When watching an expert removing and fixing a guitar bridge is way more entertaining than 99 % of the stuff that is on TV these days, then you know that the TV networks are in deep trouble 😂
I have been playing Martin guitars since 1969. I have 4 12 strings and 5 6 strings, I can tell you first hand Martin has changed their attitude to the "Lifetime" warranty. 1984 I sent one of my D-28s back to Nazareth where they put new frets and fretboard on and generally reset it up nicely. I paid shipping was all. Today, they will give you a run around and send you to "authorized" Martin shops that rarely do your quality of work or, won't do it at all. So nice to watch a craftsman that knows what he is doing, and cares.
@MickCone, That's sad to hear. I mean if the shops can't reinstall a bridge, what are they good for? I wouldn't consider that a huge job. They should at least be able to direct you to shops that will.
As a young un, I played a guitar at World of Strings in Long Beach, which sounded so much better than anything I'd ever heard. It was a Martin. Later, working security for a t.v. show called Don Kirshners Rock concert, a guitarist named Al Di Meola said if you plan on playing the rest of your life, go ahead and invest in a quality guitar. You won't regret it. So later I went to Houston and the worlds largest left-handed guitar shop. I bought the shop owner a pizza and played every guitar for 2 days and ended up buying a.....you guessed it, a Martin 000- 28V.
I live in Austin and the only luthier who touches my stuff is Mark Erlewine. He gives Trigger a yearly once over for Willie Nelson. That's endorsement enough for me.
I just bought my first Martin guitar and it's similar to this one. It's a 2015 HD28V. It's so nice to watch a pro at work! Here I am at 60 yrs old retired and thinking, "I think I'd like to do this kind of work!" You're a pleasure to watch, sir! 😊 Thanks for posting!
LORD HAVE MERCY,,,,,, I was a auto mechanic for almost 30 years and had to quit cause my hands would start cramping up so bad that I could not hold the wrenches anymore. Been retired for 20 years and I have to tell you ,,,,, WATCHING this made my hands started cramping up like they did 20 years ago...... Can't do anything anymore that require that kind of hand work..... Well done sir. I am 70 just in case you are wondering.
A very fine example to use for a "real world" bridge repair instructional!! Watching this brought back memories of my very first repair 47 years past. I was young and broke with dreams of building and repairing. I needed to make a saddle after a bridge repair but had no access to materials. I thought deer antler might work so I hit my cousin up for the only piece he had which was very small. I spent an hour just mapping out a cut to yield a blank of hard material just barely long enough to make a saddle. My only tools were a small $5 vise, a coping saw, a file, a 6" machinist rule, and some sandpaper. My workspace was a coffee table. Working slowly and carefully with the sheer desire for a professional result it came out perfectly by anyone's standard!!! I was able to relive the experience by watching your video!! Thank you so much!!!
At 48:21 in the video, maybe I'm wrong, but it appears there is either glue, finish chipped out or bare wood exposed at the back of the bridge. I certainly appreciate the advanced level of craftsmanship required for this project (having had neck resets and bridge removals on my Martins over the years), but I would not be satisfied if my guitar was delivered back to me in this condition. If I am wrong about what I think I see in the video, I apologize for the negative feedback.
I'm sorry to say I have to agree. And sanding using the guitar body for support is just not worth the risk, no matter how much pressure is applied. I really enjoyed the banter but....
Good point, at 27:10 we see the glued bridge and it looks fine. At 36:00 we see it again and the spruce near the bridge looks completely different and he never explains this. My guess is the bridge came loose after he drilled it at 27:24 (which I was shocked by, and the amount of wood the drill bit brought out). He should have never drilled the bridge with that bit after gluing it to the top (wtf?), just use the reamer to carefully clear the holes. My advice to all instrument/music lovers, never try to "save money" on a repair. Take it to the best and be prepared to pay. Also, if you are pulling out a glued-in bridge, pull it from the center not the end. Would also like to know the year of the guitar or did I miss it? A good bridge repair video that uses some different techniques: th-cam.com/video/wZExe86TxLs/w-d-xo.html
Sir, I can't play anything except the radio but I thoroughly enjoyed watching your repair. You obviously know what you are doing. Your friend is lucky to have such a friend!
Hyde glue for ALL repair work...a retired trained luthier who takes pleasure in watching folks do what I did for 30 yrs...and am both entertained and in shock..you do a good job..I have done that bridge removal many times..and fixed many turnaways from fraudsters with no pedigree or training..from ukelele to geetars and violins and violas and cellos and double basses etc..repair and restoration..award winner for a violin I made in 1988...and travelled the world as a luthier teacher and performer..now I play for seniors..in siberia alberta kanada..
@@jonandersonmd7994 not in authentic wood repair...because of it's efficacy and age resistance..proven for centuries..the techno chemicals destroy natural elements..God hates anti hyde glue flateartherz..
I currently make a living as a carpenter. Watching Jerry makes me want to get a job at Martin guitars. Why not? I live in PA not too far from the factory in Nazerth.
It's the times we're living in. Better to do it yourself, after watching Rosa String Works for the necessary instructions on how to do it the right way, even including how to string up a Martin.
That crossed my mind also. They took fine care of my wife's 82 HD28. I can only guess that this is not the original owner. The warranty covers the original owner, and is not transferable.
If you're not in US your lifetime guarantee turns to 1 year. I've had to take my Martin for major surgery as it basically folded in two. Had to remove the neck and shave down the heel to be able to get the action down the neck was so out of true. Then again about a year later. Only one of these repairs was covered under guarantee. Martin are living on past reputation
I have been playing (and stringing) guitars for over 55 years and you just taught me a new way to string them that looks easier than the easy way I developed years ago. Thanks.
There was a longtime luthier in my area that I believe rarely declared any stringed instrument as hopeless. Another luthier that owned a guitar shop barely looked at my dad's treasured (but not rare) guitar. As a kid I fiddled withe the truss rod not knowing what it was. The 1940'sh guitar neck was very bowed. Mr. Bowman repaired that guitar AND two other violins. Thankyou for repairing such sentimental treasures. My dad and his friends played string band music for barn dances.
