Gr3y Custom Shop

Gr3y Custom Shop Closing.

2010-03-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Thanks for the continuous support and understanding all these while. However, time has come for me to close down on this small little sideline i am running.

Gr3y Custom Shop started off way back during my NS period. I still remember bringing a homemade pickguard into camp on weekend guard duties to do filing. Those days, a simple pickguard will make me feel really proud and happy. After posting on www.soft.com.sg, i was encouraged that it can be a feasible service job for people who wants to do something special on their guitar.

I still remembered the excitement i have when i found out projectguitar.com! The amount of information there is just beyond my imagination. So slowly and i started to get addicted to buying cheap guitars for some diy modifications. Those days, a completed project makes me really happy.

Soon after, i started offering more services online for modification on other people's guitar. During the start state, monetary reward was really some good encouragement to keep me doing more and more repairs/modification. However as time passes, i realized i am not getting the same feeling anymore.

I got complains for minor or inevitable damages, compensations for repair job that end up wasting both my time and income, lowballed due to market competition and even some nasty remarks. All these were never shown to the public. Don't worry, i ain't going to show them anyway.

It's all these that made me think again. Why will i want to make a pickguard that i charge around $100+/- but uses 5hrs or more of my time and get complains? Is that $100+/- really worth all these?

For a start, my friend told me it's going to be a tough job if i want to carry on. But i told him "This is my hobby and i really enjoy the look on the customer when i pass a completed customized guitar modification back." Now? I think i've chicken out and starting to agree with him.

In anywise, you might want to check out Singapore Kindness Movement Facebook if you are reading this post ;) I've modeled in a photoshoot there :D but.. that's beside the point! What i am trying to convey is that, even a cleaner in a hawker centre deserves your kind words to keep his spirit up. It does not cost you anything but it makes the world spins happier :)

I've decided to close Gr3y Custom Shop because i wish to retain this hobby of mine. I want the initial feelings that i had. I don't want to repair a guitar on a schedule basis. I also want to move back into music creation. I hope you guys understands me and supports my decision.

Anyway in my last official post, i'm showing my last few work with my fellow customers.

Yep that's right! This is the Orville Les Paul that was originally black. The custom wants it in Red Wine. I told him i might have to experiment with the color for a while as i've never done a red wine. I'm surprised for the result i've got here :)

This is what i call a tele that have went for a slim treatment. This guitar belongs to Ben from En-X and he specifically wanted weight reduction by creating an ash hole :D The weird swimming pool routing is as per what he drew :) Don't worry, the pickguard will cover everything anyway.
The last is a Ibanez Jem Universe that belongs to Simon Yong of Zero Sequence as well as guitarist for The Unexpected. This guitar came in with a black and dull pickguard and is not flashy enough for simon. So i initially suggesting doing a pickguard with leds at the side to make it real bling bling. However, after experimenting, that did not work out well. So instead i made him this carbon fibre green edge pickguard. Cool eh!? I've never seen such a sexy universe. Anyway i still gotta do some setup and wiring before sending back to him.
For the last picture in my last post, this is what kind of mess you can get when you do routing in your own apartment. I'm not sure how many of you are willing to do that to your room. Well i did, for quite a while. Oh yes, that's my foot print :D

So that's it!

Thanks for all the support all these while. Gr3y Custom Shop is definitely closing but i ain't stopping my hobby of modifying guitars. I'll still post my work whenever i've done anything nice :)

If you have any questions, you can either leave it here or email to Gr3yCs@Gmail.com

Best Regards,

Vincent

Orville LP update

2010-01-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

After some trail and error, i've finally got the red wine color. This is seriously a lot more work then i expect it to be. Anyway, time for clear-coating!

Hopefully it can be completed before Chinese New Year!

Finally on Facebook!

2010-01-15T05:19:00.001-08:00

Finally i've decided to add Gr3y Custom Shop on facebook!

I've really wondered why i've been hesitating on this move. Anyway i do hope it'll allow easier user usage and faster updates :) This blog will still be intact and updating but you can always start a discussion or do a review on facebook!

Facebook Page Link

Anyway let's take a look at my mischievous side! :)

Now i really wonder how this will sound like but i don't really have the time to complete it. It's so near yet so far!! But i bet it looks awesome already :D

Next a Musicman Bongo came too! This big buddy is doing a simple but yet effective mod! Look at the 1st picture, can you tell what had been done to it?

Yup, fusion bassist would have probably seen this before. It's really something new to me! And surprisingly, the feeling is really good. Because you are not permitted to dig in the strings, it allows your fingers to get back really quick.

Here's a shot of the modded pickguard (really it's just 2 holes).

Don't it looks just like a cartoon face? haha!

and the shot of the beautiful carved wood before painting it.

Merry Axemas!

2009-12-23T18:32:00.001-08:00

I don't usually post non GCS stuff here but it's christmas!
Merry Axemas!

The season of celebration = the season of guitar repair ?

2009-12-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hi folks!

So i believe you've seen the neck refinish of the Yamaha superstrat but i believe i've not mention about some special pickup wiring to be done!

Basically, this is much like a typical wiring but with a twist.
The 1st knob is master volume, which also allows split coils for both the neck and middle pickup.
The 2nd knob is master tone, which also allows split coils for the bridge pickup.
This set up allows a total of 12 possible setting!

Next up, Ben from En-X is definitely 1 strange person! You should see his guitar collection and you'll understand what i mean.
So here we have one of his purple strat and it's here for some unique make over.

From what i know, Ben loves to fish.
Now i know, Ben loves the swimming pool too!
A full swimming pool route! Sorry, the routing is not complete in this photo. There are supposed to be 2 more deeper channel by the side for humbucker mounting. Forgive me, I was too busy with this guitar that i forgot about taking photo!

