Guitar body in its mould at a luthier’s workshop

Repair & Restoration

Repair Services

America’s most respected repair shops share one principle: less change is more. Every job here is designed to preserve the instrument’s original character and value.

Philosophy

What repair means

Guitar repair is not simply fixing what is broken. Wood is alive; over decades it moves in response to string tension and humidity. A sinking neck angle, a lifting bridge, a crack in the top — these are not failures but the marks of time.

A repair engineer reads that movement and returns the instrument to the state it was designed for. A setup fits the guitar to the player’s hands; structural repair extends its life to the next generation. On vintage instruments we respect the original materials and adhesives (hide glue among them) and choose reversible methods wherever possible.

Official Martin repair follows the standards of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania factory: genuine parts, model-specific specifications and warranty policy, so that the instrument’s value is preserved after the work.

Setup & Playability

The first job: fitting the guitar to your hands

Action, truss-rod relief, nut height and intonation adjusted to the way you play. Every structural repair ends with a final setup.

Standard setupTruss rod, saddle and nut adjustment, intonation, cleaning, fresh stringsPriceOn requestTurnaroundSame day – 1 week
12-string / classical setupFine adjustment for complex tension structuresPriceOn requestTurnaround1 week
Humidity diagnosis & care consultationStorage check, top-deflection measurement, care guidePriceFree consultationTurnaround—

Fretwork

Buzz and intonation, solved at the root

Level, crown and polish; partial replacement; full refret. The method depends on fingerboard condition and binding.

Fret level, crown & polishIncludes setup. Stainless frets availablePriceOn requestTurnaround1–2 weeks
Full refretQuoted by fingerboard: rosewood/ebony, bound, or maplePriceOn requestTurnaround3–5 weeks
Vintage compression refretFor vintage necks that need relief correctionPriceOn requestTurnaround4–6 weeks

Nut & Saddle

The two points where sound begins

Hand-cut bone nuts and saddles, compensated saddles, string spacing.

Bone nutSlotting, height, spacing; setup includedPriceOn requestTurnaround1 week
Compensated saddleIntonation correction; under-saddle pickup compatiblePriceOn requestTurnaround1 week

Bridge & Structural Repair

Protecting the heart of an acoustic guitar

Bridge reglue and replacement, bridge-plate repair, cleated crack repair on top, back and sides, brace reglues.

Bridge reglueOld glue removed, mating surfaces fitted, saddle checkedPriceOn requestTurnaround2–3 weeks
Bridge plate repair / replacementWorn pin holes, cracked platesPriceOn requestTurnaround3–4 weeks
Crack repair (top · side · back)Cleated; finish touch-up where neededPriceOn requestTurnaround2–4 weeks
Brace reglueInspected with mirrors and camera before workPriceOn requestTurnaround1–2 weeks

Neck Reset

The biggest operation, the biggest recovery

Dovetail joint separated, neck angle reset, fingerboard extension refitted, reglued and fully set up. A decades-old Martin regains its original action and ring.

Neck reset (dovetail)Includes fret level and setup; extra work depending on finishPriceOn requestTurnaround6–10 weeks
Neck reset (bolt-on / modern joint)For recent models with modern jointsPriceOn requestTurnaround2–3 weeks

Electronics

Your sound on stage

Acoustic pickup installation (under-saddle, soundhole, contact), preamp replacement, endpin jack repair, noise diagnosis.

Acoustic pickup installationSaddle fitting and endpin jack includedPriceOn requestTurnaround1–2 weeks
Electronics diagnosis & repairBad contacts, noise, battery boxesPriceOn requestTurnaround1 week

Headstock & Finish

After the accident, back to the stage

Headstock break repair and reinforcement, finish touch-up, binding reglue.

Headstock break repairStaged estimate by condition; splines where neededPriceOn requestTurnaround3–6 weeks
Finish touch-upMatched to the original finish, nitrocellulose lacquer includedPriceOn requestTurnaround2–4 weeks
Binding reglueShrunk or separated binding restoredPriceOn requestTurnaround1–3 weeks

Vintage Restoration

Not turning back time — carrying it forward

Comprehensive restoration of vintage instruments, 1930s–70s Martins among them. Original materials, era-correct parts, reversible adhesives and detailed documentation.

Full assessment & restoration planStructure, finish and hardware reviewed, then a staged proposalPriceOn requestTurnaroundAfter consultation
Era-correct parts replacementBridges, tuners, pickguards to period specificationPriceOn requestTurnaround—

Cost and timeline depend on the instrument’s condition and are confirmed in writing after diagnosis. Diagnosis and consultation are free; parts and strings are extra. Vintage instruments and complex repairs always begin with an in-person consultation.

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Principles

Working principles

Whoever diagnoses, repairs

The engineer who inspects your instrument carries the job from start to finish. It never changes hands.

Minimal intervention

Original materials and structure are preserved wherever possible. If a reversible method exists, that is the one we choose.

Documented

Before, during and after photographs are kept and shared on request. They become part of the instrument’s history.

Honest timelines

Current queue and expected turnaround are stated up front. Tell us about tight schedules during consultation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Acoustic, classical and electric fretted instruments are all welcome. Official Martin warranty work applies to Martin instruments only.