Restoration and Repair Questions

Replacing the pickguard on a Gibson mandolin and refretting click for more photos
Routering new pickup slots click for more photos
Fixing a broken head stock

Beginners as well as professional musicians benefit from Arnie's guitar repairs and action set ups. He is an authorized repairman for C. F. Martin Inc.

Why does it buzz?
Some reasons are:
If the open strings buzz, the guitar needs a new nut; bone is best for tone and does not break as easily as plastic.
If all the frets buzz, the saddle is too low and needs replacing, again bone is best. Intonation is also adjusted on the saddle.
If some frets buzz, the truss rod that is used in some steel string guitars may need adjusting.
If one fret buzzes, for example the fourth fretted note, then the fifth fret may be high, and needs recrowning.

Why does my guitar go out of tune after I start playing it?
• Not enough string wraps on the post (tuner)
• The ball of the string is not seated on pin plate, this is found only on steel strings.

After I tune my guitar, it plays out of tune, why? It may be one or all of the following:

• Action – see an authorized repairman
• String gauge – contact me for suggestions
• Intonation – needs compensation at the saddle

Authorized Martin Service Center