I also have a 1935 Martin 0-18K and am amazed at the tone of this Koa guitar. What it arrived I brought it to my luthier in Seoul and he was amazed at the tone. So much so that he mapped the internal bracing because he thought that there must be something special there. After mapping the bracing, he found that it was the standard bracing of the era. He decided the wonderful tone had to be due to the age of the Koa wood and the hide glue construction. These are truly amazing guitars!
Watching you do this work has really enlightened me. I used to fear doing this kind of work. Now I wouldn’t think twice (about sending you the guitar).
When a friend of mine won an Emmy award (she actually won the following year also), she called me over to help assemble it. When you win the award, it has a blank base. The engraved base comes later in the mail. The only way to remove and install the base is to take a razor blade to cut a small hole in the felt underneath so that you can get a tool through the felt base to remove the nut holding the base in place. When I told her "I have to take a razor blade to your Emmy award" she understood, but I could tell was a little freaked about it. Seeing you take an iron to this guitar kinda reminded me of that. It's all good.
I cant imagine just how intimidating it must be to repair heirlooms , literally pieces of history. And you do it with poise and confidence. Really cool watching you work
What a wonderful guitar. That sound was amazing. Its been cared for so well and taken to good luthiers. The trick of the alcohol was amazing too. I am learning so much from your channel!
Thank you so much for making these videos. Your process is so well thought out. You are also very honest, with no false pretenses. I am a Violin luthier who plays guitar. I am beginning to venture into guitar repair. At least my own guitars. Your observations are so similar to that used in violin work. There are many variables that have to be accounted for and different approaches used to resolve problems. All of that is influenced by the “do no harm” creed.
I was a little surprised at the tone, it sounds much bigger and fuller than I expected. I’m watching the video on an iPad with some amplified JBL speakers and it really sounded nice. Very impressed with the repairs as well. I have some experience but that fingerboard extension would have been too stressful for me on such a historic instrument. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, the alcohol on the finish ghosting seemed to work very well and it’s nice to understand when to use it.
I have no intention of ever repairing a guitar. I just enjoy watching you work. I do play guitar a little but I would never try anything you do. Just like seeing you repair these beautiful instruments.
Another excellent video. I love your honest, pragmatic approach. It's also great that this instrument is being played, not just on a wall or in a case, kept as an investment.
I have learned so much by watching your videos I felt confident enough to fix the action on a vintage acoustic I purchased some time ago. I was able to identify the root causes of the problems and correct most of them. I am still working on the bridge, but am confident it will come out as good as the other work I have done on the nut and bracing. You are a skilled craftsman, teacher and dare I say a true genius and the only one I know with a doctorate in guitarology. Brilliant!
Amazing sound. All I knew about the Martin 18, was a faded memory from playing one in the 60s, and it was of an incomparable sound. This one's even better.
Hi Tom! I just wanted to say I LOVE your work, and this channel. I’m a subscriber to another luthiery channel that concentrates mainly on building, and electric guitars (Crimson Guitars, if you’re interested!), but watching what you do, coupled with the clear explanations you give for WHY you do what you do gives me the confidence to have a go at my own repairs/adjustments. Obviously, I won’t be starting on anything too valuable…! Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you!
I had a similar problem with the fretboard extension on a 45 yr old Japanese Martin d-35 lookalike & took it to a well known repair tech that told me it couldn’t be straightened and to leave it alone. Being frustrated as hell I brought it home and did almost exactly what you did on this one, not as clean of a job but it worked and returned a 45 year old fretboard extension to perfection. After seeing this video I’m really wanting to do it again like your repair but on another guitar someday. Great video really enjoyed it!
You are very very good at what you do. Repairmen that are true craftsmen like yourself are becoming more and more rare in the guitar world it seems. Thanks for posting!