The best bridge reset method I've seen on TH-cam hands down,I totally agree with Jerry on his take on the glue squeezeout, if all that excess glue stayed Trapped under the bridge it creates microscopic air pockets therefore weakening the joint, all your trying to do is fill in the pores of the wood on both surfaces and leave just enough adhesive in between to create the bond.
I can't play a note but as a teenager my closet friend owned a martin built in 1933 this was early 70s in past 50 years I've yet to hear another guitar that had such a Rich and perfect sound actually it's hard to put in to words. He is dead and gone no idea where guitar is but that one guitar made me hit on this video 60 years later
I’m a luthier in Maryland. I’ve encountered very similar situations, and have learned that Martin will hand out their “Authorized” designations to any schmoe that comes along. And the “Martin Authorized” shops in this area are absolute hacks. I’ve re-repaired so many “authorized” repairs, I’ve completely lost track. HACKS.
I live in the desert southwest. The humidity can be really low here. Listening to your comments and doing my own research, I've started running a humidifier to help keep the relative humidity at about 40% in the room where I keep by instruments. Per the charts this should be about 7% moisture content in wood. This is also in the range where humans are comfortable. I've also noticed my skin has not been as dry since I started using the humidifier. Thank you for making me less ignorant. :)
I love the boldness of your strategy juxtaposed with your polite humility. Your string winding was marvelous and a reminder of what skills are lost to retirement if they are not shared. Thank you.
You do great work on your repairs. Hate to see them coming to and end. The factory glue job was faulty and Martin should have done this under warranty. Good on you for doing what Martin Authorized Repair People would not do.
As a aircraft assembly mechanic that sound of that “snick” of that bone saddle into the bridge was music to my ears. Great craftsmanship and I agree with sneaking up on perfect
Two shops authorized for Martin that couldn't take a bridge off and glue it back, sickening. I would never do business with them for anything and let everyone know it. Even my sorry butt can do it, I learned from the Master, you Jerry. Nice work as always, and as many times I've seen you do it, it never gets old. Now close that shop and enjoy your hiatus.
I know nothing about guitars - I can't even play one. However, it has been a joy to watch you repair this guitar, step by step, with such precision and care and expertise. Like all great craftsmen, you make the difficult look easy!
Jerry has more patience than anyone I've ever seen. I've got a Martin OM-28V and every time I've ever taken it in asking about any work on it they look at the guitar and especially the through cut bridge and say "everything looks fine". 😄
Sir, you are a master craftsman and a gifted teacher. I am a recently retired general surgeon and watching you repair that Martin reminds me of how I used to approach things in the O.R. You never knew exactly what you were going to run into and no two patients are alike. Sometimes you just draw upon experience and logic to find the best technique for the job at hand, all the while trying not to let perfection be the enemy of good. I own a D-28 which has lost its pick guard (another common problem with Martins, or so I’m told). I live about 4 miles from the ocean in LA so the humidity tends to be consistently on the higher end of the scale but at least it doesn’t fluctuate much. Perhaps that’s why the finish hasn’t cracked on mine. At any rate, I’ll be taking it back to the shop where my dear old dad bought it as a birthday gift for me back in ‘74 for repair (Westwood Music). Incidentally, I will be adopting your stringing technique in the future. That alone was worth the time to watch the video. I have subscribed and I’m sure you’ll get to 100K in no time. By the way, your daughter-in-law’s singing is just fantastic. I enjoyed the sound track as much as the video. Take care my friend.
At the start I thought, "Geez! He's talkin' his head off!" But by the time he got to bridge removal, I realized, by golly, this is VERY good step-by-step instruction (and just as important, the rationale for each process)! I've never replaced a bridge, but I'm confident I could view this piece a couple of times and view it as I followed go-stop to do the job. Thank you, sir!
Took possession of an 1976 D28 bridge came off, gluing it over the varnish at the factory didn't help. Stew Mac to the rescue I fitted it myself, plays like a dream.
Ive been a wood worker now for ohh 45yrs. A musician for 40. And a string player for 35 of those years. Slowly gathering the tools and what l THOUGHT were the skills necessary to become a luthier. Little did l realize that once l took the leap that my most used tools would end up being my small community's entire supply of one sided safety razor blades and my giant pickle jar full of old bits of partially used sandpaper. All those years.... I had everything l needed right there at my fingertips. Except for clamps. Still buying clamps of every size, shape and construction. Otherwise I'll bet l do a solid 50% of my work with a friggin razor blade!
I find it fascinating to watch you work and educate people with your decades of expertise. Most factory authorized repair centers only want the easy money jobs and anything that takes a lot of time and knowledge they pass on. Another job well done sir!
Wonderful down home skills and based on the teaser ending - I wouldn't mind just hearing you play. Fifty / sixty years ago I had some of the best guitar players come to various folk clubs that were very popular for a while in England. Cheers Jerry - I'll be back!
I couldn’t play Pop Goes the Weasel on a thousand dollar bet but I love watching you make the mechanical make the art of the music. I enjoyed this one. 🤠 🎶 🎸
it was fun watching you do this scary repair. Before I took a luthier's course I had a bridge split due to a poorly installed undersaddle pick up (done by a certified luthier). I talked to Jean Larrivee on the phone and he told me to remove the bridge and send it too him and he would make me a copy. He told me that to remove the bridge, I was to use no heat, and to match up a block of hard would with the north side of the bridge and with a large wooden mallet to strike the block with one good hard blow (swinging south toward the tail of the guitar of course) and that that should remove the bridge, and that there might be some chip out to deal with but it should be mostly good. It worked. YIKES! then he sent me the new bridge with all the old chip pieces. ( I live in the middle of now where so that's why I was doing it myself. and I wanted to learn). I had no bridge clamps so I made some blocks to support the bridge plate, cut sacrificial chop sticks for the pin holes, glued up and placed the bridge where it goes with the chopsticks firmly holding things in place, placed the guitar in it's case, forced the lid closed, and got something heavy to rest on the top of the guitar case and left it together for a couple of days. I had lots of squeeze out that was hard to clean up but here we are, 40 years later and the bridge has never lifted, the guitar has had a very active life always getting play'd hard with 13 gauge strings and is still my number one. (it's one of the earliest Dreadnaught style Larrivees) Thanks for your vid. It was very fun to watch.
