A week at the shop! Really fun to watch and learn what little sinks into my old noggin. Thanks for the peek into your caring workmanship and all the little tricks you've learned over the years. These videos are such a joy for me to watch....can't thank you enough.
It's fantastic! I love saving broken things myself, and you do a great job always. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos and teach us all you can.
I agree ,,, That Ovation mandolin looked factory ...I am amazed by your skills and I have Not heard That song Lonesome 77203 in many years .... I am sure Hawkshaw Hockins sang that ... You brought back some great memories ... Thanks Jerry
I certainly enjoy watching you work and I think I've figured out why. As a professional photographer I've watched and photographed many people working and I learned many things because of those experiences. One thing I've learned watching your videos is that you really enjoy working and so do I. That was the spirit that America was built on. We don't see much of that anymore. Many people just clock in and out now for a paycheck. I hope I live long enough to watch all of your videos.
Excellent work, Jerry! It's a personal observation and people may find it true that an honest and dedicated craftsman/technician will always be up to his/her elbows in work; such is the trust he/she commands. Stay blessed and up to your elbows in work, my friend! Another of your breed is your friend Randy Schartiger!
Allan Mulgrew it makes it look better (IMO) and is ten times the players instrument now (can take heavier strings, doesn't need the less common ball string types). I'd call it a conversion as much as a repair. Kinda like rebuilding an old engine and reworking the valves so it can run on unleaded gas!
Not only you are doing great work you are lucky enough to have one of the most rewarding and non-alienating occupations out there. It is like a perfect cross between a mechanic/technician and a true art. It is also very rewarding to watch something like this in a world of recycling and single use throw away crap.
Your D28 Martin kit fix really hit home. I have a Cordoba Cadete 3/4 size guitar that I love but, every since it was new it has been dead on the first fret of the B string. When you said the buzzing was coming off the saddle or nut because the string wasn't coming off the edge, I decided to check that on my Cordoba. Sure enough after I relieved the tuner side of the string slot in the nut the problem disappeared. Thanks a million for that comment.
I never would have guessed I would sit here and watch a guy fix guitars for an hour straight. Now I am just wondering how you don't have a million subscribers?!
I love watching you work, explaining how and why. I am a woodworker for most of my life and I still learn things. I don't fix guitars but I enjoy watching a true craftsman at work.
Greetings. I do not repair instruments, nor am I even an acoustic player (anymore). But I find your channel incredibly entertaining. Thanks for sharing your work!
Your discussion of the issues is very helpful to us novices who hear the problems but don't really understand how to deal with them, thanks for your tips.!!!!
I watched the entire video! I enjoy watching how meticulous you are, and it seems there’s no fix too big for you! I also actually enjoy watching how expertly you scrape off old glue! Thanks from Gilbert, AZ.
My cat (a huge Tuxedo tom cat) loved chewing on the guitar strings, and when I had them off to put new ones on, my cat would get inside the guitar.... It was a Martin D28 boomer.... I used to play the 'Cat Came Back to my Cat'.... He loved that song....
My goodness you are such a master. I hope you’re training and teaching your craft to several apprentices. Your knowledge and skill fascinates me. I enjoy these videos so much.
Thanks for that, I have a Ovation mandolin which I'm pretty happy with but now I'm even happier knowing I can fix it (maybe not quite as neatly) when the bridge starts heading for the neck. Great video as always👍
When my Martin got rebuilt and the bridge reset, the guy I had do the work milled out the saddle slot and inlayed a very precise fill, with more ebony and black epoxy. The intonation is spot on and the patch is only visible under intense light!
There was bunch of cool projects! Awesome as usual Jerry! Seminole wind was the first song I ever learned on mandolin! I only know 4 or 5! i'm a guitar player! Thanks for all the videos, I always learn something! Best wishes!
At 45:42 The factory setup on my 2003 Martin OMC has those cuts in the bridge. I never gave it any thought until seeing you work out the details on that HD-28. Nice work and thanks for showing us the ins and outs of guitar set up. Little things make a big difference. Anyway many thanks for your videos. It does my heart good to see a craftsman sharing his hard earned knowledge with the world. Please keep the videos coming and God Bless.
Those Ovation mandolins were dogs. All out of intonation. The bridges were manufactured incorrectly. I had one of these. I called Ovation and they admitted it was designed wrong. Excellent if not perfect repair on your part. You do excellent work sir. Bravo.
