It's rare these days on You Tube someone so at ease with themselves and what they do and not a narcissist. Thoroughly enjoyable and quite compelling too.
I’m not a luthier, just a guitar player, and am smart enough to know I can’t approach this type of work without screwing something up for lack of training/experience but I sure love watching a true craftsman handle such delicate work. Thanks for posting these.
@@StopFear i agree, i got a $30 guitar, super cheap, the rosette is a badly printed sticker but i really like the body shape and i’m doing a lot of work to make it better. really fun to experiment with stuff like replacing the bridge and the fretboard inlays
Adam Savage brought me here. You won a subscriber and... well, it's hard to describe the pleasure I have to watch your videos. Even for a guy like me who is literally unable to make things correclty using his 10 fingers, you are a real inspiration. Thanks, Adam. Thanks, mister Woodford. (plz excuse my bad english)
Learning to work on old beaters; redirecting the expensive instruments to actual luthiers who know what they're doing. So far bridge repairs and neck resets and I'm not even scratching the surface yet. I have learned so much from Ted's videos, a true craftsman, and have watched and re-watched this video several times , gaining new knowledge each time.
While the work he is doing looks distressing, his bedside manner is so soothing. A real expert with a true passion for his work. This guy is the real deal.
That was quite the masterclass! Thank you fir name-checking Northern Ireland. I live about ten miles away from Newtownards where Avalon still have a factory (I think) and you may be intetested to know that one of my closest friends designed the Lowden headstock logo. None of this has improved my ability as a player though...
@ Mark McCluney- Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Mark. I've been trying to play guitar for over 30 years and I don't have a musical bone in my body! But it's not like I didn't pay a ton of money on private lessons and spent untold amounts of time practicing scales in all sorts of modes. I just suck at playing music!! But I'm OK with sucking at music, because I still enjoy banging around on the different guitars that I own as long as no one else wants to listen to the racket I make.
In 2022, Avalon Guitars are still going strong making superb hand-crafted acoustics. The same company built Lowden Guitars between 1989 and 2003. In my opinion, the Lowden Guitars made within these years are much better than the ones produced since.
I realize I'm late to the party.... however, it is timely for me as I have a guitar that is in desperate need of TLC. It also happens to be a low priced guitar but, for sentimental reasons -- to me only -- I will disregard the cost factor and proceed to have the necessary repairs done. Doing only the math without taking the abstract into consideration would point to a different decision, altogether. I have very expensive guitars which exceed the sane rationalization of how much to pay for an instrument. Those guitars are in a perfect condition as I dote over them incessantly. That said, my old guitar is my oldest friend and no way would I have the heart to allow it to atrophy further and succumb to the consequences of full neglect, a part of me would die, as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills....and, not the least, helping me sort out the emotional part of doing all this work, irrespective of cost. Your words are a blessing to me!
As a luthier I see so many fine but inexpensive guitars neglected because of the price of fixing them and it saddens me, so I buy them and fix them up sometimes--and usually keep them. Your post is beautiful in the sentiments it expresses and I thank you for displaying what I consider the"right" attitude about these lovely instruments.
I've got to say that you have the patience of a saint and the skills of a truly gifted craftsman. You also possess a real and genuine passion for your work, amazing and inspirational. Thank you
Beautiful sounding guitar and amazing work. I’ve been binge watching your channel the past few weeks and am so impressed with your skills, knowledge and ability to clearly express your ideas and thoughts and actions. A master craftsmen at work. Thank you for starting this channel and sharing your knowledge with us. 🙏
When you love a guitar, money isn't too much of an issue, and the work done here has added value in terms of the guitars journey. Amazing work and lovely to see a guitar that's been played so hard!
I love how you explain the guitars voice, like you didn't help recreate the sound, you healed it. I'm really enjoying your work. Can you possibly do a few time lapses sometime? It would be great to see your work.
Hands down the most professional, skilled artist in the field of guitar repair and modifications. Another way to say it is “the fricking guy is good...ok”
You sir are a surgeon. When I saw you take the back off at the guitar I almost out of my chair. But no guts no glory right? I’m working on an old 70s Alverez with a bowed top and bad bridge and of course inside it has broken supports. I’ve learned a lot watching your series please keep up the great work thanks
As a musician myself, albeit keyboards, I can attest to the "this is the one for me" part. That "one" can show up at any time along your journey, at any place, and at literally any price point. However, once you've played that one instrument that fits you perfectly - not talking as much about size here as personality - then grab it quick, get a hardshell case for it, and always make sure you're the person that puts it into the car you yourself are in. That's the only way to be sure.
I have seen a few Avalon guitars but never a Korean one. The cost of repair may of been high vs the resale value of the instrument but I'm glad you fixed it. The owner clearly loves it.
As a player and minimalist repair person, I truly appreciate your videos. I would also add that I have seen many an expensive guitar without a soul, and just as many inexpensive ones that sing.
Just got around to watching this one Ted. As one of those people that fits this criteria, I always believe it’s worth getting the work done, as it’s not always about “a” guitar, it’s often about “this” guitar - just like you’d said. I’ve had my guy drop a few hundred $$ into a $60 1970’s Hondo II (shout out to @overmanguitars!) and it has been worth every penny. I think dropping any guitar off to you for some of these repairs can be similar to leaving the car in for a service. Sometimes it costs an “owie” and sometimes it’s pocket change. However, the car is still on the road and getting you to where you need to go!
