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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Recommendation for luthier/restorer for old Martin guitar

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SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
in Acoustics
A friend has recently been entrusted with a 1958 Martin D18. It's not been played for some time and looks like it could do with some work. I've advised him to take it to an expert to be checked over before trying to use it. 
Anyone have any recommendations for someone who knows about this? He's in Essex area but can travel. I'm just aware that this guitar is in a different category from what I'm used to. 
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    edited March 2022
    Art Robb or Celine at Luthier's Corner
    Or you could go to Dave King, the UK's only Authorised Service Centre. I haven't used any of these but read good things about them here. Hope this helps  
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    Thanks @Mellish that's really helpful, will check those out. 
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  • Andy79Andy79 Frets: 881
    Dave King is the guy for that 
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  • JCA2550JCA2550 Frets: 417
    Dave King did an adequate job resetting the neck on my 0015.
    Also appearing with:
    http://www.theboxwoodchessmen.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/tingiants/?view_public_for=231700547508938

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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    JCA2550 said:
    Dave King did an adequate job resetting the neck on my 0015.
    Is that a recommendation? Hard to tell if 'adequate' means you were happy with it. 
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  • JCA2550JCA2550 Frets: 417
    It was in June 2020 so done by courier with no direct contact which wasn't ideal.  The reset was done really well and made a sweet sounding 0015 playable again, so Dave definitely knows what he's doing. It came back with some higher fret issues (choking ) because a slight new hump in the fretboard above the body/neck join and a couple of cracked tuner washers. 
    Also appearing with:
    http://www.theboxwoodchessmen.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/tingiants/?view_public_for=231700547508938

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  • JCA2550JCA2550 Frets: 417
    I'm a fairly decent tech, so fixed the tuners and dressed out, reprofiled and polished the problem frets myself. I suppose what I'm saying is, what I asked him to do he made a decent job of but the guitar came back with some fresh issues which, in my view, he should have spotted and corrected as part of the, not exactly cheap job.
    Also appearing with:
    http://www.theboxwoodchessmen.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/tingiants/?view_public_for=231700547508938

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  • KDSKDS Frets: 211
    Another vote for Dave King
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    Thanks for the clarification @JCA2550 ;
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  • SputnikSputnik Frets: 48
    Dave King did some major work on a Martin Thomas Humphrey classical guitar for me three or four years ago. The guitar was perfect when I collected it from Kingsclere and Dave could not have been kinder or more charming throughout the entire process.  Highly recommended. 
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    Thanks for the tips everyone. Certainly one name that seems to crop up. 

    I will update if I get any more info on this guitar as it seems like an interesting one. 
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    Yes, let us know who your friend goes to and how it works out. All the best :) 
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    edited March 2022
    Will do @Mellish .  Really want to have a go on it...
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  • wellsyboywellsyboy Frets: 409
    Dave King
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  • mid57mid57 Frets: 42
    Speak to James Payze he is on facebook look for James Payze Guitars you can see his work there he is based in Sudbury on Essex/ Suffolk border. 

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  • StuckfastStuckfast Frets: 2124
    Keith Railton at Imperial Guitars did a neck reset for me on an ancient Washburn parlour guitar. It was a difficult job because of the way the neck was attached and he did it very well. He's based on the Cambs / Suffolk border.
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  • BebopperBebopper Frets: 127
    Graham Parker in Lewisham and Celine Camerlynk (aka Luthier's Corner) in Surrey Quays. 
    Both are in-demand and have always have various high-end and vintage acoustics on their workbenches whenever I've called in.
    London Jazz Guitar Society: www.meetup.com/londonjazzguitarsociety
    LJGS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LDNJazzGuitar
    Feedback threat: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/148144/

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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    Someone other than this guy...


    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • rogdrogd Frets: 1430
    ICBM said:
    Someone other than this guy...


    It made me cringe too.
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    ICBM said:
    Someone other than this guy...


    Thanks @ICBM , I have an electric sander already so I guess I could offer to have a stab at it...
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665
    And thanks for the other suggestions everyone, that's very helpful.
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  • GomersGomers Frets: 16
    I’d check Dave King’s website, not sure if he’s taking on any work at present.
    2008 Martin 000-15
     2004 Yamaha LL-500
    1995 Yamaha LA-8
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    Gomers said:
    I’d check Dave King’s website, not sure if he’s taking on any work at present.
    At the moment he's only working on certain brands, but Martin is one. I plan to use him myself at some point, having heard nothing but good :) 
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  • SupportactSupportact Frets: 665


    Just to update: I had the chance to try this instrument out a while back, and took this picture. As you can see it needed some work. The overall tone sounded very nice, although the intonation was poor and hard to tune/stay in tune. 

    My friend ended up taking it to a luthier he found locally (Essex area) called Conn Rendell. I haven't seen it since then but apparently he did a great job to get it usable again. It didn't need a neck reset in the end, although one of the internal braces had come away and needed sorting. 

    So a happy ending and hopefully it will be used for more years to come. 
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