Conference napalm::guitar

    talk to Rich MacDuffie (where SPAGS is next to MacDuff's) -
    
    He's one of the few remaining luthiers around this area (Worcester,
    MA) and might be able to help.
    
    Jon (BPOV02::NELSON)
    

    
    
    Some data points for those of you who order guitar parts by mail:
    
    1. all "replacement" parts are not created equal.  I ordered a new
    bridge and tailpiece from Veneman's Music Emporium (aka Music Emporium)
    for my Les Paul.  The pieces arrived in good condition, but the bridge
    pins don't fit the threaded inserts in the guitar body.  Same deal with
    the tailpiece - additionally, the inserts provided with the tailpiece
    are smaller than the stock Gibson parts, so you just can't swap 'em. 
    The manufacturer on the parts is Gotoh.
    
    2. I'm getting screwed for shipping both ways by Music Emporium -
    they'll credit my card for the parts, but not the shipping.  Return is
    at my cost...  I could probably call back and fight this, but for $7?
    
    I guess the lesson to be learned is, by local for stuff like this!
    
    

    from 140.1:
    
    talk to Rich MacDuffie (where SPAGS is next to MacDuff's) -
    He's one of the few remaining luthiers around this area (Worcester,
    MA) and might be able to help.
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Does this guy do quality work?  Any other luthiers around this area 
    worth recommending?  ('This area' for me would include RI or southern 
    NH, as well as any part of MA, to get good quality work at reasonable
    prices.)  I've finally decided (10 yrs later...) to get my original 
    Epi/Gibson 12-string repaired, if it can be done at a reasonable cost 
    and with decent results expected....  Any more recent recommendations 
    welcome....
    
    Thx,
    Tom
    

    
    	Frank Lucchesi - certified luthier & repairman
    	Holyoke, Ma.
    	(413) 532-8819
    	
    	High quality and very reasonable.  
    	Tom D.
    

    For Acoustic work,,, I have had bridges re-glued, necks reset, action
    adjusted, bone saddles made, etc etc ,,, by Jack O'Brien.  He is an
    factory authorized Martin repairman and his prices a competitive.  He 
    lives in Jaffrey NH and does all his work at his home.  His telephone
    number is 508-532-4398.   
    
    And buy the way,,,,, I just bought a Martin D1220 twelve string from 
    him that he had picked up from Federal Express that got totally crushed
    in shipping.  He replaced the neck with a 1930's vintage twelve string 
    neck,,, installed a Martin trus rod, repaired the crushed spruce top.  
    It sounds and plays great!!!!   The repairs were done one year ago and
    the action is still great and the repaired top shows no sign of
    losening up (even under standard tuning).
    
    Good luck
    Bruce May
       

    Correction on Jack O'Briens Telephone number it is 603-532-4398 .
    
    Sorry
    Bruce

    call Music Emporium, in Lexington MA

My recommendation is Jim Mouridian in Cambridge, MA.  His shop is above 
Cambridge Music in Porter Swuare.  He designed and sold his own line of
high-end guitars for a while.  He only does repair work now.  Top notch
work.

Jim

    In the R.I. area, call Trader's Cove in Newport and ask them for
    a referance. They referred a friend of mine to a guy in R.I. that
    does excellant work at reasonable prices. My friend had work done
    on his 1930's Gibson LC and the quality of the repairs was excellant.
    
    If Trader's Cove doesn't want to give the guys name, let me know
    and I will get a name and number.
    
    Mark

    	Wow, that's the best response I've ever gotten in any notesfile!
    Now the only problem is who to choose.  Thanks for all the inputs!
    I'll report back after the work is complete....  (May be awhile, most
    of my $$ is going into building a house right now...)
    
    Thx again
    TB