Consultation Calendar
Repairs & Custom Builds
In-Person or Video Chat
Use the calendar to schedule your appointment at my office or remote video chat. Appointments are 15-20 minutes and always FREE! We can talk about any current repair or setup issues, or discuss your future custom build.
Topics
• Setup & Maintenance
• Repair & Restoration
• Electronics & Troubleshooting
• Tone Enhancement
• Tuning & Intonation Problems
• Custom Builds
Available Dates Are Highlighted
Location details will be included with your confirmation email.
Repair FAQs
I limit our availability based on the repair load. This helps us stay on schedule. I also limit repairs to build.
I only work on FRETTED STRING INSTRUMENTS... mandolins, banjos, basses, guitars, etc. I do not work on amps, violins, any horns, brass or woodwinds.
Setups and easy jobs take 1-2 weeks. Structural repair work is usually 3-5 weeks. Restoration jobs can take a few months or longer. Visit the repair page for more info.
I do not offer a rush option anymore. Occasionally it's possible with setup work.
Yes, absolutely! I'm happy to do your assessment by video chat for any reason. I cannot make official quotes on screen, but it's a great way to get a rough estimate and start the conversation. I usually use Google Meet for these appointments. Just make a note when scheduling.
I occasionally accept instrument shipped for repairs or modifications. The added cost of shipping both ways is about $180 when all said and done. We only recommend this for guitars worth the effort and for jobs worth the added expense.
I’ve been working a ton in the new shop. Just being quiet lately and getting things done. I’m going to start posting as many before/after shots as I can remember to do. I have too many “before” shots and always forget to take the “after” pics before they leave! Here’s an old #Gibson classical getting a big restoration job. Cracks, braces, full refret, new bridge, and more. #guitarrepair #restoration #guitar #acousticguitar #guitarluthier #luthier #vintageguitarrepair #vintage #vintageguitar ...
Tricky #bridge reglue on @collingsguitars D1... turned out perfect.
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#arizona #arizonaguitar #arizonaluthier #luthier #guitar #guitarluthier #guitarrepair #guitarrestoration #acoustic #acousticguitar #restoration #guitars #custom #sound #customsound #fixit #customshop #loothing ...
Every once in awhile we use the #CNC machine for precision pickup routing when it’s not a standard #template. This is a #7-string in need of a middle #humbucker to make it extra 🤘🏻
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#rock #custom #customization #guitarrepair #luthier #electricguitar #guitar #routing ...
I split this video in two for the gram... since they gotta be short ones here.
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#guitar #guitarrestoration #guitarluthier #guitarshop #custom #customsound #luthier #customshop #repair #guitarrepair #repairshop #guitars #fixit #whatsonyourbench #restoration #soondsgood #vintageguitarrepair #vintageguitar #acoustic #acousticguitar ...
#cleaned up and #shielded with a couple #mods.
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#guitarrepair #guitar #guitarcustomization
#arizonaluthier #luthier #electronics #electricmod #electricguitar #flagstaff ...
One of my favorite parts of working on instruments... sometimes when I’m done with a job the instrument gives me a song.
It’s a privilege to play all these instruments when they’re done and completed to my satisfaction. And some of them end up being pretty special. Some of them you’d expect, but some you wouldn’t. And some will give your fingers new songs to play that you wouldn’t have come up with otherwise.
I’m not a #mandolin player, but this awesome old 1919 Gibson A style just taught me a new little chord melody. The #refret turned out perfect. Check out the previous post for before and after.
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#arizona #flagstaff #arizonaluthier #luthier #guitar #guitarrestoration #acoustic #restoration #sound #customsound #fixit #vintagegibson #mando #vintage #loothing #customsound ...
This new way of removing necks is truly an amazing thing. No steam. So clean and so much less risk if done right. I was able to knock out two neck removals in less time than it normally takes for one.
This is a big thanks to @ianhatesguitars @monsterfret @totalvise @ted.woodford … and @martinguitar
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#arizona #arizonaluthier #luthier #guitar #guitarluthier #guitarrepair #restoration #guitarrestoration #acoustic #acousticguitar #repair #guitars #custom #sound #customsound #fixit #customshop #vintageguitar #vintage #vintagemartin #neckreset ...
Not the worst fret wear I’ve seen by far. But here you go. Get your #frets done. Your guitar and your #fingers will thank you.
