Home
Testimonials
Gallery
About Me
Local Music
Misc.

Gallery | << page 1

  • This is a 2006 PRS CE22 that I bought for my son, Justin. I got it from my good friend and customer Josh. It spent most of it's life in a case. I cleaned it, did a set up and conditioned the fret board. I handed it to him and said "Happy birthday, congradulations on graduating, and merry Christmas". I killed three birds with one stone.
  • This is Deb, she brought in a few acoustics for some servicing. This one is a late 60's Framus 12 string. It is in fantastic shape but needed a major detail, fret board service, and set up. It is a very cool guitar with no issues and plays nice. I am not very good with 12 strings and it took me a few minutes to play some chords clean. When you hit clean chords on a 12 string you will smile.
  • This is a Hofner CT Custom I picked up off Craigslist recently. It has a plain finish on it but has some really nice pick ups and electronics. It sounds as good as any of my other guitars. I like the neck too because it is wide and easy to play. It had a couple high frets that I had to fix. I don't do fret work for customers because I am not that comfortable doing it for others. But I did not pay much for it and decided to do it myself. I set up with 9-42s and it plays perfect. If I need fret work on my other guitars I take them to Daniel at Arlington Fret works.
  • Russell brought this 1969 Yamaha hollow body in for a set up and service. I cleaned the pots as they were a little noisy. I had to replace the input jack. It could not be saved. A set up and detail and it is ready to go. Fantastic shape for a 40 year old guitar. The sound you get from it is very vintage. I really like this guitar.
  • This is a very cool ESP Grass Roots guitar that a good customer of mine bought on eBay. It was brought to me as you see it. I had to put it together from a bag of parts. The Floyd Rose was even in pieces.
  • Here is wiring I did to it. No mods, just standard humbucker wiring with a 3 way switch.
  • Here is the finished product. I set it up with 9-42's and it plays with ease. A very stylish metal guitar.
  • This is a good friend and customer on mine J-Reid. He has a good eye and luck finding guitar's like this one. It is a 1979 Carvin DC 150. It is in fantastic condition. Really nice. It's built like a tank and plays like a Porsche. Ok, I am a little jealous I did not get this one.
  • This is a 15 year old B.C. Rich. I replaced two of the mini pick up switches and did a set up and service on it. It cost $500 back then. It is one nice guitar.
  • Hal brought this very rare Breedlove Mark-1 electric guitar in for services. Only 5 of these that were made. Hal is very proud of it and he should be. It is a pleasure just to see it in person. Top of the line looks,sound,and feel. It has it all. I was really impressed with it. But he picked it up so now I can only look at the picture of it,lol.
  • My son Jason is posing for one of the pictures this 2007 B.C.Rich Eagle that I picked up recently. It is a real player. It has Ebony fret board,mother of pearl inlays,and 24 frets. It has had the pick ups upgraded to PRS HFS pick ups and coil tap for each one. It weighs a ton and plays like a dream. The HFS pick ups are a great fit to this guitar. It sounds incredible.
  • Same guitar,just no son in the picture this time. I said something about doing some work for me and I turned around and he was gone. I am just kidding. I am very proud of Jason. He is a drummer with a talent that has no limit. I just smile when I watch him play. He got the beat.
  • Laurence is picking up his 1988 Hamer Californian guitar. He wanted it set up and serviced because he was thinking about selling it. When he played it after I was done with it he said (I don't know,maybe I will keep it). It really really plays well. You can put your hand around the neck and you just know it is a player.
  • My friend Bill is enjoying his Schecter. I did my normal set up and services to it. He knows alot of different music but he likes to write and play gospel music. He is one of those players that when you see him play you can see the natural rhythm in his hands. He makes it look effortless.
  • Recently I received a nice guitar from a generous customer who said if I wanted to get it back in shape I could have it to donate to a good cause. I repaired a few small problems,gave it a set up and service and put it on Craigslist. It was hard to pick one person to give it to as I received many e-mails about it. I ended up giving it to Krista who is graduating from collage and will be teaching at a elementary school. I hope she teaches many children the joy of music. I applaud her for directing her life to help and teach our leaders of tomorrow.
