451 RSW 1967 Martin D28 Part 1

[@kenshepherd3119]

I know you put this on KZbin a few years ago but I have had the same problem with my guitar have taken the fretboard off, it dose not have any kind of truss so it's the neck that has bent up, I have clamp the guitar as you have done and have soaked the wood of the neck with water and put some packing under one end, clamped it down in the middle and put heat around it, I have left it for two days, it seems to have worked. Now got to put on a new fretboard, thanks for making your videos a great help to me on repairing a very old broken an out of shape Spanish guitar

[@rickeydenler2385]

400 dollars was a lt of money in 1967.Yes my dad bought a new chevy long wheel base pick up truck in 1965 he paid two thousand 4 hundred and 16 dollars and 14 cents for it. heck you could spend that much in gas in well under a year now days

[@jameslifetimelearner]

Fascinating ! My D28 got neck reset, refret, oversized bridge to correct intonation.pin holes filled and re drilled. It’s re voiced in a good way, more balanced tone, plays better, no more belly,but after 2 years it’s coming un glued ( sigh) we love them more than wives

[@zapa1pnt]

Sounds like your new bridge was glued on top of the finish, instead of scoring and scraping away the finish where the new bridge is larger than the old one.

[@jameslifetimelearner]

@@zapa1pnt yup I can slip a piece of paper under one corner. Also a gap forming under heel as if it wasn’t cut or shimmed properly.damn.

[@zapa1pnt]

@@jameslifetimelearner Well, make sure your friends don't go to That "luthier".

[@jameslifetimelearner]

@@zapa1pnt Flew to DC, drove to bluegrass shop in Maryland,dropped off instrument,drove to Martin factory,waited home for shipment. Now moving to Nevada, planning road trip to Missouri so Caleb can do neck reset while I watch(with earplugs-lawn mowing and planers running)

[@cwilczak8706]

Hey Jerry, I can see why there’s more than one way to skin a neck. LOL. Keep up the good work. Happy Holidays to all at RSW and to all the subscribers out there in digitaland! May your days be happy and bright!

[@donaldholman9070]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@joeh83winston87]

I just love watching your videos it is so refreshing to actually watch somebody that knows what they're doing I enjoyed tinkering around with my instruments but I don't have anywhere near the skill level that you do thank you so much for the wonderful content

[@caesarillion]

My little girlfriend trashed the door nob set and door on my extra room. Coffee. Watching Jerry inspired me to glue and clamp and now it works like new. Thanks Jer!!! Thailand Paul

[@zapa1pnt]

Your "little" girlfriend sounds pretty tough. Keep her happy. 😆😍🥰

[@philhoward8745]

Excellent video Jerry. Thanks for sharing

[@perihelion7798]

Gosh, that old Martin sounded really clear and resonate! Certainly worth fixing and keeping.

[@freddyjholst60]

Jerry my great friend. BOY JERRY HOW RELATE TO YOUR BODY bracken down over years of busting butt.I had a custom electric guitar business and cancer hit. Took me down fast.Praise GOD FOR GETTING ME THROUGH IT. Now started a box guitar business. My own pace.Snail mode.lol I as you have tried all types of over the coffee.opps or counter. I had docs from John Hopkins saw me and warned me of options. After a year of praying. And wifes input. Was forced to take pain meds. Well... it gave me my life back. Don't like some side effects but have all I want. Playfully went into it. So I've learned new limits and boundries.I can use my creative mind to create my passion once again Jerry. I watch you every day. While I work. At night in my attic. And build my creative guitars and satisfied. Love seeing smile son old customers play and tell me..woo Freddyj you still have that spunk and mojo

[@freddyjholst60]

Like your return comments buddy. Wisdom come with a cost.

[@freddyjholst60]

😋

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

The master class here, my friends acoustics have the same problem with the neck ,i dropped the saddle as much as i could but , didn't cure it completely

[@briankientz2926]

Hello from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Merry Christmas everyone! Good engineering Jerry...

[@dennisyounkin644]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and Your Family also!!

