I bought a new guitar from a shop in Manchester that came set up from the Fender factory. It had a floating bridge and I was not happy with the action, put simply it was OK but it wasn't brilliant.. Phil took time to explain a few facts about the guitars initial manufacture and set up which convinced me to have a basic set up geared to my preference. WHAT A DIFFERENCE... It is no exageration to say this is NOW a BRILLIANT guitar. The action is perfect, it is a dream to play... Thanks Phil.. All the Best
Karl
Phil is the only guy I use to set up and rescue my guitars, such as a Les Paul, custom Strat, Hummingbird & others. All guitars that played like they should do only after Phil had done his magic! Latest project was to restore my first guitar, a 1981 Bullet, that had been trashed through playing and neglect. Guitar came back better than new, like being reunited with my first love! Highly recommended.
Tony
I would like to say thanks for all the great work you have done on my Rosewood Telecaster. The work you have done on it has absolutely transformed it and made it “come alive’. I know I can always trust you to come up with the right suggestions on how to improve the tone and playability of a guitar and your workmanship is absolutely superb. What’s more you are friendly and patient – I feel like every time I get some work done I learn a massive amount, as you are so good at explaining how different modifications impact on how the guitar sounds and feels. The frets, the pickups, electrics and setup were all perfect for the guitar and it worked out beautifully. Thanks again, I would recommend your work to anyone, whether they are beginners or professional players.
Dean McPhee
Hi Phil
Just to let you know, the guitar is fantastic...it now feels like I expected a Gibson 335 would be, thanks a lot for doing such a great job.
Mark
Just wanna let you know how I am getting on with the Strat you built for me. It's been a while, but I wanted to get properly acquainted with it first :-)!
The feel, construction, set-up, intonation and acoustic sound is once again superb! The funky nut makes a noticeable difference! I am also happy with the choice of the thicker neck with the glossy finish
Cheers,
Johannes
Hi Phil, Just to let you know how I've got on with my Tele with the new stainless frets now I've had chance assess the job properly. Well, I was impressed at first & now I've had a few plays I'm even more impressed. The whole job, the re-fret, the nut & the setup was done to the very highest standard & I also appreciate your meticulous approach & how you listened to my needs & chose the fret wire accordingly. I'm also very pleased with the choice of material of the new nut, the thing just slips into tune now. I never knew a low friction nut would make such a difference.Thanks again, it's a great job.
Neil
Many thanks Phil for producing,dare I say, a better,more stable version of my Hank Marvin signature Custom Shop Strat!! It is set up perfectly for my requirments, and the timbers resonate just like my Custom Strat.And all this at a third of the price.Many thanks once again!! Best wishes,
Stuart Cosgrove
You said it was slick... it is more than slick! Thank you so much. The tuning is superb...you have great ears. Craftsmanship. Brilliant and you fixed that little nick in the neck too. Really, a huge thanks.
Chris
Hi Phil, just thought I'd drop you a line to thank you for the excellent work you did on my guitars. I was in two minds about whether to have the Martin set up, but now I'm sure I made the right decision - I just can't put it down!
Mark
Thank you for the set up work you carried out on my Suhr strat style guitar recently.It sounds and plays excellent and it was worth the 160 mile round trip drive to your workshop.I would happily recommend your work and friendly approach to others it's just a shame you don't live a bit nearer to me.I will however be using you again on some of my other instruments as your turnaround times are very good and flexible.
Richard
Just a quickie to say cheers v much for your work on my battered bass - I had my first practice with the band on Wednesday & it has really been transformed (for the good, obviously!).
It's much easier to play now & I really enjoyed playing it - it's like a new instrument (blub!)
Cheers again
Stuart
Phil has worked on my guitars and basses for many years now. A Phil Hartley set up always ensures, without exception, that the instrument realises its true potential whatever its price tag.
Phil has fret dressed four of my guitars in the past and the transformation in terms of playability is immense.
