That is a beautiful guitar. The craftsmanship of a handmade boutique maker where only four hundred guitars in an entire career makes me realize he wasn't in it for the money.
Your comments about repair having little to do with an interest in guitars, and your comments about burnout were very interesting. I'm one of those folks that was inspired enough by your videos to try it for myself, except for me it's stayed a hobby, so the interest has not given way to the frustration associated with making it a career. I've been going strong for a little over 2 years now and every guitar across my bench is still a challenge that excites me and teaches me. One way that I've kept it fun is that most of my jobs are used guitars that I've bought to repair, then I resell them to make my profit. Because they're "my" guitars, there's no real stress of schedules or of damaging someone else's pride and joy. This has become a hobby that I love, and the majority of the new procedures that I've tried were after watching you do it.
And there's a little tell in there, "*most of* my jobs"... Because at some point your buddies are going to realise you are doing good work and before you know it there's a top of the line Ovation acoustic and a 1968 SG on your bench :) Fear is your friend, fear keeps you focused...:)
I've always had the philosophy, do what you're good at to make money, but only ever do what makes you happy as a hobby, or part time. Its a rare thing, or rare type of person to be able to both have a job that you're good at, and keeps you happy for more than a short term. The simple act of making it a business, and the baggage that comes with it can often will suck the joy out of anything quickly. Ted seems to be the rare type here.
This was my retirement hobby with the same basic strategy (I only work on my "own" guitars). The hunt for old/ challenging guitars to repair was part of it. It's neat to see the "Pro" solve many of the same problems I had. Lot's of head slaps along the way!
I'm into that as well but I suck at selling stuff. I need to get better at the selling aspect because I can do the same thing buy guitars that need repairs fix them up and sell them for more than I paid for them. I usually end up keeping them for myself. I just got a Mitchell 12-string beautiful guitar somehow the saddle disappeared so the person sold it without a saddle to a pawnshop and I found it. got it dirt cheap installed a saddle in it and I can probably make a hundred bucks off it at least, all ready to go and the action is beautiful. And it plays like a dream.
@@dorfsteen I play bass in several groups and can usually sell my repairs into those groups, often for younger/beginner players. Lately I've been downsizing and had to let a number of my unrepaired ones go in garage sales. I've also "lent" a couple to friends of friends and ended up selling them.
Ted - you are NOT "cranky"! My wife and I consider you to be quite knowledgeable and articulate; filled dry humor, and very enjoyable to watch and learn from - even though we'll never service any of my brother's 50+ guitars! Personally, watching anyone who can overcome "today's impossible challenge" (Like with that broken husk of a Les Paul neck a month or so ago - AMAZING!) and enform their audience is a true joy, and you sir fall into that category! : )
@@matthewf1979 . A repairer with over 50 years experience. Originally apprenticed to Jack Brentnalls violin workshop in 1971. Worked on instruments for Issac Guillory, John Renbourne and technical advisor to Hohner, JHS and many others. Yeah, I guess I’m new around here!
@@paulmcronk the thing about anonymous internet comment sections is there's no evidence to believe anything you say. Tom here, is on video, showing his face and his excellent work for years now. You must be new here and not have had watched any of his hundreds of other videos to see his work.
@@matthewf1979 . Believe what you like my friend and, as I’ve already said, if you’re happy and impressed with this standard of work, then no problem. May I recommend to you Andy Farrell, Kimberley, Nottingham. Alan Marshall, luthier, Northworthy Guitars, Hulland Ward. Jason, Millers Music Derby. All well documented, all capable of carrying out a much higher degree of workmanship. And all of whom will vouch for my credentials! But, if you’re happy, there you go!
I was there in the 70s; I got one of Jean's very first classicals and met a few of the crew. I had a Mossman, and a couple other luthier built gems of the period including a renaissance lute! Almost got a job with Larrivee! What a time that was, and that Graf is testimony to the talent and dedication that convened in that place and at that time, when there was so much promise and potential.