Just a bit of advice from someone that delaminates on a daily basis. Heating this adhesive and working with a single spatula is almost futile in that, the adhesive simply re-adheres when you pull the blade. Work just one small section at a time leaving the blade inserted. Then move on with another blade leaving it inserted and just repeat the process until you get to the end. At this point and if it hasn't already broken lose, simply heat the entire saddle and lift all at one time. Anyways, very nice. Great job.....
@@PatHaskell Of course it's not. However, it is a nixinym. As so defined, we (as consumers of "all be it" language) find it perfectly acceptable to inject herein.
It's a real joy to watch a real professional upon whom I give the title "artist"....a true artist. Work was well explained as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'll never be a luthier nor will I do more than change strings but I still very much appreciate your talent.
Pulled bridges on Martin guitars is actually more common than you think. I’m a luthier in Maryland, and I repair quite a few Martin (and Taylor) bridges each year. I’ve lost track how many.
@@werewolflover8636 an HD-28V is NOT a cheap import. It’s a high end vintage style D-28 with scalloped forward shifted braces and a 1-3/4” nut and modified V neck. Handmade in Nazareth PA. Handmade products are going to be less “perfect” than machine built regardless.
@@redalaska I didn't know Martin even made such a thing. A hard V neck huh? Cool. Does Martin have a custom shop or some equivalent? Yea I can't imagine this thing was "cheap" lol!
I use to tell my band mates that i could change a busted string in under a minute, well that just might be true now after watching you do it. Thanks for the great video. Subscribed.
I am no Luther! But once I had a nice vintage Guild guitar that needed a bridge reglued and I was broke and did not have deep throated clamps. So I fell back on my boat building skills and 'vacuum bag' clamped the bridge reglue job :)
Beautiful work as usual, you describe perfectly how and why you do what you do, a very good teacher. A volume of knowledge for generations to come. Like an encyclopaedia.
Impeccable job Sir! I've stumbled upon this video just by chance. Got captivated the first second so I sat the whole thing through. Shame on those authorized shops for letting your friend down. "Polite applause" is yours! 😊
Hi Jerry, can I just say how much I enjoy watching you work on instruments, you are very knowledgeable and explain how, why, and what for with all you do, keep the good work up, regards from Steve Young, Hull, UK
In my younger years I played in a band and was roommates with a guy who became a quite famous luthier. I'm pretty handy with tools of all sorts, as well as being a musician. If I'd been smart at that age, I might have paid more attention as he and his partner rose to fame with their well-known creations. But, I was preoccupied with my own crazy world. It's possible that I could have learned awesome things, from building to pickup design. Life is funny. You look back sometimes and say, "Hey, I've had six careers." I love this video. I've watched it twice. I am in a business where I always need to be making decisions about how to make things work, and I appreciate anyone who can find solutions, especially in situations where sensitive equipment is at stake, LIKE WITH BEAUTIFUL GUITARS!
Looks like a major guitar brand is now using your bridge pin mod as a feature. Ibanez AE275 uses it and even markets the design as part of their promotion. It's nice to see some of the mods you do becoming mainstream among major manufacturers.
The technique you did for putting the strings on the peg is a neat way that I'm wanting to use on the next set for my acoustic guitar. Excellent tip !!!
When I was a youngster a little shop in town had a "fake shop" list. They where very discreet about it (they didn't advertise having it u just had to know, and u had to ask the right guy there), but if a shop advertised as being "such and such authorized" and turned down a job, they made the list. If you pay nice coin for a nice instrument, there's no reason to be turned down at a shop "authorized" to repair your particular instrument.
As a non- guitar playing person I enjoy your channel because you explain why you do the different things when repairing a guitar. Keep the great videos coming.
I have a certified Martin repair group in my town and they could not fix a friends guitar. They charged him $60 just to look at it. It was a Framus Mayfield and it apparently was dropped at a different music store (sold for $1700, was $3500 new) and really cracked the lower bout/lower part of soundboard and back. I fixed it and didn’t charge him anything hoping he talks to the luthiers. I am not a luthier, I consider myself a guitar builder and have learned to fix many of my own mistakes and learned from other woodworkers. Amazing how the Martin people think they are the best when they can’t do intermediate repairs like this. Good job fixing this HD28!
Thank you for showing this excellent nowhow. I just love experience and real craftmanship. I am not in guitar business or anything but I just love this. My dad played jazz bass from the -50´s here in Sweden until a year ago. He also played with Ella Fitzgerald when she visited here. That was of topic but I just love great work. Tank you for exist.
Beautiful work as always Jerry, my poor old Martin sure could use that experience and expertise, just have to figure out how to get myself out West!! Enjoy your time off, see you soon.
Excellent work Jerry. Your skills and techniques will be in use probably years after you're gone. You are the best because of your attention to detail. This separates the men from the boys. I see you are trying to slowdown and enjoy a retirement as allowed and well deserved. Thanks for all the years of detailed explanation. Skills beyond reproach. Best wishes from Idaho.
It's such a pleasure watching you fix a stringed instrument. You are a true craftsman Jerry. Been watching you for a couple of years now and everytime I watched you fix a guitar or a mandolin, you have nailed it perfectly. It seems like you haven't really retired from it yet, even though I think I remember you saying you were gonna retire. You're son looks like he is going to be a good craftsman too. I have a 1971 Epiphone 12 string a friend of mine gave me about 35 yrs ago that his mother put in the attic next to a radiator for a yr and the pull of the strings with the hot and cold temps folded it and broke the neck block in two and folded the top so the laminated pieces of the top seperated. Really don't know what to do with it but it still sits in the closet. Are you interested? Haha. Maybe you got a video for something like that in your collection. Anyhow love your work.
@@RosaStringWorks Well I am glad to hear you are not retired, but try not to work too hard on your hiatus. Find time to relax and enjoy a beer or cocktail. I am going to make a video of my broken 12 string but it might not be worth paying the price to repair it, which would probably be more than what the guitar is worth. Enjoy your hiatus buddy.