So why the swimming pool? Yes you've got it right! He got some wacky idea set for this purple monster! I'll leave that for later :)

Oh yes, the BFG Orville!
Nah! It's that black Orville that's now undergoing some serious make over.
Look at those grains! I really wonder what causes them to decide painting this anything but BLACK! If you're to ask me, that's some very sexy grain pattern! The new red wine will definitely bring this Orville back to it's glory!

I've not really handled much of EMG, especially the 7 strings. I'm not much a heavy metal person and i guess people around me are not too. Anyway Cedric of Meza Virs decides that i's time for some nasty 7 string acts but the EMG is just not fitting into his guitar. I'll post more of the completed installation which will require me to route and fix up the pickup.

Mama Mia! Look at this beauty!
I love the looks of Telecaster, especially when they are blonde or golden like this one.
This baby was here for a setup, it's playing really sweet now!

Thanks for reading and hopefully i'll update soon!

Best Regards,
Vincent

Photo Intensive Update!

2009-12-11T02:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks,

I'm sorry for not updating my blog site for such a long time. I was busying with my rock school exam :) Don't worry, I'm back! But while i was away, magical constantly happens in my small little workroom.

Remember the broken Gibson SG? Here's a picture that will put a smile to some of you :)

Although it's not completed, i thought it'll be a good idea to tell you guys she is now in 1 piece and ready to rock in no time! I can't wait to complete and start playing it!

I'm also in the midst of doing some frankentele.. Well at least i've...
Sliced a tele bridge into 2..
...and made some funky and funny decal to match it! The result?
I'll keep it a secret for the moment :)

Speaking of decal.. Recently Benjamin of En-X contacted me to do him a customized decal for his new tele. I'm happy to have worked with him on this. The ideas are from him and i did the illustration and production of the decal.

A classic Yamaha also came into my bay~
What can you do when you've sanded your guitar neck and it ends up looking like this?

Easy! Send to me of course :D
As of this stage, it's almost complete. I'll need to do a little polishing.

Another classic, the Orville Les Paul! This is a pretty beat up old Orville. So the owner decides to repaint it into red wine color. Let's see if i can get it nailed ;)

Sugizo's material finish eclipse?

I hope i can make myself work harder and update this site at a much more constant rate! Your encouragement definitely helps!

Best Regards,
Vincent

Finally an update

2009-11-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

Firstly, i apologies for not updating this blog for such a long time. I've been busying with teaching guitar and most job that came in are small fix like pickup installation etc. Thus the lack of update.

Anyway recently something worth posting came along.

Now if you think Gr3y is addicted to some sort of drugs, you are wrong! Haha! The syringe is for injecting glue during the following repair. I thought it looks cool to post here :D

I'm sorry that I've forgotten to photo the crack. Anyway it's a broken Gibson Les Paul. It's so common for Gibson to break off at that exact area with the same wound! However, this is slightly different. The crack is not big enough for any tools to apply the glue properly and I'm not ready to make the matter worse. I've handled a fair bit of various Gibson repair and as well as neck break cases, it's never wise to expand a crack just so that you can apply the glue.
Let's take a look at the final result.

***Images removed due to owner's request***

Like i told my customer, if there is no logo at that area, i would most probably do a paintjob touch up and it'll be as good as new. The crack line would be invisible just like how the black shecter guitar was done. Also, i noticed there are quite a fair bit of color change at the neck area due to extensive playing. It's pretty impossible to match the color back. A crack line in this case would be better than anything else.

FAQ
1) Will the neck break again after being repaired?
Ans: Technically speaking, a neck with such repair would actually be stronger than the original. However, extensively heavy gauge strings or any other big impact may cause it to break.

2)Is there any warranty if i get you to fix my broken guitar neck?
Ans: I would give you 7day grace to monitor, bring back to me if anything happens. Note, guitar with gauge heavier than 0.11 or suffered from any big impact after collection will not be covered for the 7day grace.

3)How long does it takes to fix?
Ans: Usually 5-7 working days.

4)How much does it cost?
Ans: Depends on case to case basis. Usually from as low as $100 to not more than $200.

Some Acquired Taste

2009-09-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

Remember this? Follow up here.

Yes, after many days of bad weather, it's finally done. As i don't have the luxury of a humidity controlled paint booth, it's not possible for me to paint on rainy days. Unknown to both my client and i,the rainy weather sets in after the collection of the instrument. Not forgetting the deadly Morakot was during that period.

So after painting this white, i realized white guitar in such shape does requires some tasty vision to visualize it. Nice choice of color i must say.

I hope you do like the stuff you see here. I would appreciate if you would follow my blog or leave a comment as these are good motivating food :) Thanks!

Schecter Neck Broke

2009-09-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

My next impossible task is on this beautiful schecter C1-Elite.
Say OUCH!
When Shaun first showed me his images of the broken headstock, i told him it should be a
simple fix and he is lucky. But at that point of time, the headstock was not detached like
what you are looking at now. The first impact create only a big crack at the rear. Oh did i
just said first impact?

Yes! During our meet up, i was helping Shaun to carry his guitar. Naturally i took the sling
and sling it up on my shoulder. Guess what, the plastic that holds the strap in place broke
and causing the whole guitar falling onto the floor for a second impact. I was pretty sure
that Shaun was really terrified at the moment.

"No worries, it's in my hands now", i said.

So the guitar went through some clamping and gluing. At that point of time, i know the steps but i'm wondering to what extend could i perfect the repair to.

Here we have the front and rear shot of what's left after removing the clamp and sanding away the excess glue. Pretty neat huh? The reddish brown is actually the mahogany.

So next time is pretty much repainting the damaged area and polishing it to shine. I guess there is a reason why many people prefers to repair a black guitar. It's the easiest to match color after all.

I always thought that neck with such reinforcement area on the rear of the headstock and neck joint are much stronger. Seems like it's pretty much the same as a normal design. I guess the best design that prevents headstock breaking could most probably be the fender style.