It wonderful to see a guitar maker I know and respect getting featured on this channel, I met Oskar a few years back at his home shop, and we got to talk about guitar building and history, as well as his own personal development. He was quite enthusiastic about showing me some of the guitars he built, and the flattops were some of the best, most dynamic and responsive acoustic instruments I’vd ever been lucky enough to try. He’s also had an influence by letting the blue skies festival happen on some of his land, which is just a wonderful friendly live music experience that my family has been going to since I was little.
The Graf's problem with the nut and the input jack is exactly what's been going on with my Larivee for years! And now I see a connection between the two makers. Thanks!
Interesting musing about the comments to you about being a Luthier. Here's a different perspective .. My daughter (22 year old in her final year of her Chemical Engineering Masters) is a fan (as well as her peers). She enjoys the critical thinking, problems solving and accuracy.... hers words - things she doesn't see in her peers and industry. The up and coming skilled craftspeople of the need to find their inspirations somewhere ;). Love the channel.
She might also enjoy watching Eric O over at _South Main Auto_ here on CZcams. She might not be interested in car repair in general, but Eric emphasizes critical and logical thinking in order to diagnose and then fix a problem.
I'm teaching my 12 year old daughter for those same reasons. She asked to learn, and I'm loving that she is getting a practical skill, but also learning patience, to think sequentially, and understand consequences.
You know , I love guitars and I love playing but watching him work, the thing that is constantly in the back of my mind is the (I would imagine) constant need to re-string , tune, remove, repeat, test, re-string, makes me bonkers just to think about it. takes a better man than me. Well done as usual Mr Woodford.
Coming from a machining background, I smile a bit when I hear .005” is such a small adjustment. I love to see the precision you achieve on these instruments, especially since you are working with wood and other natural materials. Thank you for these videos!
I play guitar and I love guitars but I don't want to be a luthier. Never the less I've learned so much watching you and am able to self diagnose issues with my guitars much more accurately.
Hi, I always learn something from watching your videos and I've been repairing instruments for about 15 years. So I suppose I've crossed over to the other side by now. What I appreciate most is that when you're suffering, I'm suffering too, just not physically. I have big hands as well, and you know what that means, they're always getting stuck in the sound hole and are gnarly after all of the abuse. But I have to say that there's nothing better that taking a persons prized possession and bringing it back from the dead to sing again. I recently repaired my partner's father's classical guitar that he played for her as she was growing up in the heady days of the folk revolution. The poor thing had been hidden in the back of a closet for many years and it was only after his death that someone thought to go looking for it. It was in deep deep trouble. But I took my time and pieced it back together and the look on June's face was well worth all the torment and trouble and a bit more. So, I guess the good really does balance out the bad. You are a very talented craftsman and a great teacher. I just wanted to thank you.
Thanks so much for this video. I own an Oskar Graf acoustic bass guitar (and a Marc Beneteau 6-string, another fine underknown Canadian luthier), and spent a little time in Oskar's former shop. One of the most peaceful places one might imagine, with a great forest view out the window. Oskar never rushes, but he doesn't waste time; everything is considered before he does it.
Absolutely love the details of that Graf, it's magnificent. Professionalism is in being so good at it that you are bored and annoyed, but completely conscientious anyway.
I have a 1977 Mossman Flint Hills that I bought brand new. It's picked up its share of scratches and dings over the years, but it's an amazing guitar. Every now and then, a guitar aficionado will recognize it and comment on how cool it is. There is just something special about a guitar from a serious luthier, hand-made and fretted over, if you will pardon the pun!
Man, you could write a juicy book with the amount of guitar history that you know and how well you write/speak. Maybe about history of American luthiery, or a luthiery textbook even. Ever thought about that?
Thank you so much for making this content!! Absolutely love the guitar history and the step by step repairs. So thankful I discovered your channel. This is my favorite thing to watch on CZcams.
