Guitar Pictures

Tag: luthier tools

  • The Erlewine ShopStand: The Rock-Solid Hub Your Workshop is Missing

    This is it: the glorious, rock-solid monster that anchors your entire workshop and changes the game forever.

    The Erlewine ShopStand shown as a standalone unit, highlighting its robust construction and small footprint.

    It puts a decisive end to the familiar, frustrating reality for so many of us: that slight wobble you try to ignore, the cluttered benchtop that forces you into awkward angles, the constant, low-level fear that one slip could turn a precise job into a disaster. Every stroke matters with a file, and if the very foundation holding your work is moving, your accuracy suffers. The noise, the feel… it’s enough to drive you mad. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a corrosive agent that fundamentally undermines your confidence and focus. You’re fighting your environment instead of mastering your craft.

    đź“š The Master’s Vision for a Flawless Workflow

    To solve a foundational problem, we look to a master. Dan Erlewine didn’t just accept the limitations of a traditional workbench; he reimagined the very hub of the workshop. In this video, he lays out his thesis for why a dedicated, stable, and adaptable workstation is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity for professional-level work.

    Dan Erlewine working confidently on a guitar neck held in the Erlewine ShopStand, demonstrating its stability.

    🏆 The Three Pillars of a Professional Foundation

    The genius of the ShopStand lies in how it systematically dismantles the core problems of a hobbyist setup. It’s built on three pillars that create a truly professional foundation.

    1. Reclaim Your Workshop (The Space-Saver).
      For a smaller shop, bench space is prime real estate. The ShopStand solves the “real estate crisis” by replacing a bulky, space-hogging bench with a tiny footprint. You no longer have to sacrifice half your workshop to permanently-stationed power tools; the ShopStand becomes a hot-swappable hub, maximizing every square foot.
    2. The End of ‘Wobble-Induced’ Fear (The Stabilizer).
      Bolted directly to your floor, this heavy-duty, rock-steady column is the ultimate confidence booster. The constant, subconscious micro-corrections you make on a wobbly surface vanish. That fear of slipping is replaced by the profound stability needed for the most delicate and demanding tasks.
    3. Bring the Work to You (The Ergonomic Hub).
      With a height adjustment range of 27″ to 36″, the ShopStand adapts to you, not the other way around. It eliminates the “shop floor shuffle” of bending and hauling tools. Even better, it unlocks 360-degree access, allowing you to move completely around the workpiece without bumping into a bench—a game-changer for shaping necks or buffing a body.

    🛠️ The System in Action: From Fretwork to Final Polish

    The “Aha!” moment comes when you realize this isn’t just a stand; it’s a modular system. A task that used to be a frustrating, multi-step “unclamp-flip-reclamp” dance suddenly becomes fluid and intuitive.

    • Precision Fret & Setup Work: With a neck jig locked into the Guitar Repair Vise, you can tip the instrument into the perfect playing position and orbit the work, inspecting every angle without breaking focus.
    • Effortless Nut & Saddle Shaping: As Dan demonstrates, you can clamp a belt sander into the Angle Vise, bringing the tool to the perfect height for comfortable, precise shaping.
    • Flawless Buffing: The stand’s rigidity makes it the “perfect buffing stand.” It provides the stable base needed to apply Dan’s “Gibson secret”—keeping the piece moving in a circular motion, like steering a car, to achieve a beautiful, streak-free finish.

    đź’° The Investment: Forging Your Workshop’s Central Hub

    Let’s be direct: this is a serious tool at a serious price. You could probably try to build one yourself if you have a welder and time to burn on grinding, drilling, and painting. But that’s a fair bit of work that pulls you away from the actual craft of lutherie. The real argument for a “buy once, cry once” tool like this is about what you’re truly investing in.

    This isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment in confidence. It’s the aesthetic and functional upgrade that professionalizes your space. It’s knowing that if it’s good enough for Dan Erlewine, it’s good enough for you. You can build your ultimate workstation starting with the cornerstone: the Erlewine ShopStand. And remember, StewMac often has “SAVE WITH THE SET!” bundles that package the stand with the essential vises for a better value.

    ✨ The Payoff: The Feeling of “The Real Deal”

    After you bolt this to your floor and complete your first major job, the lasting feeling isn’t just satisfaction with the work. It’s an ascension. You’ve eliminated the amateur’s biggest variable—an unstable environment—and have earned the right to see yourself differently. Suddenly, you feel you can take on more complex jobs, to demand more precision from yourself. It’s the moment you stop feeling like a hobbyist and start thinking like a professional. You become the quasi-professional, and the path to becoming the real thing is finally clear.