Anyway, the Schecter is now good as new! Well i mean at one glance, you'll probably not know what it had gone through! I hope Shaun is feeling way better now :D

8888 Visitors!

2009-09-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting my blogsite and going through my humble collection of repairs and modifications! Although this site counter was not implemented when this blog started and does not represent the time and effort i've put into my work. I'm still glad that i've now 8888 visits!

The Gr3y Story(simplified)
The story started since the first day i took the daring attempt to risk modifying on my own electric guitar. I wanted something that looks different and special but i was a kid and cannot afford anything expensive. My friends who were richer were all using nice guitars with fancy appearance and those artist on tv is always using something that would cost over 2-3k!

Although that first guitar i modified did not successfully leave the surgery table, i never stop and gave up. The first ever guitar i did all the damage on was a Vantage sunburst superstrat which i bought off cashconvertor(I don't even know where are the guitar shops in Singapore back than)

It was later painted into chrome. Sadly i can't find any of the photo though i do remember taking them. The chrome didn't work out and was ready for a backup plan soon after. So i sanded it and got it repainted. Eddie was very much influencing me that time and thus the following color scheme. Ok i admit i'm being ambitious to paint a chrome and later a frankenstrat color theme when i don't really know how to paint a guitar. But it's this ambitious mind that kept me going.

The guitar may look presentable in this photo but the real thing is not as it seems. The cavity filling is really bad, the paintjob is very uneven and i even tried scalloping on the board but it's a big mess. At current stage, the guitar's neck is already warped and i'm only keeping it as a display in my room. I'm still proud of it being my first ever guitar modification project. Also, the headstock bears the name of a person i adores :)

If you are a budding repair/modification enthusiast thinking about trying out guitar repairs etc, my piece of advice is that this is not something that you can do when you know the steps. There are tones of information floating online(e.g. my tutorials) and as well as in books and video. I'm sure you could google it easily. However, it is much like cooking, the receipe is only there as a guide. To succeed, trail and error at own cost(time,money and effort) is unavoidable. Patience is the key element :)

I'm not sure where will this never ending quest of guitar modding and repairing leads me to but whatever it is, i'm very thankful for all that allowed my quest and hobby to live on! Without you guys, i can't possibly be modding that much of guitars(i can't possibly own lots and lots of guitar right?)

Cheers to 8888 visitors!

Best Regards,
Vincent

Epiphone Joe Pass

2009-09-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

Owner requested to replace the original plain plastic inlays with some real mother-of-pearl blocks.

Though it's a seemingly simple job, the big block makes inlaying on a fretted board exceptionally difficult. I'm glad i managed to finish the task and the owner love the end results. :D

So why MOP? It gives a lively 3D depth with vibrant color of commonly pink,green and blue. It's hard to resist isn't it?

Sick of standard pickup position?

2009-08-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Remember her?
Yes she is back to visit again :) I still remember the first time i saw her, she was opting for a Bigsby bridge installation. Later on she got herself stars tattoo on her neck, followed by a esquire style single ply white pickguard. Now she is back for more!

I start by covering her in some old school woolen blanket to make her feeling cosy.

If my friend(a particular luthier) saw this, he would go.. "that's what happens when your edges are blunt!"

I took some foundation and did some touch up.

Yes, some very unusual position! When we were discussing on paper, it's all a mystery. I'm totally new to see such a pickup installation.

Position 1: Dimarzio Fast Track (Neck)
Position 2: Dimarzio Fast Track (Neck) + Stock Tele Bridge Single Coil
Position 3: Stock Tele Bridge Single Coil

My conclusion is that, this guitar is now something very versatile! The fast track actually sounds good at that position and retains the esquirish look! I do hope to be able to get her owner to do some sound sample of this experimental installation. I say it's Les Paul in the making(the owner not me, i'm just his worker for this project).

Tutorial ( String Changing for Archtop Bridge )

2009-08-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Many people often miss this part when restringing an Archtop guitar. Since an Archtop's bridge is not screwed onto the body or held in place by any support, it is common that people cannot find the intonated perfect position for the bridge after restringing. This problem can be easily solved! Works well for violin or other string instrument of same nature!

1st
Tear a low tack masking tape into 3 pieces. I'm using the 3M blue colored low tack tapes. It should look like the following illustration.

2nd
Make sure you are using the original edge of the tape and then tape it as close to the edge of the bridge as possible. Look at the following picture.

3rd
You'll no longer worry when your bridge came loose after you've loosen your string! Perfectly marked in place. Also do note that i keep the end of the masking tape up. This helps to reduce the chance of creating a ding with your nails or scratching the finish when you are removing the tapes.

Anyway this belongs to my client's beautiful Epiphone Joe Pass model which is currently going through re-inlaying process. He has cleverly opted for the real deal, high grade mother of pearl :D

Tutorial (Decal Application)

2009-08-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

In this post, i'll try my best to show you how to apply a decal to your headstock. Do not skip any of the steps while going though this tutorial. If you have any question, you can simply post in the comment box and i'll get back asap.

1st
Cut the decals to size, keeping a small gap away from the printed area. Check if it fits nicely on the headstock or in your case the desired position.

2nd
Soak them into warm water. Cold or room temperature water will work as well but warm water allows the decal backing to be separated from the decal faster. This allows the glue of the decal to remain. Cold or room temperature water will take longer to allow the decal and backing to separate, also causing the glue of the decal to be less effective. It should take not more than 2mins for warm water.

3rd
Look carefully in this picture, the decal and the backing are now able to slide away from each other. Always slide and not peel like you would on sticker. It should be a very easy and gentle process, soak more if you need to apply pressure to slide it out.

4th
Slide the decal onto the desired location, adjust while the decal while it is still wet. You may use your finger but not any sharp object. The decal is very fragile at this stage.

5th
Use your finger to slide out excess water underneath the decal. Be gentle as the decal tends to tear at this stage. After that, use a lint free cloth or anything mild to wipe out the excess water.

