Hi folks,

well, I was playing a little show this weekend and managed to drop my J-45, resulting in a good 6 inch crack in the top near the lower right corner. I chalk it up to the ever-deadly combination of whiskey and bluegrass music. Really should have stuck with the honky tonk, ya know...

Anyway, it's not the end of the world, but this is a guitar I plan on having for decades to come. So, my question: can anyone recommend a first rate acoustic guitar repair shop in New York City???

HUGE thanks

Matt

hey check it out...

http://www.scipio.com/index.html

Flip Scipio is just about the only guy in NYC that Collings guitars will tell you to take their guitars to. The other option is to find a good luthier out of town and just pack it and ship it. Personally, I would just take it to Flip as he is only a Ferry ride away.

Good Luck!!

Thanks for the tip, Richard! Flip sure does look nice in that pic on his site. I'll definitely keep him in mind in the future.

With something less than an avalanche of responses, I wound up taking it to the shop Gibson recommended -- Peekamoose, on 46th St. (http://www.peekamoose.com/). Hadn't heard of them before. They DO seem to know what they're doing skills-wise, though I wouldn't call it a great experience to deal with them. Let's say there was a certain lack of customer appreciation... like trying to push a $350 fret job on a 2-year old guitar, wanting to charge an extra $70 for a "set-up" (i.e. putting the strings back on...), etc. Anyway, still don't have the guitar back, so will withold a true judgement until that time.

Matt

I'm sorry to hear that. When I originally wrote the response I had a paragraph going on about staying away from anyone at 48th st or Matt Uminov, although a frind has had some good things to say about Rudy's. I just feel those places act more like crooked auto repair shops than a trusted place to bring an instrument. There is a guy in Brooklyn that a lot of the Bluegrass guys take their instruments to who is supposed to be incredible. As I am always on the hunt for a good place to go, I'll check and find out who it is and post it here for you.

I hope it works out, though

I asked around and the guy all the Bluegrass people take their instruments to is named Bob Jones in Brooklyn. I don't have anything but an email address but you might tuck this away for a rainy day.

drfrets@aol.com

How did your repair turn out?

Hey, thanks for the contact, I wil definitely hold on to that. On the repair.... well, it's still not done. I rung them up just shy of a month after I'd dropped it off (I'd been told to expect the repair to take around a month) since I hadn't heard anything. I was met with what seemed to be surprise on the shop's part that I would ask such a question, and was told to expect it "sometime in September." Now, I realize that finish takes time to dry, etc etc, but does this sound remotely reasonable? Or is there some reason they could not predict this in the first place? Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But hey, you learn something new every day....

Matt

Well, if they said it takes a month I suppose I wouldn't expect it in 32 days! I have had truly horrible experiences with luthiers and few great ones. At best they are late, but do a great job. I wouldn't panic until October but I would get a bit concerned the second week of September.

Good Luck