Portfolio

This Martin came in with a running crack through the soundboard, caused by a dry Colorado winter. The crack extended nearly 6 inches from the soundhole toward the bridge.

After controlled re-humidification, we cleaned the crack and applied traditional hide glue. Five spruce cleats were installed on the underside. The crack is now invisible from the outside and the guitar plays better than it has in years.

50 years of playing had worn grooves into the frets, especially in the first position. Buzzing across the neck made it nearly unplayable above the 5th fret.

A complete fret level, recrown, and mirror polish brought the original fretwire back to life. Combined with a setup, this guitar now plays like new while keeping its vintage character.

The owner noticed the bridge was lifting at the back edge. Loss of volume and sustain had been gradual — they didn't realize how much until the bridge was properly reattached.

After careful heat removal, we cleaned both surfaces and reglued with hot hide glue. The guitar's projection returned immediately — "It sounds like a different instrument."

Intermittent crackling, a scratchy volume pot, and a switch that sometimes dropped the bridge pickup. The owner thought the pickups were dying.

The original pickups were fine — just needed clean contacts. We installed new CTS pots, a Switchcraft jack, and period-correct cloth wire. Silent operation, full tone restored.

This family heirloom had sat in a closet for 20 years. The action was sky-high, frets worn flat, and the bridge plate was cracked. But the tone was still in there.

A comprehensive restoration: new bridge plate, neck reset, refret with vintage-spec wire, and meticulous finish preservation. Now it plays for the next generation.

A beautiful F-style mandolin with a warped neck, worn frets, and binding separation around the body. The owner wanted it playable again for bluegrass jams.

Neck reset, full refret, binding repair with color-matched celluloid, and French polish touch-up. It's now the loudest mandolin at the picking circle.