I have watched many of your videos and it amazes me each time how you can make a guitar that is beat and busted up look and sound great again. Thanks for what you do keeping these instruments working.
Great approach I admire your process which seems to produce the appropriate series of operational steps that only experience can provide. Many hard lessons learned I’m sure none repeated a very thoughtful craftsman who has exceptional communication skills helping your viewers understand the why and the how. Reinforcing my resolve to limit myself to changing strings and adjusting a truss rod.
You could have made a 2 hour vid showing every bit of what you did and I don't think anyone would have felt it was too long. It's so amazing how comfortable you are doing things like cutting the back off a guitar. Scary as hell for most of us to contemplate doing but fun to watch. Thank you for posting.
I love your videos and really appreciate your skills! I’ve made a few acoustic guitars and have done repairs and set-ups for friends, but would love to continue my skills build. Your videos help a lot with order of work and tips and tricks. Thank you!
it was great to watch you bring this guitar to life, and thanks for what you said about the 'value' the guitar represents to the owner.... reminding me that sometimes things that really matter cannot be measured in dollars.
nice clamps! It just made me think of using all thread, wing nuts w/ washer, heat shrink protector, and floor wedge door stops. Thanks for the inspiration!
i had the same guitar back in 2010, it had a split in the top witch i had fixed, i sold the guitar shortly after the repair, i miss that guitar a lot, it was a beautiful sounding instrument.
I appreciate your patient work to keep the guitars alive and making music. Maybe a tag at the end of the video with the owner playing his refreshed instrument? I wonder on this one especially if the more pronounced sound of the guitar was okay with the player "who didnt find a repkacement he liked better"
I think that guitar was very worth fixing, lovely instrument. I have two gypsy jazz guitars made in the far east and they are superb. I played a manouche guitar made in France and it wasn't £4,000 better! :o) Great video, now to repair my spanish guitar...
The sound, top stiffness and playability would have noticeably changed after these repairs. Risky stuff if the player really liked the way it plays and feels already. A loose brace maybe just what gave it a favourable pulsation?
If you can find an Avalon Silver Series acoustic in great condition then buy it!! They were extremely well built around 20 years ago in the Cort factory in Korea and have solid wood tops with quality laminate back and sides. The Gold series versions have an all solid wood box handcrafted in Northern Ireland (if you've bought one in Europe). The US available version was expertly made in the Czech Republic by Furch Guitars (Stonebridge, to some of you) - If you've been up close to a Furch or Stonebridge, you'll know how superb the are.
Thanks for making these videos. I have binged watched hours of them and your patience and workmanship is outstanding. I particularly am impressed with how you problem solve new issues in a methodical calm way. It inspires me to have a go on a cheaper instrument and use some of your techniques. Thanks for using mm :-)
I remember passing on buying an Avalon dreadnought because of the amount of work in getting it in a presentable condition. There were lots of cigarette burns and belt buckle scratches, and the finish was mostly gone on the neck and bouts. My local luthier looked at the photos I took of the guitar and told me how much it would cost. I showed the photos to a client who I knew was looking for an Avalon but they were unwilling to pay me what the luthier wanted for refinishing it.
Love all your videos and your exceptional level of craftsmanship. My only ‘complaint ‘ is that I wish you would play the instrument more in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ state. I’d really like to get a sense of what changes after the repair and I think that strumming one or two chords just doesn’t give me enough information. I know my ear isn’t as trained as yours, but I’m able to discern tonal changes, etc., if I can hear a little more of its sound over a range of chords, especially up and down the neck. This ‘complaint ‘ in no way is a reflection on your work, just more about my ‘ear’ on the guitar’s tone. Thanks for posting your excellent work.
Beautiful video. I really enjoyed it. Please never stop. I hope you're also passing this knowledge to an apprentice. I mean, there's people that learn from your videos for sure. But I think you're talented enough to think that you have a unique way of doing things that need to cotinue. someone that works like you do, with the same level of passion and care. Don't get me wrong, I'm not killing you lol but i hope you get my point. Your craftsmanship can't stop with you.
Well done! That “cheap” guitar had a beautiful voice when you completed repairs. The players ROI may not measure well in dollars but I think the enjoyment return will be very high.
Can you please explain why guitars are so difficult to open up to work on. Violins, and that whole family of stringed instruments are designed so that they can be taken apart, cracks repaired, cleats attached, etc., but guitars are built like nothing is ever going to go wrong. Why is that? Also, I have noticed that some guitars have sound posts, although most don't. Doesn't the sound post improve the sound a lot? Do you maybe need an arched top? And lastly, can you explain the differences between bridges that are glued onto the top, and those that stretch to the end of the guitar, like on an archtop? Are those of the latter category just held on by string tension, or are they also glued? I love your channel. It is fascinating to see you problem solve.
I'm so glad that I watched this!! I have a guitar that means a lot to me and this is very very close to the same issues. I now realize that I truly need to take it to a pro like yourself, would you be willing to share an estimate of repair price?
Great video! Sometimes it helps to have a yard sale guitar around to try this stuff on first. Buy it for $20, and get $250 of education out of it. And spare parts :)