I have a 12 string that did the same thing, the top has wrinkled at the base of the neck. Of course the neck has lifted to where I quit using it. Good luck.
Great video. I picked up some important knowledge from you, thanks. You’ve inspired me to start a new (part time) career as a luthier in a local music store, fixing bowed instruments.
I really enjoyed your video. Your calm demeanor and your plan of attack for the repair was spot on! Too many times people want the quick fix, as in I'll slap a set of new strings on it and call it a day. You proved that with a little effort and thought about what actually was wrong with the guitar you had to go beyond the "quick fix". It was a pleasure to watch your craftmanship in action. The results speak for themselves.
ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE FINEST LUTHIERS A REAL PRIVILEGE AND TO WATCH YOU WORK AND learn from your great years of experience and your hands perform miracles very gifted Rosa string works
I had this beautifull green sunburst like guitar. It was very light but after a while the bridge came loose. Wel actually it didnt came loose, it ripped the wood apart. I turned it in and got it back totally black with two giant screws sticking out of the bridge on the inside. It looks all bumpy where the damage has been. I could cry I can tell you that. I wish I had known Jerry at that time.
A very interesting and rewarding trade you have mastered. I'm a guitar player but love seeing the build of hand made guitars, troubleshooting and approaches to doing the repair. This was a great learning hour and I also learned a easier way to restring. Thank you!
I will start by saying that I don't play a stringed instrument. That being said, I have learned a lot about guitars watching you. As my mother often said, "who would have thunk that so much went into making something like that...". Thank you for showing us that you don't have to muscle things but approach woodworking with little finesse and ease into the final product. I really enjoy watching your videos.
Well .. my first time watching a video from this creator. Im a fan now. Wouldn't it be great to apprentice with this guy! Someone absolutely needs to. This knowledge needs (MUST) continue. Sir, if you do not yet have an apprentice, please consider taking one on.
Hello Jerry, another great video on repair and another lesson learned about string winding. My experience with Martin guitars goes back to 1969 when I bought my first one, a used D-18. Like most acoustics, it suffered from hi sting action and probably needed a neck reset. But back in those days no one was doing that. Instead, a friend and all-around handyman wacked the bridge off with a chisel, sanded it down and reglued It. Since then I’ve had a number of Martins and the factory has changed their approach to what they cover under their “Lifetime warranty.” My D-45 bought new in 1986 had a couple of issues, mostly string height. Most recently it went back to Martin in Nazareth for loose binding but ended up with much more, most of which was not covered by warranty. The top was severely bowed behind the bridge and depressed under the fingerboard extension. The fix was a wedge under the fingerboard and a new bridge. The tech who worked on the guitar said he had a real problem getting the top to flatten out. After almost 40 years of ownership I finally decided to let it go. Keep up the great work. Really wish you were closer so I could visit. Mac in Delaware
Amazingly patient and steady! I have not done any guitar repair and have wondered how one replaces the bridge and the many improvements you made! Thank you for being so clear with each step and the many 'adjustments' you made on that herringbone D28. I'm sure the owner really appreciated your artistry, I know I would be. Martin drives a very hard bargain on warranty issues. I had a curling pick guard on my D35 from 1975, but when I complained using online media, and they read my story, they came around in a hurry. Wonderful video and a pleasant one to watch. Thanks
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.75[2/2] คุยแบบนี้แล้วจะจบกี่โมงพ่ะย่ะค่ะ!!!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N6E8njWH7Zg/mqdefault.jpg)
When watching an expert removing and fixing a guitar bridge is way more entertaining than 99 % of the stuff that is on TV these days, then you know that the TV networks are in deep trouble 😂
You say that..but would our wives watch this?
In today’s world its good to watch something creative and postive for a change
I totally agree! 😊
I have been playing Martin guitars since 1969. I have 4 12 strings and 5 6 strings, I can tell you first hand Martin has changed their attitude to the "Lifetime" warranty. 1984 I sent one of my D-28s back to Nazareth where they put new frets and fretboard on and generally reset it up nicely. I paid shipping was all. Today, they will give you a run around and send you to "authorized" Martin shops that rarely do your quality of work or, won't do it at all. So nice to watch a craftsman that knows what he is doing, and cares.
@MickCone, That's sad to hear. I mean if the shops can't reinstall a bridge, what are they good for? I wouldn't consider that a huge job. They should at least be able to direct you to shops that will.
As a young un, I played a guitar at World of Strings in Long Beach, which sounded so much better than anything I'd ever heard. It was a Martin. Later, working security for a t.v. show called Don Kirshners Rock concert, a guitarist named Al Di Meola said if you plan on playing the rest of your life, go ahead and invest in a quality guitar. You won't regret it. So later I went to Houston and the worlds largest left-handed guitar shop. I bought the shop owner a pizza and played every guitar for 2 days and ended up buying a.....you guessed it, a Martin 000- 28V.
@@ericmadeoftin8206 Well that is true, all the guitars but one that I bought are worth a lot more than I played for them.
Going to the Martin Company is even more frustrating atleast for a Bass player, it's just a museum with one or two basses without a follow up
I live in Austin and the only luthier who touches my stuff is Mark Erlewine. He gives Trigger a yearly once over for Willie Nelson. That's endorsement enough for me.
"You can't do better than perfect, so we'll call this good enough"
Great😄
I just bought my first Martin guitar and it's similar to this one. It's a 2015 HD28V. It's so nice to watch a pro at work! Here I am at 60 yrs old retired and thinking, "I think I'd like to do this kind of work!" You're a pleasure to watch, sir! 😊 Thanks for posting!
LORD HAVE MERCY,,,,,, I was a auto mechanic for almost 30 years and had to quit cause my hands would
start cramping up so bad that I could not hold the wrenches anymore. Been retired for 20 years and I have
to tell you ,,,,, WATCHING this made my hands started cramping up like they did 20 years ago......
Can't do anything anymore that require that kind of hand work..... Well done sir. I am 70 just in case you are
wondering.
I'm a longtime woodworker, but have never done anything like you do! I appreciate craftsmen like you so much!
