FRET WORKS Guitar Player Clientele
Even though many of these valuable clients are hard working established pro's, many more are simply local playing enthusiasts or "up and comers" and they all come to Fret Works for one reason - to get what they need, want, expect and deserve from owning and playing a new or used fretted musical string instrument.
For me it's a real privilege to have continuously supplied these crucial services to all fretted instrument players over the past quarter century. I love my occupation and I love the players. I have been able to achieve great results for them based on my experience, integrity and dedication to provide a "cut above the ordinary" service equal to or better than the best service found anywhere.
These outstanding professional musicians make their living performing with their instruments and they all have afforded me the privilege of listing their names here. I like to mention these clients by name because they have developed a strong public profile and they are listed here because they individually and collectively appreciate the efforts I make to keep their instruments in tip-top condition. Artists who are frequent clients of the shop and who are perhaps familiar to you include:
Eddy Clearwater
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is a versatile, flamboyant Chicago blues rocker who can perform good-natured party music and original, deep, melancholy blues with equal finesse. "It's country and blues and rock 'n' roll combined...high energy music," Clearwater says of his trademark sound.
Tim Williams,
Tim Williams is a blues-based singer / songwriter / multi - instrumentalist. He is a 40 year veteran of the 'Roots' music scene in North America, roots which stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60's.
Settling in Canada in 1970, Tim is a studio musician, producer, and a performer in constant demand. He has played Folk / Blues / Jazz festivals and concert halls and clubs from Halifax, to Vancouver Island, to the Yukon.
Inspired by the Hillbilly and Western Swing music he heard as a child, Tim absorbed late Fifties Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll, Hawaiian and Mexican music, early Sixties Folk, and Bluegrass “like a sponge” before discovering a passion for traditional blues styles which was fueled by seeing many first generation blues musicians live during the “Blues Boom” of the mid and late Sixties."Ellen Mcilwaine,
her music uses the blues as a spring-board,
spanning reggae, funk, rock, etc., mixing them in a steaming
spicy melange. Being a wickedly sharp slide guitarist
is only part of it." Winnipeg Free Press
Amos is well appreciated and admired for his taste in space and time and for his thrilling, mind bending guitar chops and his totally unique feel for the strings and thus his mango sweet tones, an incredibly blissful melodic feel and really just an overall kind of guitar sound which is so naturally appealing and which always reminds me of the incredible privilege it is to know and make myself useful to the guy and what a joy it is just to be alive.
He has a loyal, one could add cult following among all seriously informed and dedicated musicians and among the millions and millions of avid listeners all around the whole wide world. Amos Garrett knows exactly what he's looking for in terms of playability because he is an unparalleled master of the instrument. If you don't know Amos Garrett, you to only just check out his version of "Sleep Walk" or the 1976 Smash Hit "Midnight at the Oasis" to get a tiny sample of his beautiful melodic phrasing and uplifting and soaring solos, his delicate touch and yet his complete command of the guitar. He has influenced legions of guitar players for at least three, if not four generations, with many of the new boys like Mark Knopfler of Dire Straights or Jerry Donahue, most recently of the Hellecasters, owing a long overdue tip of the hat and more verbal acknowledgments to the man who has been fearlessly and joyfully lighting the pathway so brilliantly for everyone else with a guitar in their hands to freely follow.
This was accomplished by planing the fingerboard to be truly level then modifying and blending the high register radius of the fingerboard of his stock Fender Telecaster from a 7 1/4" cylinder shape into a cutting edge, modern HOT ROD compound radius shape of a final 12" curve, at the end of the high register. Of course replacing all of the frets with a slightly wider and taller wire than the thin tiny vintage frets and only after work super-hardening and gluing them down permanently, following up with a custom rewire on the guitar to his spec and then finally tying it all together with a bow by setting up his guitar so that the strings, to quote the man "are layin' right on the deck".
All in all the work completed at Fret Works for Amos has made him happy, content and so relaxed when he plays because for him it is so slinky, so smooth, so effortless and slinky to play on, that's right I already said that that he declared it The Best Guitar he has ever played!
All that work was completed in the Spring of 1991 for Amos Garrett and that axe is still going strong in in 2007 with the same frets which were installed back in 1991! That's only 15 years of constant and delicious playability off one set of new frets and there's no sign they are about to wear out soon.
Lester Quitzau
Meet Canadian roots music artist Lester Quitzau, a mellow guy who throws down a heavy groove. In a field where intangibles like feel and integrity count for so much, Quitzau has forged an exemplary career.What began with a solid blues apprenticeship in the funky working-class bars of Edmonton has grown into an eclectic and constantly evolving musical journey for the guitarist, singer, song-writer, composer and producer.