Jerry- You are the master Luthier! I have to go back and hit "like" on a ton of your videos. If you have any vids on more Harmony and Kays. I'm rebuilding a 50s Harmony Arch Top Jazz single pup, 1Vol, 1Tone
Great vid - lots of work done, not to mention lots of work to film and edit it! Quality mix of bench videoin' and clips of you playin' tellin' tales and describing the repairs.
Jerry. The Kalamazoo arch top is a clone of the 1946 F hole my dad gifted me un 1949. I later traded it for a round hole Kay dreadnoght..Just thot Id add this missive. Rock on!!!
Jerry on those ball end Ovation mandos - in a pinch I've used loop end strings by threading them all in at once - then take a short piece of a low E guitar string (or a chunk of bass G- whatever is stiff enough but still flexible ) thread that through all the loops. Then draw up one or two to hold the mess together. It wasn't pretty but it does work - although seeing how that bridge split I wouldn't want to run it like that long term. But it did get the job done - OK thanks for all these great vids. !
We had a TR number also but it was Tremont ave in the Bronx ( don't hold it against me Jerry) We also had a TUlip 2 number (TU 2 -2189 when we moved . Great song also!!
Amazing job! I'm a big fan of your work, I've been watching your videos for a long time now and somehow started Guitar care services for my friends. wish to see more vids!
great videos and love this channel!!!.I sometimes use a tiny slither of hard wood to match the bridge saddle and glue it to the bridge saddle to cover up scars!! it does a tidy job and looks like its part of the bridge saddle :)
You may have heard of Epiphone as Gibson’s budget brand of guitars, but before Gibson bought out this competitor, the brand produced budget brand guitars under the moniker of “Kalamazoo.” From 1933 to 1942, Gibson produced archtop and flattop acoustic guitars, lap steels, banjos, and mandolins under the Kalamazoo name.
Now Jerry, your normal voice and singing voice is like 2 different people... LOL Wonderful instrument resurrections. When you go to your well deserved reward, you will be working for Jesus in his resurrection department for dead and fallen instruments... and you will love it!
My Dads band used to play that song many many moons ago. I loved hearing it. My Dad and another guy shared the lead singing duties. The other guy used to sing this one and I loved the sad country twang he had in his voice when he sang Lonesome 77203. He really made you feel the song. It was phenomenal.
I don't know which video this is of yours that I've watched, but I've enjoyed them all! Near the end of this vid, you sing John Anderson's Seminole Wind. Not only have I been covering that song in my shows for the last 6-7 years, I actually live 10 miles north of Micanopy. Here's a tidbit of trivia for you: if you've ever watched the Michael J. Fox movie, "Doc Hollywood" (which if you haven't, you should), the movie's fictional town of Grady, NC was actually Micanopy, FL, where the movie was filmed.
I have just completed seeing all your videos. It's been fun. I am going to seek out some guitars that need some care & begin to learn what it takes to repair guitars Also it would interesting to see your tool bench. I watch you grabbing for tools & wedges, wondering what the organization of tools looks like on your bench.
Very busy shop Jerry, I'd like to be that busy in the shop but with a 50 hour work week sometimes my turn around times get pretty drawn out. Good work brother.
Thinking of your d35 storyI worked on a Martin sax once with terrible intonation and it had a mouthpiece stuck in the bore....good after that came out.
The thing I've learned is when you put them in intonation I listen to that little hum echo sound in video clip 34:52 you can hear it ...its weird with me I can standard tune an be 1 cent off...I was in a guitar store one time owner seen me tuning up a pick and grean box told to stop came over put his digital thing ah mah Bob on it and wow you have a wonderful ear dont know why I'm telling on me like this but I felt like sharing on how you can tell on a acoustic guitar...electric is a different story but you can hear better through wood ..lol if I made any dimes or nickels of it for you but I hope I've help someone...love all your video's and Caleb looks like a good looking right hand man doing good work as well...have a happy holiday's an new year's to come
Jerry, when you move a bridge, instead of leaving the finish scar with whatever 'repair' can be done with stain and finish, just make a thin piece of wood in a similar species that can 'extend' the now relocated bridge to cover the finish scar. A thin piece of wood to match the bridge will hide away and not be visible... it will look like the bridge is just a hair wider.
If you bought those mini clamps at Harbor Freight, they are guaranteed for life. I had purchased a couple of the bigger size and one just wouldn't hold (it probably had the same problem with the piece of metal flipped by the assembler). I just took it back and they gave me another one.
