Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hello all, Matt here. I've been a member for a month or two now, really only browsing the forums until now. I've been a guitar player for about eight years, five of those years spent closely studying Jerry and Bob. I like to think all music has purpose, no matter what the genre. For me, The Dead and JGB serve to make me happy. Any time I have a bad day I throw on Dear Prudence form the Warfield (live album version) and it takes me away to happy land. It's the coolest feeling in the world to be part of a community that solely focuses on being happy, and being Kind. Anyway, thanks and I'll see you all in the tone threads!

Welcome, Matt. BTW, I'm an hour or so down 95 from you in NOVA.

Hi Matt, and welcome to this nice little corner of the net! We are everywhere!

Bill, the guitar one

Hey, neighbors! Frederick, MD checking in!

Once we're all vaccinated, someone remind me to invite y'all local folks over my place for a huge Dead jam. I have a fully equipped basement studio (drums, PA, bass amp, mics, etc.) and plenty of bassist and drummer friends who could join us.

I’ll be there!

For the time being, do any of you guys know any good guitar techs in the Balmer/DC/Nova area?

I’ve been trying to mod a used guitar into Wolf with OBEL and all that. I’ve been trying since April. I took it to a guy in Rockville a bunch of times but he was never able to get it to work.

I contacted Phil but he said he’s not taking any new orders.

I’ll pretty much go anywhere if I can find someone reliable. I can’t for the life of me figure out where the problem is in my build and it’s been almost a year of frustration, buying new parts, etc.

cyrusj83 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:05 pmI contacted Phil but he said he’s not taking any new orders.

Jacoby?

cyrusj83 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:05 pmI’ve been trying to mod a used guitar into Wolf with OBEL and all that. I’ve been trying since April. ... I can’t for the life of me figure out where the problem is in my build and it’s been almost a year of frustration, buying new parts, etc.

I went through something like this when Jerry-fying my '99 USA Reverend Avenger. I LITERALLY, piece by piece, removed everything from the guitar's circuit but a pickup, the OBEL, and output jack (if you think I'm kidding, see the pic below) and it STILL didn't work correctly. On a hunch, I then added an on-board buffer. Problem solved. To this day, I can't tell you why but it is what it is!

Philtone. I think his last name is Jacoby.

I had an HHS arrangement with splits and I think all the extra cables that needed to be grounded caused a flaw in the circuit.

Rebuilt yesterday with SSS and OBEL. Bartoloni buffer. Had a Wald, thought that was the problem, was incorrect, put it in my OBELless strat, and it sounds glorious.

So I don’t think it’s the buffer. I think I suck at soldering lol.

cyrusj83 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:04 am Philtone. I think his last name is Jacoby.

Glad you got your guitar straightened out.

Phil Jacoby (Philtone) is an absolute master luthier/tech. He built (2nd pic) my Tiger (3rd and 4th pix) for me from bare planks (1st pic). It's the best guitar I've ever owned. Interesting that he's not taking further orders at this time. His one fault is, in the past, he's taken in more work than he's been able to complete in timely way, so I commend him on his current move.

Thought I'd add, I have two DC guitar techs I use, Greg and Justin, both of whom are excellent . They are:

Greg: https://metroguitar.com/

Justin: http://unionstreetguitars.com/

I also hear positive things about: https://actionguitar.com/

For deep level luthiery, however, Phil Jacoby is my man.

This is my 1967 made in Sweden Hagstrom Viking I that Phil Jacoby brought it back from the dead ("restored" would be inadequate for this job). I can tell you, from hand cutting custom, off-set replacement PUP rings to addressing the 'bucker sized routs I hacked into the guitar while an ignorant 18 y.o. college student, serving as my point man with Lindy Fralin to custom rewind my original then-dead Hagstrom single coil bridge PUP, refretting the guitar with tall narrow frets while restoring the cracking fret binding, restoring the guitar's finish by cosmetically repairing numerous gouges and dings, and lots more, his work on my Hag was impeccable.

The first pic is "before."

Jon S. wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:21 am Thought I'd add, I have two DC guitar techs I use, Greg and Justin, both of whom are excellent . They are:

Greg: https://metroguitar.com/

Justin: http://unionstreetguitars.com/

I also hear positive things about: https://actionguitar.com/

For deep level luthiery, however, Phil Jacoby is my man.

That’s awesome!! Thank you! When I said I “rebuilt” it a couple days ago I should’ve added “unsuccessfully” so I’ll check them out.

I’ve heard similar things about Phil’s turnaround. Looks like some people on different forums were complaining a few years ago, but the quality of work sounds stellar!

Just know that the techs I recommended who are otherwise solid are unlikely to have any experience at all with OBELs/Jerry-style guitar wiring.

Just saw this...I'm right down the road in Annapolis! Howdy neighbors!