This Martin D35 came into the Johnston Guitars and Pickups workshop in a sorry state.
The guitar had dried out, a common ailment in centrally heated homes of today, so the neck was out of shape.
This in turn pulled the bridge up resulting in the top face of the guitar bellying up.
The frets were shot and the binding was hanging off the full length of each side of the neck.
Now the neck has been returned to its correct shape, no easy task on a guitar with no adjustable truss rod, the top face has been returned flat.
These guitars only have a metal rod embedded in the neck with no adjustment so brute force and some heat had to be used to re-shape the neck. The brute force was applied using a jig made up of steel bars, wooden blocks and clamps.
To flatten the top face I first of all had to get some moisture back into the tonewood. This was done initially using some gentle steam (care not to pop the glue joints) and then a trusty well known homeware brand of little plastic box with a few holes punched in the lid, containing a damp sponge, was sealed into the soundbox for a few days before increasing pressure was applied to the top face using clamps to push it back down into shape.
The guitar has also had a full re-fret and the binding re-attached.
Here it is returned to its full glory having also had a good clean up and the neck oiled etc.
New Cost about £2,500.
This one is probably 1980’s so say around £3,000+?