I’m considering buying an ovation mandolin to match my balladeer, and if I do I’ll probably either send it to you to install a tailpiece or try it myself.
my Ovation 12 string has a similar bridge set up and I agree it doesn't seem like there is enough meat between the holes, the string ferrels must be seated vertically witch is always a fight when changing strings. I run extra light strings and inspect her regularly for cracking
The bridge on the Ovation mandolin being much smaller than a guitar bridge most likely contributes to the bridge failure. As you said in the video, even at 20 ft. Lbs. that’s a lot strain on the small bridge.
crazy I just went out and got 4 of the same clamps and I'd say there OK for the money but I will be getting some better ones now I seen your issue with them
Depending upon the gauge, neck length, tuning, and angle of string due to action the average string on a syringed instrument is 60-90/05 ft-lbs of tension.
well Good Lord man that's what you had in a typical week? Do you ever have time to eat and sleep with all the work these instruments need? Well you are definitely a craftsman in more ways that one. Thanks for sharing.
Jerry - I am the mandolin owner in this video. The comment you made about the 75% failure rate of those mandolin bridges probably wasn't that far off. I went out on the internet and found pictures of a few of those Ovation/Applause mandolins for sale. I looked at the bridges in the pictures. Of the half dozen that I found all of them either had the bridges replaced or had incipient failure with cracks developing on the bridges. It definitely was not a good design.
It does seem like the rosewood used wasn't up to the job - especially with all those holes drilled so close to each other in a line... perforated rosewood, just like a paper towel!
Now that I have seen your channel I m going to the pawn shop and see if I can find a good deal on a broken Gibson or fender guitar. I dont think I can make a bridge with out the jig like you use and the rare wood. So the bridge will have to be usable and I can reset it maybe. Or may be I should just send it to you.
Thanks so much for filming all your hard work! I am working at building my own repair, setup business. Have you made any videos that show your business side? Meaning how do you keep track of your billing, and how you charge? Not wanting secrets just direction. I really appreciate the quality of all you do. Thanks!
lawrence goltz thank you for watching friend. I don't know if I'll do that. It's probably not too interesting to most folks. My methods are not too impressive. lol
Great video - thanks for it. Was just wondering about the D28 if the movement in intonation/high action might not have been due to the neck being slightly loose and moving in the dovetail pocket over time like on the older Martins from the 70's that often need a neck reset. I was also intrigued that you would not simply replace the bridge on it's original footprint, fill the bridge slot with ebony and rout a new slot further towards the pins??
nerfnerfification I don't think the neck had moved. Yeah could have fixed it differently. However the slot would have been pretty close to the pins. Lots of ways to skin the cat. Since the bridge was off this was quick, easy and cheap. As mentioned he didn't care about the looks, just function and sound. In my opinion this was the best option for both. Thanks for watching.
Golly, if only I could send you my index and middle fingers so you could fix the 'cracks' in them! Can't play squat til they heal ...winter not done with them yet. Super glue, bag balm and more - no workie, no playie yet! As usual, great work!
Jerry this is a great video. Different problems with different solutions. But what happened with the D35? Did I miss something? lol. Did you get it fixed? Do you know what year that D35 was made in? As for the bridges messing up on the D28. Wouldn't Martin have to fix it under warranty? I have a 2001 D35 that my deseaes brother help me pick out. I never want anything to happen to it. I sorry to ask you so many questions. I really enjoyed this video. I will save it in my archives. Thank you so very much for sharing your video.
Thomas Tommy The D35 went home wiyh the customer the same day with the tape on it. Couldn't film the final result. Don't know much about Martin's warranty. Seems like everyone I know ends up paying and waiting a long time. Thanks for watching.
Rosa String Works I just live about three hours from the Martin Factory. I have visited the factory several times. Martin Rep told me would do repairs at the factory. Under warranty or if not under warranty. But they prefer the public take there guitar repairs to local Luther's near where they live. Martin said they would not turn a customer away. But they prefer they go somewhere else.. I am slowly loosen faith in Martin. I bought my first Martin D35 in 1976. I have owned three Martin's over the years. I would think hard before I ever buy another one. Thanks again. I enjoyed your videos and stories. Thank you.
Do you have any opinion on Bridge pins made from fossilized mammoth or walrus ivory? Some are beautiful and they are supposed to really brighten tone much like antler saddles and nuts. What do you think?