6th
If you have been following so far and not skipping the steps, good. The next info is the most crucial part! The above 5 pictures have a big problem. To apply a decal, always make sure your wood is already sealed with a layer paint or sealer. If you do not do so, the clearcoat will cause a color difference. So basically, the first step is to prepare your desired area with a nice coat of finish. After that, do step 1-5. Step 6 is clearcoating the area. If you choose not to clearcoat it, you'll face decal tearing problem. Decal itself is actually very fragile but decal covered with clearcoat will be very strong.

Good Luck!

Spot The Difference!

2009-08-24T03:49:00.000-07:00

Haha! The above image is just for some self entertainment :) I was restringing a client's guitar and was asked to use this set of strings. The packing for each string got a hand sign to tell you what number it is.. I was mischievous thus the special version of the E string appeared :D

Anyway the Gibson SG project is currently on hold as i need to source for some wood in order to fill the cavity. Here's a simple repaint, price is listed on my price.

The original

After paint stripping

After first layer of white.
Final product will be a glossy white.

Neck Reinforcements Have Arrived.

2009-08-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Alright.. so the neck is now glued back with the headstock.. But is that safe? Considering the tension of strings are pretty powerful. Personally, i'm not that much of a scientist so i'll prefer to play safe. I found some Nato wood lying around and decides to put them into action. For those who don't know, nato are the "asian" mahogany and have pretty much the same characteristic and are often used in guitar neck building.

Sawing these nato into shape is quite ridiculously tough. They are indeed the choice of wood for neck building.

So i carefully mark out where i plan to inlay some reinforcements.

Test fittings are as important as you trying out your jeans before buying. These sits about 3-4mm deep, depending which side you are on.

Finally. Now i have a safer feel when i'm going to string up this Gibby. Don't worry, since i'm going to coat it with white paint, it won't be visible. Anyway, it still looks ok :D

Saving Gibson Sg

2009-08-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

So recently i acquired a Gibson SG from my friend.

Friend: Hey vincent, you want a free guitar?
Me: Oh why not? What is it?
Friend: It's a Gibson SG
Me: WHAT?! YOU KIDDING ME? FREE?
Friend: Yeah! BUT! It's broken
Me: In 2 parts? Should be easy to fix..
Friend: No.. in 3!

So here's Saving Gibson SG! Let's take a look at what i received, not for the faint of heart!

We could see here how the "neck thru" is actually done. So yeah, i prefer bolt on joints way better :D

Very nasty break at the headstock -> neck portion

So i start with the headstock to neck portion first. I used paint stripper to remove the paint on the back of the headstock so as not to damage the Gibson signature series number and "made in usa" stamp marks. However! A careless mistake caused the front logo to be left with "son"! Don't worry, that can be fix easily ;)

This is actually known as the Gibson SG-X. Made in the late 80s and early 90s for a very short period. Many people (includes professional luthiers) have never seen this model. It's considered rare for Singapore. It has 24frets instead of the usual 22 and have very different pot positions.

However, i'm not interested in the original SG-X look but rather the 60s SG Jr!

courtesy to www.rocknrollvintage.com

I'll be posting more on the progress of how i will attempt to save this SG and give it a new life! Or you can say how i turn a real Gibson to a "fake" Gibson!
Bookmark my page up or simply add as a follower to receive the latest post the minute i post it up :)

The beautiful start of a series of unique Inlays..

2009-07-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!

I'm starting a series of beautiful inlays designed and made by me. I hope you'll like what you see.

A little background. These inlays are made from high grade White/Gold/Black Mother of Pearl shell and Abalone shell. I might throw in certain other stuff like copper or acrylic if there is a need for some special color. These inlays are handmade by me and by no way i can duplicate something exactly the same. Meaning to say if you like something i've created but it's bought by someone else, i'm sorry but you'll just have to wait for something else you might like and act fast.

So today i made 2 of these inlays and i've not set the price yet. Don't worry we'll start once i've come up with a price list for these beautiful stuff. You can purchase them for your ambitious d.i.y inlay adventure or you can simply get me to do the inlaying onto your guitar/bass/banjo/lapste.. ok you get the idea.

Without more talking, let's look at the result for today!

Let's start with something light..
I was thinking to myself, what could possibly be the type of inlay that most people will like it on their instrument.. I do know that most christians love nice inlays because it's part of their culture and history however they might not want a cross smacked on their instrument. (you can still request me to do one for you :D ). So the next that came to me somehow was this Dove. Pure, Peace and Happy.
This is shot in white light as compared to the above shot in yellow lighting. I'll try to get a day shot, where the natural light really glows the Mop gloriously! Btw, these are not polished thus you won't see the smooth and glossy finish :)

Next we have something in contrast! I call this the Angel and Demon. Why so? The main dark greenish(black mop) skull represents the demon's skull while the purplish(abalone) broken part represents the angel. The white(white mop) left wing belongs to the angel and the dreamy dark(black mop) wing with piercing nails(white mop)is from the demon!
This is shot in white light as opposed to the above shot in yellow lighting. All these photo are taken with my old Konica Minolta Dimage X50! Though the color and focus is not the best but i'm glad it still works well! and yes... i'm sure you've spotted some other things on the way.. ;)

New Banner!

2009-07-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hurray to the new banner! All thanks to wordpress.. why so? Initially the smart alex IT dummy me thought that wordpress do allow you to edit the css/html like blogspot.. so i was happily editing until the horrifying part when i saw "pay ... to update your theme now".

Well it's not that i am being stingy in paying a $0.04usd per day fee but i'm sure you guys that've been supportive of me would know that i don't earn from this freelance job.

So yes i'm back to blogspot.. might be exploring others that my friend is recommending me soon..

Also.. Recently i've acquired a 1990s Gibson SG-X but it's broken into 3 pieces! I'm planning to restore it and post the process up(like never before)so you can witness the whole adventure! Stay tuned!

Custom Mahogany Truss Rod Cover

2009-06-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

Abuse

2009-06-04T12:14:00.001-07:00

I do pity my amps sometime..

