Recommend luthier: ES-335 refret & electronics. Western NY or Northwest PA

[archetype]

I need recommendations for professional level luthiers/repairhumans in Western New York. I'm in the Buffalo area in extreme Western NY, but am willing to go East to Rochester, Syracuse, or anything 2-3 hours east of Buffalo. Southwest to Erie PA is possible.

I have a 1970 Gibson ES-335TDC that needs new frets, a new nut, and replacement of aftermarket Schaller tuners with original style Gibson Deluxe tuners. It's likely that the switch and pots will need to come out for resuscitation and encouragement, or complete replacement.

Optimally, I'll get recommendations from a player who has gotten a pro quality refret of a bound neck and electronic work on a semi-hollow. I'd rather find someone proven to be good at this stuff than to roll the dice with this specific guitar and the kind of money these repairs will require.

Thanks in advance, comrades.

 

[YYZman]

The border restrictions could be a wrinkle, but based on where you are, Freddy Gabrsek www.freddysfrets.com in Niagara-on-the-Lake is the name that comes to mind.

He’s a highly skilled luthier and woodworker and was entrusted by Alex Lifeson to restore the legendary white ES-355 among others.

I would think that there are still local couriers permitted to cross the border. If so, your 335 could be hand-delivered without the usual risks of shipping.

 

[archetype]

The border restrictions could be a wrinkle, but based on where you are, Freddy Gabrsek www.freddysfrets.com in Niagara-on-the-Lake is the name that comes to mind.

He’s a highly skilled luthier and woodworker and was entrusted by Alex Lifeson to restore the legendary white ES-355 among others.

I would think that there are still local couriers permitted to cross the border. If so, your 335 could be hand-delivered without the usual risks of shipping.

I'll look into the logistics of that. Too bad the border is locked up. Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy drive for me and has some excellent restaurants.

 

[mfguitar]

There is a couple guys in the Buffalo area. There is a young guy in the Allentown area that does very nice work, He does a lot of work on my friends high end guitars and he did a refret on a friends vintage Strat that was great. Dave- Toneland repair 716-883-6536

 

[mfguitar]

And Pete Schmid @ Suburban Guitar Repair, Pete has been around a very long time and always does quality work. I think he is in the Lockport area.

 

[GunsOfBrixton]

You could contact Bernie Lehmann in Rochester.

(link removed)

 

[archetype]

And Pete Schmid @ Suburban Guitar Repair, Pete has been around a very long time and always does quality work. I think he is in the Lockport area.

I'll talk to him. Was looking at his Web site today. Coincidentally, I was in Lockport, today, buying 200 lbs. of cracked corn for the wild turkeys and ducks.

 

[archetype]

There is a couple guys in the Buffalo area. There is a young guy in the Allentown area that does very nice work, He does a lot of work on my friends high end guitars and he did a refret on a friends vintage Strat that was great. Dave- Toneland repair 716-883-6536

I'll inquire with him.

 

[archetype]

You could contact Bernie Lehmann in Rochester.

(link removed)

Quite a craftsman. I'll inquire, but it remains to be seen if he is adept at a Gibson-style refret.

 

[RoscoeElegante]

I need recommendations for professional level luthiers/repairhumans in Western New York. I'm in the Buffalo area in extreme Western NY, but am willing to go East to Rochester, Syracuse, or anything 2-3 hours east of Buffalo. Southwest to Erie PA is possible.

I have a 1970 Gibson ES-335TDC that needs new frets, a new nut, and replacement of aftermarket Schaller tuners with original style Gibson Deluxe tuners. It's likely that the switch and pots will need to come out for resuscitation and encouragement, or complete replacement.

Optimally, I'll get recommendations from a player who has gotten a pro quality refret of a bound neck and electronic work on a semi-hollow. I'd rather find someone proven to be good at this stuff than to roll the dice with this specific guitar and the kind of money these repairs will require.

Thanks in advance, comrades.

Hey, archetype!

It's a bit of a drive for you, but the Ithaca Guitar Works is indeed still going, and they do tech work. They also have great vintage stuff in stock, and they know their stuff.

https://www.guitarworks.com/work-bench

Hope it works out for you, and that the Great Lakes winter is being only semi-crazy.

 

[TheOutlaw]

Bcr music in Harrisburg pa....Greg platzer.

If your already willing to go into pa make it worthwhile. Google him he's very well known and trusted in the Gibson world and has been known to work on quite a few famous guitars..

 

[Jakedog]

I don’t know anybody that way. Lay’s guitars here in OH is probably as close to you as Rochester is. They’re fabulous.

If I were you and needed to stay in NY I’d check with House of Guitars in Rochester and see who they recommend.

 

[archetype]

Hey, archetype!

It's a bit of a drive for you, but the Ithaca Guitar Works is indeed still going, and they do tech work. They also have great vintage stuff in stock, and they know their stuff.

https://www.guitarworks.com/work-bench

Hope it works out for you, and that the Great Lakes winter is being only semi-crazy.

Looking at their Web site now. Thanks!

 

[archetype]

Bcr music in Harrisburg pa....Greg platzer.

If your already willing to go into pa make it worthwhile. Google him he's very well known and trusted in the Gibson world and has been known to work on quite a few famous guitars..

BCR Music & Sound. I'll contact him. Thanks!

 

[archetype]

I don’t know anybody that way. Lay’s guitars here in OH is probably as close to you as Rochester is. They’re fabulous.

If I were you and needed to stay in NY I’d check with House of Guitars in Rochester and see who they recommend.

Looking at Lay's now. HOG is a possibility and I could make that drive in my sleep. They have an in-house repair shop, but I'd need to ascertain if they're good with bound necks. Thanks!

 

[Jakedog]

Looking at Lay's now. HOG is a possibility and I could make that drive in my sleep. They have an in-house repair shop, but I'd need to ascertain if they're good with bound necks. Thanks!

Lays rebuilt a completely destroyed vintage Firebird for a friend of mine. Literally in many pieces. He didn’t think it would ever actually play again, he just kept the remains for sentimental reasons. The guitar now plays as well as it ever did.

They also did a partial refret and big repair job on a buddy’s Taylor 815. Beautiful work.