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About paul wilczynski
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Anything concerning building, tuning, theory of construction. Specialist in finishing (40 years' experience); extensive knowledge of Rickenbacker instruments of all vintages. Rckenbacker factory connection on personal level; ONLY licensed Rickenbacker luthier in the world.

Experience
Extensive. I build and restore electric and acoustic guitars (steel string and nylon classicals). I build all of Rickenbacker's acoustic instruments in my own shops in San Francisco and Healdsburg, CA. I write two online columns with a total of over 15,000 posts since January, 2005. Google my name or my screen name, "jingle_jangle".

Organizations
American Guild of Luthiers.

Publications
Mostly automotive and hobby (in the past).

Education/Credentials
Manage the University Department workshops(Industrial Design) in SF, also have taught and written design and fabrication classes for almost a decade. Have produced online classes, written curricula, syllabi, etc. Run an online forum for my students (500 in number).

Awards and Honors
Awards won for product, vehicle, and preschool toy design in the past.

Past/Present Clients
Rickenbacker International Corporation, Waterstone Guitars LLC, many Fortune 500 companies before I worked in guitars (I ran a design studio for 22 years). I have hundreds of individual--private party--customers.

   

You are here:  Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Guitar > Guitar Making and Repair

SubjectDate AskedExpert

Crash 311/18/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I recently purchased a Standard Stratocaster (Artic White) and wish to customize it to look like ...
  A: John, There is no magic in replicating the Crash 3 Strat's graphics (or the graphics on virtually ...
Nitro-Cellulose burn....11/17/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have a Martin Acoustic, 2007 model, and after placing in a free standing A-frame guitar rack for a ...
  A: Greg, Your information is correct. I'd let the guitar sit for awhile in its case, and let the burns ...
Re-attaching classical guitar nut.11/17/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I just received a broken classical guitar from one of my friends as a gift, but the nut was ripped ...
  A: Ah, a Doubting Anthony! As I tell my students, I wouldn't suggest it if it wouldn't work--why would ...
Re-attaching classical guitar nut.11/16/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I just received a broken classical guitar from one of my friends as a gift, but the nut was ripped ...
  A: Anthony! This is probably the easiest do-it-yourself gee-tar repair that anyone could do. If there ...
classical guitar bridge11/15/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: heyy i have an aria acoustic classical guitar the i got from my friends grandpa that had it sitting ...
  A: This is a pretty specialized thing, usually done by pro luthiers with proper tools. To do this ...
refinishing of body11/13/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have a MIJ strat made around 87 that I am interested in buying if the price is right and it is ...
  A: The only belt sander that I'd use on the body would be a wide-belt stationary one. Definitely not a ...
tuning bridge11/8/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: i have an tune- o - matic bridge and it went crazy on me and started buzzing like crazy so i ...
  A: Dustin! Seems like you've got two problems here. 1. The guitar bridge was buzzing. (BTW, bridges ...
first string issue11/6/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I recently bought a Gibson J-180Ec used at a large music store. they replaced the strings and i ...
  A: Well, Scott, now that the less-likely and more complex possibilities have been taken care of by our ...
classical guitar bridge11/6/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: heyy i have an aria acoustic classical guitar the i got from my friends grandpa that had it sitting ...
  A: Brent: The most important thing here is not gluing the bridge, but clamping it properly after ...
warping11/5/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: What exactly is warping? I have a Ibanez GRG170DX and i bought it 4 months ago. i notice that the ...
  A: Nikhil: Warping, at least where guitars are concerned, is the distortion of a piece of wood (body, ...
S.g tuneomatis sadlles11/4/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I need two replace the saddles. Is tis easy two do myself? the Pin across the brigde, Two pull it ...
  A: Jeff: I think I'm reading your question correctly...except I don't know what you mean by "the pin ...
Stratocaster !11/4/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I'm a Strat's fan but I don't like Fender's strats ! Is there any other manufacturer which makes ...
  A: Rick: You don't tell me specifically why you don't like Strats, so I would have difficulty steering ...
New Guitar Neck11/4/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I just bought a neck off of the internet and it is a pretty much a blank and my question is what ...
  A: Hey, Ross: A wax or oil finish is not enough to protect a maple neck from absorbing dirt, sweat, ...
refinishing of fretboard11/3/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have a MIJ strat made around 87 that I am interested in buying if the price is right and it is ...
  A: Dave. The short answer to this question, is "no". Once fingernails dig into a maple fretboard and ...
Acoustic guitar bridge11/1/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: My high e on my acoustic guitar was was slipping out of it's slot on the bridge. I thought I would ...
  A: Mark! You don't mention what brand and model guitar we're discussing here, so I'll have to be ...
Rickenbacker Acoustic Question10/27/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have a Rickenbacker Shiloh that I bought new around 2000 and I took it to have a pick-up installed ...
  A: Dax. It seems like the neck is distorting the top on your Shiloh. If the neck is straight, and it ...
rickenbacker 73010/27/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: Do you have any Rickenbacker 730 guitars for sale?
  A: Larry! I build these to order under license to Rickenbacker International Corporation. Each one is ...
Ringing on E string10/26/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: This relates to my Daniels steel string acoustic, manufactured in Westchester County, NY, which I ...
