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View fullsize Bridge work on this 70’ D18 was pretty straightforward. Top has hardly any runout and the bridge is tightly glued to the top. The saddle is over an 1/8” too far forward from the factory and has played sharp since it was new. I plugged the
View fullsize Refret of the 70’ D-18 came out really nice. Oiled the board, used solder n iron to pull the frets, no exacto scoring. Hardly any chips to deal with. Used rosewood dust n titebond to fill the holes at the 15th fret. I sanded .005” backbow
View fullsize 70’ D18 getting restored. First thing to do, neck reset. Pulled the neck, sanded n chiseled the new angle, fit some shims, glued with hot hide glue. The saddle slot is being pushed back and there’s very little room so it’s very impo
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View fullsize Last Tuesday, I went through anterior hip replacement surgery on my right side (In November, I’ll get the left side done). At 39, I’ve been suffering from hip dysplasia- stage 4 osteoarthritis. Everything went well and I’m at home r
View fullsize 53’ D28 is all buttoned up. After fixing the pickguard splits and gluing the guard back on I capped the bridge plate. I got a rough shape going, drilled my two outside holes, thicknessed it down to .060” using 120 grit on the Byrnes drum
View fullsize 53’ D28 getting some TLC. Very clean example and very cool. Removed the pickguard, glued the “B string” top split. I used a sharp block plane to get some spruce shavings and filled some splits in the top out near the waist. I made s
View fullsize Horsed around with this @stewmac_guitar centered Z-file with added handle today. Welp, you definitely could scar up a neck, fingerboard or top real quick if you slip. I slipped off the fingerboard a few times today. I am a Z file user and this is a r
View fullsize @formfitmetal helped me with this fret crowning tool project. @stewmac_guitar had these Z files on sale for $50 a couple months ago. I grabbed one, asked John to cut it in half and add metal rod to it. One is for narrow wire and one for wide wire. I
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View fullsize 79 “The SG” left today playing better than ever! Installed the neck pup, made a scratch bone nut and after a lil setup work it’s playing spot on! Set of 10’s feel great with smooth bends and vibrato. Refret came out smoking! M
View fullsize 79 “The SG” refret complete. Sent in @stewmac_guitar #158 pyramid wire. I used hammers, jaws and superglue on this one. I wicked black ca down the fret tang into the slot too. That filled the edge and gives a great look with the ebony bo
View fullsize 79 “The SG” getting a refret. Nasty split in the board too. Oiled the board, used solder/iron to remove the frets. No exacto blade scoring here. They came out great, always a relief no matter how many times I do it. There’s always s
View fullsize This Friday night the band is playing the Coralville American Legion. Should be a fun night of rocknroll! Early ish show so stop on out!! Werd up yall 🤘🙏😎
View fullsize Now that the weather is nice I was finally able to spray the headstock face on this Epi LP custom. I used semi gloss rattle cans, a foam block and P400 sanding every handful of coats. I warmed the lacquer/rattle cans in warm water and laid the headst
View fullsize Couple clips from Saturday night. New song and the solo bit out from Dreaming of You. Next performance is this Saturday at @theblackangeliowacity I’ve got another couple tunes going and will be in the studio this week. Workshop is busy as eve
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View fullsize GOAT Iowa singer/songwriter 🙌 @joel.sires sporting the new Dave Helmer Band shirt embroidered by @drellasam 🤯😳 Come pick one up this Saturday at @wildwoodiowacity. Tunes start at 8pm $10 Dave Helmer Band, @katieandthehonkytonks @blast.choir
View fullsize Incredible lineup at @wildwoodiowacity this Saturday night! So happy @katieandthehonkytonks are coming to town! @blast.choir is gonna start the night off, they’re gonna bring the house down! My band and I will be closing the night. Come have so
Dave tightening a ukelele in his vice.
Dave inspects bridge re-glue on guitar.
Dave holding a guitar seminar at Hermit Music Festival in Kuna, Idaho.
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