  • Venkata is picking up his 2000 Deluxe Stratocaster.He brought it in for a set up and service.When he came in to pick it up he started playing classical music on it.It was cool to watch and hear.
  • Darren brought in this closet classic for some service and repairs.It is a 1983 Stratocaster.It was originally fiesta red but has faded to a somewhat orange color.I replaced the all the pots and set it up.The guitar is in excellent condition and is alot of fun to play.
  • Luis has had this Epiphone/Gibson Les Paul hybrid for about 15 years.He brought it in to have the volume pot replaced.I never ever try to up sale a customer but after looking at it I had to give him a call.The set up was so far out that I am sure it was not much fun to play.He told me to go ahead and do the set up.When he came in to pick it up he played it he got a big smile on his face.He told me that he was very happy with the results.
  • John is picking up his Schecter Gryphon.He did not like the Duncan designed pick ups so he had me install the Seymour Duncan SH4 and Jazz set in it.I also did a set up and service.After talking with him for a while I found out that he knows alot of people that I know in the Fairfax area.We had a few laughs and as he was leaving he said "its a small world".I agreed.
  • Peter brought in two guitars for me to work on.He is holding his Peavey Foundation bass for the picture.I cleaned it up and did a set up.The other guitar was if I remember right a 1968 Guild D-35 acoustic in excellent condition and was a real tone monster.
  • Here is Steve again picking up a custom Warmoth Stratocaster he had dropped off with me.It was built with top quality parts but had several issues that I had to straighten out so it would play correctly.I had to put a little over time in on this one but it turned out nice.
  • This is a really cool guitar.It is a 1987 Carvin and is in really nice condition.It has a few small bumps and bruises because it has been played,not sitting in a case.I have worked on many many guitars over the years but I am always seeing models in that I have never seen before.I wonder how many different models have been made over the last 40 years or so.
  • Justin is happy with his new Agile LP.I did the set up and fret board service.He wanted it set up in Drop C tuning and he wanted the action low and fast.Many of the songs he plays are in drop tuning so when he handed it to me to play I was kind of lost for a minute as I am stuck in A440.Did I mention he plays good?.Yea,he plays good.
  • Every once in a while you see a guitar that you just have to have.I saw this on craigslist and I had to have it.It is a 2003 ShowMaster HH Gold top special edition series.It is in mint condition.They were only made for 6 months.7/2003-1/2004.It has 2 high output pick ups and 24 jumbo frets.The bridge pick up is a Fender Santa Ana and the neck pick up is a Fender Atomic.When I got home with it I went to work on servicing it.It still had the original strings on it.I set it up with new strings and conditioned the fret board.It plays as good as it looks.I really have to stop buying guitars,well at least until the next one shows up.
  • Every once in a while you see a guitar that you just have to have.I saw this on craigslist and I had to have it.It is a 2003 ShowMaster HH Gold top special edition series.It is in mint condition.They were only made for 6 months.7/2003-1/2004.It has 2 high output pick ups and 24 jumbo frets.The bridge pick up is a Fender Santa Ana and the neck pick up is a Fender Atomic.When I got home with it I went to work on servicing it.It still had the original strings on it.I set it up with new strings and conditioned the fret board.It plays as good as it looks.I really have to stop buying guitars,well at least until the next one shows up.
  • Tom brought this Takamine acoustic in because he was having issues with the playability of it.It is a very nice guitar and just needed a set up.I also did a fret board service and detail.The glare on the pick guard area is a reflection from my celling light.The finish is really nice on this guitar.Tom was very pleased with the results.Check him out on YouTube or at http://www.tombouch.com
  • Kevin brought another guitar to me.A 2005 MIM Stratocaster.I did a set up,fret board service and detail.He likes to play rock and he plays in his church.He lives pretty far away and it took him a while to get this one to me but now he has another good playing axxe for his arsenal.
  • Eric,who was referred to me by another customer dropped off the Epiphone Sheraton.These guitars are around $600 and in my opinion you can't get a better guitar for the money.I replaced the stock pick ups with some Duncan P90 fat cats.I also did a set up and a fret board service.The fat cats made it a new guitar.It was a very big difference in the quality of the sound.He was really happy and as I have mentioned before stock Epiphone pick ups tend to sound muddy.Now it sounds clear and bright.As I told Eric this guitar has one of the best necks I have seen.A guitar is only as good as the neck.You can have the best pick ups,electronics,hardware,strings,etc.If the neck is not right then you just have a expensive piece of furniture.