[@randallparker8477]

I found a D28 in a pawn shop and put a $ 100 bill down on it, in case the pawn expired. I honestly forgot about it being in the Navy and at sea a lot. 5 or 6 months later my roommate reminded me and we went in. The old lady that ran the place had put it back for me... her late husband was a retired 30 year Navy Master Chief . I asked her how much do I owe you, she said $ 200 more. I didn't have any mad money for 2 months after that. That was in 1973. It had some problems in the neck, a little twist and some back bow. I played it for about 10 years and sold it to buy a brand new Toyota van as a $1850 down. 5 kids in the house. I loved that old box, but an investment well worth the troubles. The 1982 van was still running in 2018 with 350,000 miles when totaled in a fire.

[@nicolen.9642]

Removing the fretboard is very tricky. I admire your skills...when I think I'm so leery just changing my strings LOL (one broken last time...)...thanks Jerry for sharing this TLC... caring is the best! 🎶🎶🎶

[@MrDparker69]

Great video again Jerry. Nice to see the fantastic Willie Nelson signature on it.

[@kevinbrooks1104]

Haven't watched in a while but I wanted to let you know I miss you watched one with the new kid he is good but really is not a teacher like you are thank you kev

[@andymoss3132]

Necessity is mother of all inventions. Not sure who quoted it first, but that's some fine work Mr. Jerry 👌 👍 👏

[@63vetteman]

Nice job Doc, watching you work is akin to comparing a neurosurgeon to a blacksmith!! Anxiously await this to come back to life!! Thx

[@letzrockitrite8469]

Spring back % guess: 50% ........ any other guessers out there? As always Jerry... beautifully done..... love the neck straightening jig !! ty for sharing your talents

[@zankyalbo2208]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the Rosa's extended family.

[@donaldfisher8556]

Really Jerry! You stopped the video just when the suspense is at the highest; it's like a cliff hanger. Just a super video. Thank you so much for taking the time to show us all those little details. Just super.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Watching a master at work.....i have no doubt that this guitar will be awesome when you're done with it!

[@jeffrey3498]

I find it funny how you express doubt in the beginning of a repair but the results always turn out superb. 😃👍

[@handiman5]

It's like I'm watching a medical surgeon at his work! Good job Jerry! thanks.

[@bldallas]

Man, I learn SO much from your videos, Jerry. I had no idea Martin didn’t use adjustable truss rods until the 80s. That’s freaking crazy. I’ve owned several Martins; they are my all time favorite acoustic guitar make. Currently, I have a D18E Retro and a Little Martin). I also own two 1970s Takamine lawsuit guitars. My first, bought new when I was in middle school, is an F-360, which is a D-28 clone (also have a ‘78 D-18 clone). I’ve dragged that F-360 all over the country and it also survived 5 years of college. It still sounds/plays amazing, with non of the issues this real-deal had; annnnnd it has an adjustable truss rod that works!

[@richardjackson1745]

You are incredible! Nuff said.

[@edminer3421]

Fascinating rescue repair. Love the springing of the neck

[@Ks-zz9lh]

Just discovered your channel. Each video is like a little adventure. Love it! Keep them coming.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

thank you Jerry another great job well done !

[@mysteritmodk9572]

Love your videos! Simple as that! Now I can’t wait for the follow-up!

[@keninnis1]

Nice idea...I believe I`ve seen it done similar to this but not as simple as you did it...Way to go...

[@jthonn]

Jerry you are the man! You can tell the experience of coming up with the "plan" of what to do. I understand why the customer wants the original bridge on it, but under the circumstances, the bridge plate had to be changed, that does take away from originality anyway, so IMO I would rather have Jerry make a nice bridge. That guitar is worth some bucks because of the autografts anyway.

[@FXSTB13]

You mentioned the "Tiny Bridge Plate"...and yes they were small in Martin's up to 1967 but also the small maple original bridge plates are also the most desirable for collectors...Once the bridge plates got larger they are less desirable.

[@capohd28]

I’m also convinced that a large bridge plate affects the sound negatively. I have a 2018 reimagined D-41, and it has a small bridge plate, and is the best sounding, loudest guitar I have ever played. If I have to replace the bridge plate after 30 years or more, so be it.

[@Chalmersguitars]

@@capohd28 yes bridge plate size had a lot to do with the tone as well as the change away from using hide glue. also lack of brazilian- i don't agree with jerrys opinion that a bigger bridge plate is necessary.