I think they look great. And I'm sure they would be fine. I can't hardly believe there's much difference in tone. Though it probably does affect it to some minor amount
I may have missed it during the video, but what was the rationale in removing the bridge from the J-45 if it wasn't lifting? Could you not have just made a thicker saddle to fill the slot left by the adjustable saddle? Another choice for those adjustable saddles is there is now a drop-in Tusq saddle for the adjustable Gibsons. It may be an option to present to your customers that come in with an adjustable Gibson that needs a new saddle but doesn't want to pay for a new handmade one.
MultiSkeeze yes I have filled them in the past. Filling them is a bit awkward because when you try to cut the new slot it doesn't always line up exactly with what you filled. I'm not a fan of the Tusq products. Tusq is just plastic. A plastic fill piece that wide would work ok physically. But it won't produce the same quality sound. Replacement was at the customer's request. I feel like it was the best option at least in terms of sound quality. I just got an Email from the customer. He is very happy. Thanks for watching my friend.
You do great work and the work done is at the customer's request and at your recommendation. As long as everyone involved is happy what more is there that needs to be said. Enjoyed this video.
you,re repair videos are addictive I will have to admit.
It's great to watch the greatest Luthier doing his excellent work.
I love that old song! Fully addicted to your videos now. :)
A week at the shop! Really fun to watch and learn what little sinks into my old noggin. Thanks for the peek into your caring workmanship and all the little tricks you've learned over the years. These videos are such a joy for me to watch....can't thank you enough.
yonks49 Thanks a bunch. Glad you like them.
It's fantastic! I love saving broken things myself, and you do a great job always. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos and teach us all you can.
I agree ,,, That Ovation mandolin looked factory ...I am amazed by your skills and I have Not heard That song Lonesome 77203 in many years .... I am sure Hawkshaw Hockins sang that ... You brought back some great memories ... Thanks Jerry
Dave Webster thank you my friend.
I certainly enjoy watching you work and I think I've figured out why. As a professional photographer I've watched and photographed many people working and I learned many things because of those experiences. One thing I've learned watching your videos is that you really enjoy working and so do I. That was the spirit that America was built on. We don't see much of that anymore. Many people just clock in and out now for a paycheck. I hope I live long enough to watch all of your videos.
Excellent work, Jerry!
It's a personal observation and people may find it true that an honest and dedicated craftsman/technician will always be up to his/her elbows in work; such is the trust he/she commands.
Stay blessed and up to your elbows in work, my friend!
Another of your breed is your friend Randy Schartiger!
amit newton thank you very much sir I appreciate the comment.
Fantastic fix on the ovation mandolin.
Allan Mulgrew it makes it look better (IMO) and is ten times the players instrument now (can take heavier strings, doesn't need the less common ball string types). I'd call it a conversion as much as a repair. Kinda like rebuilding an old engine and reworking the valves so it can run on unleaded gas!
yeah i would say that describes it really well, and i agree it looks really good afterwords.
Not only you are doing great work you are lucky enough to have one of the most rewarding and non-alienating occupations out there. It is like a perfect cross between a mechanic/technician and a true art. It is also very rewarding to watch something like this in a world of recycling and single use throw away crap.
PermaKulHurTur thank you very much I really appreciate the kind words
Your D28 Martin kit fix really hit home. I have a Cordoba Cadete 3/4 size guitar that I love but, every since it was new it has been dead on the first fret of the B string. When you said the buzzing was coming off the saddle or nut because the string wasn't coming off the edge, I decided to check that on my Cordoba. Sure enough after I relieved the tuner side of the string slot in the nut the problem disappeared. Thanks a million for that comment.
I never would have guessed I would sit here and watch a guy fix guitars for an hour straight. Now I am just wondering how you don't have a million subscribers?!
Johnny John thank you very much. Very kind of you to say.
Must have watched 40 of your videos now, and I am amazed at the skills you have.
I really like seeing a weeks worth. Thanks.
I love watching you work, explaining how and why. I am a woodworker for most of my life and I still learn things. I don't fix guitars but I enjoy watching a true craftsman at work.
Great video! I've never heard of a Martin kit. When you finished I thought it sounded wonderful. Thank you for your time and effort.
Love to watch you work. An artist.
I like the shorter format, for what it's worth. Always informative.
