Guitar Building and Repair

Comment by Jim Turpin on May 10, 2008 at 7:28pm

I like this group!

Comment by pat irving on May 26, 2008 at 5:28pm

I am going to order a kit and build a guitar myself, I wouldn't mind seeing some articles related to this. I am wondering if all the repair articles are available in one cd like some of the other articles. By the way I live in south Florida.

Comment by Alejandro on January 7, 2009 at 3:57pm

Hi!! im building an electric guitar and i will need some help... i already made the body(stratocaster) with mahogany and it looks great.. i ordered the neck, the wired pickguard, and all the needed parts.. the only problem i had was that i ordered a gibson bridge because it is to hard to install the fender bridge.. the order is arriving in a few days, but im not sure if it is bolt-on or glue-in.. if i have to glue it in.. with what glue shoud i do it?? the rest of it is kind of easy but if anyone know the answer to my question please send it to my email ... ale_bfd@hotmail.com thanks

Comment by Casey Versteeg on February 22, 2009 at 12:00pm

This should be an interesting group. Many years ago my computer took a crap and until I went exploring inside it. I new nothing about computers. Now I build them and have 4 desktops and 4 laptops wirelessly connected in the house, and been repairing them for years. I did a major setup change on my Acoustic Yamaha and now its matches or beats all guitars I've tried in the Martin, Breedlove, Taylor 2,500.00 range. Now I want to go a step further and learn building and repairs. My first project is to install some Pearl fret markers. I'm looking into eqiupment. I'll check back here and let you know how it goes.

Comment by Chuck Bradham on May 24, 2009 at 12:31pm

Greetings, perhaps I can get some ideas and experience to help solve my long standing delema. My '72 D-28 seems like maybe losing somem of its volume. Do do I get larger fret wire mor change the bracing. Heck, my '38 00-17 seems to play louder, I've done all I can think of to help, different strings, picks settings, any suggestions, beside leave it alone and get a hearing aid? Thank you folks for the info. if any.

Comment by Bob Minner on May 24, 2009 at 12:43pm

Making a guitar louder isn't the same as tone. Your 00 17 has more midrange because of it's body size, which may give the allusion of more volume. 1972 was a bad year for Martins in general - they are heavier, lacquer was thicker, and such. Plus yours is a D size, which may be boxy sounding anyway.

Some may want to scallop the bracing, but while you may gain some volume, you will also increase bass response to a point that the mids are just totally dead in the guitar. I have always went with the adage that they are built the way they are supposed to be built, so don't mess with them.

Perhaps it's time to find a new(er) D-28 that has the volume and tone you are looking for. That may be the answer. Martin is making a better guitar than they did in '72, like the Golden Era, Marquis, and if you got the bucks, the Authentic series. Just my thoughts though...

Comment by Chuck Bradham on May 24, 2009 at 2:36pm

Thank you Bob , it may be time to upgrade my sweetie with a sister or brother. I appreciate the responce. I'll let you know I might even trade it for a Collins.

Comment by Chris Barclay on May 24, 2009 at 3:48pm

Sometimes a comprehensive once-over by a luthier that good with setups will do a surprising amount of good for tone and volume. Fret leveling, new saddle/nut, bridge pins, slotting the bridge. That's a fairly inexpensive way to get quite a bit more out of a guitar you've had for a while.

Comment by Gary Tremel on May 25, 2009 at 8:23am

I bought a new D-28 in 1974. I never was happy with it. I had to have the fretboard leveled and refretted and it just never opened up. Once I got around other players and was able to compare their guitars to mine I was even more disappointed. I really do believe that Bob hit the nail on the head about the construction techniques of that era. There are lots of 70's era Martins available now but I wouldn't buy one without a thorough comparison. If you already have one that plays well and has a sweet tone I wouldn't put much effort into trying to make it something it isn't. I think I would buy something else and keep the Martin or trade it. I love my two Collings and I'm definitely not disappointed with the volume on either one of them. I would buy a used Collings off the internet with little aprehension since virtually every one I've played sounded good. I've played a lot of sweet Martins but if you're looking for volume I think the Collings rule 9 out of 10 times. And they haven't sacrificed tone in the process. My two cents.

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