[@edwardchester1]

Yeah, there were a few things in this video that were not exactly top-tier repair. Burning the finish round the bridge, the use of modern glue, the oversized, different-species bridge plate. Can see a lot of collectors thinking it's devalued the guitar.

[@bakstabbath]

That's a beautiful sounding guitar. I don't know how you do all that masterful work through the sound hole! Always a pleasure to watch you work your magic, Jerry. Merry Christmas to everyone at Rosa String works 🎄🎅

[@stephenkim7277]

Hi Jerry When I was watching the bridge plate that you had taken out, I noticed it is rosewood. Martin started to use rosewood plate in 1968 instead of maple. So, I look at the serial number that you showed in the beginning, and found out that it is 1968 model. The last serial number in 1967 is 230095. On the card that you showed, serial number is 236180. Martin serial number chart shows the last serial number that year.

[@williamgraves9574]

I am something of a renaissance craftsman myself and hearing your thought process and logic and testing is such a pleasure. You take what I would consider quite daunting and make it look so easy. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. God Bless.

[@lrstaf6]

Hi Jerry; In the beginning of this video, you can see the under bow in the neck in the video's side view, without looking down the neck. When I glue a fretboard down, If I'm not using brad pins for alignment, I put plastic on each side at the head stock and at the heal and put sideways clamps there to insure alignment. Your way is simpler, however; I've had the fretboard slip and had to remove and reglue it, without the sideways clamps. That sure is a nice old guitar. I bet it will be a lot nicer when your done.

[@davehenriksen2073]

Fascinating, thank you. Anxious for part 2.

[@ronaldclark1178]

Jerry, when I sent my 73 D28 back to Martin in 1979, They said that they had to steam the neck to straighten it. They removed the fingerboard. replaced the top and all the frets. that was over 40 years ago and it sounds better than ever. PS love your videos!!

[@elzetcdn]

happy holidays Jerry, Caleb and Mariska

[@scottjamable]

That thing needs a neck reset, They all will eventually, but hell at least you have the fret board off to get to the tenon joint easy with the steam. I use a pressure cooker and hose with a basket ball needle to get steam in there. Keep up the good work.

[@zapa1pnt]

The problems here are a belly bulge and an up bowed neck. How would a neck reset help that????

[@scottjamable]

@@zapa1pnt just an ever so slight neck reset will help for when the bulge starts to ease back into it. It sure couldn't hurt.

[@spawnman73]

Thanks again Jerry for such great entertainment.

[@antipodesman]

As a non-luthier I would never have thought of your approach for the neck. I would have done something crazy like scraping the top end of the neck to get the proper alignment.

[@jefferp]

I showed this video to my D 28 and gave it a stern warning.

[@Mycroftsbrother]

I hope it listens better than my 1967 000-18!!!

[@MeansWoodshop]

Awesome video, Jerry! I’ve been looking forward to this one especially because I have an old ‘69 Silvertone with this exact problem and I’ve had no idea of how to fix a neck that has no truss rod.

[@tik1623]

Great video Jerry; something is telling me that very likely this fretboard readjustment is combined with compression refretting in part2 ...enjoy your video’s ...kind regards, G

[@leonardhevia5452]

In 1967 $400 was the equivalent of $3,124.30. The original buyer did not get a deal by any stretch. The Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides gives it a nice boost in value over time, but this wasn't a steal. Those old 60s and 70s Martin D 28s are great but chances are it will need some kind of restoration like fret work, a neck reset, and so on like Jerry is doing. Buy a vintage acoustic and another $500 to a $1,000 to get the guitar back to specs.

[@andrewblack7852]

McMurtry music on olive??? That’s where I bought a fender jazz bass for $200 in 1981. It’s also where I took mandolin lessons. Great big music store. In the 70s and 80s there was a Naugels fast food place across the street. Good times

[@fuzzyjax]

Just found this channel. I suspect that this Martin is in very capable hands and I am looking forward to seeing this beauty finished. Happy Holidays. Subscribed.

[@ranger1721]

Wow, you have a WHOLE lot more patience than me.

[@bobl2995]

Really nice work Jerry, Merry Christmas to all at RSW 🇬🇧

[@sgnt9337]

Wow. It would take me an hour just to work up the nerve to tackle this job! That guitar bracing jig you made really worked well.

