Conference napalm::guitar

    Try taking it by the Music Emporium in Cambridge MA for an
    evaluation. They do good work when they do it (sometimes they will
    ship an instrument back to Martin). 
    
    However, remember that it's better to get it fixed RIGHT than QUICK. 

    I doubt Music Emporium will do it in one hour, but I agree that
    they are your best bet in the Boston area.   They currently have
    my D-35 (being refretted) so your 18 would have company.
    
    Martin is known for doing excellent repairs but they take a long
    time and are sometimes expensive.  However, several people have
    related experiences with Martin where there was no charge simply
    because they felt the repair shouldn't have been necessary.  In
    each case I got the overwhelming impression from the people having
    their Martins fixed that Martin is extremely concerned with maintaining
    their image as an extraordinary guitar maker (pride, quality, etc.
    etc.)   I think this is a result of their bad experience a few years
    back when they allegedly cut back on quality (and reduced their
    warranty) and sales dropped dramatically.
    
    My D-35 had some serious repair work done on it before I bought
    it.  I thought the repair job was top-notch in terms of matching
    wood grains, stains, etc.  The guy at Music Emporium pointed out
    some imperfections (that were extremely minor in my opinion) in
    the repair work and told me that "Martin would NEVER have sent a
    guitar back" with those imperfections.
    
    	db

    One of the best repair shops in the country is the Vintage Fret
    shop in Ashland NH....I have no idea what the wait would be but I
    do know that this guy gets work from all over the world. You could
    double your pleasure and go leaf watching at the same time, Franconia
    Notch is only a few (30-40) miles furthur north.
           
    dave

    I own a D-18 which I bought new in '69.  About 1980 it was showing
    the effects of many hours of playing, so I decided to have it repaired.
    At the time, I was doing some programming in New Jersey close to
    Nazareth, Pa, where Martins are manufactured.  Hence, I took the
    guitar to the factory (I called ahead to let them know I was coming).
    
    I dropped the guitar off just before Thanksgiving and picked it
    up the middle of January.  Here's what they did:
    
    	Reset the neck (it was suffering from a mild case of 'Martinitis').
    
        Replace the frets.
    
        Reseat the bridge and fabricate a new bridge saddle.
    
        Clean up the finish, including refinishing one badly checked
        area.
    
        Mount a new set of Martin Marquis strings, plus include a set
        in the case pocket (a pleasant surprise, since I didn't open
        pocket when I picked up the guitar).
    
    In addition, I got a nice tour of the factory, played some new models,
    bought a coffee mug (well made, by the way), and talked to the plant
    manager about the future of the business (at the time, Martin was
    working every other week due to slack demand...very sad).
    
    The work on the guitar was outstanding.  I was very worried that
    my guitar would lose character or tone or something when they worked
    on it, but what I got back was an 11 year old D-18 that played like
    a Les Paul; that is, it felt super!
    
    Cost: Nothing.  In addition, they said it would always be nothing,
    as long as I didn't damage the guitar.
    
    The wait was definitely worth it!  I think you should drive down
    there and have them fix it.
    
    Regards,
    
    Johnny Jupiter
    
    

    I just spoke to the Village Fret in connection with getting some work
    done on my guitar (see 1143). The lady i spoke to said that DAVID the
    man to would do the work has a very busy performance schedule. (but we
    have an appt for me to call later this afternoon). I am a tad leery
    about entrusting the restoration to a person whose primary committment
    is to performing. Do any of you have any specific reassuring
    experiences to recount?
    

    Yeah David is a very busy man, however, the last work I had him
    do he estimated 4 weeks and delivered in 2....
    
    I was satisfied with the work.
    
    dbii

    Would you mind telling me what kind of instrument (frankly, what I mean
    is price-wise) you have and what kind of work David did on it?
    My 1944 Gibson L-7 has a 6" crack -not just surface, all the way
    through- on the top side of the body.
    
    
    
    				herb

    I had a neck that was warped backwards and not truss-rod-adjustable,
    He fixed it under quote and before the due date.
    
    I have seen a headstock that was completly broken off, that David
    replaced....couldn't tell where the break was after, I call that
    good.                      
    
    David does play out alot and works as he gets work, and is inclined
    to work, for what it's worth.
    
    dbii

    I spoke to David at Village Fret. He observed that many Gibsons have
    such cracks that are not repaired because typically it is necessary to
    take the back completely off to do the repair -no hole to work from
    except the f holes. He said he has never seen a successful restoration
    that did not involve removing the back. Such work would cost $30 per
    hour for 10 hours or more. (which from my point of view may still be a
    bargain if the appraisal in topic 1143 would still be relevant after the
    restoration). He said to take the guitar there and he would look at it
    and advise me as to an appropriate course of action either with or
    without restoration. When asked about possible alternate sources of
    repair he offered Gibson, another company in Kalamazoo, & a Luthier in
    Maine named Bourgois (sp?). His comment about Music Emporium in
    Cambridge was to the effect that they have some beautiful instruments.
    I didnt hear any sarcasm in his voice, so it may well be that he simply
    hasn't seen any of their work.
    Think i will take a trip up there. In addition, will take a trip into
    Boston to see what the market is for this Gibson -several stores in
    Yellow pages including Music Emporium that offer appraisals and
    purchase of used equipment.

    
    
    You could also check with Richard Stanley of Concord, Mass.  I have not
    personally seen his work but his reputation is excellent.  There are many
    references to his work in this file.  Perhaps someone could post a
    phone number here...
    
    Kevin
    

    re. -1 
    
    Richard Stanley's phone # is (508)-369-4647.

    You might also talk to Alan Carruth in Dedham.  My memory ain't
    what it used to be, but I *think* his phone number is (617)326-0786.
    He did some work for me on my Martin D-12-35 and on a custom-built
    guitar I never thought I'd let anybody touch except the guy who
    made it.  His shop isn't very impressive, but his work is, and I
    found the price extremely reasonable for the caliber of work he
    does.

    				re .9
    
    The Music Emporium estimated perhaps $300 to repair. Appraised that
    guitar in good condition at "850-950. I then "marketed the
    guitar around a few places
    Got an as is bid of $300 from Music Emporium, $420 on consignment,$250
    down the street from the Emporium and a "call me last" from a place
    across the street from the New England Conservatory. The man at this
    last place said he has his own 1944 L-7 Gibson in good condition that
    he would sell for $500. All three stores said hard to sell, a cutaway
    would be much easier.
    
    
    p.s. Each of the three stores took note with interest that the Tuning
    Machines are Epiphone, not Gibson. Nobody felt it depreciated the
    value. 
    Next stop Vintage Fret in New Hampshire.