I recently decided to get my beloved JV Squier ’62 Strat refretted by Phil. Eighteen years earlier it'd had a bodged re-fret using some type of weird jumbo frets. The bottom E string could easily slip off the finger board because the edges were overly rounded and bending was harder than it should be.
This was my first Phil Hartley refret and I cannot describe how good the guitar is now. This man’s craftsmanship is second to none.
At the same time Phil set up my ‘75 Vintage Jazz bass reissue and it’s now twice the bass it was. It really brought home to me the fact that even if you buy a relatively expensive guitar they still need setting up properly.
Phil’s prices are very fair. I’m sure you’ll find a cheaper guitar tech but as with everything in life you pay for what you get. On top of this Phil is a genuinely nice approachable guy who knows his trade inside out and is passionate about his work.
Anyway, don’t take my word for it; get him to set your guitar up and you'll never look back.
Dave Wilkinson
Thanks for all your work on my guitars. You have set up 4 for me so far: A Gibson 335, a Fender Strat and my 2 Gordon Smiths. They have all come back playing beautifully. You did some extra work on my 335 and a Gordon Smith (fret dress, new nut for the GS, new input jack etc) and the workmanship was top notch, you even got rid of that little crack in the 335's nut without replacing it! My 335 in particular is now a wonderous thing to play and behold. Your knowledge is nothing less than comprehensive and you always make me feel welcome. Thanks again for an excellent service.
Alex
Hi Phil
The Stealth String Trees arrived today. I installed them at once and they work just fine!
I may be ordering more in the future.
Best regards
Niels (Denmark)
You recently carried out some work on my 335 (funky-nut, fret-reduction and graphtech saddles)
Just to say, how pleased I was with the results. You made an already superb instrument even better; it intonates beautifully all over the neck, stays in tune and feels so much better without the rail track frets!
Many thanks, Peter
'Phil's professionalism and experience result in a complete service that
will leave your guitar as perfect as it can be, or if you prefer he will
simply make you a perfect guitar! His knowledge is thorough and his
attention to detail is such that every conceivable aspect will be taken
care of to the highest standard. His service is second to none
and his prices very competitive. Don't take my word for it, find out for
yourself'.
Steve Banks. Professional guitarist and Lecturer at Southampton Solent
University.
Many thanks for your valuable advice and expertise when I visited you at home last Friday (9th Jan 09) As you know I have been having very frustrating tuning problems with my Conde Flamenco guitar for some time and was amazed to discover that the nut had been put on the wrong way round!! ( A fact that you spotted in the first 30 seconds!) Already a vast improvement in intonation is apparent with an option for further work to be carried out if necessary. What a refreshing change it is these days to meet a dedicated expert who will give free and very valuable advice, without any pressure, to a complete stranger. I learnt more about guitars in that hour or so than I have done in the last 30 years. Thanks again and I will recommend anyone with sick guitar to give you a call first!. Best regards Malcolm H Smith
Hi Phil
Remember me... you did my Gibson Custom, black one with a dent...
well just to send you a big thank you, the guitar is amazing, having you do that was alone well worth the trip to England.
I really love how the guitar plays and feels now. So once again thanks a lot and I look forward to you doing my other guitar when Im next over.
Phil
Hello Phil -2 weeks have passed on being reunited with Madam Taylor. There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle, so a visit to your rehabilatation centre was a must The frets and action had suffered over the years and cracks in the marriage were showing - an expensive elopement with Martin was on the cards, however, due to your counselling skills Madam Taylor and myself are still together and re-newing our vows - We now have great action with fantastic sounds - Many Thanks -
John H
Phil..Hi there. George Harvey sending a well-earned vote of thanks to you for work well done. I was truly delighted when I got home Friday Aftrnoon, after a most interesting and delightful hour in Bolton. Delighted with the results of your work, and the cost which was most acceptable. And interested with the discussions we had about a possible "pair" of Stele matching 6&12's. You gave me so much to think about, and to save for. And, of course, to thank you for. Now I have an elderly Takamine EN10 that would be almost any accoustic player's dream, and a Gibson 335DOT that now plays as it should have done from the start, and now is really my pride and joy. Thanks,Phil. I'll stay in touch...