A very fine example to use for a "real world" bridge repair instructional!! Watching this brought back memories of my very first repair 47 years past. I was young and broke with dreams of building and repairing. I needed to make a saddle after a bridge repair but had no access to materials. I thought deer antler might work so I hit my cousin up for the only piece he had which was very small. I spent an hour just mapping out a cut to yield a blank of hard material just barely long enough to make a saddle. My only tools were a small $5 vise, a coping saw, a file, a 6" machinist rule, and some sandpaper. My workspace was a coffee table. Working slowly and carefully with the sheer desire for a professional result it came out perfectly by anyone's standard!!! I was able to relive the experience by watching your video!! Thank you so much!!!
At 48:21 in the video, maybe I'm wrong, but it appears there is either glue, finish chipped out or bare wood exposed at the back of the bridge. I certainly appreciate the advanced level of craftsmanship required for this project (having had neck resets and bridge removals on my Martins over the years), but I would not be satisfied if my guitar was delivered back to me in this condition. If I am wrong about what I think I see in the video, I apologize for the negative feedback.
I was surprised to see that as well. I went back to the beginning of the video to confirm that it was not there to start. Unfortunate.
I'm sorry to say I have to agree. And sanding using the guitar body for support is just not worth the risk, no matter how much pressure is applied. I really enjoyed the banter but....
Good point, at 27:10 we see the glued bridge and it looks fine. At 36:00 we see it again and the spruce near the bridge looks completely different and he never explains this. My guess is the bridge came loose after he drilled it at 27:24 (which I was shocked by, and the amount of wood the drill bit brought out). He should have never drilled the bridge with that bit after gluing it to the top (wtf?), just use the reamer to carefully clear the holes. My advice to all instrument/music lovers, never try to "save money" on a repair. Take it to the best and be prepared to pay. Also, if you are pulling out a glued-in bridge, pull it from the center not the end. Would also like to know the year of the guitar or did I miss it? A good bridge repair video that uses some different techniques:
th-cam.com/video/wZExe86TxLs/w-d-xo.html
got on this by accident, but watched the whole video anyway. i love watching people with a passion for what they do.
Thanks for your efforts to show us your repair techniques. I have learned a few things and had a lot of fun watching. God Bless you. Much love.
Sir, I can't play anything except the radio but I thoroughly enjoyed watching your repair. You obviously know what you are doing. Your friend is lucky to have such a friend!
Hyde glue for ALL repair work...a retired trained luthier who takes pleasure in watching folks do what I did for 30 yrs...and am both entertained and in shock..you do a good job..I have done that bridge removal many times..and fixed many turnaways from fraudsters with no pedigree or training..from ukelele to geetars and violins and violas and cellos and double basses etc..repair and restoration..award winner for a violin I made in 1988...and travelled the world as a luthier teacher and performer..now I play for seniors..in siberia alberta kanada..
Are there downsides to using "liquid hide glue" ?
@@jonandersonmd7994 not in authentic wood repair...because of it's efficacy and age resistance..proven for centuries..the techno chemicals destroy natural elements..God hates anti hyde glue flateartherz..
Love watching Jerry work and hearing his various wisdom on instrument repair, life, etc. He's the kind of guy you wish was your neighbor.
thanks for the mention ole buddy I owe ya a few once I get back into making videos steady again. nice work on this guitar!
I currently make a living as a carpenter. Watching Jerry makes me want to get a job at Martin guitars. Why not? I live in PA not too far from the factory in Nazerth.
It's the times we're living in. Better to do it yourself, after watching Rosa String Works for the necessary instructions on how to do it the right way, even including how to string up a Martin.
So much for Martin's lifetime warranty and also their quality control.
That crossed my mind also. They took fine care of my wife's 82 HD28. I can only guess that this is not the original owner. The warranty covers the original owner, and is not transferable.
@@noisefuljoy yup. I love used Martins that have been taken care of. No warranty though!!
@@noisefuljoy Sounded to me like the wouldn't even do the work for money, though.
If you're not in US your lifetime guarantee turns to 1 year. I've had to take my Martin for major surgery as it basically folded in two. Had to remove the neck and shave down the heel to be able to get the action down the neck was so out of true. Then again about a year later. Only one of these repairs was covered under guarantee. Martin are living on past reputation
@@Simbosan dang man. What gauge strings did you have on it?
I have been playing (and stringing) guitars for over 55 years and you just taught me a new way to string them that looks easier than the easy way I developed years ago. Thanks.
I'm so happy you worked on this. It goes to show real men of craftsmanship don't say no ... Shame on you Martin guitars. ❤
I'm genuinely confused why any repairer would turn this job down.
Seems like a pretty standard bridge replacement to me....
There was a longtime luthier in my area that I believe rarely declared any stringed instrument as hopeless. Another luthier that owned a guitar shop barely looked at my dad's treasured (but not rare) guitar. As a kid I fiddled withe the truss rod not knowing what it was. The 1940'sh guitar neck was very bowed. Mr. Bowman repaired that guitar AND two other violins. Thankyou for repairing such sentimental treasures. My dad and his friends played string band music for barn dances.
“I’m [glued] all over again.”
Thank you for sharing your time to do this repair for your friend. This was a great repair to witness.
The best bridge reset method I've seen on TH-cam hands down,I totally agree with Jerry on his take on the glue squeezeout, if all that excess glue stayed Trapped under the bridge it creates microscopic air pockets therefore weakening the joint, all your trying to do is fill in the pores of the wood on both surfaces and leave just enough adhesive in between to create the bond.
not to mention excess glue muffles the tone and volume
I can't play a note but as a teenager my closet friend owned a martin built in 1933 this was early 70s in past 50 years I've yet to hear another guitar that had such a Rich and perfect sound actually it's hard to put in to words. He is dead and gone no idea where guitar is but that one guitar made me hit on this video 60 years later
I’m a luthier in Maryland. I’ve encountered very similar situations, and have learned that Martin will hand out their “Authorized” designations to any schmoe that comes along. And the “Martin Authorized” shops in this area are absolute hacks. I’ve re-repaired so many “authorized” repairs, I’ve completely lost track. HACKS.
that explains alot, thank you.
The fact that so many need repaired in the first place tells you all you need to know about manufacturer. I would never own one.
