F.A.Q.

Does L.A. Kidwell accept credit cards?
Yes. We now are able to accept credit card payments through PayPal. If you don't already have a PayPal account, it is easy to set one up. Simply visit PayPal, register for an account, and wait for your account to be verified. Once you are verified, PayPal will allow you to make credit card payments that are not restricted to a $2000.00 limit for unverified accounts. L.A. Kidwell's policy will be to only accept payment from verified PayPal accounts and to only ship instruments to verified addresses that match the PayPal account. You must have an email account and access to the internet in order for L.A. Kidwell to bill you with PayPal.

Does L.A. Kidwell do endorsements?
L.A. Kidwell is not in a situation where we can routinely give away instruments in return for endorsements. On the other hand, we can always use a good endorser. If you are a well known performing musician who is currently signed with a major label, L.A. Kidwell would be interested in discussing an endorsement situation. In some cases, L.A. Kidwell may be willing to make a price break in trade for endorsement by an up and coming musician with a regional following.

Does L.A. Kidwell offer instrument construction classes?
Unfortunately, we are not in a situation where we can offer any kind of instruction on instrument building. Perhaps in the future we will have the facilities where interested persons may visit.

Is my instrument unique?
L.A. Kidwell makes each instrument from different woods with different inlays and finishes. No two instruments are exactly alike. These instruments are currently hand made. Should a particular design ever become mass produced, the hand made instruments would become valuable collectors items. For this reason, these instruments are limited editions. There will never be very many hand made instruments of the same design.

Can I have custom shell inlay in my instrument?
Yes. L.A. Kidwell works with a supplier of custom inlay. You can send us a design and we'll see if it is possible to accomplish and give you a price for the shell cutting and the inlay work. Keep in mind that inlay is very time consuming work and therefore it typically adds considerable expense if the design is very complex.

Can I have an oil finish on my instrument?
Although we don't believe that an oil finish protects the instrument as well as a lacquer finish, we will apply an oil finish if it is desired. Be aware that the instrument will require additional care over time and L.A. Kidwell will not be responsible for damage related to a poorly maintained oil finish.

What's the difference in the various types of bass strings?
Round wound strings produce the brightest tone. They also cause the most finger squeaking. They are easiest to intonate.

Flat-wound strings eliminate the finger squeaking problem at the expense of not being as bright as round wound strings. They are harder to intonate. If you are looking for a somewhat dull upright bass sound then consider flat wound strings.

Half-round strings are a combination of the above two types. They offer a trade-off between brightness and less finger squeak noise.

There are many expensive brands of bass strings on the market. Some product tests have revealed that there is little real difference between them. In general, bass strings sound best after several hours of playing on them. The bright punchy sound usually only lasts for the first few weeks. They begin to sound dead when dirt and grease accumulate in the windings. Some players will boil them to get a second breath of life out of them.

When should the truss rod be adjusted?
The truss rod may need to be adjusted when your neck develops a bow in it. The reason for the bow is a combination of the string tension that is constantly applied to the neck along with changes in relative humidity. Humidity is the most important part of this equation. Wood reacts to changes in relative humidity when it absorbs or loses moisture. Absorbing moisture causes the neck to expand which results in a back-bow in this case loosening the truss rod slightly will allow the neck to return to its original form. When a neck dries out it will under bow, which can be treated by slightly tightening the truss rod. WARNING: Over adjusting your truss rod can cause irreparable damage to your guitar and therefore should only be handled by a qualified guitar technician.

How do I adjust my guitar's intonation?
Setting string intonation is straight forward. All you need is an allen wrench to adjust the bridge saddles. If a string sounds sharp at the 12th fret in comparison to the open string pitch then move the saddle back to increase the length of the string. If the string sounds flat at the 12th fret in comparison to the open string pitch then move the saddle forward to decrease the length of the string. Be aware that different size strings affect intonation. Also round wound strings need more intonation compensation than solid wire strings. An electronic tuner will make intonation adjustments easy.

How should I care for the lacquer finish?
L. A. Kidwell uses a pre-catalyzed lacquer finish. There is no need for waxes or polishes to maintain the beauty of the finish. The finish can be cleaned using a damp cloth with soap and water. Minor scratches can be buffed out. By avoiding the use of waxes and silicones, your finish can more easily be repaired in the future should it become damaged.

The frets are sticking out, off the edge of the fingerboard. Can this be fixed?
This occurs when the fret board dries and shrinks over time due to changing humidity. Any good luthier can file down, bevel and polish the exposed fret ends and you'll be good to go again.

Is there any problem changing to a different string gauge?
Minor changes in string gauge usually don't require adjustment. When the string gauge change is significant, you may need to have the truss rod adjusted to compensate for different string tension on the neck. In some cases, the nut may require additional filing or perhaps replacement if it is already worn. Minor adjustments to the bridge may also be required. You can refer to a local qualified luthier or repairman, or call L.A. Kidwell Musical Instrument's Repair Center at 425-277-7843