Whether he's coaxing languid, hypnotic sounds from his slide guitar in an intimate solo concert, or improvising freely with musical partners like Bill Bourne and Madagascar Slim, the Very Electric Trio, or his latest work with Mae Moore, a hard-won honesty underscores every note.
Jann also continues to be an active supporter of charities including:
2007 “Cure” Foundation for Breast Cancer
infocure@fondationcure.com
2007 national spokesperson for
KIds Help Phone
info@kidshelp.sympatico.ca
&
consummate entertainers of our time, always amazingly original and generous in his performance. He is able to weave very complex rhythms and lead work seamlessly to a spell binding effect. To not only me but to the legions of his loyal fans, Gaye is truly one of Canada's most awe-inspiring guitar players who is yet very unpretentious, passionate, with a very funny sense of humor to boot.
Johnny V
Long John Baldry's amazing musical legacy which if properly notated would fill a few pages in any rock encyclopedia. Long John's forty-five year career is a rich tapestry of recording, performing, great bands, discoverer of talent and actor. Long John is particularly known for his associations with former band members Rod Stewart and Elton John. Looking closely at LJB's musical tree you will discover that virtually every musician who came up in England during the 60's have some connection to LJB. Names like Ginger Baker, Jeff Beck, Brian Jones, Beatles, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones are cemented in LJB's musical history. In fact, Eric Clapton has stated many times that he was inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing Long John Baldry perform in the early 1960s.Russ Broom
"From Chicago to New York to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, blues man Nigel Mack (vocals/harmonica/guitar) is a triple blues threat.
Drawing rave reviews for his CD High Price To Play his driving mixture
of Chicago, delta and funk blues is wowing audiences across
North America."
Quote from the Vancouver International Jazz Festival Guide
Robbie Laws -
"The beauty of the blues is that it's very simplistic music. It doesn't require a great deal of technical prowess to perform. What it does require is an immense amount of emotion. Emotional content is the main ingredient in the blues"
- Robbie Laws
Johnny Nitro -
"If the world was fair, Johnny Nitro would be famous," says Michael Locke. The dean of the North Beach blues scene, mentor to Tommy Castro and countless others, Johnny Nitro packs The Saloon every Friday night -- "unless he has a better gig." Johnny has the regular Sunday night slot there too, when he often invites his many guitar students to come air it out. Several gigs a month at Lou's Pier 47 on the Wharf as well.
Johnny's backed by wife Silvia Newton on vocals and tenor sax, Tom Bowers on bass, and Perfesser Dick McDonough on drums.
Johnny Nitro has played with Albert King, Albert Collins and Sonny Rhodes. Johnny wrote Dirty Dishes, a song made famous by Albert Collins and also recorded by Tab Benoit.
Eddie Vann Shaw
Guitarist and singer Eddie "Vaan" Shaw, Jr., is the son of blues saxophonist EDDIE SHAW. MAGIC SAM and HUBERT SUMLIN taught Shaw the basics of blues guitar. Shaw jammed with Sumlin and other Bluesmen who frequented his father's West Side club, Eddie's Place (aka The 1815 Club), and plays in the house band. Shaw eventually became a member of his father's band, the Wolf Gang, made up of musicians that had backed Howlin' Wolf in the early and mid-'70s. Since then, Shaw has begun a solo career, though he also continues to work with his father. His album Morning Rain was released on the Wolf label in 1993.
Zuckerbaby
A work in progress. What are you going to do if you’ve already been through what most bands would consider a “career”? You’ve had a major label deal, critical acclaim, played almost every venue in Canada, toured with scads of “big” acts, and had several hits at radio and Much Music? You’ve had some member changes, internal strife, been fucked over by a major label, and ultimately decided to go your separate ways? If you feel there is more to say and do, you start over from the beginning. That’s precisely what Zuckerbaby is doing. After a five year hiatus Calgary’s own alt-pop misfits are back together because the ending never felt right.
Carl Weathersby
Vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Carl Weathersby is a soul-blues crooner in the classic Chicago tradition. Best known for his work with Billy Branch and Sons of the Blues, Weathersby's first album, 1996's Don't Lay Your Blues on Me, was hailed as genuine, state-of-the-art Chicago blues for the '90s. Weathersby released his second album, Looking Out My Window, in 1997, and the raves continued; the song "The Blues Follow Me Around," which Weathersby first recorded with Branch, was nominated for a Handy Award. Still to come, but no less appreciated:
Cam Malloy, The Peter Tosh Organization, General Public, Pat Simmons, , Ray Montana, Glen Yorga,Silent Partners,
Satisfied clients
-Amos Garrett, Living guitar legend.
Amos has recorded with Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur and more than 200 others. He's a long time client of Fret Works and one of my favorite human beings.