Greetings from France. It's particularly satisfying right now to have a regular dose, amidst the insanity around us, of someone who does nothing more than take oddly shaped wooden contraptions and makes them better.
Wow! To hear you mention Stuart Mossman is wonderful! Met him once, got to play his guitar that he brought to the picking party! He was suffering from not wearing PPE finishing guitars, so sad. The guitar was great and so was he!
I have a guitar player who is constantly on a search for the one guitar to rule them all. Thanks to the sheer amount of guitars he's bought and sold over the years, I've had the opportunity to play some amazing guitars. Among them was a Mossman. To this day it's still one of the best sounding acoustic guitars I've ever played.
You're not cranky at all, Ted ! You're a joy to listen to and watch. Ive been watching you for possibly over 10 yrs - under different accounts. You're the best and enjoyable to watch.
Watching and listening to you explain and do things is quite enjoyable. I always feel the instruments were SO lucky to have landed in your hands. Some people I see work on both furniture and instruments have me holding my breath and feeling sorry for the objects. More people need your level of skill and perfection!
I'm not guitarist ,I'm a drummer and I like watching guitar repairs like yours for the craftsmanship and the out side the box " what's the best way to tackle this" type things. Nice work and you take pride to not do shabby work.
I felt that about liking guitars. I’m a trainer and i tell my clients I don’t like working out, but i love to problem solve and that’s what i work on getting better at, i workout cause with all my injuries i ache hard if i dont. Thank you for all these as they’re therapeutic :)
I know your work is a stressful battle. But it is *so* satisfying to watch your achievements!! If I ever need one of my guitars to have some serious attention, *you* would be the one I'd go to!! THANK you for the video!
After watching a bunch of your vids I decided to repair my old wrecked Epiphone acoustic bolt neck guitar that was a gift from my young wife in 1972. After many years of neglect the top collapsed under tension crushing the rosette in half and breaking the side under the neck as the neck block rotated forward. With much cursing, super glue, shims and braces I have returned this POS instrument to life. There originally was a zero fret that was NOT anywhere near to making intonation possible so I placed small chips of walrus ivory on the fretboard above the actual first fret and got it in tune, only the high and low E were ok. I am emotionally attached to this thing and will never discard it. Than you very much for all your good and well explained work, best regards, Giovanni
I’m in the middle of making my own custom shop making original electric guitars. I can’t really thank you enough for all the information I’ve gathered from your videos. Your channel is a treasure trove man, seriously thank you for taking the time.
As guitarist Is always a pleasure to watch your videos because I see the great passion you put in your work. I’ve always had a passion for luthier work (my uncle was a famous violin and viola luthier) but I have always limited myself to the ordinary maintenance of my instruments and I have always gone to luthiers for important changes even if, to test myself, I've built a couple of electric guitars.
What a great tip. I have a semi-hollow electric that had an annoying flubby sound quite noticeable on the G and B strings but only when amplified. I thought it might have been pickup-related but after watching this video, I found that the end-pin jack was loose, tightened it and the problem was gone. 👍 Thank you.
Thank you so much for spreading your knowledge all around. We need more craftsman like you to show their skill. We all can learn. I enjoyed every minute. I hope I can spread some knowledge, too. Long time ago I went to a doctors office and bought myself a pair of nose pliers for kids. I dipped the part that goes into the nose in Plasti Dip and use them for any output jack rapair. It grabs the jack perfectly from the inside and is sooooo handy! Regards, Etna.
I have applied the repair principals I have picked up from this channel mostly to things other than guitars. I find more value in watching people find creative ways to solving problems rather than getting a specific solution to a specific problem. Any content where I see someone approach a problem in a way that I would never have thought of, is very captivating to me for some reason. I think there is just a type of person out there that gravitates towards that type of CZcams content. Thanks for taking the time to put all of this out there. I certainly enjoy and get a lot out of it.
