Precision

Guitar repair is not an art. Action is math. Finishes are material science. Floating bridges are physics and mechanics. If anything can be called art, it's understanding how to tease out the sweet spot. No guitar is perfect, and every piece of wood is as unique as any living thing. I leverage both sides of my brain to make the best possible choices for each instrument.

Passion

I freakin' love guitars, and basically anything with strings. My life has been tumultious, and playing guitar has always grounded me. It makes absolutely no difference to me what you play, or what condition it's in when it arrives. Allow me to cherish the opportunity to restore, and probably improve, the instrument that brings you joy. It's my pleasure.

Integrity

I'm a straight shooter. If I f***k up, I will tell you. You can count on me to do the right thing. Now, that does not mean I will always hit my deadline and/or come in under budget. What I will do is communicate, so that there are no big surprises.

Usually, the answer is YES. I'll list a few common inquires:

• Action too high... yes!
• String buzz... yes!
• No output from my pickups – yes!
• Bridge lifting or detached – yes!
• Crack in the side/top/back of my acoustic? – yes!
• Headstock break – yes!
• Broken truss rod – maybe...

• I usually handle anything up to 30 minutes or so while you wait.
• Jobs that need just one trip to the bench are in the "fast track" which is 2-3 weeks.
• Multi-step projects are handled in order of arrival – plan for 30-60 days in most cases.

I'm located in Colchester, Vermont – specifically Mallets Bay, just above the New North End of Burlington. My workshop is in the basement of my home – access through the garage.

My customers come from all over Northwestern Vermont including Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Winooski, Milton, Georgia, St. Albans, Shelburne, Charlotte, Vergennes, Hinesburg, Waterbury, Stowe, Grand Isle, North Hero, South Hero and all the towns in between.

Apparently, due to a lack of options, I also get customer coming from Plattsburgh, New York and other North Country locations. Some customers schedule service ahead for same day turnaound to avoid repeat ferry rides.

I have quite a few Plattsburgh, New York and out-of-area Vermont customers.

The best way to get service coming from New York or a distance is to schedule ahead with me. Give me a call at 802-249-4983, so we can talk about your job and how to best accommodate you.

If it's a one-day repair, I will block out enough time to do the job while you shop, get lunch, etc. This saves you a return trip. Repairs that require glue/clamp or other multi-day procedures will need to be dropped and picked up at a later date.

Shipping is an option, but it is expensive and risky. Frankly, I don’t recommend it. My favorite guitar arrived with the glued-on neck fully detached from the body. Fortunately, I know how to glue it back on. It would be significantly less fun for you, if presented with that situation.

Yes, it's my pleasure to offer a free estimate for your job.

I will need to see the instrument in person at my shop. I will inspect your guitar carefully. I often take measurements. I'll share my diagnosis and the estimate for labor and parts, plus any options. I am always happy to spend extra time answering questions and explaining stuff.

Schedule an estimate now >>

Note: If you are looking for a professional "second opinion" or some kind of insurance valuation or other similar kind of consultation work, that will bill at my current labor rate.

Prices and rates are mentioned throughout this website, but are gathered on the Prices page.

The bulk of my work is acoustic guitars, electric guitars and bass guitars.

I have also repaired mandolins, banjos, ukeleles... even a strum stick. If it's a popular stringed instrument, I'm probably able to help you. I do not work on violins, violas or cellos.

I have spent many bench hours working on the major brands – Alvarez, ESP/LTD, Fender/Squire, Gretsch, Gibson/Epiphone, Ibanez, Martin, Paul Reed Smith (PRS), Takamine, Taylor, Yamaha... I probably missed a few. I have also worked on many rare or lesser-known brands like Framus, Maton, Laravie, Greco, Sire, Tiesco and many more.

Yes, I am certified with Martin and Taylor. I can order parts, handle warranty claims and access their techs and resources for help.