Extreme Guitar Repair on a Martin
I am not a luthier but with some wood glue, wood filler and a few gym weights, I was about to try and make a Martin 00016GTE playable again after what initially appeared to be a quite terminal amount of damage.
For a trained luthier to fix it properly would cost quite a bit of money and probably more than the guitar’s current pre-accident worth.
This being the case and the fact that some of the parts were already condemned to the dustbin, I though it was worth seeing what I could do as it seemed such a shame to see a Martin end it’s days in this way.
After laying out the pieces and find out what I had, I thought it best to start fixing the side sections together and as this dried I could fix the back and top sections.
For pressure when gluing, I used dumbell weights. Adding as much weight as I needed to get things fixed.
And somehow, with after 4 days of patient gluing and quite a bit of filler, it was alive!
And how does it sound?
Like the guitar you’ve been listening to throughout this video, pretty good!
Definitely a testament to Martin’s ability to make great guitars as opposed to my luthier skills though!
To hear how it sounds, I made a video of the process below.
I agree @nickdawes, the guitar sounds amazing! Love Martin guitars, their sounds are so crisp and clear. You did an amazing job repairing and restoring it. How was it damaged in the first place?
It came to me in this state, by all accounts it was deliberate which us very sad as it was my nephew's guitar and his pride and joy :-(
oh dear.. that is very sad. such a beautiful guitar. I am very happy that you saved it. It looks like new! :)
Wow, that was a mess initially, I was very pessimistic seeing the condition of your guitar and the result after your hard work. I can imagine that repair by luthier that would be a fortune but with your skills and patience you brought it back together and if it sounds again that is the most important thing. I believe in the past people did many things themselves but nowadays we get used just dispose and buy new which is easy that is way many of such handmade stuff disappearing. Thank you for sharing your little workshop and the result is awesome :)
Thank you. I really enjoy fixing things that would otherwise be discarded and being a musician, the most rewarding things to get working again are instruments. And no built in obsolescence!
Looks like fun. Have you ever made your own guitar?
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No but I would like to. I would have to get some proper tools for this though but it would be so satisfying!
I'm. Impressed with your foresight and patience! There's no way I would have thought it could have been saved. Bravo. It sounds wonderful.
Thank you. And thanks to Martin also for making such a good guitar in the first place!
Just goes to show you ... a little love, patience and time ... oh yeah, and wood glue, goes a long way! Great job @nickdawes :)
Thank you. Yes, lots if wood glue!
Hi nickdawes,
Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
YAY!!!! So glad to see this content rewarded. Hooray for Curie!
Thank you! Hooray for Curie indeed. That was very nice.
Thank you. That was very kind of you and much appreciated!
Luthiers are a magicians. Kool experience man, even is good explore new talents own and when learn much of yourself is better. Good luck with your Martin, bro.
Awesome you saved that one.. really cool! I've always worked on guitars but nothing to that level. Great work.
Wow it sounds great! Still has that bright tone. That is truly amazing, thanks for sharing this - I honestly don't think I would have even thought to try to salvage anything out of that.
Thank you. I did think that being a Martin, the fact that they select such great wood, it would have to have a sound still. Amazed that it had such a great sound though after all that damage.
Whoah! You must be very patient and creative in restoring a scrap like that. What happened to the guitar in the first place? Did your dumbbells fall on it?
Haha! It does look like that, doesn't It! It wasn't my guitar, it was my nephew's. It was used as a bat by all accounts much to his dismay.
Who used it as a bat? Your nephew too? If yes, what has gotten into him?
No, not him. He was devastated :-(
Well, he should rejoice now that you have repaired it. He should actually hug you. 😀