I live in the desert southwest. The humidity can be really low here. Listening to your comments and doing my own research, I've started running a humidifier to help keep the relative humidity at about 40% in the room where I keep by instruments. Per the charts this should be about 7% moisture content in wood. This is also in the range where humans are comfortable. I've also noticed my skin has not been as dry since I started using the humidifier. Thank you for making me less ignorant. :)
I love the boldness of your strategy juxtaposed with your polite humility. Your string winding was marvelous and a reminder of what skills are lost to retirement if they are not shared. Thank you.
The first thing that a person needs in this kind of work is unwavering confidence. The suspense is killing me.
You do great work on your repairs. Hate to see them coming to and end.
The factory glue job was faulty and Martin should have done this under warranty.
Good on you for doing what Martin Authorized Repair People would not do.
I had an instinctive thought indicating those who refused repair were not confident about their ability to repair ... 😮
As a aircraft assembly mechanic that sound of that “snick” of that bone saddle into the bridge was music to my ears. Great craftsmanship and I agree with sneaking up on perfect
Two shops authorized for Martin that couldn't take a bridge off and glue it back, sickening. I would never do business with them for anything and let everyone know it. Even my sorry butt can do it, I learned from the Master, you Jerry. Nice work as always, and as many times I've seen you do it, it never gets old. Now close that shop and enjoy your hiatus.
I have no idea how they would even call themselves luthiers when they cant even unglue a bridge!
After watching you pry like a maniac and tear spruce out of the soundboard I don’t think I’d ever let you work on even a plywood guitar of mine.
A true craftsman! What a pleasure watching you work!
I know nothing about guitars - I can't even play one. However, it has been a joy to watch you repair this guitar, step by step, with such precision and care and expertise. Like all great craftsmen, you make the difficult look easy!
That’s a man who absolutely knows his craft. My first time watching your channel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You’ve certainly earned my subscription.
He's an amateur
Do tell, professor.
Never heard a Martin as great as my Lowden.
Jerry has more patience than anyone I've ever seen. I've got a Martin OM-28V and every time I've ever taken it in asking about any work on it they look at the guitar and especially the through cut bridge and say "everything looks fine". 😄
Sir, you are a master craftsman and a gifted teacher. I am a recently retired general surgeon and watching you repair that Martin reminds me of how I used to approach things in the O.R. You never knew exactly what you were going to run into and no two patients are alike. Sometimes you just draw upon experience and logic to find the best technique for the job at hand, all the while trying not to let perfection be the enemy of good. I own a D-28 which has lost its pick guard (another common problem with Martins, or so I’m told). I live about 4 miles from the ocean in LA so the humidity tends to be consistently on the higher end of the scale but at least it doesn’t fluctuate much. Perhaps that’s why the finish hasn’t cracked on mine. At any rate, I’ll be taking it back to the shop where my dear old dad bought it as a birthday gift for me back in ‘74 for repair (Westwood Music). Incidentally, I will be adopting your stringing technique in the future. That alone was worth the time to watch the video. I have subscribed and I’m sure you’ll get to 100K in no time. By the way, your daughter-in-law’s singing is just fantastic. I enjoyed the sound track as much as the video. Take care my friend.
No one cares about surgeons. lol Write a book.
@@foobarmaximus3506 They care a lot when they're about to go under the knife.
At the start I thought, "Geez! He's talkin' his head off!" But by the time he got to bridge removal, I realized, by golly, this is VERY good step-by-step instruction (and just as important, the rationale for each process)! I've never replaced a bridge, but I'm confident I could view this piece a couple of times and view it as I followed go-stop to do the job. Thank you, sir!
Took possession of an 1976 D28 bridge came off, gluing it over the varnish at the factory didn't help. Stew Mac to the rescue I fitted it myself, plays like a dream.
Ive been a wood worker now for ohh 45yrs. A musician for 40. And a string player for 35 of those years. Slowly gathering the tools and what l THOUGHT were the skills necessary to become a luthier.
Little did l realize that once l took the leap that my most used tools would end up being my small community's entire supply of one sided safety razor blades and my giant pickle jar full of old bits of partially used sandpaper.
All those years.... I had everything l needed right there at my fingertips.
Except for clamps. Still buying clamps of every size, shape and construction.
Otherwise I'll bet l do a solid 50% of my work with a friggin razor blade!
I find it fascinating to watch you work and educate people with your decades of expertise. Most factory authorized repair centers only want the easy money jobs and anything that takes a lot of time and knowledge they pass on. Another job well done sir!
Wonderful down home skills and based on the teaser ending - I wouldn't mind just hearing you play. Fifty / sixty years ago I had some of the best guitar players come to various folk clubs that were very popular for a while in England. Cheers Jerry - I'll be back!
Very nice. Greetings from Cologne-Germany 👍🏼 🎸
I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos. You are a talented Craftsman!
This was amazing to watch. Very sadly, true Craftsmen like yourself are a rarity these days. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been playing Martin’s for 55 years and I’ve never found a saddle glued in. 😎
I couldn’t play Pop Goes the Weasel on a thousand dollar bet but I love watching you make the mechanical make the art of the music. I enjoyed this one. 🤠 🎶 🎸
it was fun watching you do this scary repair. Before I took a luthier's course I had a bridge split due to a poorly installed undersaddle pick up (done by a certified luthier). I talked to Jean Larrivee on the phone and he told me to remove the bridge and send it too him and he would make me a copy. He told me that to remove the bridge, I was to use no heat, and to match up a block of hard would with the north side of the bridge and with a large wooden mallet to strike the block with one good hard blow (swinging south toward the tail of the guitar of course) and that that should remove the bridge, and that there might be some chip out to deal with but it should be mostly good. It worked. YIKES! then he sent me the new bridge with all the old chip pieces. ( I live in the middle of now where so that's why I was doing it myself. and I wanted to learn). I had no bridge clamps so I made some blocks to support the bridge plate, cut sacrificial chop sticks for the pin holes, glued up and placed the bridge where it goes with the chopsticks firmly holding things in place, placed the guitar in it's case, forced the lid closed, and got something heavy to rest on the top of the guitar case and left it together for a couple of days. I had lots of squeeze out that was hard to clean up but here we are, 40 years later and the bridge has never lifted, the guitar has had a very active life always getting play'd hard with 13 gauge strings and is still my number one. (it's one of the earliest Dreadnaught style Larrivees)
Thanks for your vid. It was very fun to watch.
