Stu G’s Fender Telecaster

In 2018 at Big Church Festival, a certain guitarist from Delirious! came into our backstage workbench area to have a look at what we were doing. Stu didn’t say anything or ask any questions, he just stayed and looked around and then left the tent. He did that 3 times. The 4th time he walked in, we looked up and said, “Why don’t you go and get your guitar… let’s give it a health check…”

Ten minutes later, Stu brings his famous blue tele with the mirror scratch plate into our tent for us to look at. On spreading the strings apart, it was reported to Stu that there was fret wear and that as a result there would be buzzing on certain notes. He agreed this was happening and asked whether we could rectify this. It was also noted by Steve that the neck was not straight and that it would be difficult to play very high notes without them choking out. Again Stu agreed.

Reluctantly, Stu then said, “Can you fix these things?” Without any hesitation, there was a resounding “yes” from both of us! During the next hour or so, we worked on Stu’s guitar before he went on stage. He came back just before his line check and thanked us for working on his guitar.

The next time we saw Stu was in February 2024 in Nashville! He became one of our hosts there and organised the largest attended (77) SetUp2Worship Workshop we have conducted to date. We went to his studio, worked on his guitars, taught him how to maintain his guitars, and spent time getting to know him and his lovely wife Karen. Right at the end of our trip, Stu also set up for us to meet Michael W Smith and to work on some of his guitars… but that is another story!