I know some are stainless steel and the other ones are what we call "Nickel" in germany, dunno about english word. Is there a main difference in tone or playing-feeling? And can one do this method to clean the saddles also on the non-stainless ones?
    I have the nickel ones and would want to make the surface of it more smooth. Its not 100% even, there are small dots from the nickel and so the strings stick there rather than run smoothly over it when using tremolo.
    Also, there are sooooooooo many different topics about this in the net where half of the ppl swear theres no difference in tone of various saddles, the other half has people in it that dont even care and the rest says theres a big difference. So what?
    If there is no difference, why does Fender have 3 different saddles for MiM, MiM Classic Series and US Strats? And i dont mean different sizes and all that, i mean the material used. If there are 3 Strats with vintage saddles, the Standard MiMs have the full chrome-look, exactly like the bridge-ground-plate itself. Then there are the MiM Classics that have a bit differetn materials. Its still chrome and nickelish but this time the color is bit darker as the ground plate. And then we have the US Standard and all that that again have different material. Its not nickeld and doesnt have the chrome look at all. Also it has a darker color than the other 2. These are stainles steel i guess.
    So why do this? For me it looks that this is a step to make a difference in quality, even if the costs would be the same if all 3 models would get stainless steel. Or is stainless steel so much more expensice as nickeld steel, even with the process to make these 2 meterials?
    I would be very happy to get some insight here.

  • @LILIEVANNES
    @LILIEVANNES Před 8 lety

    Is normal to have a neck gap on the bass side, on a high grade luthier guitar ? I don't think so....what do think about it ? Regzrds from France

    • @guitarwhores753
      @guitarwhores753 Před 8 lety

      I don't think so, but I had a close up experience with Jimi Hendrix's 68 Woodstock Strat and it has a gap. It's a CBS era Strat, but I was still kinda surprised. I have a video of it going up this week and will show it there. Zach

  • @AndrewBonicaRR
    @AndrewBonicaRR Před 9 lety +5

    "Back in the saddle again!!!" ;-) LOL

  • @tpzid
    @tpzid Před 9 lety +15

    IMO the drill buffer should have aimed in the opposite direction. You can see particulate matter blasting into the bridge pup cover. If there's any metal content in that, you have shavings on the polepieces.

    • @guitarwhores753
      @guitarwhores753 Před 8 lety +2

      It's rubber, but yeah, should spin the other way to avoid hard ti reach mess.

    • @tpzid
      @tpzid Před 8 lety +3

      +Guitar Whores If there is any oxidation/corrosion of the metal, it would not make any difference if the wheel is Rubber or not, it would spray the pups with particulate matter with a possibly metallic component.

    • @danielstoddart
      @danielstoddart Před 7 lety +3

      I'd also want it going away from the pickups. One good tip I learned from a luthier is to simply cover the pickups with a dry cloth while buffing the bridge saddles (if you don't want to remove the bridge assembly).

    • @v8hotrodlincoln
      @v8hotrodlincoln Před 6 lety

      Actually, I was wondering why he didn’t just put a piece of good ‘ol 3M masking tape over the pups while you perform this operation... just a thought... idk? Lol.

    • @allstopblue5717
      @allstopblue5717 Před 6 lety

      Did you ever consider that maybe just maybe any kind of tiny microscopic particles in this situation just aren’t going to actually cause a problem? I think you guys are just overreacting. It’s not a big deal. This guy is the top master builder fender has. lol but hey if you’ve read the forums guys go insane about little,things like that swearing it will totally destroy your pickup and ruin your guitar etc. again overreaction

  • @thepowerbill1
    @thepowerbill1 Před 7 lety

    Coolest cat ever. Hopefully will have one of his starts before I die!

  • @goku8586
    @goku8586 Před 7 lety

    what is he putting in the nut grooves

  • @j_freed
    @j_freed Před 7 lety +1

    I would not use petroleum jelly or oil based anything, I would use silicone grease or graphite aircraft lube.
    I think Guitar Lube is silicone based so that it won't break down plastic parts like some nuts.

  • @grimblesqueem2291
    @grimblesqueem2291 Před 6 lety

    Why are the pickup pole pieces on the high E and B completely bottomed out. I understand that having staggered pole pieces is vintage correct... But down as far as possible?

    • @KennyHolloway
      @KennyHolloway Před 6 lety

      The output of unwound strings is higher. The optimal clarity is when the pole piece is set at the apex of the wave.

  • @sparx550
    @sparx550 Před 8 lety

    Fascinating.

  • @tweedguitar9103
    @tweedguitar9103 Před 6 lety

    What are those mini drill wheels called, the rubber one and the miniature buffer ? good stuff.

    • @KennyHolloway
      @KennyHolloway Před 6 lety

      The tool is a Dremel. The rubber polishing wheels are available online at Stew-Mac.

    • @tweedguitar9103
      @tweedguitar9103 Před 6 lety +1

      Thanks Kenny, much appreciated. cheers

  • @avgmaster1
    @avgmaster1 Před 3 lety

    I think this guy made my Clapton. Perfect job.

    • @italianbaboon9970
      @italianbaboon9970 Před 3 lety

      he got fired in 2020

    • @donnix1192
      @donnix1192 Před rokem

      @@italianbaboon9970 He should have never been fired, it was ridiculous and asymmetrical. Fenders loss, he is killing it making his own custom guitars.

  • @davidg-oo1ox
    @davidg-oo1ox Před 4 lety +2

    John is amazing. Fender was stupid to let this genius go. Maybe I’ll be buying a Gibson Cruz model?

