Guides from the workbench
Setup, wiring and repair, explained properly.
Long-form guides written at the Karimer counter for the parts we actually sell and install. No filler, sources listed at the bottom of every piece.
Emerson Custom
Prewired Guitar Kits Explained: What Actually Changes When You Swap the Electronics
A plain look at what is inside a prewired harness, which parts change your sound and which do not, and how to tell when the problem is somewhere else.
Read the guide →Pure Tone Jacks
Why Guitar Output Jacks Crackle and Cut Out, and How to Fix It for Good
A workshop guide to diagnosing a crackling or cutting-out guitar output jack, from the wiggle test to a clean solder job on the replacement.
Read the guide →KTS Titanium
Titanium Guitar Saddles and Neck Reinforcement Bars: What the Material Actually Does
We explain what titanium does and does not do in guitar saddles and neck reinforcement bars, with sourced material numbers and fit checks.
Read the guide →Floyd Rose
How to Set Up a Floating Floyd Rose: String Change, Spring Tension and Fine Tuning
Everything we tell players at the Karimer counter about restringing and balancing a floating Floyd Rose at home, in the order that actually works.
Read the guide →