Hello, this is Tanaka from TC-TUNE.
It's been a while since our last "How Does a Repairman Live?"
This time's theme is
'Must a repairman be able to play guitar?'
I sometimes get asked this question.
"Don't repairmen really need to be able to play an instrument?"
True, if you understand instrument construction and mechanics and can use tools well, you can do the job to a certain extent. But if you aim to be a "good repairman"—the conclusion is clear.
"You absolutely must be able to play."
The reason is simple: the tools we handle are meant for playing.
- Customers bring their instruments in "to play them."
The people repairmen deal with are those who play guitars and Bass.
In other words, our job isn't just to "fix the instrument so it plays correctly," but also to "get it into a state where it can be played comfortably."
In fact, many people come in with intuitive concerns like "It's hard to play" or "The sound feels off," and the issues are incredibly diverse.
These kinds of concerns are difficult to understand with real feeling unless you can play to some degree yourself. Conversely, there are also many "improvement hints that can only be seen by actually playing."
- Without knowing how to play, you can't know the correct adjustment
Instruments like guitars and Bass are defined by how they are played.
The force of your finger pressure, your picking technique—there are many factors that affect the sound. To accurately judge the results of an adjustment, you need to be able to replicate the player's movements to some extent.
If you can't produce the sound yourself to check, you won't be able to judge "what improved" or "why it didn't work," making it difficult to accumulate and develop your skills.
- You don't need pro-level skill. What's essential is "knowing how to play."
Reading this far,
"So does that mean I need professional-level skill...?"
Some may feel anxious.
But rest assured. That's absolutely not the case.
You don't need to be able to play fast or perform artistic solos.
What matters is whether you know how to produce the same sound as someone who can play.
Understanding the fundamental movements involved in playing and being able to reproduce them with your own hands. That alone makes a huge difference in the quality of your adjustments.
- Regarding the "Leo Fender couldn't play" argument
Occasionally, the argument surfaces that "Leo Fender couldn't play guitar, yet he created numerous legendary instruments."
It's true Leo Fender couldn't play guitar, but that's the story of a historical genius.
If you recognize you're not a genius on par with Leo Fender, you should at least strive to learn to play well enough to properly understand the instruments he created and be able to adjust them correctly.
There are also examples like Ken Smith, who is a professional bassist and builds outstanding Bass. However, such cases are rarely cited.
Using only the argument that "someone who couldn't play created a legendary instrument" as an excuse to avoid practicing yourself is still unreasonable.
- Having the user's perspective
What's required of a repairman isn't just knowing the structure. Whether they have the player's perspective is also a crucial point.
If you can play reasonably well yourself, you'll find it easier to empathize with a customer's concerns, and the direction for adjustments becomes clearer.
Consistently putting in the effort to play ultimately contributes to the quality of repairs.
- Summary
For guitar and Bass repair technicians, being able to play is a significant advantage.
・Empathize with the player's sensibilities
・You can personally evaluate the results of adjustments
・Verify and develop techniques
You don't need to play like a pro. But understanding and being able to reproduce the steps that produce sound, just like a performer does. Whether you can do this or not will definitely change the quality and depth of your repairs.