[@tylerrichman9]

My luthier does a technique called compression refret for old Martin's with a ton of neck relief. It involves refretting the guitar with frets with a slightly larger tang. This helps alot with removing excessive neck relief in a guitar without an adjustable truss rod. This might be something for you to look into.

[@davidheid3210]

What I want to know is, who the heck click thumbs down on Jerry's videos!

[@jcbaxendaleguitars7683]

The people who actually know he is fucking up these guitars are giving the thumbs down. Too bad you’re too dense to understand. This is awful work FYI

[@TracyFClark]

This is fascinating!

[@johndagricola]

"Shucks...I don't know where to begin"...You are like Columbo; You like to appear a little vague about the solution, but in the end no one could do a finer job of it! Merry Christmas.

[@stevenblackmore7545]

what a cool project jegs

[@francisdasta8646]

Back in 1960 $400 was a lot of money

[@87mini]

According to the inflation calculator, $400 in '67 is equal to $3117 today! Which is about what new ones are selling for today!

[@json64]

Hi Jerry! As I am aware that You are posting the videos after the fact I am a bit "worried" about prestressing the neck before regluing the fingerboard, especially when I know You are almost exclusively using Titebond, i e AR glue. My, and other luthier friends, experience is that AR glues are susceptible to what is called "cold creep"(shifting after curing due to stress". I have not watched the whole video yet, but I hope this one repair is not going to come around to "bite You in the B-hind". Anyway, happy holidays and I appreciate the cander, detail and the "no bullcrap" sensibility of the videos You produce! Excuse my English, It´s only my third language. Patrik from Sweden

[@RandySchartiger]

that's some major surgery! just yesterday I was inside of a Martin with an endoscope and yessir, hard to hold still.

[@toddtech404]

Jerry I envy your arm diameter. I have popeye forearms. Working on interiors are tough for me. Merry Christmas to you, the family, Caleb and the crew.

[@josephtaverna1287]

Jerry good evening what a great video the owner of the guitar couldn't have picked a better luthier to work on it stay safe harl look

[@davidmcausland4088]

Wow another episode in the creative gluing and clamping series, who would have thought you could fix such a problem with a bit of plywood and 2x4, another great video Jerry i really enjoyed this one.

[@matshagstrom9839]

Just a thought on getting glue in tight places. If you dilute titebond with water you’ll be able to ouch it through a small diameter string through a tiny needle. Needles are available in 31 gauge (0.26mm diameter) just a thought. It’s impossible to push viscous glue through such a tiny needle though.

[@jeffmetz3985]

Jerry, This video gave me an idea to put a recessed round neo magnet into my bridge plate cauls, and also a neo magnet on the top flattening caul to hold the Bridge plate/ caul in place. Seems like it would be a neat fix. Hope you can use this idea as well.

[@anthonywilson4873]

Hi Jerry just an idea with regards to the neck and locating the fret board. If you pulled or drilled a sound dot at each end of the fret board while in your stressed and chosen position no glue etc. You could then use dowels to centre and also help straighten the neck. You could then glue up and clamp as you want. Obviously sound dots cover the dowels when done?

[@peterinitaly1]

Merry Xmas Jerry, Caleb, Melissa and families!

[@vaccarioou22]

Interesting how as you restore the sonic integrity of the top - fixing the brace and replacing and attaching the bridge plate the tone of your voice to camera changes as it resonates more with the soundhole :-)

[@billrhoades6110]

??? Good morning Jerry from Warrenton Missouri

[@drjcwardjr]

So patient and...brave!LOL...guess that comes from experience...which is what earns you income and not lawsuits! 😎👍

[@okayestguitar66]

Nail-biting episode!

[@mandolinman2006]

Here's a true story. I was an apprentice in a shop. This old man brought in like a 1943 D-28 he, the original owner, bought when he was younger and put it under the bed. Figured he'd sell it for a few hundred bucks. That guy I was apprenticed to always put an oversized bridge plate in all of his guitars. I think his was 2.5" maybe? I forget. I'll have to see if I can find his DVD he gave me that one day..