"Thanks Miles, for the great work on my guitars. Your dedication, attention to detail,and excellence, goes a long way. The old Gibson and the Strat are playing better than ever. Thanks again. The Force Is With You...." -Lester Quitzau
"Wow! Miles turned my Franken-Tele parts guitar into something as good or better than the 'real deal'. He's also turned what I thought to be a pretty rad Strat into something that almost plays itself! Thanks Miles!"
-Brian McClennon, Aktivate
"Hi Miles, Cool site. Thanks for all the years of extra work that you have done to keep my 67 Precision still singing like it never has before. I am a fan of your endless insight to the problems that I have had with my bass. The times you have come out to the gig to tweak little things I don't even pickup on. What a consummate professional you are. Thanks pal, Glen"
-Glen Yorga
"Hi Miles. I just wanted to thank you for the great work you did on my Fender Acoustic. My guitar and I have developed a new relationship! I'm practicing every day and really digging the sound and its playability. I wish I had came across Fretworks 10 years ago because I was unaware that a guitar could be set up so it wasn't such a workout to play on. But one only learns when they are ready and I'm ready to learn now! Thank you."
-Geoff Jones
"I have personally known Miles for over 34 years, and I do not believe that anyone could find a craftsman/mentor (alive today) in ANY field that is more COMMITTED to the TOTAL SATISFACTION of his customers and students than is Miles Jones, Proprietor, Fretworks. Anyone sincerely interested in making more beautiful music on their instruments, with their hands, and in their hearts would do well to seek out Miles' caring knowledge and expertise in all that is and will be 'GUITAR'."
-Brent Rintoul
"Dear Miles, The black Johnson you repaired for me used to kill my hand after ten minutes.
I didn't know the guitar didn't play well because it's my first and I thought it was normal until a friend here in Fernie told me you could doctor it up.
Now I can play for at least an hour and it sounds better too. Best of all you didn't juice me on your prices. Thank you so much."
-Jonathan MacDougall
"Wow, Miles, and Fretworks, are truly one of a kind. Miles took my brand new factory setup Ovation and tweaked it into the guitar it should have been in the first place. What a tremendous difference on the action and playability. From barely playable to smooth as silk. I still can't believe it.
"As if this wasn't enough, he did the work on New Years Day and delivered it to my residence personally so that I could take the axe with me on an extended stay in Germany. This is service that is totally beyond the call of duty.
"Miles, you have made me a believer and I know that all of my axes will benefit from that level of quality care. I have now asked Miles to completely customize my 1990 PRS. Based on what I have seen, our personal discussions, and the many testimonials from others, I have no doubt that the end result of this "little" project will be a screaming hot rod axe second to none anywhere."
-Richard
"Thank You Miles for making my guitar into a great instrument. It is amazing how much difference the setup has made in releasing my inner Jimmy. Thank you for treating me and my guitar like we mattered."
-Doug Unrau
"Thanks Miles! You are the first luthier ever who has done work for me as advertised. I could not find anyone in my own country (the U.S.)who seemed to understand what "make it play in tune" means. You did excellent work and did not try to sell me a load of extras to milk my wallet. I will be doing business with you again.. exclusively."
-Frank Melbar
"I will never trust anyone but Miles with my guitars. Great service, care and concern. It is nice to see someone who has a passion for what they do and truly cares about the customer and their instruments. Thanks again."
-Jeff Hiscock
"I've known Miles for over thirty years and have been playing for thirty seven years. Over the past fourteen years, I have been a frequent client of Fretworks for everything from the ground up restoration and custom finishing of a Gibson Flying V to my current custom guitar project which is a graphite neck Stratocaster style guitar.
"I prefer to do set ups, pickup wiring and minor work myself. I would not have learned to do these things as well were it not for the help and insight Miles has shared with me over the years.
"In my growth and progress as a human being and as a guitar player over the years, Miles Jones and Fretworks have been valuable beyond measure. Three words sum it up well from my point of view - Dedication, Diligence, and Integrity. Thanks Miles."
-Brad McHugh
"I’m not a celebrity, a professional guitar player, nor even a good guitar player, as anyone who has heard me play will attest, I’m just an ordinary guy who likes his guitar.
"I bought my 1976 K-Yairi YW-700 guitar new in late ’79, found it in a guitar store in Halifax where it had been hanging on the wall for 3 years. It has accompanied me to 4 Provinces, spent time with me at sea while serving on a Destroyer, saw me through 4 years in Germany, and 99 days in the ‘90\’91 Gulf War, and I’ve grown attached to it.
