I bet if you set down and figured time, material, and profit margin and handed the client the quote you would not have to turn it down
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| Author: | Robbie O'Brien [ Fri May 05, 2006 6:58 am ] |
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I guess today is the day for people to ask me about repair work. I just got another request to change out a martin top with a new master grade spruce top and add a new bridge. What would be the going rate for that and is this even something I want to mess with? |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Fri May 05, 2006 7:10 am ] |
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The way I see it your loking at removing the neck, removing the top, building a new top complete with bracing and rosette, replacing perfling and binding, finsh work, new bridge, neck, fretboard reset maybe refret, setup. and buffout. Man I would have to figure you will have 20-40 hours in this one. and easy 1k job when considering the risk of the guitar its self labor and material. keep in mind that I know you have way more experiance than need for the job but someone would really need to want a new top to justify this job. |
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| Author: | Robbie O'Brien [ Fri May 05, 2006 7:16 am ] |
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Is this one a candidate to politely refuse and keep my sanity? |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Fri May 05, 2006 7:19 am ] |
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I bet if you set down and figured time, material, and profit margin and handed the client the quote you would not have to turn it down
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| Author: | L. Presnall [ Fri May 05, 2006 11:44 am ] |
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What Michael said...I believe my advice to the last guy who asked about a job like this was, "Figure time and material and add 1 meeeeeellllionnn dollars!"... 
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| Author: | tippie53 [ Fri May 05, 2006 2:24 pm ] |
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I have a series of renecks going. I don't know why but 3 at one time. I do $350 for the neck $75 for the finish work and $250 for the reset. Tops I agree are a pain. Depends on the situation. I have a 000-18 to fix with bullet holes. I want to know that story john hall |
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| Author: | CarltonM [ Fri May 05, 2006 4:10 pm ] |
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[QUOTE=Robbie O'Brien] Is this one a candidate to politely refuse and keep my sanity? [/QUOTE] Well, yes--AND your dignity! Does this instrument really need a new top? If it has problems, are they repairable? $1K doesn't seem outrageous for this job, so what model Martin is this, and is it worth it? It's okay to turn down the job, but, perhaps, to retain present and future goodwill, it might be well to discuss the reasons with the owner. |
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| Author: | csullivan [ Mon May 08, 2006 1:45 am ] |
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Hi Robbie, I have replaced tops on several guitars and found it not as daunting as it first seems. I've even replaced a top on a -- shudder, shudder -- Ovation. The first thing I do is pull the fret at the body (12th or 14th) and remove the fret board extension. Then I trace the body outline on a 3/4" piece of plywood. Make a slot in the plywood to fit on either side of the fret board a couple of inches and attach a cleat to bridge the F.B. Cut out the plywood to use as an outside mould to hold the sides in shape when attaching the new top. Removing the old top is easy -- just a little heat and a thin blade of some sort to separate the bindings and top seam. After that, it's just like putting a top on any other guitar. The Martin is finished in lacquer, so having the new finish melt into the old isn't a problem. Maybe hit the top with some amber or a little lighter shellac to take the edge off a new white top. With the old top as a template, you can reproduce the bracing exactly or modify it to suit. You probably have a good idea how long it takes you to make and brace a top, so add a couple of hours to remove the old top and some time to refinish plus materials. Just my thoughts. Craig S. |
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| Author: | Daniel M [ Mon May 08, 2006 5:22 am ] |
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Hey Robbie; I say "Go for it!" I've re-topped a couple of old guits including one '53 Martin which someone sat on at a drunken jam. When I did the work, I removed the fingerboard which was pretty easy. The Martin board was slab sawn EIR & it broke in two places but it went back together really easily & you can't tell there was a problem. I charged $600.00 plus materials & it wasn't enough... but it was well worth the effort to see the owner's face light up the first time she heard her "new" guitar. $1,000 plus materials should cover it nicely as long as you get the owner to sign a waiver & you don't find a mess inside once you open up the instrument. If you don't wanna do it, send it to me!
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