  • How cool is this guitar?.Syed(owner) brought this to me after he picked it up from getting it painted.All the hardware and electronics were out of it so when I put it back together I had to be very very careful not to mark the painted picture.It says-"It comes to life" by the left horn.It has EMG passive pick ups and they really sing for you.Usually I play a customers guitar for 15-20 minutes after I am done with it to make sure it is as I want it but I kind of got lost playing it and played it for over an hour.
  • This Washburn bass belongs to Rafael who is the lead singer in my sons band.I cleaned it up and did a set up and fret board service.Rafael is a night time DJ at a local Washington D.C. radio station and he always mentions my service while on the air so I wanted to do this for him.I intercepted it before it got back to Rafael(a friend of his had borrowed it) so I could surprise him with it.
  • My friend Clay has owned this 1959 Chet Atkins Gretch since it was new.Back then it was $623 dollars.As you can see it is in fantastic shape.He let me play it a few times but that was with two armed guards standing next to me in case I tried to make a run for it.
  • Glenn brought another guitar to me to put together.A Stratocaster body and a MIM neck he got off eBay.I replaced all the electronics,new GFS pick ups,set up and service.I am not a big fan of the humbucker GFS pick ups but the single coil pick ups are fantastic.Glenn and I were both amazed with the sound we were hearing.
  • Mike is picking up his 1999 Martin acoustic.I did a set up,fret board service and detail.It is one sweet guitar.He wanted me to get it to play easy so his wife could learn on it.Mission accomplished.
  • Mike's dad Allen liked the work I did on the three guitar's Mike dropped off with me so he brought this 1968 Gibson acoustic in for a little service.The set up was already perfect on it so I did a detail,fret board service,and new strings.A real tone machine.I had to grab it out of his hands and play it one more time before he left with it.I was surprised with the condition of this guitar.The man took care of it all these years and it shows.
  • Tom had me do a set up on this Squire Stratocaster.I was shocked to find out it had jumbo frets.First Squire I have ever seen with jumbo's.I don't know about you but it takes alot of concentration on my part to play jumbo frets without me pressing to hard and making it go out of tune.It definitely takes a light touch which I do not have.
  • Here is my sons practicing at Stairway East in Manassas.Jason is on drums.Justin is on guitar and our good friend Rafael(singing) is commanding the stage.
  • It looks here like Jason is listening to Rafael while Justin just keeps on playing.You know how a guitar player is.They go into their own little world when they plug in.A tornado could come through and they would not even notice,lol.
  • Josh is picking up his Gibson E335 that I set up and installed new tuners.He was one of my first customers after I went public with my service.He is not only a very good player but has tremendous amount of knowledge of guitar's.He can walk into my home and see me playing a guitar and tell me what it is and what year it is with just a glance.
  • Bob is picking up his custom shop Stratocaster and Spector bass.He brought them in for some service and repairs.On the Stratocaster I did a set up,fret board service,and detail.I replaced the input jack on the bass.One of the perks of this hobby of mine is I get to not only work on but play alot of cool guitar's.
  • Breedlove acoustic.I did a set up and service on it.I don't play acoustics as much as electrics but when one like this comes in it is a pure pleasure to tinker around with it.It is effortless to play and resonates with the best of them.
  • Brian dropped off a few guitars with me for some services but when I asked him for a picture he didn't hesitate to grab the Gretch.The Breedlove in the previous picture is his too.He has some very nice guitar's and he knows how to make them talk to you.Everyone that comes in has their own style of playing.They might not notice but when I watch them play I study what they are doing and pick up alot of tips and riffs from all the different styles.If I was only 30 years younger I could be a rock star and I would still have all my hair,lol.
  • Joe brought this very cool 1972 Stratocaster in for some repairs.I replaced all the wiring,pots,input jack,and a new 5 way switch.I also set it up.The pickups(original) have their own vintage sound.Very true and bright.The neck still looks new with no cracking anywhere on the finish.How many times do you get to play a nice vintage piece like this one?.Not many.My thanks to Joe.
