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I have a good friend who inherited his father-in-law's 1938 D-18. It needs some work. He is in the Birmingham Al area. He is willing to take the guitar to anyone within travel distance. Basically Atlanta and Nashville, etc.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Richard

kent everett comes to mind , plus there is a luthery school in atlanta google luthiers/guitar /atlanta you will get hits. I would find someone who specializes in restorations and has a lot of exerience with Martins.

this isn't a guitar that just anyone can do. These are valuable guitars and need to be repaired correctly to maintain their value. There is no reason not to ship it to someone that has experience with them. If the guitar is not done right it can devalue and cause issues. They are all hot hide glue construction , the necks are Tee bar and would need a compression refret .
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... ly-1193085
here is a link to show what may need.
Ask the person that is doing the work if he has experience .

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Custom Fretted instruments in Sparta can handle just about anything, http://www.customfret.com
and OLF member John Arnold is just up the road in Newport Tennessee.

Gruhn Guitars in Nashville would be my choice for a restoration on something like that. Some of the best restorers and builders have worked there over the years..... They see and work on many, many fine guitars

Dave Strunk at Brothers Music Shop. He and Rich do alot of, or most of, the work for Fred Oster at vintage instruments in philly. Absolutely top notch guys to deal with, not to mention they brought my '57 0-18 back from the dead. Could not recommend them more.

Just curios John, Is this something you would do?

_________________
Say what you do, Do what you say.

yes I have done a few here is one I documented. You may get to see some of the techniques that would be used on such a restoration.
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... ly-1193085

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Check out Marty Lanham at Nashville Guitar Company; he's restored everything from prewar D-45's to vintage gibsons. Check out this 1940 Gibson J-200 he restored: http://nashvilleguitarcompany.com/curre ... -rosewood/

+1 John Arnold

Greg Voros and Co at Gruhn's are amazing, and John Arnold is a wizard. I'm pretty good, too...


Ken Jones
Mountain Song Guitars

_________________
Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Bryan Galloup. Bryan does a lot of vintage work and does it right. David Collins, if he is taking work like that now. John Arnold. No problem with shipping it. Thing is, not to spend a dollar to save a dime. Whatever the cost, on a guitar like this, it is worth the cost to have it done right.

it is safe to say there are a lot of guys out there that can do this. here are the questions you should ask
1 have you experience with hothide glue
2 have you done this before
3 references
yes to all 3 you should be fine

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

If it were mine.... I would avoid shipping it anywhere at all costs. It's not necessary for this one to be shipped in that in your location you have at least several good, experienced, well-known choices in driving distance (a few hours tops...).

We see pre-war Martins frequently in our shop and there is usually a list of stuff that needs addressing. A lot depends too on if this one has been worked on before, the quality of the prior work, and of course the general condition of the instrument as well. It's not uncommon for the play-list for these to include a neck reset, pick guard replacement, repair of the dreaded shrinking pick guard associated cracks, bridge removal and reglue, etc. Tuners will need servicing, cleaning, lubbing, etc. And a refret or at the very least a fret dress will be in order too. Likely over 1K of work to do it right.

It's not difficult work but it does take time and a smart repair person will develop a mental plan for attacking the job.

Make sure whom ever you select is insured (substantially and really.....), experienced, available.... and I would stress the available part because some repair guys who take these on may have them for a very long time.... which may not be acceptable to you and is, of course, not necessary.

In our shop we usually won't even take in an instrument unless we can get to it post haste. It's unwanted liability to have it sitting around, space is limited, etc. so we won't accept any instrument for work unless it's ready to assume the position... short of perhaps some parts needing to be ordered or made.

Also pre-war Martins can be a gambit of various conditions as well also depending on who may have hacked up the thing in the last seven decades.... Some are not all original anymore, some have had substandard work performed in the past, and some have just simply been abused and left to fall apart in the wrong RH for decades.

Then there are the others.... the ones found under a bed where it was in a case for 40 years and has virtually NO fret wear....

David Collins and I would be happy to help but again there is risk in shipping, the weather this winter has been terrible often causing closings and delays, and you have qualified service providers within drivable distances from you.

We recently had two pre-war OOOs in at the same time, a 18 and 28. Both in excellent condition as well. The OOO-18 was one of the best sounding instruments that I have ever played and heard.

As Hesh points out and I should have posted
ARE YOU INSURED ?
Most of the pros do carry insurance. I know I do and I am sure Hesh also.
Good points to ponder Hesh.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I always prefer prewar 18s over 28's.


Ken Jones
Mountain Song Guitars

_________________
Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Here are some pics of some of the repairs needed. I wasn't sure if this would help narrow down the search.

Thanks
Richard