The SKILL and DEDICATION of this craftsman is simply AMAZING!! 👍
His videos certainly provided many TIPS as well! 👍
I'm watching this one again. Hate to comment to make more work for you... But, Mandolin Wine is so fine! Really enjoyed that song! Thank you!
Greetings. I do not repair instruments, nor am I even an acoustic player (anymore). But I find your channel incredibly entertaining. Thanks for sharing your work!
+cdavidlake2 you are very welcome. Thank you so much for watching.
Your discussion of the issues is very helpful to us novices who hear the problems but don't really understand how to deal with them, thanks for your tips.!!!!
I watched the entire video! I enjoy watching how meticulous you are, and it seems there’s no fix too big for you! I also actually enjoy watching how expertly you scrape off old glue! Thanks from Gilbert, AZ.
My cat (a huge Tuxedo tom cat) loved chewing on the guitar strings, and when I had them off to put new ones on, my cat would get inside the guitar.... It was a Martin D28 boomer.... I used to play the 'Cat Came Back to my Cat'.... He loved that song....
I love that beautiful simple little song :)
My goodness you are such a master. I hope you’re training and teaching your craft to several apprentices. Your knowledge and skill fascinates me. I enjoy these videos so much.
I teach it to thousands and thousands of people every day. LOL
Yes you do!! 👍
I remember those "exchange" phone numbers! Great video. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks for that, I have a Ovation mandolin which I'm pretty happy with but now I'm even happier knowing I can fix it (maybe not quite as neatly) when the bridge starts heading for the neck. Great video as always👍
Great repairs Jerry you sure know your craft!!Cheers
blkjckgtrnut thank you my kind friend.
Great videos mr. Rosa you have a good night my friends until your next session take care
Howdy!
As allways, fantastic...
👍
Wish you could upload more videos, just enjoying to see Master at work...
Greeting from Croatia...
Tihomir Kolarek thank you my friend. It's a real job uploading these videos. This one took 2 days to put together.
Rosa String Works i know, it takas a lot of time, but it's nice to see a true Master doing his magic to all of those instruments. ..
👍 👍 👍
Tihomir Kolarek thank you.
When my Martin got rebuilt and the bridge reset, the guy I had do the work milled out the saddle slot and inlayed a very precise fill, with more ebony and black epoxy. The intonation is spot on and the patch is only visible under intense light!
Caleb Hawkins Thanks for watching. I have fixed thrm that way too. Since the bridge was off already, this was a faster cheaper alternative.
There was bunch of cool projects! Awesome as usual Jerry! Seminole wind was the first song I ever learned on mandolin! I only know 4 or 5! i'm a guitar player! Thanks for all the videos, I always learn something! Best wishes!
myacousticblues thank you very much my friend. Glad you're still watching the videos.
I've had a crazy busy bunch of weeks at work! I'm finally getting caught up on all my videos! you & Randy I try not to miss!
At 45:42 The factory setup on my 2003 Martin OMC has those cuts in the bridge. I never gave it any thought until seeing you work out the details on that HD-28. Nice work and thanks for showing us the ins and outs of guitar set up. Little things make a big difference. Anyway many thanks for your videos. It does my heart good to see a craftsman sharing his hard earned knowledge with the world. Please keep the videos coming and God Bless.
Thank you very much my friend.
Those Ovation mandolins were dogs. All out of intonation. The bridges were manufactured incorrectly. I had one of these. I called Ovation and they admitted it was designed wrong. Excellent if not perfect repair on your part. You do excellent work sir. Bravo.
Jay Gold thanks for the note and for watching.
Good videos, I hope my friends and who ever asks where I get my ideas I send them to your videos. Thanks for all the good ideas.
You've got some awesome stories Jerry. Thanks for making up these video clips.
Great video Jerry! Enoyed it all!
Kent Owens thank you sir.
Jerry- You are the master Luthier! I have to go back and hit "like" on a ton of your videos. If you have any vids on more Harmony and Kays. I'm rebuilding a 50s Harmony Arch Top Jazz single pup, 1Vol, 1Tone
Great vid - lots of work done, not to mention lots of work to film and edit it! Quality mix of bench videoin' and clips of you playin' tellin' tales and describing the repairs.
Great video Jerry, you sure did some fine work!
Jeff Grier thanks buddy.
You did great work on that Ovation! The others, too!
Jamie Jones thajk you.
Rosa String Works
Great video, love the mandolin fix and your picking sounds great my friend.
