Refret pays huge dividends
My 1983 Lloyd LaPlant F-5 (#11) has been needing a refret for too long, but I put it off because my band was busy and I didn't want to let it out of my sight for an extended period of time.
In the meantime, I found myself moderating my string attack, even avoiding certain notes that were guaranteed to "buzz and clank" -- a foolish economy akin to putting off a trip to the dentist while decay sets in.
I finally got an opening in my schedule of a few weeks and contacted luthier Dave Houchens, maker of the "Bryce" mandolins, who lives in North Garden, VA, a few miles south of Charlottesville (Bryce Mandolins).
I've always admired his work and my friend and picker/collector of fine mandolins Tommy Burnley has always spoken highly of his craftsmanship.
I dropped my mando off on a Friday evening with a worklist that included a full refret, nut replacement (bone), bridge adjustment, neck finish removal, tailpiece replacement and neck scoop.
"Want it back by next Friday?" said Dave.
"Huh? Uh, yeah, well, if it's not too much trouble -- is that enough time?"
"Sure. No problem, unless I run into something unexpected."
And a week later, there I was picking it up and hanging around at the shop for an impromptu jam session with some of Dave's friends.
The most surprising thing in all this was the effect the refret and other repairs have had on my playing. I am attacking the strings in a way I never did before and the instrument is responding with more volume and definition. It's obvious now that I was holding back and my playing was too tentative. Just like a gradual change in my vision, it went unnoticed until I got "new musical lenses". Everything looks sharper!
The moral of this story: Don't put off those repairs! Those deficiencies are affecting your playing!
"Got time to breathe, got time for music" -- Briscoe Darling
Bookmarks