"So, although it’s not an expensive guitar, when I noticed the bridge was starting to separate from the body, I knew I wanted to repair it rather than buy a new one. I found Miles Jones quite by accident while surfing the Internet for guitar repair shops in Calgary, and what a serendipitous find it turned out to be.
"From the moment I met Miles, he treated me as if I were an Amos Garrett, or a Jan Arden. He looked over my guitar, asked me about my playing style, told me what he thought needed repairing and what did not, and gave me what turned out to be an accurate estimate.
"Miles re-affixed the bridge, made a new saddle, fixed a loose tuning key, filled in a minor wood compression on the back of the neck, at my insistence (he said I didn’t need them done yet) he replaced the frets, he repaired some minor cracking in the gloss finish on the back and polished the whole thing to a nice water gloss finish.
"Miles even fixed the loose covering on my old guitar case, and because the job took slightly longer than he had planned, when it was completed, he hand delivered it to my house. My old guitar plays better and easier than it ever did, and sounds fantastic, even with me playing it. Thanks for everything Miles."
– John Stewart
"It was time to re-fret my vintage 1964 SG Special, the one I've had for 25 years. I was really worried about finding the right pro for the job.
"Though I love tinkering with my other guitars, and have built a few, I wasn't about to hack my SG's bound fingerboard.
"I found Fretworks through the internet. Talking the job through with Miles, I knew I had found someone who really cared.
"The re-fret with jumbo tall frets has returned my SG to a condition better than I've ever known it.
"Miles did such a nice job that I won't hesitate to send my others to him when their turn comes. Miles' attention to detail and customer service is a model for any business."
-Steve Bassett
"Hi Miles, I used my 7 string archtop in the studio yesterday and it was great...super clean and super presence. Another thing is the balance you've achieved vis a vis the strings and the pickup. It's sounding and playing the best it's ever been. I thought you should know. Thanks a bundle."
-Barry Hawkins
"Miles, You've serviced five of my instruments now and I have yet to find any fault with your work. You are a valuable asset to any musician. Not only have you done great work on my guitars, but your freely imparted wisdom has helped me discover more about these cherished tools and how to get great sound out of them. You, my friend, are worth more than money. Always drive carefully :) "
-Michael Gothreau www.fatbottomband.com
"Miles setup my Strat to play like it never played before. He also reprofiled the neck of my Yamaha acoustic, planed the bridge and setup it up so that it plays and sounds great! I highly recommend Miles' professional and affordable work."
-Brent Rawlings
"Miles turned my ailing 35 year old acoustic into a guitar that plays like b-u-t-t-e-r! Thanks Miles!"
-Fred Palmer
"I received it yesterday. Magnificent! Incredible! I can't imagine how it could have been done better. Great action and wonderful sound. Both my son and I are delighted. You were right -- we are competing for playing time."
-Ron Russell
Other Musicians who's guitars I've had the privilege to work on include:
Jann Arden
A multiple Juno award winning local Diva, internationally known for her rendition of Anne Loree's hit song Insensitive
Gaye Delorme
Gaye Delorme is certainly one of my favorite guitarists of all time, and he was the first live guitarist I ever heard play up close. He had a profound impact on me that got me attracted to guitars in the first place....Gaye is a one of THE consumate entertainers of our time, always amazingly original and generous in his performance. He is able to weave complex rhythms and lead work in a spell binding effect. To me and the legions of his loyal fans, Gaye is truly one of Canada's most awe-inspiring guitar players and who remains very unpretentious, passionate, with a very funny sense of humor to boot.
Russ Broom
Another huge favorite guitar player of mine. Fortunately for us, Russ is still a local Calgary guy. He has a deft touch and is oh so very much in command of his guitar and has his own sound, like Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray Vaughn. He is also a multi-stylist, multi-dimensional guitarist and when Russ is not working on tour with Jann Arden, he can be found working on any one of a variety of professional sessions crafting jingles or applying his golden talent and keenly honed chops and illuminating the collective work on various recording projects. Watch out for Russ Broom, he will sweep you off-a you feet!
Spencer Davis
Legendary British R&B band leader of the Spencer Davis Group and probably most famous for the tune I'm a Man
Tom Knowles
Long time bassist and friend for aeons, Tom is now a happy family man and on top of the short list when mucicians need someone to hold down the bottom end. Find him accompanying acts which include: Long John Baldry, Auntie Kate and many others.
Other great clients include:
Tim Williams,
Ellen Mcilwaine,
Eddy Clearwater,
Cam Malloy,
Long John Baldry,
The Peter Tosh Organization, General Public,
Johnny V,
Pat Simmons,
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson,
Ray Montana,
Carl Weathersby,
Johnny Nitro,
Zuckerbaby,
Silent Partners,
Nigel Mack,
Robbie Laws,
Eddy Vann Shaw.