Todd Taylor thank you buddy.
Gerry, thank you so much for your super videos. They are very instructive and very helpful.
Aidan Gene Cranny you are welcome thank you very much for watching
Wow that Ovation turned out really nice.The bridge looks like night and day.Nice work.Hey pretty good voice too Jerry.Better than mine anyhow LOL
Jerry. The Kalamazoo arch top is a clone of the 1946 F hole my dad gifted me un 1949.
I later traded it for a round hole Kay dreadnoght..Just thot Id add this missive. Rock on!!!
Jerry on those ball end Ovation mandos - in a pinch I've used loop end strings by threading them all in at once - then take a short piece of a low E guitar string (or a chunk of bass G- whatever is stiff enough but still flexible ) thread that through all the loops. Then draw up one or two to hold the mess together. It wasn't pretty but it does work - although seeing how that bridge split I wouldn't want to run it like that long term. But it did get the job done - OK thanks for all these great vids. !
Tioga Fretworks thank you for watching. Yeah I could see how that would work. This guy won't have to do that anymore. lol
GREAT fix on that electric mandolin.. super smart
Guillermo Molina Thank you my friend.
Great video and some excellent repairs.
Dale Palmer thank you Dale.
Fantastic work especially on the mandolin, I am considering putting a tailpieceon a bellied up acoustic, Thanks
Thank you for a great video Jerry! Really enjoyed this and learned a lot too.
Buddy Martin thank you very much my friend.
I like that tune! "Mandolin Wine"
We had a TR number also but it was Tremont ave in the Bronx ( don't hold it against me Jerry) We also had a TUlip 2 number (TU 2 -2189 when we moved .
Great song also!!
Great repairs
Thank you very much.
Amazing job! I'm a big fan of your work, I've been watching your videos for a long time now and somehow started Guitar care services for my friends. wish to see more vids!
Jin River Blue Sto Domingo thank you for watching. Good luck.
Jin River Blue Sto Domingo thank you for watching. Good luck.
Excellent work.
That was an awesome solution to the problem!!!
great videos and love this channel!!!.I sometimes use a tiny slither of hard wood to match the bridge saddle and glue it to the bridge saddle to cover up scars!! it does a tidy job and looks like its part of the bridge saddle :)
Nice work mate that's a fair few fixes for a week.
Thank you very much.
Great Job Jerry
You may have heard of Epiphone as Gibson’s budget brand of guitars, but before Gibson bought out this competitor, the brand produced budget brand guitars under the moniker of “Kalamazoo.” From 1933 to 1942, Gibson produced archtop and flattop acoustic guitars, lap steels, banjos, and mandolins under the Kalamazoo name.
An Allen Terminator Tailpiece would allow you to get away w/ any type of strings
Now Jerry, your normal voice and singing voice is like 2 different people... LOL Wonderful instrument resurrections. When you go to your well deserved reward, you will be working for Jesus in his resurrection department for dead and fallen instruments... and you will love it!
I forgot love the song Lonesome 77203 that was one of the songs when I first started playing my Dad taught me to play.
Tele Man65 Thanks. It's a great song. They don't write them like that anymore.
My Dads band used to play that song many many moons ago. I loved hearing it. My Dad and another guy shared the lead singing duties. The other guy used to sing this one and I loved the sad country twang he had in his voice when he sang Lonesome 77203. He really made you feel the song. It was phenomenal.
.....dang dude , thanks for the repair tip on the cheaper freight clamp!.....
Looks better with the tail piece, I think. Nice work!
+phonicwheel thank you very much. I kind of thought so as well.
nice video, love the forced air technique.
scott hennis thank you.
That was an awesome repair idea. :-) I dig it.
Thank you sir . I’ll not explain .
Hi, done the same .bought a mandolin knew off problem put a tailpiece on it.found it was a better sound and sustain.
You good to hear. Thanks for watching.
great interesting video.. tks for sharing..
I don't know which video this is of yours that I've watched, but I've enjoyed them all! Near the end of this vid, you sing John Anderson's Seminole Wind. Not only have I been covering that song in my shows for the last 6-7 years, I actually live 10 miles north of Micanopy. Here's a tidbit of trivia for you: if you've ever watched the Michael J. Fox movie, "Doc Hollywood" (which if you haven't, you should), the movie's fictional town of Grady, NC was actually Micanopy, FL, where the movie was filmed.