George Harvey Oh...p.s. your Stele is fantastic, I really wouldn't mind giving it a proper trial some time.
Hi Phil Just a quick to tell you the Hank Marvin Fiesta Red guitar you built for me is playing great. I use it in the new band I have and its now well played in and sounds great. Everybody goes on about the guitar - the light swamp ash body - the great colour (fiesta red of course) the birdseye AAAAA neck the sounds from Chris Kinmans pick ups sound great through my Fender Hot Rod deluxe amp. What people dont realise though is the work you did putting it all together and the quality of your work in correctly setting up the guitar as well as putting it all together - that alone is work of magnificent art form. I would not let anybody touch my guitars other than your goodself. You have set up all my guitars and every one has been improved beyond my wildest dreams and it is my belief you can buy the best guitar on the planet but if it has not been set up correctly its a waste of time. I also think as I have may have told you before that you have been the best luthier by miles to work on my guitars. You can use this for your testimonials with my thanks Best regards
John
What on earth did you do to my JP6? I mean, I always liked the way it sounded but it's.......well......bigger, tighter. It just sounds huge. And I'm not just talking about the new switching option. It just feels and plays amazing.
Phil
I would like to say a big thank you for the set up and fret dress work you did on my Martin D 28. I have just spent a weekend playing various sessions and gigs at a festival ( first chance to play publically since picking it up ) and: 1. The action is exactly right - the feel all the way up the neck is great without being too high or low, and yet there is no buzz even when playing hard (in a bar with no PA !) 2. The sound is astonishing. I've always loved the sound but somehow it is now clearer, more balanced and with a glorious warmth and depth on the mid and treble, and cleaner, less muddy bass. The tusk saddle and bridge pins worked a treat. It's never sounded or played better. I'm totally delighted with the quality of your work, the empathy you have with guitars and the level of service. so THANK YOU
John Keighley
Just to let you know I am delighted with the work you did on my Gibson 355 guitar, I have put it through its paces over these last 10 days since I got it back to check out your work and it is now a really well balanced guitar, I am thoroughly delighted. Yes it has been all you said it would be after the Funky Nut was fitted and the fret trim done and thanks again also for you advice on the balancing arrangement for the strings.
Regards
George
I tried the Tele through my little AAD amp this morning - it sounds absolutely great with all the controls set flat on the neck pickup and no effects - even better than through your Marshall! Single notes really "pop" out of the guitar the way we jazzers like and every chord voice is crystal clear.
I asked Phil to build me a T-style guitar for jazz playing based on a USA Custom Guitars body and neck. Phil was enthusiastic about the project from the start and came up with a lot of ideas and suggestions that wouldn't have occurred to me. I've played and/or owned a number of exceptional guitars from top makers over the years and the guitar Phil built for me is easily in the same league. It sounds great, the action is superb and thanks to Phil's Funky Nut the intonation is perfect all over the fretboard - I don't think I've played another guitar with such good intonation! I would highly recommend Phil to anyone looking for a guitar build or setup/repair work.
Bill
Hi Phil, Just a quick word of thanks for the mojo transplant on my SG. What a difference! How did you manage to remove those old frets and install those new fangled teflon ones? Lovely Job, thanks a million!
Regards
Steve Johnson (08 SG fret dress)
Just a note to thank you for yet another outstanding set up job, this time on the Larrivee. Your attention to detail is, let's face it, bordering on the obsessive.....but that's why I wouldn't take my guitars to anyone else. The K & K Pure Western pickup you fitted sounded terrific when I played it publicly for the first time yesterday (if only the same could be said for my playing!)