I've picked up a few tricks of the trade from you, so here's one of mine: for delicate/smaller fretboards (mandolins, plastic pickguards that extend up), I use a ski-wax iron directly on the frets, and shop towel on the guitar body with a sheet of aluminum foil over the towel for heat dispersion. The ski wax iron has a smaller and narrower surface area and even at full rip it isn't as hot as a a clothing iron.
I'm a year late finding this but yes, I thought the same thing. More specifically, instantly recognized the sound as a Martin, even through my phone speaker.
Hi there! I appreciate your work and your humble attitude. Thank you for a great channel. This particular guitar reminds me of a Levin 1917 that I have in my poss ession.
I had the very great pleasure (though it was also bittersweet, as my family was attending a memorial service for my wife's uncle) of visiting the Martin factory in Nazareth. I highly recommend that free tour if you are in the area. On the other hand, the trip ended up costing me more than $3,000, because I decided then that I needed an American-made Martin. So I saved for a couple of years and am now the proud owner of a Martin HD-28. I also had at that time a Mexican-made Martin that I used for several years when I used to do bar gigs. I never took the HD-28 to a gig, because it is a whole lot more palatable if an imbiber stumbles into a guitar stand while the band is on break and damages your $450 instrument than one that is 5-6 times that expensive. Great repair job, by the way!
Superb work. Love the sound of it. And the denatured alcohol is quite clever. I'll learn the technique on old cured scrap first, but very nice to hear.
A lefty,I at first thought the saddle was running the wrong direction, but i see now ,thanks for the video, one must be good to be allowed to touch this guitar for repair
I've built a dozen or so "garage build" thin body acoustic electric nylon strung guitars (think Gibson Chet Atkins models). Almost all of mine have had a maple or ebony nut, saddle, or both at one point in time. Switching to bone really does bring out a sharpness that at times isn't what I was going after in the first place. Too bright - to the extent it gives it an overly brittle tone. There's something to be said about a wooden nut/saddle and the warmth it can bring out of your guitar. Thank you for showing this amazing work, sharing your ideas and helping the rest of us do a little better on our own things!
That nut in the original ebony is gorgeous, the owner was quite right to want it redone. You did a real nice job of it, looks beautifully contoured. I have friends that are lefties and would dabble in their upside down world, it's not easy. You play well for a luthier! LOL
I have a 1927 O-18K. It’s had a few repairs and a refinish. I fell in love with the tone the first time I heard it. It’s surprisingly loud. The koa is thin and susceptible to impacts. My impression is that they were originally manufactured as acoustic lap steels.
Man you really know your guitars! I like to think I know a lot about guitars. When I watch your videos, I don't feel that way so much! The O-18k is spectacular!
It sounds incredible and what a craftsman you are bravo!!! I wish we could see a reaction video to the artist playing their instrument fixed for the first time!!!
Hi Ted, I'm a new subscriber, and I'd just like to say that I absolutely love your channel. The commentary is excellent, and I love the little tidbits of industry knowledge. Thank you for sharing :)
I have a 1941 B-18 fitted with an ebony nut. It recently had a refret and the discussion with my luthier led to shimming the nut rather than replacing. It's only original once.
Subscribed a while ago, but I just clicked the "bell", so hopefully I won't miss any of your uploads. You know what you're doing, mate, and you make a good video.
It is so obvious watching your videos just how much you love these instruments. You show a lot of respect For the instrument and also for the music that will come out of it. Wonderful stuff!
Amazing work. I took up guitar building and repair in my 50’s. I never would have become a millionaire but I would have loved to choose this as my career beginning in my 20s. Watching your videos ensure this was my calling.
I am building a Fender Mustang copy right now. This will be my first ever guitar build. You inspired me to do it, I've watched every single video of yours at least 3 times :D Wish me good luck, i'm not an experienced woodworker
Great job, I build electric guitars so I always enjoy checking out what skilled acoustic luthiers and repairmen do (when they actually know what they are doing) that is. I've actually learned some cool techniques from you, thank you.