Your problem, Ted, is that even when what you're doing is boring, you have the ability to make it entertaining. You have the wisdom and wit to make even the most boring, repetitious and tedious job fascinating to watch because of the comments you make while engaged in the activity. I am so impressed by how you go to painstaking effort to ensure that what you do will in no way cause a nick, ding, or scratch to the guitar. Oh, if I had only been so cautious with my guitars over the years! I wait with baited breath for your new videos, they are the highlight of my meager existence! Thank you so much for your efforts!
I know that I always tell you about my brain injury. It's pretty serious. I was a guitar player with 30 years. I think this is within the next step i experience in my journey and watching you really teaches me a lot. I wish to thank you Ted. You taking my time watching your videos and I so very thing up, I am really soaking it up you need to please believe me. The ability to work on the guitar it means a hell of a lot to me if I cannot play anymore
Well, I’ve always been an overachiever because Uncle Wally’s Guitar Repairs has been in business for almost 20 yrs. now. I’m just as happy doing repairs as I was when I graduated from Luthier’s school. Building instruments and/or repairing them is a labor of love. I didn’t get into this business for money, I got into it because of my appreciation of craftsmanship and music. My grandfather was a violin maker so I guess some of it is in my blood. Always enjoy your videos and almost always learn something new. Keep up the good work. Thank you
I wonder if that little strip of Ebony on the nut slot edge was to prevent grain tear or break out ? You pointed out that the builder was thinking ahead when he designed the bridge and allowed for ease of maintenance but what if he was thinking about less damage to the guitar during bridge saddle cutting and nut removal ? Not many guitars have such a large trailing edge like that in the nut slot so maybe he was aware that end grain can get damaged easily when the nut is removed ?
It is there to compensate for a nut which is slightly too narrow for the recess. Common practice both at manufacture but far more likely when a nut has, at sometime, been replaced. And instantly points to why the guitar is buzzing on first string, first fret! Correct procedure would be to remove the strip and make a new nut to the correct width and height! A skilled job! But something I’ve had to do hundreds of times and something which is regarded as fairy routine procedure in any repair shop worth its salt! This really is fundamental stuff and would have been immediately noticed by any competent repairer! And, of course, let’s file down the the bottom of the saddle! Thus compromising the saddle’s vital contact with the bridge and any piezo pickup lurking there; well, can you file perfectly flat?! Far better to re-profile the top of the saddle but, of course, that’s a little more complicated than sandpaper and a, hopefully, perfectly flat surface and a perfectly steady hand!
@@paulmcronk The lacquer on the face of the headstock is continuous right across the add on piece, it looks like it was fitted before the lacquer was applied.
In the middle not every project I will have a moment where I go "building guitars is a mistake, I've wasted years of my life on this stupid hobby" and then I manage to power through it. I'm slowly working on bludgeoning the perfectionist part of my mind so that I can enjoy just making cool weird stuff for my own enjoyment.
Interesting exposé about Canadian guitar making. As a classical player, who has played and owned everything (including a gorgeous Fleta for twenty plus years), I now play a Canadian guitar by Daryl Perry. I have never looked back. I am not surprised about the high level of guitar making in Canada.
The rosette on that Graf is absolutely gorgeous. The entire guitar is beautiful, but that rosette is the standout feature, for me. I've started doing some minor lutherie thanks to inspiration from your calm, methodical approach, but for now it's staying as a hobby. I haven't even started looking to try to make money from it. And as for monograms and the like... I have an autograph, and I have a signature, and as they should be they're different things, so even though my income from "celebrity" so far has been enough to buy one container of oatmeal it's not possible to use an autograph to bamboozle my bank into giving access to my money; of the two, my autograph is the more legible one. I sign things often enough that my signature has ceased to be writing and become an easily repeatable drawing.
By the way, that guitar is a work of art. I want it around just to look at it: also imagine and appreciate the craftsmanship and time that went into building it. Outstanding indeed.