    What’s the one tool that transformed your workshop from a hobby space to a pro-level environment? Share your story below.

  • A Luthier’s Only Vise

    If you’re currently using a clunky, old woodworking vise with foam pads taped to the jaws to hold your precious guitar—stop.

    The StewMac Guitar Repair Vise with included accessories, ready for professional luthier work.

    Just stop. That improvised setup, that slight wobble you try to ignore, that nagging fear in the back of your mind every time you apply pressure is the single biggest unaddressed risk in your workshop. You’re one slip away from a damaged finish, a cracked neck, or worse. As a fellow serious hobbyist, I believe some tools aren’t just purchases; they are foundational decisions. A proper vise isn’t about convenience; it’s the heart of your workbench, the trusted hands that hold your instrument while you perform surgery. The goal is to build a setup so reliable that you can remove all doubt and focus entirely on your craft, knowing with certainty that the tool will not fail you.

    🎦 The Master’s Viewpoint

    To understand the professional standard, we look to the master, Dan Erlewine. In this video, he walks through why a specialized vise is so central to his workflow. It’s not just a holding device; it’s an enabling tool that makes complex jobs possible. His insights set the benchmark for why this tool is different.

    🛠️ The Cornerstone Investment: Why This Vise is Essential

    This isn’t just a vise; it’s a purpose-built system for lutherie. I can say with full certainty this is a cornerstone tool, because its design solves the exact problems guitar work presents. Three features make it non-negotiable for holding tapered, irregular shapes:

    1. Independent Swiveling Jaws.
      They can tilt and adjust side-to-side, allowing them to perfectly match the tapered angle of a guitar neck without slipping.
    2. 360-Degree Jaw Rotation.
      Each jaw can be completely spun around and then locked, letting you find the absolute perfect grip for any job, from fretwork to body routing.
    3. Frictionless Operation.
      A custom roller bearing ensures the vise glides open and shut smoothly, while the removable hand crank means it never snags your clothes or gets in the way during a delicate task.
    A detailed view of the StewMac Guitar Repair Vise showcasing its robust construction and smooth operation.

    Ultimately, it’s about absolute trust. Users describe it as a “game changer,” and after experiencing that rock-solid stability, you’ll understand why it’s worth every penny. This is the one you buy once. Find the latest version, which now includes protective neck inserts, here: StewMac Guitar Repair Vise (Amazon).

    đź’° Price vs. The Lifetime Promise

    Let’s address the elephant in the room: the price. It’s a serious investment. You can find other “pattern maker” vises, some for slightly less. But here’s the crucial distinction: you’re not just buying a piece of steel, you’re investing in the StewMac ecosystem. If you wait for one of their frequent sales, you can get a great discount. But more importantly, if you ever have an issue, they will look after you. Their lifetime guarantee isn’t a marketing slogan; it’s an operational promise. That peace of mind, knowing the company stands behind the most critical tool on your bench, makes the upfront cost a long-term bargain.

    âś… The Pro’s Tradecraft: Two Details for Perfect Use

    Owning a pro tool is the first step; using it like a pro is the next. Here are two pieces of “insider knowledge” that make a difference.

    1. The Safety Net Rule.
      Any pro will tell you that a moment of carelessness can lead to disaster. The biggest risk is loosening the jaws before you have a new grip, causing the neck to drop onto the vise’s metal rails. While the new version of this vise commendably includes foam “Neck Protectors,” you can add a “belt-and-suspenders” safety net with a simple, folded microfiber cloth draped underneath. It’s a zero-cost piece of tradecraft that provides total peace of mind.
    2. The Mounting Choice.
      The vise offers two mounting heights depending on whether you install it on top of or under your workbench (for an 8″ or 9-3/4″ height). Take a moment to consider your primary working stance—sitting or standing—and choose the height that minimizes strain on your back during long sessions.

    🏆 The Payoff: The Sound of Silence

    The true prize of owning this vise isn’t what it does, but what it stops. It stops the doubt. It silences the fear. It eliminates the risk of your improvised setup failing at the worst possible moment. Plug in your guitar, and it sounds the same. But work on it, and the confidence you feel is a new kind of music. You achieved a professional result because you invested in a professional foundation.

    The workbench isn’t complete until the right vise is bolted to it. Do you agree that this is the first cornerstone of any serious workshop? Join the discussion below.