Almost rocking!

2009-05-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

This guitar has been coming back to her doctor(me) for quite a couple of times just because she dream to be rocking one fine day! So yes, she is almost ready now!

Things done for this project:
- Staining of body color
- Clear coating to a low gloss natural feel
- Replacing a brand new rosewood fingerboard
- Inlaying offset Mother of Pearl dot inlays
- Fretting with Jumbo frets and finishing with bullet ends

I can't wait to see her owner put her into action soon! The feeling of accomplishing other people's dream axe is just good :)

Old Skool~

2009-05-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

So finally the old school tele project is completed. I can't help it but took a few shots and post it here to share.

Total mod:
- Mother of Pearl Star inlaying
- Single ply 5 screw w/o pup hole pickguard
- Bigsby B5 installation

Everytime i pickup this guitar, i can't help but play sleepwalk! It's an amazing telecaster~

Star Inlay!

2009-05-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

it's been really long since i've posted. Still, that does not mean i am not doing any more modification etc! It's just that most are small scale repair jobs and i've been really busy with my band RazzlePlay .I'm so glad my regular clients are so patience with me! Thanks peepz! You know who you are! :)

I wonder how many of you remembered this bigsby B5 installation?

After i've posted that blog, i received quite a number of emails asking me to install a B5 for them. I'll now take this opportunitity to announce again that i do not carry in any Bigsby product and as for that installation, my client provided the bridge he bought off ebay.

Anyway, he came back to me recently and this time round we worked on something better! Mother of Pearl Star Inlays! Some people emailed me before on what is the difference between a real inlay using plastic, shells and sticker "inlays". Inlays are nothing but decorative but having a decorative on your guitar that does not last can be really annoying. It is also a form of art pass down from skillful wood craftmans that served their king. A good inlay are one that have defined edges without excessively big routed slot and is completely flat and smooth with the wood beside it. Buying stickers to stick on the fingerboard will not be able to last a fraction of the actual inlay and when removing, it'll cause gooze to sip into the pores of the fingerboard. Yucks!

So here's some pictures to look at the result of his request.

(i fake an email that claimed i spoilt his fingerboard, i wish i could see his expression when he saw this picture! :P Don't worry, it's part of the inlaying process)

Here we go, the first star that shined!

There are more projects that i'll be posting, please be patience with me :)

Ibanez(s) Modifications

2009-03-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

It's been really long since i last update my blog here. I guess many of you must be thinking that i am out of this business. It's ok, let the rumble begins again! I'm so sorry that i've not been updating due to previous few months of crazy performance schedule.

Ok here's some update. Apart from usual small repairs, i've this 2 Ibanez i'm going to feature.

Let's start with the JEM. This jem is modded by me from originally a RG. Looking at the picture above, you'll probably mistaken it as a normal sunburst on first glance. I don't blame you. It resembles much of a regular sunburst. Let's look closer.

Now this picture clearly shows you that it looks much like a faded texture that's due wear. I call this the wasp skin. Simply yet deadly like the wasp. If you think that you'll probably feel the roughness then you are wrong. This is going to be smooth and glossy later on.
and no, it's not a print on graphic or something. It's painted. Currently i've not seen anyone in the guitar making industry local/oversea that have did this type of finish. It's a method i discovered while doing trial and error paint experiments. Tell me what you think about this. :)

Along with chrome hardware, this little wasp is gonna sting you real bad in the eye!

Next we look at the all natural JPM. Remember i did a custom JPM neck not a long time ago? This is the body that will be matching with. Veneer top, Stained back, low gloss finish.. this is going to be a beauty! Isn't the body just gorgeous? I can't wait to finish both projects :)

FAQ Add-On

2009-02-08T01:57:00.000-08:00

Hi guys,

Recently i've got a couple of repeated questions on my email so i think i'll just reply them here for all :)

Q1: How much is it to do a vine of life inlay?
A: At least SGD$600. It depends on the material used and if there is a need for a fingerboard change. Why change the fingerboard? Read Q3.

Q2: Are you able to do a custom shape guitar?
A: At the moment, no. But i'm not restricting to that. The reason it's a no is because it's costly for both me and the client to do a custom shape guitar. If you are ready to pay a minimum of SGD$2k, i'm ready to fulfill your dream :) (my own current dream is the Ibanez fireman btw! Now that is a custom)

Q3: Are you able to change my block inlays to other inlays?
A: Anything i inlay, the new inlay have to be exact or bigger size then the old inlays. This is because once wood is removed i can't really replace it back. The only way to do it is to do an additional step of wood inlay, which will add on to your cost and can be obvious in lighter colored wood.

Q4: Do you do set-up?
A: Yes i do, just email me. :)

Q5: Do you repair anything other then guitar?
A: Drop me an email, i'll help if it's within my abilities. If not, i'll try my best to refer you to the best guy in town.

Q6: Can i just get routings done by you?
A: Why not?

Q7: Do you still do custom pickguards?
A: Yes i do but current i don't have the materials in stock. If you really want it, you may have to wait for me to ship the materials in for you.

Bullet Frets!

2009-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

So recently i've not been updating my site! Here's a recent work i've done for a client. Refret, and i'm doing it with a new technique! The bullet refret. :)

The original factory fret ends

The new bullet fret ends

A nice recap!

2008-12-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

I'm glad someone knows about me and he sent me a pm.

Hi Vincent,

It's Phil here, if you remember, I sent you a PM asking you if you were Vincent Mah.

Anyway, I've been in this forum for a long time, and so have you. I've always seen you posting, and I've also seen and spoken to you in Maestro Guitars. I bought lots of Lyric HG from you guys.

But, I've never reconciled the Maestro Vincent with Gr3y, until recently.

Anyway, I checked out your website and everything, very impressive. I remember reading and replying in the thread whereby you first started out cutting pickguards. And since then when people ask about customing pickguards, we'll always refer them to Gr3y. Haha, but nowadays I'm hardly active in the SOFT forums anymore. It's just different now, but that's another story altogether.