That's a gorgeous instrument. Edit: I love this community. So many with the same comment. I want to know how many commented immediately without watching the whole episode (raises hand)
I can totally understand about burnout when you are working on something day after day. I like to restore and refinish old furniture. It can be frustrating sometimes when you ar trying to get something just right. I like working with my hands and creating. I think that you are a master at what you do and I enjoy and look forward to seeing the craftsmanship!
That is a beautiful guitar. The craftsmanship of a handmade boutique maker where only four hundred guitars in an entire career makes me realize he wasn't in it for the money.
it sure is nice.lots of little/big details
That heel and rosette are some of the most elegant designs I've seen on a guitar- almost reminiscent of art-deco. What a beautiful instrument.
Your comments about repair having little to do with an interest in guitars, and your comments about burnout were very interesting. I'm one of those folks that was inspired enough by your videos to try it for myself, except for me it's stayed a hobby, so the interest has not given way to the frustration associated with making it a career. I've been going strong for a little over 2 years now and every guitar across my bench is still a challenge that excites me and teaches me. One way that I've kept it fun is that most of my jobs are used guitars that I've bought to repair, then I resell them to make my profit. Because they're "my" guitars, there's no real stress of schedules or of damaging someone else's pride and joy. This has become a hobby that I love, and the majority of the new procedures that I've tried were after watching you do it.
And there's a little tell in there, "*most of* my jobs"... Because at some point your buddies are going to realise you are doing good work and before you know it there's a top of the line Ovation acoustic and a 1968 SG on your bench :) Fear is your friend, fear keeps you focused...:)
I've always had the philosophy, do what you're good at to make money, but only ever do what makes you happy as a hobby, or part time. Its a rare thing, or rare type of person to be able to both have a job that you're good at, and keeps you happy for more than a short term. The simple act of making it a business, and the baggage that comes with it can often will suck the joy out of anything quickly. Ted seems to be the rare type here.
This was my retirement hobby with the same basic strategy (I only work on my "own" guitars). The hunt for old/ challenging guitars to repair was part of it. It's neat to see the "Pro" solve many of the same problems I had. Lot's of head slaps along the way!
I'm into that as well but I suck at selling stuff. I need to get better at the selling aspect because I can do the same thing buy guitars that need repairs fix them up and sell them for more than I paid for them. I usually end up keeping them for myself. I just got a Mitchell 12-string beautiful guitar somehow the saddle disappeared so the person sold it without a saddle to a pawnshop and I found it. got it dirt cheap installed a saddle in it and I can probably make a hundred bucks off it at least, all ready to go and the action is beautiful. And it plays like a dream.
@@dorfsteen I play bass in several groups and can usually sell my repairs into those groups, often for younger/beginner players. Lately I've been downsizing and had to let a number of my unrepaired ones go in garage sales. I've also "lent" a couple to friends of friends and ended up selling them.
Ted - you are NOT "cranky"! My wife and I consider you to be quite knowledgeable and articulate; filled dry humor, and very enjoyable to watch and learn from - even though we'll never service any of my brother's 50+ guitars! Personally, watching anyone who can overcome "today's impossible challenge" (Like with that broken husk of a Les Paul neck a month or so ago - AMAZING!) and enform their audience is a true joy, and you sir fall into that category! : )
I agree with you there
That Graf is stunning. Perfection everywhere you look. What a treat indeed.
Beautiful instrument but somewhat disconcerting that the guy doesn’t know his 2nd string from his 5th!! Personally, I would avoid as a repairer!!
@@paulmcronk You must be new around here.
@@matthewf1979 . A repairer with over 50 years experience. Originally apprenticed to Jack Brentnalls violin workshop in 1971. Worked on instruments for Issac Guillory, John Renbourne and technical advisor to Hohner, JHS and many others.
Yeah, I guess I’m new around here!
@@paulmcronk the thing about anonymous internet comment sections is there's no evidence to believe anything you say.
Tom here, is on video, showing his face and his excellent work for years now. You must be new here and not have had watched any of his hundreds of other videos to see his work.
