This is the most gripping movie since Dr Zhivago. Well done, Sir.

Thanks Sam. Had me confused and the owner didn't know what it was :/ Glad there's nothing underhand with the plate . I noticed you've got a video on that v99 also. Well done. I'll be taking a look at that too.

Great job and a big thank you! The best thing is that you didn't stop recording when troubles started and didn't cut it. So one can know where the trap could be. A few days ago I did a setup of my Squier Standard Stratocaster (including fret leveling) based on another of your video and the effect is amazing. It is not 100% of what I wanted to get, but it's very close. As for the first time it's very well, much better than I expected. Some highest frets (>20) are still slightly uneven, but it is difficult to notice, so I'm happy. l will fix it with sandpaper during the next strings change. Now preparing to setup my second guitar - Epiphone Les Paul Standard, also with some fret level issues. Once again, thank you very much for your videos :)

great video Bro

3:22... when things start running away from you... go chill and have a cup of tea Sam :) I just finished a (JHS) Vintage V52 butterscotch Tele, had to sort several high spots on some of the frets, dress the fret ends, new TUSQ nut, set the string height and intonation, new set of D'Addario's and hey ho... she's a beauty. Only a smidgen away from my USA Tele playing and sound wise but at a fraction of the price. It's my go to guitar for the moment for sitting in front of the TV and doodling :) I have several of these JHS Trev Wilkinson guitars... and agree with you, the underlying quality is very good, and once setup, superb. I just love your vids Sam... a very relaxing laid back attitude you have and a first rate guitar tech to boot ^

To Waldemar - thanks to some G+ settings that nobody knows about, those who reply to videos via G+ notifications often end up leaving comments that nobody else can reply to...Even a quick bit of research shows it's horribly complicated. Anyway - great to hear that you've done your own setup and that my video helped. Apologise for the length as these videos aren't first and foremost intended as general 'how to' videos. The audience is primarily someone who is considering buying one of the guitars I've worked on... but I'm very pleased they've been useful to others as well. As I say many times in the videos, 'my way' is just one way and there's so much out there on the internet you can make up your own minds which way you'll go. My greatest hope is that there's no arguing in the comments (lol) about who's right and who's wrong. One last thing: the decision to keep the cock-ups in was a mixture of two things: one, I don't mind making mistakes and being human and two, it would take so much time to edit out 'mistakes' - and would only be pandering to my ego anyhow!

Hi Sam - Great to see you've had issues in setting up this LP copy! Not meant in a sarcastic fashion, but good from the point that others (myself included) can see just what is involved in setting up a guitar, warts an' all. I'm slowly working my way through all your vid's and so far I've learnt an awful lot about set up ... I mean, there's only so much you can learn from a book, but you learn an awful lot more from a 'hands-on; approach. Please keep on with your tutorials (if that's the correct term in this sense!?) and ignore the odd nay-sayer ... jealousy is an evil thing ;-)

Hi, at 2:29 h you say you turn the trussrod clockwise for neck relief. Isn't it the other way round ? *edit* I should've waited a few more minutes before posting... Anyway, I discovered your channel just yesterday and already can tell you that you are a true inspiration, Sir. And - no punishment intended - the style of your videos remind me a little bit of the old Bob Ross episodes that begin with a blank canvas and in the end it's a piece of art. You are doing the same to those guitars...bringing them to life...

I have one in "Ice Tea" same model (2013). It's a very good guitar, but yes; Only if you think upgrade it. It's the "wood" part that really interests on this guitar. the neck is very right. The assembly is done well ... It's an "all mahogany" (because the flamed maple is a veneer on mahogany), and classic rosewood fingerboard. I ended up changing a lot of parts: machine-head, electronic, switch, stop bar, nut, and most of all; pickups, for a Gibson set (second-hand) !... Now; it's my favorite guitar. With a Tubemeister Hughes & Kettner, i have a realy "Gibson sound"... for 150 euros more !

I wonder if the varnish of the finish is nitrocellulose and if the red color of the painting is aniline, would you have this information?

when i buy a guitar from my musicshop in sweden i always get 1 year free adjustment (set up) if it is something wrong with the guitar. of cours I requested a different stringgauge and my kind of action and even if it is stringbuzz they will fix it for free...i think it is good that they have that because the SHOULD fix a problem fir free. My strat that bought a few monds ago had a problem with the whammy bar,it was just blocked or tilted down at the base of the body it was very stiff to move it and I wanted it to be a lot easier to move it so they fix that for free. Thats why Im always going back because of the great service!

Yeah, it helps with a les Paul if you take a little more off the frets on the higher frets. You get away with a straighter neck with a fender. The reason I asked the age was that the v100 occasionally had a problem with a slight 's' shaped neck around 2008-2010 which caused a bit of a problem with how the rod responded, just something to look out for.