Anyway, nice to meet you. And, guess what. I'm working for Maestro now, just ORDed not long ago, and while waiting for Uni to start, I got a part time job doing retail. Too bad you've left, it'd have been fun.

Lastly, I'm considering getting you to do some jobs for my guitars! There's just so many ideas, I loved the inlay you did. That could work out great on my guitar. And the respraying of the pedal as well, that's good news. I've a CMATmods Deeelay that I love to death but it looks plain ugly with the matted silver coating.
And the Tree of Life is tempting as well, I've Prestige 1570 that might need some sprucing up.
So tempting, eh.

Well, have fun with whatever you're doing now, and congrats on the album launch!

regards,
Phil

Lion Attack!

2008-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Nope it's not another horror scene you'll read on newspaper. Recently i did a nice little modification for someone who have trouble with his floating bridge. The new bridge he fixed on can't do an up wham because of the routed area not big enough. So instead of expanding that routed area, he got me to do a lion claw on it. Lion claw design was originally from Ibanez Jem designed by well known guitarist Steve Vai.

This is how it looks like on a typical Ibanez Jem. Oh yes, that's something i'm working on and you should watch on if you like Ibanez guitars.

To Fret or Not To Fret?

2008-11-23T07:39:00.001-08:00

I noticed that my work comes in some fashion. If you've been following my work you'll realize a pattern i'm sure! Hmz. haha. Anyway here's some fret work.

First up, a rosewood fingerboard that's pretty old and worn. Owner wish to get back the feel of jumbo frets instead of jumbo flats. So upon removing all the old frets, i realized the dirty and worn board. Took the initiative to restore it back to glory.

Next up, Remember the black vine of life on a maple board? Yup, i've completed it's fretwork. Sorry to the owner for the delay, my band have quite some activities lately. Anyway dealing with maple is always tricky as they need extra care always. Anything wrong will result in an almost irreversible move. Masking tapes are called upon for this case.

Here's a close up of the fret edges :)

And the neck picture splitting into 4.

Bigsby B5 Installation

2008-11-18T07:20:00.001-08:00

I'm glad i got to do this, again. I did it quite a while ago without taking any pictures! Now here comes another piece. This time round, a cij fender tele with a B5 with authentic Fender logo! Now that's cool.

Vine of Life

2008-11-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

i have to praise that Steve Vai really created a very nice vine design for fingerboard. Recently i'm working on this "black and white" vine of life. This is not the first time i'm doing such inlay and i'm feeling the blessing from a cnc machine this time! These pieces you see are cnc cut and routed. I used to think CNC are like perfections, i am wrong. These are actually incurately routed on the fingerboard which resulted me doing more routing in order to let the pieces fit in. Nevertheless check out the pictures of the almost complete fingerboard.

Next step, clear coat and fretting! Fyi, this actually belongs to the b/w swirl jem body i've posted earlier on. The fingerboard was originally a normal maple fingerboard with black plastic dots and i swapped a new maple fingerboard on it.

It's all about inlays

2008-11-15T08:30:00.001-08:00

Recently i was tasked to do a very special truss rod cover. I'm glad that it made a break through for Gr3y Custom Shop as it was the first time i did such things. So guys and girls! Anything you feel that i can do for you, don't hesitate.

Another great news for Gr3y Custom Shop is that i've managed to reduced the size of inlay i can handle! What does this mean? I'm able to do real small inlays for your sweet guitar :) Recently my friend Errik had his 21st birthday. To get a guitarist a present, it got to be related! Why? Majority will go for t-shirts, chocolates, jewellery etc.. those are plain boring to me. So somehow during a certain morning the thought of doing a real unique inlay for him came into my mind.

This inlay is 1.5cm wide. Made of Gold Mother of pearl and is ready to inlay into any fingerboard.

A New Adventure

2008-11-11T07:36:00.001-08:00

So i was called upon to do this very interesting new thing for customizing a guitar. Make a guess.

Materials here are Mahogany and High grade Abalone shell

Remember the "marble" ? Alright, it's not a marble but a swirl jem. I'm glad that i helped in the process of glossing up this babe! Next step? I'm going to help this little monster get entangled in black vines! Keep a look out :D

Testimonials

2008-11-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to say but your job is top notch. I'm very pleased and happy with the workmanship. Furthermore what impressed me was your regular updates and pics on the status of the job which I say is really service oriented. Not many people will take that step into giving regular updates u noe. Keep up the good work and I might just have another work for you in the coming future.

Regards,
Razi (owner of custom JPM fingerboard)

Clear Coating a Marble

2008-11-04T02:58:00.000-08:00

Service fee: $250

I was pleased to be tasked to gloss up this little jem.

This thing needs no futher introduction or a full body picture. I'm not going to post full body pictures unless the owner agrees.
The owner bought this body from the states and it came unfinished. So instead of paying usd$200 for them to clear coat, he got me to take over this task.

Please do not start emailing me about swirl finish...... yet... :D

Regarding the JPM fingerboard, here's the picture of the completed job

Two 85% Completed Projects

2008-10-31T01:19:00.000-07:00

These 2 have been with me for quite a while. I'm sorry to keep all others waiting when i am focusing on these 2 baby :)

Razi's JPM Fingerboard
When Razi sent me his old fingerboard, it was an old rotten rosewood with greenish frets. At 1 look, nobody will wish to play on it. So after discussion, Razi decides to change the rosewood fingerboard and get the Ibanez JPM style inlays done.

These are done with high grade Mother of Pearl and a highly figured rosewood fingerboard. I'm left with oiling the board before sending it back to him. Nope, i'm not assigned to do fretting on this job.