  A: Dave: First off, no matter what, the neck on your guitar should not have a back-bow, which is what ...
12 string nut10/24/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I accidentially deleted it, but found it again in the past answers . Should the Nut on this 12 ...
  A: J.W.: I've seen nuts that are higher on the bass side than the treble. As long as the guitar plays ...
12 string nuts and saddles10/23/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I recently bought a 1977 Martin D12-18. it has a replacement nut and saddle that im not sure what ...
  A: Do yourself a favor and get thee to a good acoustic luthier, at least this time. Ask him if you can ...
Strings break at saddle10/21/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I've had a lot of problems with strings breaking at the saddle of my acoustic guitar, which is just ...
  A: Your guitar is probably made in China, then...unless you paid over $1K for it. Chinese guitars are ...
Strings break at saddle10/20/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I've had a lot of problems with strings breaking at the saddle of my acoustic guitar, which is just ...
  A: It's gt to be a saddle issue. You don't mention what brand/model of guitar, though. I'd switch to a ...
Strat weak top string10/20/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: The top E string on my strat is noticeably weaker and with a dull and lifeless tone compared to the ...
  A: I've seen this several times on lefty Strats, and I think it has to do with the pickup specs; ...
humbuckers to Dogear P-90's on an Epiphone Les Paul Junior10/19/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: Hey, Im thinking about buying a Les Paul junior, but the only GIBSON les paul junior's i can find ...
  A: The humbuckers have a larger footprint than the P-90s, of course. Although I don't have an Epi here ...
buzz and volume knobs10/15/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: hey paul, hows it going? i have a 2 part question. i have a gibson v with 2 humbuckers and a fixed ...
  A: Robert, This is a pretty easy fix for a tech, and you may be able to do it yourself, too, if you ...
Nut slot too wide!10/14/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I'm building my first instrument and I accidentally made my nut slot approx. 8/32" instead if ...
  A: Hey, Timothy... 8/32" is best expressed as 1/4", which makes it 1/16" wider than the 3/16" that you ...
replacing the top on a les paul copy10/10/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I really need your help for this one!I have this les paul copy with kind of a really damaged top.I ...
  A: Aleksandar, That's a lot of sanding. The tops on good quality Les Pauls (is this a Gibson or an ...
finish sanding grits10/6/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I just bought a near-mint, USA-made electric guitar. The only "fault" are some pick swirls near the ...
  A: Hey Eric/Chaz: IF the finish is polyurethane (not polyester!) then I'd use 3M Perfect-It 3 or ...
fixing a Epiphone Les Paul bridge10/6/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I'm new at guitar and decided to try and change the strings on my epiphone les paul special II by ...
  A: Helen: The thing behind the bridge is the "stop tailpiece". First things first: the two tailpiece ...
clearcoating10/5/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: can I use urethane clearcoat on a electri guitar...Sprayed through Sata mini jet gun...Thanks
  A: Hey, Bruce... I've got a miniJet with a 1.0 (.040") nozzle. They also make one with a .8 (.032") ...
dent in my showmaster neck9/30/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have a problem with my fender show master neck. It has a finish on on and has a dent on the neck ...
  A: Eric, without actually seeing the dent, I can't give any kind of realistic advice. Methods for ...
putting covers on open coil pickups9/25/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I recently purchased a Gibson Les Paul Classic 1960 Gold top reissue, very sweet playing and ...
  A: Todd. The covers on Gibson Humbuckers are held on with solder. Be sure you use the rosin-core ...
building an ibanez9/21/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: Hey, i'm thinking about building a ibanez xiphos body being as i have a ibanez neck thats been ...
  A: Rob. This will not be an easy project, if you've never built a solid body before. The body shape ...
Crack on ovation ultra top,,, caused by new case?9/15/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I have had an ovation ultra for ten years. A couple of months ago I bought an ovation case to ...
  A: Gerard: I think it's unlikely that the case caused the crack, UNLESS you can actually feel ...
Tune O Matic style bridge and Stop Tail Piece9/14/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: i was stringing my guitar a couple of days ago and when i had the strings off i started to clean the ...
  A: OK, Thomas. Here's what you need to do. The post screws for both the stop tailpiece and the bridge ...
Tune O Matic style bridge and Stop Tail Piece9/14/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: i was stringing my guitar a couple of days ago and when i had the strings off i started to clean the ...
  A: Thomas: You don't mention what sort of problem you're having, specifically, but if you could manage ...
Cleaning guitar9/12/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: I inherited a very nice handmade guitar that is in great condition except for the neck. It has some ...
  A: Chris! There are in general, two kinds of grunge that build up on guitars. The two kinds are: ...
cracked along the neck9/11/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: Hey Paul, My Gibson ES-335 has got a long (but subtle) crack running along the neck just before ...
  A: Benjamin! You don't mention how old the guitar is, how long it's been cracked, or what you think ...
guitar making9/9/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: Mr.Paul,I own a special Fender Stratocaster which is from the 60th diamond anniversary of Fender.The ...
  A: Van: Ah, Leo Fender. A very smart man when it came to inventing. But language skills? That's ...
Aging9/3/2008paul wilczynski
  Q: This might go against everything you believe as a guitar builder but i love the look so i have to ...
  A: Hey, Don! If you've read any of my columns or posts, you would know that I am probably the world's ...

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