Martin repairs in New England

[blueman61]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of a really good Martin repair person in the New England area? Northen New England would be even better. My old D-28 will probably need some attention this year and, although I build a bit and generally do my own repairs, I don't like to mess with this one. I'm looking for someone who really knows tradition Martin setup (fretting action etc). I've had this worked on by guys who are good, but they always want to make it play easier or more like a Guild/Gibson/whatever or something else. Probably going to need a fretboard and frets at the very least. Any help would be most ???helpful???

blueman61

[JrGtr42]

Where exactly are you?
I'm sure all of us New Englanders will chip in with their own favorite techs.
The guy I trust most with my acoustics is Pat DiBurro (www.diburro.com) He's based up in Haverhill, Mass. does VERY good work, from simple setups to full-on restorations.
I know Bluespicker has a guy he likes in Lowell, Mass.

[blueman61]

I'm in northern Maine. I've driven as far as NYC in the past. There's a guy on the Maine coast who's OK, butI'm looking for a specialist (if you know what I mean) Used to live in Beantown. Mass doesn't seem so far. It's definitely doable.

blueman61

[bluespckr]

Try THIS LINK (http://www.whitsettguitarworks.com/photos.htm)

The guy works out of a small shop in Lowell. Call first, make an appointment. Same day is usually okay, but you don't want to waste the trip. He is an authorized, certificated service tech for Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and some others. Don't let outward appearances fool you -- the guy knows his stuff and is good. My D-35 has never played and sounded better since I took it to him for some tweaking (bridge shaving and a setup) plus installation of a Gold-Plus II pickup-preamp system. He owns a D-18, I believe.

His site doesn't tell you much but call him. There is streetside parking but it is metered, and Lowell PD is aggressive. My meter time ran out by five minutes and I had a damn ticket LOL. Bring some quaters with you ...

[JrGtr42]

Ya, know Bluespicker...I feel like an idiot now, but I realized I know your tech..Bill Whitsett...
He was the in-house (contract) tech at Guitar Center in Natick when I worked there, in '01 and 02, if I remember right.
odd kinda guy (like anyone who hangs out in the close vicinity of solder fumes tends to be), seems like he's half in the bag most of the time?
dark hair, 6-foot tall or so?

[bluespckr]

Ya, know Bluespicker...I feel like an idiot now, but I realized I know your tech..Bill Whitsett...
He was the in-house (contract) tech at Guitar Center in Natick when I worked there, in '01 and 02, if I remember right.
odd kinda guy (like anyone who hangs out in the close vicinity of solder fumes tends to be), seems like he's half in the bag most of the time?
dark hair, 6-foot tall or so?

Yep! That's him. Smokes, and swears like a pirate, and likes to give his apprentice a hard time. I usually tell people he's kind of opinionated and can have a little attitude, especially if someone doesn't humidify their acouistics, but the guy knows his stuff. He's set up two Martins for me (one -- a DC16GTE Premium -- I've since sold, and the other - my prized D-35 -- which is a keeper) and they played incredibly easy afterwards. He owns a D-18, I believe, so he knows Martins. He also took my new ES-335 and made a good guitar incredible with some tweaks. If I didn't like his work or trust him with my babies, I wouldn't recommmend him.

He still does the work for the GC in Boston and (I think) Natick, as well as some store in Connecticut, I believe (Conn. or R.I.).

,

[JrGtr42]

Yep! That's him. Smokes, and swears like a pirate, and likes to give his apprentice a hard time. I usually tell people he's kind of opinionated and can have a little attitude, especially if someone doesn't humidify their acouistics, but the guy knows his stuff. He's set up two Martins for me (one -- a DC16GTE Premium -- I've since sold, and the other - my prized D-35 -- which is a keeper) and they played incredibly easy afterwards. He owns a D-18, I believe, so he knows Martins. He also took my new ES-335 and made a good guitar incredible with some tweaks. If I didn't like his work or trust him with my babies, I wouldn't recommmend him.

He still does the work for the GC in Boston and (I think) Natick, as well as some store in Connecticut, I believe (Conn. or R.I.).

,

Yep...most definitely the same guy.
I remember seeing him bring a kid or two almost to tears about the humidifying acoustics thing.
Smokes klike a chimney, swears like a sailor...that's Billy.
I remember one time a bunch of us went to see the band of one of the guys working there. His guitar player (the guy I worked with was a drummer - 60's Ludwig kit w/ 14 +18" toms, 26"(!) kick..)
anyways, the guitar player bought a Fender 52 Reish tele, and was playing it a tune or 2 duing the sets, it was mostly a backup that night, sitting on a stand with the bridge cover on. They get to the encore, and he picks up the Strat he'd been playing most of the night. Bill'd had a few, and bellows, "BE A MAN AND PLAY THE TELE!!! And give me the ashtray, this one's full."

[bluespckr]

Yep...most definitely the same guy.
I remember seeing him bring a kid or two almost to tears about the humidifying acoustics thing.
Smokes klike a chimney, swears like a sailor...that's Billy.
I remember one time a bunch of us went to see the band of one of the guys working there. His guitar player (the guy I worked with was a drummer - 60's Ludwig kit w/ 14 +18" toms, 26"(!) kick..)
anyways, the guitar player bought a Fender 52 Reish tele, and was playing it a tune or 2 duing the sets, it was mostly a backup that night, sitting on a stand with the bridge cover on. They get to the encore, and he picks up the Strat he'd been playing most of the night. Bill'd had a few, and bellows, "BE A MAN AND PLAY THE TELE!!! And give me the ashtray, this one's full."

I know he's married now, has one kiddo and another on the way. In fact, the last time I popped in, he scheduled it for after he brought the one kiddo to school. Sounds like he may be a little tamer ... well, in some ways. :rol

[JrGtr42]

I know he's married now, has one kiddo and another on the way. In fact, the last time I popped in, he scheduled it for after he brought the one kiddo to school. Sounds like he may be a little tamer ... well, in some ways. :rol

that's not saying much...
but good for him...been a while since I talked to him...maybe I'll find something wrong with a guitar so i can bring it in...