Gr3y Custom Shop Closing.

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

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!

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!

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

The season of celebration = the season of guitar repair ?

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!

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

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.