Blues Creek Guitars - Martin D 28 Repair (Neck reset, refret)

Another video by Blues Creek Guitars. This time a comprehensive video on a Martin D-28 Repair, including a neck reset and refret. Let us know if you have any questions!

[@MarkJSmith-zh9ve]

Hi John, you’re my friend in guitars and your videos show your experience. You are “the Man” and I appreciate learning from you. MJ Smith - CFM CUSTOM SHOP

[@railroader555]

Your generosity with your time and knowledge is immensely appreciated. You should have at least 50,000 views on this video. Thank You!

[@LaSalle.ToneWorks]

+railroader555 always glad to help

[@tippie53]

glad you enjoy this , that is why we do it. I couldn't do it without the help of Glenn LaSalle he shoots while I stand in front of the camera

[@kenhughes4715]

How anyone could not like this is beyond me. Fantastic job! Thank you for posting

[@stratplayer10]

Great instructional video, sublime skills shown, without a whole load of special tools. Briiliant.

[@superpianogirl]

This guy knows his craft and can communicate it like few others on the web!!! Glenn Keep building, fixing and teaching!! Much appreciated!!!! John

[@tacratt6091]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching that, it cured my curiosity on how to straighten a neck on an older Martin!

[@stephenquail3168]

this is years of knowledge being shared. I have a teacher .You clearly are a master of your craft.Thank you for all these wonderful videos.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Stephen Quail so glad you enjoy these

[@thespiritof76..]

I’ve done a lot of guitar work over the years, not a builder unless you count electrics, I have to say I love watching the guys on yt whom you can tell by the way they work they’ve been doing it for years and years too... no gadgets, no high priced consumer driven tools. Just the standard tools, modified to their needs and a whole lot of know-how and Ingenuity... And the way he handles his work, you can tell it’s not his first rodeo! Like the first time parent vs the mom who’s raising her 5th. You know what to worry about and what not to... Mr. Hall sure knows his stuff

[@tippie53]

thanks been doing this a while. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johngeddes7894]

Very enjoyable, and put in such an easily assimilated way. Like!!

[@MrStainedrat]

Thanks alot John for all tis great work and learning , amazing work !

[@melodicdreamer72]

Simply amazing work. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, skill and experience.

[@tippie53]

glad you enjoyed the video that is why we put them up. Thanks again

[@GILLEBRATH]

Great insight and tutorial . I learned a lot here so thank you John.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+GILLEBRATH glad you found this usefull

[@DaleHubert]

Very informative! Thanks for sharing you expertise. Lots of valuable information to use in future repairs.

[@LaSalle.ToneWorks]

+Dale Hubert glad you liked and

[@chebrneck]

Great work!

[@davidbergin6184]

Thanks for sharing this. Not sure I’ll ever do it myself, but I’ve always wondered how a neck reset was done.

[@jonathandelacruz8950]

Wow Super skills, thanks for sharing

[@Darrenmccarthymusica]

Great video, I really enjoyed this and learnt a lot!

[@msapostle]

Fantastic video

[@tippie53]

glad you liked it. I like to share what I learned

[@robertkibbler1564]

Very educational and easy to follow John . Watched all your videos! Happy new year from across the pond

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Robert Kibbler so happy you like them that is why we do it

[@Tonnsfabrication]

On my 3rd year of playing my Blues Creek HD-28 and gotta say it's just keeps getting better with time. I don't know what it is about this BC kit but it has what I call magical wood. I love this guitar , and the fact that I built it makes it mean that much more to me. Love the videos John, I'm looking forward to building another some day.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Michael Tonn good for you . I am glad you had a great result.

[@LaSalle.ToneWorks]

+Southeastern Ohio Homestead glad you love it. so glad to be a part of that.

[@Tonnsfabrication]

Glenn LaSalle Thank you Glen for all you do for BCG. Couldn't have built it without you. When I take my guitar to bluegrass jams it always grabs attention, It's a true cannon.

[@Bbendfender]

Very good video. I sure do enjoy working on guitars but I am still learning different methods of doing things.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Bbendfender thanks we try to share the information

[@samohtdivad]

great video looking foward to the next..do ever work on gibsons...neck resets..

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+thomas dave yes gibsons are similar to Martin but Gibson would every now and then have the top over the neck joint and this makes getting the neck apart very difficult. You have to pay close attention to when you drill the hole at the fret and lifting the extension. If the top is over the neck block you need to take the fretboard off. I usually cut at the 10th fret so I can reglue that part up on the neck and maintain structure of the fretboard. I will try and record it the next time I get one in the shop.

[@MrDeathpilot]

You need to put yourself in the small picture and the detail work in the large picture.

[@gregrobinson9827]

hi great videos great information! I've got a question for you? what causes fall away on the fingerboard tongue after a neck reset?