Love that track, and the RSW cover too.
I have just completed seeing all your videos. It's been fun. I am going to seek out some guitars that need some care & begin to learn what it takes to repair guitars
Also it would interesting to see your tool bench. I watch you grabbing for tools & wedges, wondering what the organization of tools looks like on your bench.
Phil Womack Thanks for watching. I will try to include a clip of the bench.
Very busy shop Jerry, I'd like to be that busy in the shop but with a 50 hour work week sometimes my turn around times get pretty drawn out. Good work brother.
Dane Nichols thank you.
Nice job
love them hurtin songs Jerry
Thinking of your d35 storyI worked on a Martin sax once with terrible intonation and it had a mouthpiece stuck in the bore....good after that came out.
phooesnax funny. Thanks for watching.
Glad to see not all of the ones you work on are complete basket cases!
The thing I've learned is when you put them in intonation I listen to that little hum echo sound in video clip 34:52 you can hear it ...its weird with me I can standard tune an be 1 cent off...I was in a guitar store one time owner seen me tuning up a pick and grean box told to stop came over put his digital thing ah mah Bob on it and wow you have a wonderful ear dont know why I'm telling on me like this but I felt like sharing on how you can tell on a acoustic guitar...electric is a different story but you can hear better through wood ..lol if I made any dimes or nickels of it for you but I hope I've help someone...love all your video's and Caleb looks like a good looking right hand man doing good work as well...have a happy holiday's an new year's to come
Jerry, when you move a bridge, instead of leaving the finish scar with whatever 'repair' can be done with stain and finish, just make a thin piece of wood in a similar species that can 'extend' the now relocated bridge to cover the finish scar. A thin piece of wood to match the bridge will hide away and not be visible... it will look like the bridge is just a hair wider.
Bygj
If you bought those mini clamps at Harbor Freight, they are guaranteed for life. I had purchased a couple of the bigger size and one just wouldn't hold (it probably had the same problem with the piece of metal flipped by the assembler). I just took it back and they gave me another one.
Did you know that those clamps turn into spreaders? Just unscrew the fixed end and move it to the other end of the bar facing outward.
I’m considering buying an ovation mandolin to match my balladeer, and if I do I’ll probably either send it to you to install a tailpiece or try it myself.
my Ovation 12 string has a similar bridge set up and I agree it doesn't seem like there is enough meat between the holes, the string ferrels must be seated vertically witch is always a fight when changing strings. I run extra light strings and inspect her regularly for cracking
MrBeefsteak6 thank you for watching it's amazing they stand up to the stress.
I’ve owned Ovation guitars for years, I’ve never had a problem with the bridge.
They don't all have the problem. In this line of work unfortunately you see it quite often.
The bridge on the Ovation mandolin being much smaller than a guitar bridge most likely contributes to the bridge failure. As you said in the video, even at 20 ft. Lbs. that’s a lot strain on the small bridge.
You were just lucky
crazy I just went out and got 4 of the same clamps and I'd say there OK for the money but I will be getting some better ones now I seen your issue with them
Depending upon the gauge, neck length, tuning, and angle of string due to action the average string on a syringed instrument is 60-90/05 ft-lbs of tension.
well Good Lord man that's what you had in a typical week? Do you ever have time to eat and sleep with all the work these instruments need? Well you are definitely a craftsman in more ways that one. Thanks for sharing.
LUCKYLARRY thank you very much friend. I appreciate your watching.
Jerry - I am the mandolin owner in this video. The comment you made about the 75% failure rate of those mandolin bridges probably wasn't that far off. I went out on the internet and found pictures of a few of those Ovation/Applause mandolins for sale. I looked at the bridges in the pictures. Of the half dozen that I found all of them either had the bridges replaced or had incipient failure with cracks developing on the bridges. It definitely was not a good design.
Dan Selvig thank you my friend.
It does seem like the rosewood used wasn't up to the job - especially with all those holes drilled so close to each other in a line... perforated rosewood, just like a paper towel!
Now that I have seen your channel I m going to the pawn shop and see if I can find a good deal on a broken Gibson or fender guitar. I dont think I can make a bridge with out the jig like you use and the rare wood. So the bridge will have to be usable and I can reset it maybe. Or may be I should just send it to you.