Jerry, it's a joy to watch a real craftsman at work. Thanks for a great video!
Just a bit of advice from someone that delaminates on a daily basis. Heating this adhesive and working with a single spatula is almost futile in that, the adhesive simply re-adheres when you pull the blade. Work just one small section at a time leaving the blade inserted. Then move on with another blade leaving it inserted and just repeat the process until you get to the end. At this point and if it hasn't already broken lose, simply heat the entire saddle and lift all at one time. Anyways, very nice. Great job.....
Sounds like good advice
Anyway, anyways is not a word.
@@PatHaskell Of course it's not. However, it is a nixinym. As so defined, we (as consumers of "all be it" language) find it perfectly acceptable to inject herein.
It's a real joy to watch a real professional upon whom I give the title "artist"....a true artist. Work was well explained as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'll never be a luthier nor will I do more than change strings but I still very much appreciate your talent.
He's an amazing artist/technician. A truly remarkable man. His forethought, patience and execution are true gifts. Nice goin Jerry!
He tried to remove the bridge with a pair of wire clippers. duh
Lol cries all the way to the bank
Amazing,this guitar is better now after repair, than it was new made!
Your daughter in law sounds great and the song has a great hook.
I've been a carpenter for a half century, and I learned a few things in this video. Thanks.
For the price of Martin guitars you would NOT expect faulty workmanship , surprised me to see bridge not stuck properly . Good job BTW.
Pulled bridges on Martin guitars is actually more common than you think. I’m a luthier in Maryland, and I repair quite a few Martin (and Taylor) bridges each year. I’ve lost track how many.
You'd also be surprised how many Martins and Taylors are foreign counterfeits that are so close it takes a real expert to spot the fake.
This is a cheaper import model, not one of their American handcrafted ones! You get what you pay for!
@@werewolflover8636 an HD-28V is NOT a cheap import. It’s a high end vintage style D-28 with scalloped forward shifted braces and a 1-3/4” nut and modified V neck. Handmade in Nazareth PA.
Handmade products are going to be less “perfect” than machine built regardless.
@@redalaska I didn't know Martin even made such a thing. A hard V neck huh? Cool. Does Martin have a custom shop or some equivalent? Yea I can't imagine this thing was "cheap" lol!
I use to tell my band mates that i could change a busted string in under a minute, well that just might be true now after watching you do it. Thanks for the great video. Subscribed.
I am no Luther! But once I had a nice vintage Guild guitar that needed a bridge reglued and I was broke and did not have deep throated clamps. So I fell back on my boat building skills and 'vacuum bag' clamped the bridge reglue job :)
Beautiful work as usual, you describe perfectly how and why you do what you do, a very good teacher. A volume of knowledge for generations to come. Like an encyclopaedia.
Impeccable job Sir! I've stumbled upon this video just by chance. Got captivated the first second so I sat the whole thing through. Shame on those authorized shops for letting your friend down. "Polite applause" is yours! 😊
You’re exactly right about Elixirs. And I’m definitely trying that string winding technique.
Awesome work for an accomplished luthier!
I love your attention to detail when making and fitting the saddle. Bravo on the entire repair!
Hi Jerry, can I just say how much I enjoy watching you work on instruments, you are very knowledgeable and explain how, why, and what for with all you do, keep the good work up, regards from Steve Young, Hull, UK
In my younger years I played in a band and was roommates with a guy who became a quite famous luthier. I'm pretty handy with tools of all sorts, as well as being a musician. If I'd been smart at that age, I might have paid more attention as he and his partner rose to fame with their well-known creations. But, I was preoccupied with my own crazy world. It's possible that I could have learned awesome things, from building to pickup design. Life is funny. You look back sometimes and say, "Hey, I've had six careers." I love this video. I've watched it twice. I am in a business where I always need to be making decisions about how to make things work, and I appreciate anyone who can find solutions, especially in situations where sensitive equipment is at stake, LIKE WITH BEAUTIFUL GUITARS!
Watching your videos is therapeutic, a master in his craft . Awesome work Jerry. Greetings from Allentown Pennsylvania.
Looks like a major guitar brand is now using your bridge pin mod as a feature. Ibanez AE275 uses it and even markets the design as part of their promotion. It's nice to see some of the mods you do becoming mainstream among major manufacturers.
The technique you did for putting the strings on the peg is a neat way that I'm wanting to use on the next set for my acoustic guitar. Excellent tip !!!
Hailing from Seattle, WA. This well done video is representation of brilliant craftsmanship and quality repair. Thank you for sharing!
love older craftsman showing these young bucks how to do it
When I was a youngster a little shop in town had a "fake shop" list. They where very discreet about it (they didn't advertise having it u just had to know, and u had to ask the right guy there), but if a shop advertised as being "such and such authorized" and turned down a job, they made the list.
If you pay nice coin for a nice instrument, there's no reason to be turned down at a shop "authorized" to repair your particular instrument.
As a non- guitar playing person I enjoy your channel because you explain why you do the different things when repairing a guitar. Keep the great videos coming.
I don't know boo about guitars, but watching a true craftsman overhaul this instrument is very satisfying.
I have a certified Martin repair group in my town and they could not fix a friends guitar. They charged him $60 just to look at it. It was a Framus Mayfield and it apparently was dropped at a different music store (sold for $1700, was $3500 new) and really cracked the lower bout/lower part of soundboard and back. I fixed it and didn’t charge him anything hoping he talks to the luthiers. I am not a luthier, I consider myself a guitar builder and have learned to fix many of my own mistakes and learned from other woodworkers. Amazing how the Martin people think they are the best when they can’t do intermediate repairs like this. Good job fixing this HD28!
Thank you for showing this excellent nowhow. I just love experience and real craftmanship. I am not in guitar business or anything but I just love this. My dad played jazz bass from the -50´s here in Sweden until a year ago. He also played with Ella Fitzgerald when she visited here. That was of topic but I just love great work. Tank you for exist.