Neo's JM Black Strat
Gr3y Custom Shop #10

Neo was the first guy that approached me with high interest of my JM Strat. After trying out my piece, he decided to get me do one for him. Throughout the journey, i'm constantly updating him with photos of the process etc. This gave him a piece of mind and i'm sure he sure trust i'm not out to con or something :)

I'm awaiting for his pickups to arrive before i'll setup everything. Also, i've not get the hardwares tarnished as of this stage.

FAQ

2008-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Frequently Asked Question

Q: Do you do *insert work type*
A: Just ask me! There are too many types of possible modification or creations i can list. Most of the stuff i've done are not stated in this blog site and i'm not intending to list the full list. Basically i do almost any modification, repair and building of string instruments. That would include violin family too.

Q: What do you not do?
A: Quite alot too.. Stainless steel refretting.. carbon fibre neck building.. basically those that i ain't rich enough to afford all those expensive materials and machines :)

Q: How old are you?
A: I've served my NS and quit my 2yrs routine job. So i guess i'm younger then 30 but older then 20! (this answer will save me a couple of years :) )

Q: Are you really trained to be a luthier?
A: I would not say i'm a luthier. No. I've not mastered all the arts of guitar making/modifying/repairing. Still i was trained by some highly respectable Singapore luthiers for 2years. Also, before i started any proper learning, i was already experimenting with guitar modifying since 6years ago. I would say, alot of the things i'm doing are lessons i've learnt online and topped with alot of wallet burning sessions.

Q: Can we learn together?
A: Yes we can.The online forums are great places for all sharing and learning to take place! I do post what i've learnt and done in mini tutorials in a few forums before too! Let's keep this learning healthy!

Q: Can i borrow a certain tool from you?
A: Can i borrow your girlfriend out for a night?

Q: Where do you get your supplies from?
A: My stuff range from China, Japan, USA and also from some local distributors. If you need to know the source of any parts, i'm glad to answer right away.

Q: How can i ensure China products are up to standard?
A: I will show you a photo of the product before you are satisfied with it. I'm never easy going for the distributor when it comes to choosing the right piece!

Q: Why is it that you only use the highest grade shells for inlay?
A: You want to pay the same amount of workmanship fee for a cheap material? com'on!

Q: How long does inlaying takes?
A: As fast as 2days to as long as 2 months. Depends. It'll take at least 24 hours for the glue-in process. Keep that in mind.

Q: How do i get my ideas to be made by you?
A: I prefer alot of photos. If you don't have a photo, drawing is good too but most of the drawings i received are way too generalized. Please be very specific in order for me to reproduce the idea in your head.

Q: How long does a paint job takes?
A: Depends! Singapore is well known for rain as we all know and those who knows a thing or 2 about painting would know the no painting during rainy days rule. I follow that strictly. I don't have the ability to afford a thermal system in my house to keep the right degree of humidity in my room.

Q: Is there any color you can't do?
A: Yes! Chrome, Gold-Chrome, Black-Chrome, Swirl, a couple of old Fender colors, some musicman special colors and etc.

Q: Do you do repairs?
A: Yes, almost any sort of string instrument repair. Email me. ;)

Q: I was looking for a certain decal but it is not available anywhere. Can you help?
A: Certainly, i'm able to recreate your damaged decal as well as doing up a full custom artwork for a brand new decal.

Q: What if i find the work no satisfactory?
A: This by right have no right or wrong if you agree with me. But still we all have some common sense. If the issue is not big and i can make it back on track, i will do the extra work foc. We'll both end up happy. If the issue is big, i'll probably compensate you a little by giving you a good discount depending on situation. It is impossible for me to pay you unless i've damaged something beyond repairation.

Q: What if you damage a part of my instrument?
A: If it's repairable, i'll fix it foc. If it's non repairable, i'll replace 1 for you foc. I can't say i will guarantee that i can be 100% sure your instrument will not get damages but i will say i normally do take alot of care for my customer's instruments. But to prove that i damage your stuff, the only way is that you have a before photograph with all information intact so that you proof that it's perfectly fine just before you send to me. I'll normally take a picture of the item when it first reach my house too :)

Q: What if you exceed the number of days you are supposed to get my instrument done?
A: I'll normally try not to let that happen. If there is anything that got in the way and i have to delay the submission, i'll normally notify early. If i can't do it in time for urgent cases, i'll refer to my respectable luthiery mentors for a fast remedy. In anycase, I will not say " Sorry i think i can't do it for you anymore and please come collect your stuff and find your own solutions "

Q: Is there any warranty?
A: Depends on nature of the product. I'll normally offer a 7-21days warranty on stuff i repair/modified and those full custom projects i'll normally offer 1 year of limited warranty for servicing and etc.

Q: Can i bring something i tried D.I.Y and failed to you?
A: Yes why not. But i will have to access to the real thing before i can tell you what i can offer. There is not 100% guarantee.

Q: Why do i go to you?
A: Well i don't really say "hey come to me for the best deal!" Infact, some of my deals are not neccessary the best in terms of price but the amount of customers that trusted me is not a joke. Do ask around if you are not confident about getting your stuff done by me. Email me if you need to know some questions. I'll be glad to answer them for you.

Q: Can i come to visit the place you do all these stuff?
A: I only allow customer to come try something because they wish to see some evidence or something before they make the decision. I don't allow "factory educational visits". Why? Am i trying to hide something? NO, it's the house my family stays in for goodness sake. Thanks.

Q: Can i pay by installments?
A: I accept no installments. For project less then $700, i'll only start working once i receives the full payment. For project more then $700, i'll start work once i received 50% of the full deal or as per agreed between the customer and I.

Q: How do i pay you?
A: I accept bank transfer for Posb, OCBC, Uob. I also accept straight cash upon first meet up.

Q: How do i send my item to you?
A: I normally meet at the entrance to Mac Donalds opposite Ang Mo Kio Hub(my favourite meet up place! haha.. all my customers knows that!). I do sometimes meet people at City Hall Mrt. Please discuss this with me as i work from home.

Q: Hi i'm not from Singapore, can i get something done by you?
A: Yes you can but you'll have to pay for shipping etc. Email me for more info.