  • My buddy Glenn brought this Agile Tele in and I replaced the stock pick ups with some GFS pick ups.It really brought the guitar to a new level.Good pick ups make such a difference.I also set it up and a nice detail.To me it was a whole new guitar.Glenn was very happy with the results
  • This is a Bradley Les Paul copy that I think is one of the law suit guitar's.I am not sure of the year.It was bought at a yard sale for $15 dollars.I took this picture before I did anything to it because I had a good idea how it would turn out.After Tom(owner) dropped off the parts I went to work.The next picture is the same guitar after I was done with it.
  • This is Tom picking up his Bradley.When I pulled it out of the case he got a big smile on his face.To get it to look like this I had to work on the finish for quite awhile.I installed a new bridge and stop tail,set up,fret board service,polish the frets,and repaired the toggle switch.It also needed a nut and I actually had an old one with the correct spacing that I was able to cut and fit it to the guitar.It plays as good as it looks and it looks good.
  • Joe is picking up his Gretch Electromatic hollow body and an Epiphone Les Paul.I did the routine set ups and services on them a few months ago.He brought both of them back to upgrade the pick ups. I installed new Seymour Duncan super distortion bridge pick ups on both of them.A distortion pick up in a hollow body?.Well let me tell you that I was very curious about how it would sound.The result-it sounded fantastic,clean or dirty.Good call Joe!!!.
  • Andy is picking up his Crafter acoustic/electric guitar.I did a set up and service on it.I had never heard of Crafter guitar's.It is a very nice guitar.Easy to play with good sound.It also has a very comfortable neck.
  • Matt,who is a fireman in Fairfax is picking up his brother's Oscar Schmidt hollow body.As a present for his brother's B-day he brought it to me to get it back in shape.The set up was so far out that it was not any fun to play.You had to have forearms like Popeye to even make a bar chord.I think his brother will like playing it now.
  • Clay and My son Justin tearing it up.Justin can play circles around both of us.Ahh to be young again.Justin gets a big smile when I ask him if he wants to play my PRS.He never says no,lol
  • Clay and myself jamming together.He has played for over 40 years.He makes it look so easy.He is responsible for getting me into playing guitar.He has taught me alot over the years.He has forgotten more then I know about playing guitar.He can play anything from Chet Atkins to Van Halen.
  • Dave is picking up his 72 re-issue Tele thin-line and a old F-5 Fender acoustic.I replaced the pots,repaired the 3-way switch,and did a set up and service on the Tele.On the acoustic I did a set up,fret board service,and replaced one of the tuning keys with one I had laying around.The acoustic sat for many years and when I started working on it a giant mean ole spider came crawling out of the sound hole.My wife ran out of the room,fast.
  • Dennis is picking up his 2008 Zak Wylde custom.After I did a set up on it it played better then my Epiphone Les Paul.I really thought I had the best playing Epiphone around.I was wrong.This one really does feel and play like a real LP.
  • Chris is picking up his B.C. Rich guitar.I repaired a short in the toggle switch for him.The picture does not show just how cool looking his guitar is.He added some accessories to give it that nasty bite your face off look
  • Josh is picking up his 1991 Honey burst Les Paul.I replaced the stock pick ups with a set of Lollar pick ups.I also did a set up,fret board service and detail.This is one of those guitars that just feels better then most other Les Paul's.With the Lollar pick ups it will blow you out of your chair.
  • Laurence is picking up two of his guitar's.1994 Stratocaster and 1975 Gibson SG.I serviced and set up both of them.He sure knows his way around the fret board.
  • My buddy Clay is happy with his Les Paul style Hondo.I upgraded the pick ups,new CTS pots,wiring,input jack,fret board service and set up.It has a baseball bat size neck.I mean huge like the Les Paul's they made for only 6 months in 1968.You would be surprised how good it plays.
  • Antony stopped by to pick up his 1988? HM Stratocaster.I did a set up,fret board service and replaced the toggle switch for his coil split.He also donated a Rogue Stratocaster to me that I will use the parts off it to make a guitar or two that I can donate to a local school.