Wow! Great job Jerry!Love watching a real artisan at work!!
It's like visiting a sausage making factory. The process is scary to look at but the end result is great...... If you like sausage.
Loved watching this master Luthier do his thing. I could almost smell the wood and glue.
Your work is just as much of an art as anything Hendrix or clapton ever did. Fun watching you work.
Beautiful work as always Jerry, my poor old Martin sure could use that experience and expertise, just have to figure out how to get myself out West!! Enjoy your time off, see you soon.
Jerry, as always great job, I hope you are enjoying your retirement.
Aaah, craftsmanship, experience, and passion in harmony, a joy to behold.
Great to see a real craftsman. I can't get over how much your voice sounds like the character Brooks from The Shawshank Redemption.
Muy buen trabajo, y con herramientas hechas a mano, lo cual tiene aún más mérito. Enhorabuena y muchas gracias por compartir su pasión por la guitarra
You are extraordinary! It is enjoyable watching you work on these guitars. Best wishes.
He knows his craft indeed. I love it he’s the Red Green of Luthiers. 😃
"I hate to stick the knife in from the front ..."
Mafia guy: "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! " 😂
Excellent work Jerry. Your skills and techniques will be in use probably years after you're gone. You are the best because of your attention to detail. This separates the men from the boys. I see you are trying to slowdown and enjoy a retirement as allowed and well deserved. Thanks for all the years of detailed explanation. Skills beyond reproach. Best wishes from Idaho.
It's such a pleasure watching you fix a stringed instrument. You are a true craftsman Jerry. Been watching you for a couple of years now and everytime I watched you fix a guitar or a mandolin, you have nailed it perfectly. It seems like you haven't really retired from it yet, even though I think I remember you saying you were gonna retire. You're son looks like he is going to be a good craftsman too. I have a 1971 Epiphone 12 string a friend of mine gave me about 35 yrs ago that his mother put in the attic next to a radiator for a yr and the pull of the strings with the hot and cold temps folded it and broke the neck block in two and folded the top so the laminated pieces of the top seperated. Really don't know what to do with it but it still sits in the closet. Are you interested? Haha. Maybe you got a video for something like that in your collection. Anyhow love your work.
For the record I have not retired I am just on a hiatus for a few months working on farm projects
@@RosaStringWorks Well I am glad to hear you are not retired, but try not to work too hard on your hiatus. Find time to relax and enjoy a beer or cocktail. I am going to make a video of my broken 12 string but it might not be worth paying the price to repair it, which would probably be more than what the guitar is worth. Enjoy your hiatus buddy.
I have a 12 string that did the same thing, the top has wrinkled at the base of the neck. Of course the neck has lifted to where I quit using it. Good luck.
Love to watch the old bucks with the craftsmanship!
Great video. I picked up some important knowledge from you, thanks. You’ve inspired me to start a new (part time) career as a luthier in a local music store, fixing bowed instruments.
I really enjoyed your video. Your calm demeanor and your plan of attack for the repair was spot on! Too many times people want the quick fix, as in I'll slap a set of new strings on it and call it a day. You proved that with a little effort and thought about what actually was wrong with the guitar you had to go beyond the "quick fix". It was a pleasure to watch your craftmanship in action. The results speak for themselves.
ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE FINEST LUTHIERS A REAL PRIVILEGE AND TO WATCH YOU WORK AND learn from your great years of experience and your hands perform miracles very gifted Rosa string works
I had this beautifull green sunburst like guitar. It was very light but after a while the bridge came loose. Wel actually it didnt came loose, it ripped the wood apart. I turned it in and got it back totally black with two giant screws sticking out of the bridge on the inside. It looks all bumpy where the damage has been. I could cry I can tell you that. I wish I had known Jerry at that time.
A very interesting and rewarding trade you have mastered. I'm a guitar player but love seeing the build of hand made guitars, troubleshooting and approaches to doing the repair. This was a great learning hour and I also learned a easier way to restring. Thank you!
I will start by saying that I don't play a stringed instrument. That being said, I have learned a lot about guitars watching you. As my mother often said, "who would have thunk that so much went into making something like that...". Thank you for showing us that you don't have to muscle things but approach woodworking with little finesse and ease into the final product. I really enjoy watching your videos.
Well .. my first time watching a video from this creator. Im a fan now. Wouldn't it be great to apprentice with this guy! Someone absolutely needs to. This knowledge needs (MUST) continue.
Sir, if you do not yet have an apprentice, please consider taking one on.
2 hours? that's all??? wow man! doing that bone bridge would have taken me a day at least LOL thanks!
Hello Jerry, another great video on repair and another lesson learned about string winding. My experience with Martin guitars goes back to 1969 when I bought my first one, a used D-18. Like most acoustics, it suffered from hi sting action and probably needed a neck reset. But back in those days no one was doing that. Instead, a friend and all-around handyman wacked the bridge off with a chisel, sanded it down and reglued It.
Since then I’ve had a number of Martins and the factory has changed their approach to what they cover under their “Lifetime warranty.” My D-45 bought new in 1986 had a couple of issues, mostly string height. Most recently it went back to Martin in Nazareth for loose binding but ended up with much more, most of which was not covered by warranty. The top was severely bowed behind the bridge and depressed under the fingerboard extension. The fix was a wedge under the fingerboard and a new bridge. The tech who worked on the guitar said he had a real problem getting the top to flatten out. After almost 40 years of ownership I finally decided to let it go.
Keep up the great work. Really wish you were closer so I could visit.
Mac in Delaware
You are so right, Martin used to care about customers, not so much these days.
A
I’m
Amazingly patient and steady! I have not done any guitar repair and have wondered how one replaces the bridge and the many improvements you made! Thank you for being so clear with each step and the many 'adjustments' you made on that herringbone D28. I'm sure the owner really appreciated your artistry, I know I would be. Martin drives a very hard bargain on warranty issues. I had a curling pick guard on my D35 from 1975, but when I complained using online media, and they read my story, they came around in a hurry. Wonderful video and a pleasant one to watch. Thanks