[@zapa1pnt]

Is that typo ??? Or did you mean .25 inches Thick? Still, .25 inches thick is too thick. It should be a strong tone wood, like rosewood or padauk and .125 Inches (1/8) thick.

[@mandolinman2006]

@@zapa1pnt no, it's the width. I believe Jerry uses a 2.25" wide bridge plate.

[@arctichare8185]

This is very interesting for me to watch, as I have the same model of instrument but was made in 1958. At first I didn't think it would be a good idea to glue on the fingerboard in that way for straightening the neck, rather than resetting the neck. I imagined that something serious could happen at that heel/dovetail location, since it seems to be the pinnacle of all pinnacles in an acoustic guitar. However, with the precautions you are taking, now I think it should work out well.

[@driveway_mechanic]

Hi Jerry I have a similar endoscope that I use for engine work. I taped it to a wire hanger and then added a loop to the end. It gave me much better control. Love your videos and how you share your thoughts as you go.

[@SweeneyTTodd]

It's so easy for people sat typing to knock your work Jerry and thumbs down , well , big thumbs up here from across the pond to you , "be funny to see all the thumbs downers do a Video on the same thing" i bet they havn't got the knowledge to do it ! Best regards Shaun

[@guinn2415]

Can't wait for part 2

[@buailebawns2162]

When I took my 1965 Martin to a luthier for a neck reset, he found it had about the same belly up as your 1967 & allowed for this measurement when he set the neck angle. I note you had no string tension & hence no belly up when setting the fingerboard. No doubt you will have the D28 in perfect condition when it leaves your shop so I look forward to watching Parts 2, 3 & 4 of your video to see how you handle any remaining belly up under string tension. As for the guitar moving on your workbench, another KZbin luthier uses a Stringtech Workstation which holds the instrument in any position while he works on it. That same luthier puts compensated shelf nuts on almost every guitar he works on and seems to get incredible intonation. Perhaps you could make a video with your views on compensated nuts. I use a fairly cheap, one size fits all, Hosco SOS on one of my Martins and it gives me roughly James Taylor tuning. (E = minus 12 cents, A = - 10 cents, D = - 8 cents, G = - 4 cents, B = - 6 cent & E = - 3 cents) LINK TO STRINGTECH WORKSTATIONS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYOrln6MfsmZj6c

[@docoluv9]

Mr jerry had an idea. You may have been able to tape the fretboard to the neck in a couple places instead of gluing it. That way you wouldnt have trouble getting glue all over the neck to glue down the fretboard. Just a thought.

[@49mrbassman]

Personally, I usually take the two end machine heads and put an eye screw in the base of the neck where the strap button goes and run a loop of paracord round the machine heads at the top of the headstock insert a piece of wood in the loop and use it like a windlass. Usually cures underbow.

[@zapa1pnt]

Kinda hard to play that way, isn't it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIvVaZyImqqkg7M

[@49mrbassman]

@@zapa1pnt well yes, just a bit but it does cure underbow of the neck. But normally recommend putting a double action truss rod in.

[@hoxoh123]

You can use a piece of sewing thread, to get the glue under the narrow place!

[@thomastommy1192]

Can't you put a truss rod in that neck? Awesome video thanks for sharing. It's a great guitar for sure.Awesome video thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family and the crew in the shop.

[@sewing1243]

A new D-28 can be had for around $2800.00 today. Adjusted for inflation that Guitar cost about $3100.00 in current Dollars in 1967. So it appears the price of Martins have gone down over the years.

[@zapa1pnt]

No doubt, by doing things like installing undersized bridge pads, to save a few cents per guitar. The rosewood was a good idea, but it was still undersized.

[@pmscalisi]

@@zapa1pnt actually the bridge plates used by most builders of that caliber use smaller plates than that one just usually made of hard maple. Most people call those huge rosewood plates “tone killers” That again though depends on the guitar.

[@K7classicrockfan]

Can't wait to see part 2!

[@MrLeejan]

I would be afraid I would scorch the top. You know “Murphy’s Law” .

