2008 Jaydee Custom Guitars
The Angus Young Connection
In the late 70’s I had my first workshop tucked around the back of a garage. It wasn’t the best location but at the time
it really didn’t matter, I was doing something that I had only dreamed of. A few guitar repairs were coming my way
to start the ball rolling, along with the occasional order for a custom instrument. Around that time one of the road crew
from AC/DC turned up with one of Angus Youngs Gibson SG’s. It was in a bit of a state to say the least, but the main
problem it had was a broken truss rod. Someone in Australia had previously attempted to repair it but without success.
it really didn’t matter, I was doing something that I had only dreamed of. A few guitar repairs were coming my way
to start the ball rolling, along with the occasional order for a custom instrument. Around that time one of the road crew
from AC/DC turned up with one of Angus Youngs Gibson SG’s. It was in a bit of a state to say the least, but the main
problem it had was a broken truss rod. Someone in Australia had previously attempted to repair it but without success.
I removed the fretboard so I could see what was going on and I discovered that
the fixed end of the truss rod had been damaged by excessive use of a brazing
torch, where the wood surrounding the truss rod had been charred. Consequently
the rod could not take the tension anymore and was near to total collapse.
I rebuilt the Inside of the neck with new timber (Mahogany) and the final repair was
as good as new. That guitar was a Walnut colour with an aged cream double sided
pick guard.
the fixed end of the truss rod had been damaged by excessive use of a brazing
torch, where the wood surrounding the truss rod had been charred. Consequently
the rod could not take the tension anymore and was near to total collapse.
I rebuilt the Inside of the neck with new timber (Mahogany) and the final repair was
as good as new. That guitar was a Walnut colour with an aged cream double sided
pick guard.
This repair obviously went down well because it wasn’t long before I had another to
contend with. This time it was electrical and mechanical, whereby the bridge,
tail stock, pots and the selector switch were completely solid and no amount of
lubricant would free them up. The pick-ups were also the victims of the dreaded
‘Angus sweat’ which must be like acid because it ate through the coils. All the
electrics and bridge were changed, and the pick-ups rewound. This time they were
set in a two pack resin so it couldn’t happen again. I also had to change the pole
piece screws as these had rusted to nothing. I replaced them with socket cap screws,
which are visible on the old posters of Angus.
contend with. This time it was electrical and mechanical, whereby the bridge,
tail stock, pots and the selector switch were completely solid and no amount of
lubricant would free them up. The pick-ups were also the victims of the dreaded
‘Angus sweat’ which must be like acid because it ate through the coils. All the
electrics and bridge were changed, and the pick-ups rewound. This time they were
set in a two pack resin so it couldn’t happen again. I also had to change the pole
piece screws as these had rusted to nothing. I replaced them with socket cap screws,
which are visible on the old posters of Angus.
It didn’t stop there. The next was a body repair where the whole of the control area
Had been eaten away by the ‘Angus sweat’, and the odd knock clinched it to make it
unusable. This time it wasn’t worth repairing so I made a new one neck and all,
including the lightning flash inlays, again in the Walnut finish. The only original thing
left on the guitar was the head face with the Gibson logo. The constant appearance
of the crew members with yet more SG’s for servicing or pick-up rewinds led to the
suggestion of making a guitar for Angus. In the midst of all this Angus was not aware
of his pick-ups being rewound. The road crew thought it would be better if he didn’t
know, in case he didn’t like the idea. Anyway, the thought of making a guitar for Angus
gave me a real buzz. That instrument was finished in time for the Donnington festival
when the Slade boys were supporting. That was the first time I had ever met Angus
and Malcolm, they were really nice guys. The best thing of all was to see that Angus
was so pleased with the guitar that he just went straight out on stage in front of
thousands of people and played the whole gig with that guitar with no fuss.
What a man!
Had been eaten away by the ‘Angus sweat’, and the odd knock clinched it to make it
unusable. This time it wasn’t worth repairing so I made a new one neck and all,
including the lightning flash inlays, again in the Walnut finish. The only original thing
left on the guitar was the head face with the Gibson logo. The constant appearance
of the crew members with yet more SG’s for servicing or pick-up rewinds led to the
suggestion of making a guitar for Angus. In the midst of all this Angus was not aware
of his pick-ups being rewound. The road crew thought it would be better if he didn’t
know, in case he didn’t like the idea. Anyway, the thought of making a guitar for Angus
gave me a real buzz. That instrument was finished in time for the Donnington festival
when the Slade boys were supporting. That was the first time I had ever met Angus
and Malcolm, they were really nice guys. The best thing of all was to see that Angus
was so pleased with the guitar that he just went straight out on stage in front of
thousands of people and played the whole gig with that guitar with no fuss.
What a man!