Hi Sam, I know this video is a couple of years old but regarding nitro, the finish on most guitars these days, even PRS's, all of Fenders non-'vintage range' models, and certainly all 'budget' guitars, tends to be quick drying, 'self-shining', hard wearing polyurethane, or sometimes polyester. Durable, quick and easy to apply, finishes that retain their glossy appearance 'forever', but chip (horribly) like glass if impacted. The usual gunk removing solvents are unlikely to harm 'polys' at all. The best, and most readily available solvent in such circumstances would be naphtha (ordinary petroleum-based lighter fluid - Ronsonol and the like), readily available and easy to apply from the familiar (and safely storable) metal or plastic yellow container. Nitro (nitrocellulose) is, indeed, far more delicate (it can even be marked or degraded by contact with the 'wrong' type of rubber on a guitar stand, for instance) but ages, as its own solvents leach out over time, and wears (unlike polyurethane, which just stays glass-like and shiny) in what is generally considered to be a beautiful and natural way. However, the only lower cost volume produced instruments finished in nitro are the less expensive Gibson offerings and, as well as potentially being damaged by solvents, also warrant the use of 'low-tack' masking tape to avoid lifting the finish. This is available in DIY outlets, but will still need to be removed with care from nitro, especially if it is covering an exposed edge or worn area. (As I say, all Gibsons are nitro finished. But to get required high-end gloss finish needs multiple spray coats with long, inter-coat, curing times and loads of intensive buffing. All costly processes that add to the ultimate (high) asking price. The budget models just get fewer coats and a light buff - the resultant, duller, finish being marketed as 'faded', 'vintage' or similar.) Also, with regard to mechanised fret levelling etc, I assume, since this video was recorded, you will have read, or heard, of the fantastic (if horrendously expensive) German built 'Plek' computer aided 'setup' machines which major high-end volume manufacturers, with the exception of Fender I believe, now use. The guitar, without strings, is placed in the Plek cabinet and the relevant program mechanically applies the appropriate simulated relief, scans the entire neck fret by fret, and then cut the nut slots and levels, crowns and polishes the frets - all in a (relatively) few minutes. Works too! I own 3 Gibsons, bought new, and the most that was needed upon arrival was the odd, and miniscule at that, intonation adjustment. Fretting, nut cut and action can only be described, in all three cases, as perfect.

My mistake used to be running the leveling tool until the marker was gone then crowning and srtinging up and wondering why there was still fret buzz.That fret rocker is my best friend .

Hi, if you have too much relief in your neck it will cause choking on the higher frets. Aim for as straight a neck as possible without choking or ratting on the lower frets. This will allow you to raise the bridge and still keep a low action. Can I ask how old the guitar is?

Nice videos. You need to build some steps from the deck to the "workshop".

Sam, did you know that Paul Raymond of UFO, endorses these guitars? He actually plays one on tour.

How much do you charge for this? I'm a beginner, I've just bought a vintage v100 icon that seems well used. I got it for £100 on eBay which judging by reviews was a good deal. I feel it could do with some of your luthier skills though. Thanks, Justin

Hi, great video. I'm looking to buy one of these on eBay. But I have noticed a metal plate on the bar of the neck that up until now I haven't seen on any other and wandered if you know of it is a sign of a previous problem or fix. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Sam, I have just watched both the set up vids for the vintage v100 and found them very interesting. now I am wondering if you would be kind enough to source a V100 AFD Paradise left handed....there are currently a couple on eBay.one is up for just £90. and then do your thing to sort it out and then sell it on to me adding your own profit margin natch. There s no way In have the know how or patience to go through all that malarkey..... Let me know?

Opps...the £90 is the tsb not t the afd but same pick ups etc...still would work for me

Thanks so much for this. I'm going to stick with this video until the bitter end. :-) One question: you sanded the fingerboard across the grain. My dad taught me as a kid to always sand with the grain. Aren't you leaving marks in the rosewood? I have recently bought a mint second-hand V100 AFD and it's my pride and joy. Through my '59 Bassman, it sounds like god. (Whatever he sounds like ....l happen to be an atheist, so I could happily choose any deity. Anyway, I love it. :-). ) PS - I have the Dan Erlewine book 'How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!' - anyone watching this video would probably find it a worthwhile reference book to have. Sorry for rambling. It must be due to the glass of wine I had earlier.

Unlike some here I thought this was really useful Sam, especially for us DIY'ers. I'd love to hire a guitar tech for a couple hundred to set it up properly but for a 300,- guitar that kinda beats the whole budget thing for me. Apart from that doing it yourself teaches you a lot about this guitar, or any guitar in fact. I viewed the entire thing and loved you precision and methods. I am not a guitar tech nor a very good guitar player (I pay bass) but this made a lot of sense. My girlfriend has this guitar and never payed much attention to it until she asked me to restring it. Luckily all the frets were near perfect! After working on the action this is my favorite guitar in the house now. I use it to record my songs. It plays like a charm and I prefer playing it over my Squier VM Jaguar. I even think I want one for myself, the same one. Hopefully the frets won't be off too much but at least I know what to look for now. Thanks for the extensive video. PS: where can I find you on Ebay?

Also. Try hastily ripping the tape off of a cellulose sprayed gibbo and see what happens. Yep you guessed it. A full neck refinish cos all the lacquer will be in the bin still stuck to your tape.

Having been a full time guitar tech for 20 years I think I need to say for people who don't know any better, please stop making these videos. Someone's guitar could be seriously damaged and incur a big cost to put right by a proper guitar tech. I winced a few times at some of your techniques, especially sanding down individual frets with sandpaper which is the biggest no no in guitar teching. All frets need to be taken down at the same time to make sure they are all even with each other,taking into account the camber of the fingerboard while doing so. I love people that are willing to have a go at repairing their own stuff but releasing videos about something you obviously don't know enough about, for other people to copy is scary

Can you buy a new amp? All that work and that amp doesn't give a true representation of your skills!

when i buy a guitar from my musicshop in sweden i always get 1 year free adjustment (set up) if it is something wrong with the guitar. of cours I requested a different stringgauge and my kind of action and even if it is stringbuzz they will fix it for free...i think it is good that they have that because the SHOULD fix a problem fir free. My strat that bought a few monds ago had a problem with the whammy bar,it was just blocked or tilted down at the base of the body it was very stiff to move it and I wanted it to be a lot easier to move it so they fix that for free. Thats why Im always going back because of the great service!