Fenix Guitar Repair

Below are some frequently asked questions:

Q: Is it possible to achieve zero buzz in a setup?
A:  Yes, but this assumes several things must either be done or adjustments must be possible.  First, your nut action and its slots must be at the proper height so the open strings do not buzz.  Second, all of your frets must be perfectly leveled.  Third, you cannot have action lower than ~2mm.  Fourth, your neck angle must be correct.  Lastly, the player must use the proper technique, and this last point is not always appreciated.  Musicians play a significant role in this with respect to their playing technique.  Now, this should not be anyone's goal, in my opinion.  The instrument should be set up to that musician's preference, whatever they may be, including having the action lower than 2mm. It's just a question of compromise and technique.  Yes, with the action at, say, 1.5mm, you may be a little buzz, but it's not going to come through an amp, and you can mitigate that by not being so heavy-handed in your technique.   The goal should be to strike a balance between playability and the instrument's inherent limitations. 

Q: What's the best way to reach you?
A: Use this site's chat feature or complete the contact form.  I will usually get back to you right away.  You can also reach me immediately by clicking on "Let's Chat!" at the bottom of every page on my website.

Q: What is your turnaround time?
A: It's between 2-5 business days for setups and common repairs, and consideration needs to be given to where you are in the queue.  I usually have 2-5 instruments I am working on at any given time, and I will do them in the order they are received, with the only exception being if I am waiting on a part.  In those instances, the instrument in question will be set aside until I get its part(s), and then it will be next in the queue.  Some more complex repairs take additional time to complete, and this would be discussed with you before proceeding with them.

Q: Do you work on other instruments besides guitars and basses?
A:  While my core business is centered on electric guitars and basses, I also work on acoustics, semi-acoustics, and hollow bodies.  If you're asking if I work on other non-guitar related instruments like a mandolin, for example, I do work on these from time to time; however, instruments like violins require special tooling and training, so that's not something I offer.  If you're unsure, you can just ask me.

Q: Where are you located?
A: I'm located in Sugar Land, and when we schedule an appointment, I will provide more specifics.

Q: Why are you by appointment only?
A: I'm a one-man shop, and while this allows me to be extremely competitive with the services I offer in terms of pricing, it also means I need to be very deliberate with my time management and the best way for me to do that is to schedule drop-offs and pick-ups in such a way that it doesn't disrupt the work I am doing while still enabling me to provide good customer service.

Q: Can I pay an expediting fee to move to the front of your queue?
A: No, I don't think it's ethical to charge someone for the privilege of skipping ahead of others.  One of the first socially acceptable behaviors we're taught in kindergarten is to stand in line and wait our turn; let's not stray from what those teachers taught us.

Q: What about if I have an emergency and I need my instrument services right away?
A: Then I'll need to review those situations on a case-by-case basis.  If, in my judgment, you're really in a bind, then I can try and make some accommodations, but this would be an exception, not the rule.  In such cases, an additional fee may be assessed.

Q: Do you play an instrument?
A: I'm a guitarist, but like many guitarists, I also play the bass, though I don't consider myself a bass player.  I haven't gigged for many years and don't have any plans to start.  I do have friends that I get together with from time to time.  If you're interested in hearing me play, you may listen to the videos of me doing repairs that are available on my homepage.  I'm playing either the guitar or bass on their backing tracks.  I would characterize myself as a competent guitarist, but certainly not exceptional since I've met some real geniuses in my line of work.

Q: Do you repair amps?
A: No, I do not.  In my experience, there are good guitar techs, and there are good amp techs.  Some have claimed to do both equally well, but I've never come across anyone who lived up to this claim.  I think the critical troubleshooting aspects are transferable, but the equipment and tooling are vastly different.  To be truly exceptional at one would take a lifetime of knowledge.  It is possible that such a person exists, of course, but I am not that guy.  If you do need your amp repaired, please let me know, and I'd be happy to refer you to someone who does offer that service, does it well, and at a reasonable price.

Q: Do you take on apprentices?
A: I don't, since doing so represents a large time investment, and I don't have the time.  If you're interested in learning instrument repair, there are many paths available to you, from the internet to actually going to a luthier school.  I can say this: learning these days is much easier than when I started; you literally have the entirety of human knowledge available to you via the internet, and if you want to learn, it's all there.

Q: Do you paint and refinish instruments?
A: I do what I would characterize as traditional paint jobs.  So, if you want graphics of flames on your instrument with the American flag behind them, then I'm probably not your guy.  On the other hand, if you want your Strat painted Seafoam green using nitrocellulose, then I can help with that. 

Q: Are there any repairs you don't do?
A: I do not do neck resets on acoustic guitars or basses.  This is a conscious business decision and has nothing to do with my abilities.  I don't do them because they are expensive, time-consuming, and pose a high risk in terms of liability.  In most instances, neck resets only make sense on high-end instruments, hence their inherent liability risk. I used to do them but never really enjoyed the process as it was stressful.  One day, my jig broke, and I took that as a sign to stop offering them as a service.

Q: Are all of the services that you offer listed on your website?
A: No, I would characterize what's listed on my website as the most common services and repairs offered by any shop.  In instances where you require something that's not listed, I will provide an estimate based on an hourly rate.

Q: How did you learn your trade?
A: Long before there was the internet, there was something called a library, and I would take a bus and check out books.  Also, I subscribed to guitar magazines and read many articles on different repairs.  I went out of my way to establish friendships with many local repair persons; though I never formally apprenticed with any, I did watch and ask a lot of questions.  I purchased old instruments and attempted repairs on them.  After some time, I began to have some success, and my friends began bringing me their instruments for setups. Then, I began investing in proper tools, and as I learned more complex repairs, I began to do others, and it just snowballed from there.  I've been repairing instruments for over 30 years now, and I am still learning...I don't think that ever stops when you're passionate about something.

Q: Do you have repeat customers?
A: About three-quarters of the customers I see are repeat customers.  Finding a good tech is like finding a good barber; musicians tend to stick with the ones they know.  There's nothing worse than getting a bad haircut except for getting a guitar back not to your liking.  I've been lucky to have very few one-time customers, and typically, those who visit me once do return and become repeat customers.  Really, it all comes down to my listening and good communication.  What a jazz player wants is completely different than a bluegrass player.  Even closely related genres like rock and metal are different.  I try to open my ears to what my customers are saying and the type of music they're playing.

Q: There's a question I have that's not listed here what should I do?
A: Contact me using this site's chat feature or complete the contact form.  I usually get back to you right away.