@@matthewf1979 . Believe what you like my friend and, as I’ve already said, if you’re happy and impressed with this standard of work, then no problem.
May I recommend to you Andy Farrell, Kimberley, Nottingham. Alan Marshall, luthier, Northworthy Guitars, Hulland Ward. Jason, Millers Music Derby. All well documented, all capable of carrying out a much higher degree of workmanship. And all of whom will vouch for my credentials! But, if you’re happy, there you go!
I’ve seen all your videos, you never once struck me as cranky. Your fellow countryman, Dave, on the other hand…
I was there in the 70s; I got one of Jean's very first classicals and met a few of the crew. I had a Mossman, and a couple other luthier built gems of the period including a renaissance lute! Almost got a job with Larrivee! What a time that was, and that Graf is testimony to the talent and dedication that convened in that place and at that time, when there was so much promise and potential.
It wonderful to see a guitar maker I know and respect getting featured on this channel, I met Oskar a few years back at his home shop, and we got to talk about guitar building and history, as well as his own personal development.
He was quite enthusiastic about showing me some of the guitars he built, and the flattops were some of the best, most dynamic and responsive acoustic instruments I’vd ever been lucky enough to try.
He’s also had an influence by letting the blue skies festival happen on some of his land, which is just a wonderful friendly live music experience that my family has been going to since I was little.
When it comes to cranky Canadian luthiers, it is Dave, of the World of Fun Stuff, that defines “cranky”.
The Graf's problem with the nut and the input jack is exactly what's been going on with my Larivee for years! And now I see a connection between the two makers. Thanks!
The Bass in the intro Music really makes it pop better
Interesting musing about the comments to you about being a Luthier. Here's a different perspective .. My daughter (22 year old in her final year of her Chemical Engineering Masters) is a fan (as well as her peers). She enjoys the critical thinking, problems solving and accuracy.... hers words - things she doesn't see in her peers and industry. The up and coming skilled craftspeople of the need to find their inspirations somewhere ;). Love the channel.
She might also enjoy watching Eric O over at _South Main Auto_ here on CZcams. She might not be interested in car repair in general, but Eric emphasizes critical and logical thinking in order to diagnose and then fix a problem.
@@lwilton also watch the Psionic Audio channel for amp repair, modification, and sane redesign.
I'm teaching my 12 year old daughter for those same reasons. She asked to learn, and I'm loving that she is getting a practical skill, but also learning patience, to think sequentially, and understand consequences.
I've been repairing guitars for 7 years, and you are a constant inspiration to raise my standards and patience levels.
You know , I love guitars and I love playing but watching him work, the thing that is constantly in the back of my mind is the (I would imagine) constant need to re-string , tune, remove, repeat, test, re-string, makes me bonkers just to think about it. takes a better man than me. Well done as usual Mr Woodford.
Coming from a machining background, I smile a bit when I hear .005” is such a small adjustment. I love to see the precision you achieve on these instruments, especially since you are working with wood and other natural materials.
Thank you for these videos!
I play guitar and I love guitars but I don't want to be a luthier. Never the less I've learned so much watching you and am able to self diagnose issues with my guitars much more accurately.
Gorgeous wood selection and placement. Wow! Thanks for the tour.
Hi, I always learn something from watching your videos and I've been repairing instruments for about 15 years. So I suppose I've crossed over to the other side by now. What I appreciate most is that when you're suffering, I'm suffering too, just not physically. I have big hands as well, and you know what that means, they're always getting stuck in the sound hole and are gnarly after all of the abuse. But I have to say that there's nothing better that taking a persons prized possession and bringing it back from the dead to sing again. I recently repaired my partner's father's classical guitar that he played for her as she was growing up in the heady days of the folk revolution. The poor thing had been hidden in the back of a closet for many years and it was only after his death that someone thought to go looking for it. It was in deep deep trouble. But I took my time and pieced it back together and the look on June's face was well worth all the torment and trouble and a bit more. So, I guess the good really does balance out the bad. You are a very talented craftsman and a great teacher. I just wanted to thank you.