[@tippie53]

The neck block rotates from the years of stress also the top rises thus you need a neck reset. To adjust that angle at the neck, the neck heel is trimmed to bring the headstock down. If you have to adjust the heel a good bit you move the neck but the fretboard extension still remains at the same spot so you appear to have fall away when it is the fretboard and neck that move. If this is sever you can make a tapered shim to make the extension true with the neck. You can also loosen the joint under the top on the transverse brace and put a shim there. I prefer shimming the extension.

[@scottreeves6932]

Remarkable work, John! When you run the fingerboard through the thickness sander radiused side down, do you rest it in a cradle to stabilize it or does the flat drum stabilize the flat side well enough? Thanks for this video.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Scott Reeves on my sander I have 2 spring loaded rollers so it holds the flat side up . If you can't controll that you need to shim or use a cradle for sure.

[@donfreeman686]

Thanks for this video. I have a 1963 D18 that needs this same repair. Neck reset, refret, no divits in the fingerboard, new nut and saddle, a minor crack in the side and another on the back. How much should I expect to pay at an authorized Martin shop in early 2018? Thanks.

[@tippie53]

that depends on the shop. Without having a hands on inspection it would be hard but under $1000 I would think depends on the cracks and unkowns

[@thespiritof76..]

That was one awesome tip on fixing that fretboard! Do you suspect the same technic would work on a veneered Fender FB?

[@tippie53]

it may . There is a new product now called Glue Boost check it out . it is a better CA than plain CA. The activator is safe on nitro finishes

[@swiczinsky]

Hi Glen, thank you for your great video, really helpfull! I just wondered how heavy the weights for your compression setup are that you use to simulate the string tension?

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Adam Wehsely-Swiczinsky 10 lb is what I use

[@swiczinsky]

+blues creek guitars so both of them are 10lbs, or all in all 10lbs?..... just found it further down in the comments: 10lbs in total. Thanks for your help!!

[@sean7193]

hey Glenn, great vids. if the bridge is lifting due to the top coming up is the only fix a new top? i have a few guitars where its as if the top is bending up from tension over time.

[@tippie53]

Not really , Tops belly for many reasons. Without a good picture I am guessing. I would check for a loose brace, also if the bridge plate warped. I have pulled bridges and taken out the bridge plate then clamped the top flat for a week or so. If you made this guitar and they top was made too thin or the braces are too weak a thicker bridge plate may help. Contact me through my bluescreekguitars.com and maybe I can help get you in the right direction.

[@mickkennedy1344]

John, about 6 months ago I started using (besides the normal superglue and the water-thin superglue) the 'GEL' form of it -- this is excellent stuff;; I was able to put 12 reinforcing struts (in the sidewalls) into my long scale acoustic bass without having to use clamps to hold them in place while the wood glue set;; I apply the wood glue, leaving a space down the middle into which I run a line of superglue GEL -- I only have to hold each strut in place for about 5-7 seconds until the fast-acting superglue GEL sets;; I think of it as a 'liquid clamp' (well, a GEL clamp) -- and no mess. Have you ever used it? -- if not, it's well worth a try. I'm paused halfway through your video --- great stuff, as usual, John.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+Mick Kennedy I never used the gel stuff. The more I do this the less I use CA. Most of what I do is vintage repairs and my clients prefer hide glue. I can see the benefit of the gel especially on more modern stuff. I will give it a try. I get my Super Glue from Gold Bond. That stuff grabs very fast usually in seconds. Who do you get your glue from ?

[@mickkennedy1344]

+blues creek guitars ..John, unlike you, I'm not a luthier, I'm just a musician -- I merely do what repairs or improvements I need on my guitars and basses;; I don't buy my Super Glue in bulk, I usually just buy -- when I see them at discount or real low price -- the small 3 gram and 7 gram tubes of Super Glue ------ the GEL is so handy for me as, obviously, it's a jelly and can be applied in blobs or lines, so doesn't create a mess --- some of it sets so fast that I have to be sure of what I'm doing, that's why I always watch the way you do things....so I get it right.

[@gammaraygem]

super interesting video. Anybody stop it to check for moises in the attic? 😀

[@czgunner]

Does that chisel deform the base of the bridge?

[@slowhand5003]

John, when you shined up the fingerboard in the first part, did you use shoe polish?

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

+slowhand500 yes kiwi black wax

[@slowhand5003]

+blues creek guitars Thanks John.

[@guymandude999]

I'd love to have you work on the Martin my step mom took in the divorce.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

The weight is about 10 lb total

[@superpianogirl]

Sorry for calling you Glenn John!!

[@oloxadik2077]

Hello good details and tricks but the tiny screen should show your not so pleasant face and the detail from there on the big screen.

[@redbed1604]

You know that if you get ebony dust in your lungs, it's there from now on. Might want to think about a respirator.

[@steveadey2166]

Kk lll

[@justins7900]

Would have been way better if the camera would have been on the work he was doing instead of him