  • This is my most recent project.A Squier body,a neck and bridge off a Rogue Strat,and my favorite mod,Hot rails pick up in the bridge with coil tap.I will drop it off at the school when I have five or six guitar's to take there.
  • Matt is happy after he played his Squier.I did a set up and service.He is very talented and can play quite a few types of instruments.
  • Michael Coy of Mikes studio is surprised how good that Squire Tele plays and sounds.But if you can play as good as he can anything will sound good.
  • 1975 Fender bass.I did a set up,fret board service and detail.There are many miles left on this one.
  • Bill is a proud papa holding his baby's.2008 Gibson Les Paul and a mid 70's Cortez lawsuit guitar.I serviced and set up both guitars.Awesome guitars,awesome player!
  • One of Michael Coys toys.Roland equipped stratocaster.He dropped it off and said (do your magic to it).So I did.
  • Hisham is picking up his Schecter.He switched out the pick ups and I wired it up and did a set up.I watched him play some Arabic music on it.Very cool,very talented.
  • Michael Coys bass player dropped this off to get it straightened out.Manufacturer is unknown but it looks cool and plays great.
  • Eddy is dropping off his SG for some new pick ups and a set up.I love SG's and I used to have one but my son said he needed it more then me.I have lost more guitar's that way.
  • Peter from Silver Spring brought this Tokai bass to me.I replaced the pick ups,installed new Schaller tuning heads,new CTS pots,new wiring,input jack,set up,and a nice detail.It plays better then it looks.
  • Pretty and dangerous, a real player.I put this together as a present for my friend Clay.It was just a body I bought off Craigslist.I installed a very nice satin finish neck,hotrails pick up with coil split.I love the sound you get out of a hotrails when it is split.
  • Pretty and dangerous, a real player.I put this together as a present for my friend Clay.It was just a body I bought off Craigslist.I installed a very nice satin finish neck,hotrails pick up with coil split.I love the sound you get out of a hotrails when it is split.
  • Brother and Sister? When Clay and Justin plugged those two in that night there was a major disturbance in the force.
  • Ibanez Exotic Wood Acoustic-When it was brought to me you could drive a truck under the strings and fret board.A set up and some filing and it was then playable.
  • This is a 2004 Limited Edition SX Strat.I think they only made 1200 of these.This particular model is really put together well.Most of the SX Strats you see now are the about $110.This model was close to $550 new.The quality is better then a MIM Strat but not quite as good as an American made Strat.
  • This is a mid 80's Epiphone/Gibson Strat.I brought it back to life with some custom wiring, hot rails pick up,set up and some TLC.
  • This is a mid 80's Epiphone/Gibson Strat.I brought it back to life with some custom wiring,hot rails pick up,set up and some TLC.
  • Old Harmony-This guitar was in a garage behind some clutter for over 20 years.It had 4 or 5 different colors of house paint that had been spilled on it.It was a mess.I think it turned out nice.
  • Custom Strat style guitar with a 80's Epiphone neck.I installed a hot rails pick up with coil tap.I just love the look and feel of those necks.I usually buy everyone I can find.
  • Peavey Patriot (Made in USA)-I did a set up,made a new nut,and installed a new jack.The super ferrite pick ups are really nice.
  • Agile AL3000 - I did a set up and service.Agile makes a nice guitar!
  • Agile AS-820 - I did a set up,fret board service,installed new pick ups,and detail.It is one sweet guitar.
  • Schecter SW-3500 - I did a set up,serviced the fret board and detailed it.
  • Carlos is picking up his Greg Bennett signature guitar
  • My main guitar.2006 PRS Custom 22.Tone,tone,and more tone.Don't reach for my PRS,you might pull back a stump.
  • 2005 Epiphone Les Paul.These are great guitar's for the money.The stock pick ups tend to sound muddy.I installed a pearly gates in the bridge and a PRS Dragon 2 in the neck.It already has a great neck and with good pick ups it is now a great player.
  • Clay,Justin,and myself making some noise on a Saturday night.
Thumbnail panels:
Now Loading

 

 
sharpenyouraxxe.com ©2010