The Scroll Shop (Ed of H's Shop Thread)

[edwardofhuncote]

That's probably what I'll do, Coz, or some variation on that. I may even use the piece that was cut out to make a big rectangular cleat. The back has a very slight curvature, so I need the patch to bend and conform to it. It's thin enough that it should with no trouble.

The shop thread is just my outlet, guys. I've been off work all Summer on rehab from this operation. And when I do go back I'll basically be running the clock out, using up leave time and maybe training one last class of Operators. I am giving some thought to turning my shop into a part-time job after I leave public service next year, just to offset the cost of hc insurance. I think it works out mathematically, with the steady flow I'm getting. I wanted to test myself this Summer to see if I had the discipline to do it, 4-5 days a week, but not 7, and not 8-10 hrs/day. I try to limit myself to 3-4 hours at a time. And it's a daily challenge to get better at things, try to outsmart some of these crazy jobs. It's also been educational trying to figure out the economic side. Always before, the shop was my little side-hustle for when I had time, and I could just make up a number that covered my bottom line and fixed somebody's stuff. Now I need to actually make something.

This Martin for instance; this guitar could be replaced for about $750 new. My bill has to be something negotiable between that, and reality. I'll have about 4-6 hours in it, and supplies, plus a set of strings. My customer will have a playable guitar that was a Christmas gift 23 years ago. What's that worth to them? I've never been comfortable putting a value on that, but I have had to start putting some to my time. It's harder than I thought, but I'm getting it. I'm starting to realize that most people, (this guy, for example) are really glad to have their stuff fixed.

*Before I quit yesterday evening, I glued one end of the loose X-brace... got to use my Stew-Mac brace jack. (guitar is topside-down in the picture)

[edwardofhuncote]

...annnnd the other loose end of the X-brace, glued-up and clamped. I've got a cam clamp and a couple cork-lined caul blocks on the outside of the box to give the scissor-jack inside something solid to push against. The old-school turnbuckle brace jack at the furthest end of the brace was really hard to reach, but necessary. It'll be a good trick getting it outta' there this morning too.

Next, I'll be fitting the fabricated patch piece over the hole in the back, and start the touch-up process.

[pauldo]

My .02.

A Craftsman that has tooling for taking on and successfully repairing acoustic instruments Professionally deserves a decent base hourly rate. 

Would be inclined to believe that most of your customers would:
1) gladly pay more to have their instrument cared for by you
2) continue to refer others to your shop

There is (in my eyes) beaucoup value to taking a loved instrument (regardless of value - an instrument that has served the user well and that every ding and ripple is familiar) to a small dedicated Craftsman repair person instead of some big box store.

 

[cozmik_cowboy]

I second Paul's thoughts.  Just to give you a ball park, a quick Google shows me that 3rd Coast in Chicago charges $40 for a restring; $60 if it's a 12-string, and $110 for fitting a bridge to an archtop.  They want $600 to reset an unbound dovetail neck (add $50-100 for binding).  Of course, Austin McKee in Ottawa, IL will doe the reset for $175........

Peter

[peoplechipper]

I could not with a straight face charge $40 for a restring; at work we charge $20 and that includes the strings...it only takes a few minutes, don't gouge just because someone doesn't know how (or is lazy...)

I like that brace jack, been a few times i coulda used that...Tony.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I could not with a straight face charge $40 for a restring; at work we charge $20 and that includes the strings...it only takes a few minutes, don't gouge just because someone doesn't know how (or is lazy...)

I like that brace jack, been a few times i coulda used that...Tony.

Yeah - my own inclination on that one would be "Roll me a doob and I'll teach ow to do it; it's fun & easy!"