Thanks again, and I'll be in touch to arrange for you to put the new pickups in two of my other guitars.
Best wishes
Richard
It's a masterpiece!
The fret job has made a spectacular improvement to the playability. The range of sounds is incredible, the P90s sound so rich and fat and the humbucker is an absolute beast! The even harmonic growl makes it awesome for rock and metal. Just playing an open position chord and holding it is a joy, the way the notes develop and then decay is incredible, it's almost like using a delay/chorus effect!
Thank you so much Phil, this has been the best investment in any piece of musical equipment I have ever made. A unique guitar that fits my needs perfectly.
All the best Phil, thank you so much for the superb job!
Cheers,
David McMillan
Just like to say thank you for a fantastic job you have done on my guitar.
I've played for over 20 years and have had numerous technicians set up my
guitars and I've always been disappointed with the end results. I would
not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone who wanted any kind of
work doing to their guitars.
Phil is a very approachable, polite man who takes great pride in his work.
Keep up the good work Phil!
Paul (Wato)
South Shields.
Thank you for the excellent service and work carried out on my new Les Paul Studio - fret dress, delrin nut and set up.
You show a genuine interest in your work and listened to what I wanted during the consultation.
Your extensive knowledge and advice were invaluable.
The lowered 'buzz free' action, smooth frets and tuning stability are all instantly noticeable. The guitar is a pleasure to play.
My 'pride and joy' was returned spotlessly clean, polished and at a remarkably reasonable price.
I will not hesitate in recommending you to friends and other guitarists.
Thanks again
Mick Ginn
Just had a Warmoth guitar built by Phil. I wanted a Hank Marvin style guitar built with the specs I wanted. WOW !! what a amazing job. Not only does the guitar look great, feel great, it plays and sounds like a dream. In my opinion it is better than a Fender Custom Shop. The attention to detail and craftmanship Phil bestows on your guitar is really first class. So much so I have left my other guitar with Phil to work his magic... Cheers Phil
Carl
Phil did a great custom job on my fretless bass, the sound and playabilty is second to none, thanks Phil,
Graham from Blackburn
Matthew loves the guitar, it has a nice strong
sound to it on his amp.
I'll let you know when we record some more Videos on YouTube with it.
Thanks for all your hard work.
David, Debbie and Matthew.
I was just wanting to let you know that everything is going great on the guitars since you worked on them. The Funky Nut is an absolute blessing, especially since I play with a keyboard player all the time. I'm glad you are finally marketing it as such. The strat with the Funky Nut has been working hard up and down the country and is performing excellent and it is just about to go to Isreal for a month of solid playing 3 sets a night. All the best
Adam Cawthra.
Wow what a difference that made...it's like a new guitar!!!The new pick up sounds fantastic & the overall playability has improved ten-fold!!!!I had a good guitar(gibson SG Pete Townsend), but now I have a great guitar. Cheers Phil, I shall be back for the same treatment for my other baby's!!
GED
The Warmoth Guitar you built for me is great. I am very happy with it in every respect. The playability is great and all the pickup choices make the guitar very versatile and sound fantstic. Also choosing the multi radius neck was a very good choice and it simply feels great.
One word is all I need to say really - fantastic!
Johannes (Have a look at the guitar in the warmoth Gallery)
I used to think my Strat was OK.... it is now GREAT.
It now feels positive and plays well in all positions. But equally important,
it sounds musical and sweet in all positions too.
The standard of work is superb and I want to thank you for your great attention
to detail. Above all, this is the reason I will come back because it is so rare
to find these days - someone who actually cares and knows exactly how to
achieve the desired result!
In the future, if anyone asks me to recommend a guitar expert/repairer in
Warrington I will be telling them they need to go to Bolton..