    • @sccanj
      @sccanj Před 4 lety

      Gibsons are junk, and I have one

    • @davidg-oo1ox
      @davidg-oo1ox Před 4 lety

      @@sccanj I have some great collectors choice ones

  • @GuitarHouseLima
    @GuitarHouseLima Před 7 lety +3

    I think he just set a new record.

  • @onpsxmember
    @onpsxmember Před 7 lety

    What i miss here is tightening the machine heads. They often loosen over time and it costs sustain and is a much bigger factor if it's on a guitar with a vibrato-system. When you take of the stringtension by moving the block, the tuners shouldn't move around one bit. Just slightly tighten them without going mental.

    • @nimitz1739
      @nimitz1739 Před 2 lety

      You are right. But the guitar he was working on had vintage tuners. They don’t work lose like modern fender tuners.

  • @jayteesgear
    @jayteesgear Před 3 lety +2

    Tha MAN!!!

  • @darrtetzy
    @darrtetzy Před 7 lety

    My Stratocaster has rust on the bridge too - it built up after playing the goddamned thing for thirty years, no artificial aging required.

  • @WarlockCore
    @WarlockCore Před 8 lety

    excellent vid, any tips how how one may touch up a very small paint nick?

    • @programmedwrong3795
      @programmedwrong3795 Před 8 lety +2

      Don't do it. Keep the nicks. I hate when people relic guitars, but when they are naturally worn they are beautiful.

    • @therideneverends1697
      @therideneverends1697 Před 7 lety

      though if you do want to touch it up, if its a lacquer finish you just use lacquer of a matching color. If its a poly finish nailpolish. Technically nailpolish is lacquer, but its more suited for brushing in as it drys slower.

  • @yeoldepirate783
    @yeoldepirate783 Před 7 lety

    John Cruz,, My Loan star Start has the finish chipping off at the neck on the nut side of the frets,, any ideas?

    • @Avalanche1368
      @Avalanche1368 Před 7 lety

      John charges about $6,000-$8,000.00 for a reliced guitar like that...Just saying.......

    • @beefsoda1
      @beefsoda1 Před 7 lety +1

      Avalanche1368 what does he do hit it with a dremel?

    • @therideneverends1697
      @therideneverends1697 Před 7 lety

      Basically, yes

  • @RigoesAmorrigotovar
    @RigoesAmorrigotovar Před 8 lety

    Hotrails height?...Strat...I'm getting some electrical feedback...especially the bridge still fine tuning it...just straight to Marshall mini home amp nothing fancy...One thing I did notice that the 1+2 combo position on the 5 way does sound real good the middle pup is very "low height"and it sounds good not "great" ...and the neck well for the moment$$ I just put the stock bridge pup that it came with...lol...sounds pretty good actually....and yes from my post u can tell I'm a newbie...but I've learned enuff to know my babe Strat could sound better...should I keep on "fiddling it...or go fiddle my wife or/and my "Gibby" Gregg Bennet clone...it does have a great two 'buckers "duncan design" and I love em...great sound bridge...the neck sounds like underwater...So now going 4the pearly gates...not the humbuckers but my wife's "pearly gates" ...cheers love...;0p love 2hear back from u

  • @w1third
    @w1third Před 6 lety

    Does John Cruz only build strats? Or is there a John Cruz Tele?

  • @N2F1
    @N2F1 Před 7 lety +5

    What is that Secret Sauce lube stuff that you mentioned?

    • @victorrene3852
      @victorrene3852 Před 7 lety +8

      N2F1 mayonnaise

    • @onpsxmember
      @onpsxmember Před 7 lety

      Use a teflon grease and apply it by dipping a sringe or a fine needle in it. You can pull the needle through the nutslots and only a small film will be applied instead of a big chunk.
      graphite from a pencil is a bad idea cause it gets shoved together by the string, that dirt flies around and cause it's magnetic it might get into your pickups and can screw them up.

    • @utubehound69
      @utubehound69 Před 7 lety +1

      I've use graphite & 3 in One Oil for years never had an issue.

    • @gkol69
      @gkol69 Před 7 lety +1

      +onpsxmember Graphite is not magnetic, otherwise your pencil would be attracted (or repelled) by your pickups. Many guitar brands make their guitars with graphite nuts. I "write" with my pencil inside the nut slots just before I put new strings (make a smudge that covers the entire slot cavity) and then the tuning is smooth and no catch ups when bending strings.

    • @chrisschultz5655
      @chrisschultz5655 Před 6 lety +1

      It’s called big bends nut sauce

  • @michaelzschoche2746
    @michaelzschoche2746 Před 4 lety

    I thought he was going to tell us how to clean the custom shop relics as in how to wipe them down ie a microfiber cloth with police, or just the plain cloth etc, but nope. I’m afraid to use any products on mine.

  • @Itaivarochik
    @Itaivarochik Před 8 měsíci +1

    When he loved the same 11 to 49 ❤❤❤❤ pretty common I know… still..

  • @thefungai1
    @thefungai1 Před 8 lety

    is the lube you're using available to the general public?

    • @SalmonFume
      @SalmonFume Před 8 lety +1

      +Nick Caiano It's a mixture of graphite and vaseline that works fine. Graphite is just pensil lead, scrape it off and mix it with the vaseline, afterwards you can apply it on the string tree and the bridge. On the nut I'd advise to only use grapphite, it sticks in there on it's own.

  • @nienturi
    @nienturi  Před 11 lety

    Good point :)

  •  Před 7 lety

    is that a 62 strat?

  • @jamesmcmillan7845
    @jamesmcmillan7845 Před 8 lety +1

    Get a Super Vee Blade Runner, I purchased an American special and would not stay in tune. So bad, I would not play it. I got the super vee, blade runner tremolo problem solved and the sustain is amazing!