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

Fret Mill Music charges $12-20 for restringing, more for the 12-strings or mandolins, I think is the policy. Strings are extra, and you can pick whatever you want in there, Ken carries a full spread of what's hot. If they aren't too busy, the guys will do it for you while you are in there... just hang out and play something. It's a fun part of the music store experience. Fret Mill is situated in an old-old building on the City Market Square in downtown Roanoke, with wood board floors. It sounds great in there. (it's actually known historically as "The 1893 Building")

The $40/hr. they charge for labor is when something comes in for repair. They don't count restringing as that, but if I'm going to need strings to finish out a repair job, then I pick up a set of the customer's choice, and just note them on the ticket, no upcharge. I guess technically, they are paying me labor for restringing, but I can put a set of strings on a guitar in a flash on my workbench, so the amount of time spent is insignificant.

I got busy with other things yesterday, but I did get this little piece shaped and glued in. That provides a little shelf... a backing of something solid along that long cutline to stick the fabricated patch to. I'll use epoxy for this, both for its work time and flexibility. The patch will stick to the kerfed linings with regular wood glue, wood-to-wood. Probably do it in two stages.
 

[edwardofhuncote]

I finally glued and clamped the patch into place this morning, and then after the clamps came off, trimmed it to final fit this afternoon. I've carefully finish-sanded it, and applied a wash of red mahogany stain, and a couple coats of brushed lacquer. I'll build up a couple more this weekend, and then wet-sand and rub out to something roughly the sheen of the HPL. It's kind of a textured matte finish.

Yabba-dabba-doo! (I'm mostly playing guitar this weekend, rather than working on them...)

[David Houck]

Looking good.

[garyhead]

And to think you had SO many choices!

[cozmik_cowboy]

And to think you had SO many choices!

Well, wadda ya know?  I clearly recall going down to the New Concord (pop. ~800) train station to pick up the new Sears & Roebuck chrome dinette set - but it's taken me about 60 years to find out it was in Skylark pattern (the beige version)!

Peter (who will now have Zappa in Deutsche in his head all day - and that's a good thing)

[edwardofhuncote]

I remember that pattern! Was it a kitchen table? The countertop?

I went up to the shop to check on the D1-X project yesterday, and was fairly pleased with the results. I'll restring it today, watch it for a day, and return it to my customer one day this week. I'll have about 6 hours and a set of strings in this one by the time it's in tune and in the case.

Not bad... if this was my guitar, I'd be okay with the fix. It will always be an obvious repair, but it is solid and thoughtful. I'm told this guitar was a Christmas gift.

[cozmik_cowboy]

It was the table - and the upholstery on the chairs.

Peter

[cozmik_cowboy]

Very nicely done, Greg.

Though I can't help but think that material with the Martin name on it must have Stuart Mossman whirling like a dervish.......

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

Yeah, as much of a C.F. Martin & Co. cheerleader as I am, I am not too impressed with these.

Here is what I will say though; I had about as positive of an experience as possible with their Customer Service Dept. this go-'round. Even though they really couldn't help me me, they did try. The nice girl took my phone number and email, and checked with the Factory on what I had, and called me back later in the afternoon. These X-series guitars are not made in Nazareth, PA. anymore, they are built in the Navojoa, Mexico factory. So they simply don't have any scrap of the HPL here. She did tell me an authorized repair shop could source a complete HPL back for replacement. That would honestly have exceeded the guitar's replacement value, especially if I got into having to re-install kerfed linings, and bracing. She sent me links. I sent her a 'Thank-You' note in reply, and meant it. My last experience (trying to get a replacement bridge for that 🤬 HD-28V) was much less pleasant, and even less successful.

The purist in me might not love the countertop stuff for guitar-making, but to tell you all the truth... the dadgum thing sounds good. And plays like a dream. I can't really take any credit for that beyond flattening the top back out by getting the x-brace secured back to the soundboard. That's just basic structure stuff that had to be done. So I can conclude that that it is at least a very stable platform. 23 years, and the action is dead-on perfect.

I am taking another nice day off out of the shop. I may go up there this evening and straighten up things a bit. I'm front-porchin' it today - with a Gibson. 😏