[@daviswall3319]

D-28 is my favorite. There’s a comfort in the feel of that volute with the thumb--

[@rickeydenler2385]

Do you do aftermarket scalloping of the braces ever

[@RosaStringWorks]

Not usually

[@alexanderleischner8069]

Paduk the Jerry tune 😂😂😂👉👍👍

[@jimlepeu577]

Don’t I remember Caleb doing something similar a bit back, clamping a neck over something while he glued the fretboard back on

[@bldallas]

Jerry, have you thought about fabing some different wooden handles, mounts, etc. to help you control your endoscope? Even a couple popsicle sticks (on either side and running perpendicular to the scope) with rubber bands (pinching them on either side into a cross shape), would allow you some leverage and help you control where the camera is pointing. From there I’d make some purpose built stands, clip, etc that would allow you to use the scope to see what you’re doing when your arm is in the sound hole. Turning the lights down, also helps. Just some thoughts; hey, I’m an engineer and my brain works that way. 🤓👍

[@zapa1pnt]

Hey, Bryan, all that over thinking just hurts sometimes, doesn't it?!? 🤣🤣 BTDT. I'm AD/HD. With every step I take, I think about something else. When trying to sleep (yes I said Trying), I consider a dozen different ways to handle each and every job, project, repair I have on my todo list. It sucks. I'm no engineer but I know the pain.

[@bldallas]

@@zapa1pnt not over thinking and definitely no pain. An engineer’s job is to solve problems; a good engineer does it with the most efficient approach. I see Jerry struggling to get the camera to point in a particular direction. My thoughts are related to solving that problem with a very simple approach.

[@K7classicrockfan]

I saw Dan Erlywine fix a bent neck with carbon fiber reinforcing rods. You could not notice them because they were underneath the fretboard. Would this have worked in this instance?

[@robertshorthill4153]

Remi C if it was me, I'd try to get 2 carbon fiber reenforcement rods (.200" X .250" ) into a flat neck. That should help keep underbow out once strings are back on under tension. I've used carbon fiber rods on the two Mandolins I've built and there's no signs of any underbow taking place. Strings on mandos pull about 180 pounds or so, but not sure what a Martin would pull -- maybe less, so CF rods would help, I'm sure. Stew Mac crew has put in lots of CF rods in guitars over the years with good success. Nothing to indicate any modifications, as everything is hidden under fret board. Cheers, my friends,. Bob

[@K7classicrockfan]

@@robertshorthill4153 thanks!

[@rayvoorhies7180]

Carbon fiber rods would be better than the metal rod Martin used 50 years ago. I think that rod has bent from all the years of string tension.

[@SongsHomestyle]

@@robertshorthill4153 180 lbs prob not out of the ballpark for guitar either. For guitar, D'Addario shows about 160 lbs for lights and 185 lbs for medium strings (phosphor bronze).

[@ejtakach]

What a cliffhanger!!!

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Good work, Jerry! It's Christmas, go have a beer nog!

[@marlobreding7402]

Have you ever used air pressure to push glue into a crack? I had a spiral fracture on my Epiphone 6 string 20 years ago and it is still solid today.

[@TgWags69]

I was thinking you could bend the neck down and put some shims in the ends of that truss rod to hold it somewhat more flat. Kinda like tightening an adjustable truss rod. At least it might help along with the the fretboard fix.

[@49mrbassman]

Merry ChristmasJerry

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

I did one of these recently. I cooked and shrunk the fretboard to the point of no return. I had removed the frets first. Was that a rookie blunder? Do the frets help in the heating? I made a new fretboard, and it worked out OK, so a good learning experience anyway.

[@MrDunosan]

jerry, you would have glued the entire fretboard after the whole neck was bended. plus you are relying on the friction of the thickness of the fretboard to hold your hyperextended neck. i would have taken that metal tube out and reversed also. my two cents :) otherwise lovely jerry!!

[@briansmith9698]

Rosa String Works is that Martin have hide glue or white glue? Those martins had none adjustable rods I read a article about old Martin rods tube rods and t bars and before that Martin would add Ebony to neck make it stronger.

[@JimD4570]

I have a 70s Hohner guitar made in Japan, it looks like an exact copy of this martin. it is a beautiful, great-sounding guitar. The neck appears to be separating from the body a little, I had a shop look at it about 20 years ago, he said it was very common on the Hohner and the Martin and should not hurt the guitar. Should I be concerned about this? Thanks, Jim