Restoration Services

So, you say you've got a vintage Martin D9 that's coming apart at the seams? A dobro that doesn't "do", bro? Take 'em to a guitar shop--we only take the weird stuff. The sort of stuff you find while going through your granparents' attic, covered in dust, begging you to say: "What the hell izzat? Take this classic case here, a single bridged hammer dulcimer, lovingly handcrafted out of what looks to be solid woods--probably part of somebody's barn or chicken coop at one time. The fixed bridges are crude, the center bridge is absent and even when it was present was clearly in the wrong location . . .

A look within is almost as frightening. Just remove the 3" woodscrews . . . The downbearing brace is solid, note. It will need to be drilled out (and in situ unfortunately).

It was just barely possible, but it was done with a small amount of tearout and no cracking.

The finished product, with new strings and a complete set of pins. We chose pins which were previously weathered to about the same degree as those found in the original instrument. Our overall philosophy in the approach to this design was to reestablish the instrument's original appearance as well as we can guess it, and to to make it properly playable (even though it will probably always be a bit fussy).

Of course, a fine instrument in marginal condition can be repaired as well, and usually for a reasonable fraction of it's value. With the antique market steadily growing, such restorations can be worthwile investments. Feel free to contact us for a free estimate.