Thanks and regards
Darrel Hardwick
Just a quick mail to say that I am very happy with the Buzz Feiten nut that
you fitted to my Strat. Last night was my first Feiten-equipped gig, and the
results were very pleasing. Not only did the guitar sound generally more in
tune with the rest of the mix than before (particularly around frets 1-5),
but it also *stayed in tune* beautifully. I only had to tune once near the
start of the night, despite some whammy bar use and liberal amounts of
string bending - a fine testament to your precision nut-cutting! I could
swear that the open strings ring out more clearly now too, perhaps a feature
of the bone nut? (aided by the slots being cut 'just so', of course).
The downside to all this (well, the financial downside) is that I'm now
playing the guitar more than ever, and that fret-dress time is going to come
round all the sooner... So I could well be back in touch with you in a few
months' time for a fret recrowning!
All the best,
Barry
Just a few words to say, Great Job. Instead of ploughing a field with a spoon, is like creating a gentle breeze that carries a gentle hint on the strings of life.
Martin
I just wanted to write a little note to thank you for the work you did on my guitar. I played a gig with it last night and was absolutely chuffed to bits with the sounds I was getting. Your advice and ideas were spot on, I love the way the single coils clean up but still have enough presence and balls behind them. These are the sounds I've wanted for a long time and now they're easily acheivable. I'm glad you suggested single coils now as opposed to stacked humbuckers, they were the right choice, and the coil tap just adds to the versatlity and opens the whole thing up. It played very nicely and the action, even though a bit lower than I usually have it, worked for me. Thanks again, I will be recommending you.
Dave Lodge
A couple of years back I was having major intonation problems with a side-serving of fret buzz. We’ve all been there and it’s a total damper on the joy of playing when all you hear is notes that are slightly discordant no matter how long you spend tuning your axe. I started searching for solutions to this problem after hearing about the legendary “Buzz Feiten” tuning system and this search led to Phil…
Now if you ever need to know anything about guitars, and especially issues regarding intonation, upgrades and mods Phil is your man. I’ve used several different guitar techs in my time and Phil offers the most reassurance, experience and attention to detail I’ve ever come across. It’s his personal mission to make your precious baby the best it can possibly be.
He’ll talk you through anything, actually listens to you and he’s damn polite as well. No grouchy opinionated guitar-tech attitude here!! Viva le Phil
Andy Craig
I've played guitar for over 30 years now but it wasn't until I purchased another guitar in 1991, that I realised just how good a guitar sounded after being properly set up and fret dressed. I had previously assumed that new guitars would be riff ready, especially when a substantial amount of money was changing hands!
I was surprised to realise that guitars are frequently released from the factory with poor set ups and with fret imperfections. Even Custom Shop models I've owned or seen have needed improvements to the setup and frets. This means that the true potential of the instrument is hidden and the tone impaired to some degree. This hidden potential can however be uncovered if the guitar is worked on by an expert.
When I first met Phil in 1991 he explained what a proper set up and fret dress involved and why guitars benefited from the process. The improvements in playability and tone brought about by Phil on my Les Paul were stunning.
Since 1991 I've discovered that guitars I've bought have been dramatically improved by Phil's expert work. I've entrusted Phil with my guitars for well over a decade now and he has performed many tasks and repairs on them. These have included fitting strap-locks, adjusting action and intonation, pick up and other hardware changes, fret dressing and polishes and more. The improvements in tone and playability have always far outweighed the cost of the work.
Phil has always done an excellent job and given prompt and courteous service. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge and has provided me with loads of honest advice over the years on guitar, amp and effect purchases as well as worthwhile improvements to my guitars.
I highly recommend Phil as a guitar expert and repairer and trust him implicitly with my very valued instruments.
Just a short note of appreciation for the painstaking and inspired work you undertook for me on both guitars (classical and archtop).
The transformation you made to the classical guitar is astonishing; you have turned a very difficult and challenging instrument into a gem – and an unlovely and unloved guitar into a cherished friend.