Gr3y JM Strat no.2

2008-10-28T09:18:00.001-07:00

Seeing double? Finally the second JM Black Strat is near completion. This is the #10 fully Gr3y Custom Guitar. Customer requested the color to be more blackish as per JM. Mine is alot more brownish. More close up pictures will come when it's completed. :)

Trying to be funny?

2008-10-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Customized Waterslide Decal
Price: $ASK

Yes recently i've got this request from a friend to make him this custom decal. If you are looking for customized decals or some really rare decals you can't find or even anything. I'm glad to announce i'm able to make them in high quality and mail to your door for your convenience :)

Application of decal service available too!

12th Fret Bandname Inlay

2008-10-14T01:54:00.000-07:00

12th Fret Bandname (Loco) Inlay

I was requested by a fellow client to do an inlay of his bandname for his up coming gig purpose. The problem was that the guitar already had 2 dots inlayed at 12th fret. In order to do this, i had to do inlaying twice. First time to seal the 2 dots with real rosewood and 2nd to inlay the mother of pearl inlay piece. End result? Client left with a big smiley face :)

Check Loco @ www.myspace.com/locosingapore

Violin Fingerboard Inlay 01

2008-09-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

Violin Fingerboard Inlay
Price of this piece : $150
Price of inlay job: $80-$180 (depending on design)

This piece was done on a high grade ebony full size violin fingerboard with top grade mother of pearl.

Jem Jr to Jem Evo convertion

2008-09-30T04:08:00.001-07:00

Jem Jr to Jem Evo convertion
Price: $ASK

**This is my very own Jem Jr i bought when i first started out playing electric guitar. There are quite a list of stuff changed.

-Fingerboard from Rosewood to Ebony
-Inlay full tree of life with Top Grade Mother of Pearl
-Inlay side dot markers with Top Grade Mother of Pearl
-Change of Pickup to full EVO set
-Change of bridge to Gotoh Floyd Rose style
-Change of pickguard to white pearloid
-Relic the body similar to Steve Vai's Evo.

Many often mistaken this as Jem from factory, especially after playing it. Each of the inlay are individually cut, almost any design is possible**

BeforeAfterInlay Pictures

Custom Graphic for Pedal 01

2008-09-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

Analog Delay Custom Graphic
Price: $100-$150 (depending on graphic)

**The owner originally attempt to paint it but it ended up disastrous. He decides to let me take a look and see if i could do anything about it. We discussed on the graphic and soon it was a dream come true. It's finished in matt surface with a custom swirly pink and black graphic on the top.**

Jimi Hendrix Montery/Saville Strat

2008-09-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

Jimi Hendrix Montery/Saville Strat
Price: $ASK

**i got this crazy idea of combining the Montery and Saville strat into one because i simply can't resist the front of the Montery and the back of the Saville. The Saville is less popular then the Montery strat but still i believe this 2 creation of Jimi matches well together in this manner. You can request for either a Montery or Saville design by itself instead of what you see here.**

Model Name Jimi Hendrix Montery/Saville Strat
Colors Hand Painted Graphics
Body Solid Alder
Neck Maple, “U” Shape,
Fingerboard Rosewood
No. of Frets 21 Medium Frets
Pickups Stock Ceremic
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Bridge Graphtech String Saver
Machine Heads Gotoh Die Cast
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard Hand Painted Graphics
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
String Gauges:Every B-52 (.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046)

Earlier Stages

JM Black Strat (part 2)

2008-09-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the completed guitar. Enjoy :)

Custom 10-way Strat

2008-09-24T08:01:00.001-07:00

Gr3y Custom 10-way Strat
Price: $ASK

Model Name Gr3y Custom 10-way Strat
Colors White
Body Solid Alder
Neck Maple, "SRV" profile but thinner than actual Fender SRV.
Fingerboard Maple
No. of Frets 21 Medium Frets
Pickups GFS Strat "TEXAS" Alnico Stagger Pickup
Toggle 1
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Toggle 2
Position 1. Bridge Pickup and Middle Pickup in phase
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Middle Pickup out of phase
Position 3. Bridge Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 4. Middle Pickup and Neck Pickup out of phase
Position 5. Middle Pickup and Neck Pickup in phase
Bridge Graphtech String Savers
Machine Heads Wilkinson Locking
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard Tortoise Shell
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
String Gauges:Every B-52 (.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046)

Purple Haze LP

2008-09-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Gr3y Purple Haze LP
Price: $ASK

Model Name Purple Haze
Colors Metallic Purple with Black Burst
Body Solid Alder
Neck Maple, “U” Shape,
Fingerboard Rosewood
No. of Frets 22 Medium Frets
Pickups Tonerider Rocksong
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge Gotoh Tune-O-Matic
Machine Heads Gotoh® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome
Scale Length 24.75” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
String Gauges: Every B-52 (.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046)

JM Black Strat (part 1)

2008-09-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

JM Black Strat
Price: $ASK

Model Name JM Black Strat
Colors Relic Black
Body Solid Alder
Neck Maple, “U” Shape,
Fingerboard Rosewood
No. of Frets 21 Medium Frets
Pickups Fender Texas Special
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge Fender Bent Steel
Machine Heads Shaller Locking
Hardware Gold
Pickguard Relic White
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
String Gauges:Every B-52 (.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046)

Earlier stages

After aging the plastic parts

Pinstripe Tele

2008-09-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

Gr3y Pinstripe Tele
SGD $750

Model Name Pinstripe Telecaster
Colors Black with Red and White Pinstripe
Body Solid Alder
Neck Maple, “U” Shape,
Fingerboard Rosewood
No. of Frets 22 Medium Frets
Pickups High output Ceremic Magnet
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup and Neck Pickup
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge Standard Tele with 6 Graphtech String Saver Saddles
Machine Heads Gotoh® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard Transparent
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
String Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042),