A practical guitar repair knowledge base for setups, fretwork, electronics, acoustic care, symptoms, reference charts and printable checklists.
Choose a section to find practical help with symptoms, setups, repairs, specifications and routine instrument care.
The basics: anatomy, common terms, maintenance rhythm and how to use the Workshop.
Complete GuidesLong-form reference chapters for setup, care, buying used guitars, seasonal maintenance and repair costs.
Setup & AdjustmentRelief, action, intonation, nut slots, pickup height, tremolos, radius and final feel.
FretworkFret wear, leveling, refrets, fret ends, crowns, loose frets and fingerboard issues.
ElectronicsPickup wiring, pots, caps, shielding, output jacks, switches and grounding problems.
Acoustic RepairHumidity, cracks, bridge lift, neck resets, braces, saddles and bridge plate wear.
Repair EncyclopediaSymptom-based help for buzzing, dead notes, tuning trouble, scratchy controls and more.
Reference ChartsAction, pickup height, radius, scale length, string gauge and wood reference pages.
DownloadsPrintable checklists for inspection, setup, humidity, buying used and maintenance.
Practical, plain-language help for buying, diagnosing, setting up and maintaining your instrument.
Showing 25 guides.
A symptom-by-symptom guide to open-string buzz, fret noise, attack-dependent clank, isolated dead notes and hardware rattles on bass.
IntermediateHow to trace low volume, weak strings, thin tone and disappearing bass output before replacing healthy pickups.
IntermediateA player-focused guide to bass relief, nut slots, action, intonation, pickup height, string choice and the final amplified check.
IntermediateA player-safe guide to hum, hiss, crackle, popping, ringing and intermittent tube-amp symptoms—without opening the chassis.
IntermediateHow to spot bridge lift, why it happens, and why squeezing glue under the edge is not a proper repair plan.
IntermediateA practical reference for spotting high nut slots, low nut slots, first-position sharpness and tuning hangups before the wrong part gets blamed.
BeginnerA plain-language guide to noisy controls, loose jacks, dirty pots, weak solder joints and intermittent signal problems.
BeginnerA setup-focused guide to pickup height, output balance, magnetic pull and why louder is not always better.
BeginnerWhy fret ends get sharp, how humidity is involved, and when smoothing them is the right repair.
BeginnerDownload the BadMonkey Music app for repair requests, gear, Bench Notes, pricing and shop updates.
BeginnerPlain definitions for the repair words players hear most often: relief, action, intonation, crown, radius, saddle, nut slot and more.
BeginnerA plain-language map of the parts of electric, acoustic and bass guitars that matter during setup and repair.
BeginnerA practical maintenance schedule for players who want fewer emergencies and better-feeling instruments year-round.
BeginnerA quick map for using the Workshop as a repair reference without confusing it with Bench Notes, service pages or pricing pages.
BeginnerA checklist-style page for inspecting a guitar before repair, purchase, setup work or seasonal storage.
BeginnerA compact humidity guide for acoustic and electric guitar owners who need seasonal reminders.
IntermediateA practical setup checklist for tracking relief, nut slots, action, intonation, pickup height and final play testing.
BeginnerHow humidity changes action, fret ends, cracks, bridges and the way an acoustic guitar tells the truth.
BeginnerA repair-reference guide for separating fret buzz, hardware rattles, nut problems, pickup pull and normal string noise.
IntermediateHow to decide whether worn or uneven frets need a level and crown, spot repair, or a full refret.
BeginnerPractical starting points for electric, acoustic and bass action, with the reminders that numbers are only the beginning.
IntermediateA practical bench-style guide to relief, action, nut slots, radius, intonation, pickup height and final inspection.
IntermediateWhat the truss rod does, what it does not do, and why the smartest adjustment is sometimes knowing when to stop.
BeginnerWhat to inspect before money changes hands: neck angle, frets, electronics, truss rod, cracks, bridge lift and setup cost.
IntermediateA plain-language map of pickups, pots, caps, switches, grounding and output jacks.
Try a shorter term or browse the Workshop sections above.
If the guides point to fretwork, wiring, structural repair or a problem that still does not make sense, send the shop the instrument details and symptoms.