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#guitar #guitarrestoration #guitarluthier #guitarshop #custom #customsound #luthier #customshop #repair #guitarrepair #repairshop #guitars #fixit #whatsonyourbench #restoration #soondsgood #bassguitar #electricguitar #fingerboard #lespaulrepair #gibson #black ...
Here’s some ouch for ya.
Customer said it was “ex-wife damage.”
Yikes. 😂
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#guitarrepair #luthier #guitarsdaily #guitar #fixit #guitarrestoration #guitarluthier #arizonaguitar #guitars #arizonaluthier #arizona #stratocaster ...
ANNOUNCEMENT: I’ll be hosting the Luthiers Workshop today at noon over at the Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival
Are you coming out to the amphitheater for the shows? I’ll be outside the fairgrounds area where they have the workshop stage. We’ll be talking about tone woods and tap tones and all sorts of guitar building related matters.
Hope to see you there!
In the meantime, go check out my line of guitars @solsticeguitars …
#guitar #luthier #teaching ...
I think this is the most #beautiful guitar I’ve worked on in a long time. 😍
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#guitar #guitarrestoration #guitarluthier #guitarshop #custom #customsound #luthier #customshop #repair #guitarrepair #repairshop #guitars #fixit #whatsonyourbench #restoration #soondsgood #espguitars #electricguitar #purple #flamemaple ...
#guitarrepair ...
Hey if you’re a guitar player in the Phoenix area go check out Guitar Gallery in Scottsdale. We have a couple guitars on their wall ready to go.
They have an awesome shop, great staff and a well regarded repair department run by @guitarpickens
We’re stoked to have some instruments in their store.
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#custom #guitar #guitarrepair #luthier #scottsdale #scottsdaleaz #custom #customtelecaster #customtele #guitarsdaily #highendguitars #customguitars ...
I don’t like controversy for the sake of controversy. But I want to speak up because this issue affects my industry and independent builders.
Gibson has been attacking our friends in the luthier industry with dubious legal trademark threats and greedy corporate scare tactics. Their practices are attempting to put some of the best independent builders out of business. Instead of competing by building better and new products, Gibson has become a trademark troll.
In joining @ianhatesguitars and hopefully other repair luthiers, I am boycotting repair work on all new Gibson instruments purchased in the last year.
And I hope you won’t buy a new Gibson until they change their tactics with trademark issues. If you bring me a new Gibson I will tell you to call them directly to resolve the issue, even if it’s just a setup.
This is an issue of ethics and scale. Gibson is happy to threaten a lawsuit they know they could easily loose in court. They also know they’re going after builders who can’t defend themselves legally against a corporate giant.
Our small and tight-knit industry has always worked a little different, and we've long resisted toxic business practices. But humanity and decency don’t seem to be part of the standards at companies like Gibson.
For the full article and more details visit my website.
customsoundinstruments.com
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#smallbusiness #loothboycott #independentbusiness #issueastatement #playauthentic #luthier #independentluthier #supportsmallbusiness #indie #gibson #gibsonguitar #boycottgibson ...
Here’s the #wacky #clamping on the Martin with the tricky compression cracking. (See previous post.)
I injected glue with my needle from the inside, between the block and the top, and got the crack set at the same time.
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#guitar #guitarrestoration #guitarluthier #guitarshop #custom #customsound #luthier #customshop #repair #guitarrepair #repairshop #guitars #fixit #whatsonyourbench #restoration #soondsgood #vintageguitar #vintageguitarrepair #acoustic #acousticguitar ...
This was an unconventional bridge reglue. It required a little extra help on the #wings. But the broken plywood underneath was such a good fitting puzzle piece that it was able to go just fine without doing much prep work, which was the idea since this guitar wasn’t worth a compete and tedious job. If you know what you’re doing, sometimes you can do a professional hack job, keep a customer happy within budget, and bring a guitar back to life for more pickin.
Video coming soon...
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#prohackjob #arizona #loothing #arizonaguitar #arizonaluthier #luthier #guitar #guitarluthier #guitarrepair #guitarrestoration #acoustic #acousticguitar #restoration #guitars #custom #sound #customsound #fixit ...
I went Into hiding when the global crisis hit. This is my first real communication about our plan going forward. ...
Before and after.
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#beforeandafter #arizona #arizonaluthier #luthier#guitarluthier #guitarrepair #instrumentrepair #violin #acoustic #restoration #custom #sound #customsound #fixit #whatsonyourbench #customshop #vintageguitar #vintage ...