Thanks so much for filming all your hard work! I am working at building my own repair, setup business. Have you made any videos that show your business side? Meaning how do you keep track of your billing, and how you charge? Not wanting secrets just direction. I really appreciate the quality of all you do. Thanks!
lawrence goltz thank you for watching friend. I don't know if I'll do that. It's probably not too interesting to most folks. My methods are not too impressive. lol
Same problem. Glue it back then drill for pole pushers they wlill catch the top backing plate?? Mine sounds better now.
the ovation bridge design is fantastic on a guitar but i never understood why they did it in 12strings and mandolins
Dan Bennetto thank you for watching
Great video - thanks for it. Was just wondering about the D28 if the movement in intonation/high action might not have been due to the neck being slightly loose and moving in the dovetail pocket over time like on the older Martins from the 70's that often need a neck reset. I was also intrigued that you would not simply replace the bridge on it's original footprint, fill the bridge slot with ebony and rout a new slot further towards the pins??
nerfnerfification I don't think the neck had moved. Yeah could have fixed it differently. However the slot would have been pretty close to the pins. Lots of ways to skin the cat. Since the bridge was off this was quick, easy and cheap. As mentioned he didn't care about the looks, just function and sound. In my opinion this was the best option for both. Thanks for watching.
Hey Jerry, I ll try this on a guitar, same type of fail.... Ovation bridge JUNK! All applications. (JMO)
Jerry, how 'bout a compensated bridge?? Yeah or nay!!!!! That G string needs it bad!!!!
I'm not sure which one you're referring to that was a very long time ago. Thanks for watching.
Golly, if only I could send you my index and middle fingers so you could fix the 'cracks' in them! Can't play squat til they heal ...winter not done with them yet. Super glue, bag balm and more - no workie, no playie yet! As usual, great work!
BarbedStar thank you. Yeah super glue is what I use too. Thanks for watching.
Jerry this is a great video. Different problems with different solutions. But what happened with the D35? Did I miss something? lol. Did you get it fixed? Do you know what year that D35 was made in? As for the bridges messing up on the D28. Wouldn't Martin have to fix it under warranty? I have a 2001 D35 that my deseaes brother help me pick out. I never want anything to happen to it. I sorry to ask you so many questions. I really enjoyed this video. I will save it in my archives. Thank you so very much for sharing your video.
Thomas Tommy The D35 went home wiyh the customer the same day with the tape on it. Couldn't film the final result. Don't know much about Martin's warranty. Seems like everyone I know ends up paying and waiting a long time. Thanks for watching.
Rosa String Works I just live about three hours from the Martin Factory. I have visited the factory several times. Martin Rep told me would do repairs at the factory. Under warranty or if not under warranty. But they prefer the public take there guitar repairs to local Luther's near where they live. Martin said they would not turn a customer away. But they prefer they go somewhere else.. I am slowly loosen faith in Martin. I bought my first Martin D35 in 1976. I have owned three Martin's over the years. I would think hard before I ever buy another one. Thanks again. I enjoyed your videos and stories. Thank you.
Here kitty kitty...cat hair who would have guessed...lol Great story...
Do you have any opinion on Bridge pins made from fossilized mammoth or walrus ivory? Some are beautiful and they are supposed to really brighten tone much like antler saddles and nuts. What do you think?
I think they look great. And I'm sure they would be fine. I can't hardly believe there's much difference in tone. Though it probably does affect it to some minor amount
@@RosaStringWorks I was kind of thinking the same thing. The sound of a string is probably most affected by saddle and nut.
I may have missed it during the video, but what was the rationale in removing the bridge from the J-45 if it wasn't lifting? Could you not have just made a thicker saddle to fill the slot left by the adjustable saddle?
Another choice for those adjustable saddles is there is now a drop-in Tusq saddle for the adjustable Gibsons. It may be an option to present to your customers that come in with an adjustable Gibson that needs a new saddle but doesn't want to pay for a new handmade one.
MultiSkeeze yes I have filled them in the past. Filling them is a bit awkward because when you try to cut the new slot it doesn't always line up exactly with what you filled. I'm not a fan of the Tusq products. Tusq is just plastic. A plastic fill piece that wide would work ok physically. But it won't produce the same quality sound. Replacement was at the customer's request. I feel like it was the best option at least in terms of sound quality. I just got an Email from the customer. He is very happy. Thanks for watching my friend.
You do great work and the work done is at the customer's request and at your recommendation. As long as everyone involved is happy what more is there that needs to be said. Enjoyed this video.