Polishing ....... Polishing ........... ........... ............. Polishing.
Fwew, the suspence was killing me.
Thanks so much for this video. I own an Oskar Graf acoustic bass guitar (and a Marc Beneteau 6-string, another fine underknown Canadian luthier), and spent a little time in Oskar's former shop. One of the most peaceful places one might imagine, with a great forest view out the window. Oskar never rushes, but he doesn't waste time; everything is considered before he does it.
Beautiful Guitar 💐
Ted talking about slipping something slender and stiff into a hole super casual
Absolutely love the details of that Graf, it's magnificent. Professionalism is in being so good at it that you are bored and annoyed, but completely conscientious anyway.
I have a 1977 Mossman Flint Hills that I bought brand new. It's picked up its share of scratches and dings over the years, but it's an amazing guitar. Every now and then, a guitar aficionado will recognize it and comment on how cool it is. There is just something special about a guitar from a serious luthier, hand-made and fretted over, if you will pardon the pun!
Love watching the care you give to each and every job...you are a Luthier's Luther!!!!
What draws me to your videos is not only that I love guitars but the fact that you are a true craftsman. I appreciate your knowledge and precise work.
I really loved the history lesson at the start.
Man, you could write a juicy book with the amount of guitar history that you know and how well you write/speak. Maybe about history of American luthiery, or a luthiery textbook even. Ever thought about that?
I'm livin day till dawn to see the next twoodfrd video drop to my inbox. many thanks
*Clatter*
"..... Yeah......"
I feel your pain! lol
Thank you so much for making this content!! Absolutely love the guitar history and the step by step repairs. So thankful I discovered your channel. This is my favorite thing to watch on CZcams.
'Driftwood Guitars' and 'Tom Sands' might also be worth a look if you've not seen them, along with Tony Polecastro's 'Acoustic Life'.
@@nedludd3641 thanks for the recommendation will check out
One could easily fall asleep next to a campfire with Ted playing guitar. AMSR.
Greetings from France.
It's particularly satisfying right now to have a regular dose, amidst the insanity around us, of someone who does nothing more than take oddly shaped wooden contraptions and makes them better.
Wow! To hear you mention Stuart Mossman is wonderful! Met him once, got to play his guitar that he brought to the picking party! He was suffering from not wearing PPE finishing guitars, so sad. The guitar was great and so was he!
I have a guitar player who is constantly on a search for the one guitar to rule them all. Thanks to the sheer amount of guitars he's bought and sold over the years, I've had the opportunity to play some amazing guitars. Among them was a Mossman. To this day it's still one of the best sounding acoustic guitars I've ever played.
Amazing as always.
You're not cranky at all, Ted ! You're a joy to listen to and watch. Ive been watching you for possibly over 10 yrs - under different accounts. You're the best and enjoyable to watch.
Oh boy do I love your videos! Keep'em coming please
Wow, that's a BEAUTIFUL guitar!
Cheers to the lucky soul who owns that Graf.
That Graf is truly a visual feast. Normally don't care for that level of decoration but here is proof it can be done tastefully.
Watching and listening to you explain and do things is quite enjoyable. I always feel the instruments were SO lucky to have landed in your hands. Some people I see work on both furniture and instruments have me holding my breath and feeling sorry for the objects. More people need your level of skill and perfection!
Thank you for ALL your videos. 👍🙂
Thanks for playing them for us Ted.
Gorgeous Graf acoustic! ❤️❤️❤️
I’ll enjoy this one!!!! Love your vids. They are like a history lesson and luthier school all in one
Such great information that is not well known about our amazing guitar legacy!
Thanks so much.
Ha Ha Ha - it looked like you were sneaking up on a sleeping cat trying to get that screw started. Nice work!
Always enjoy your work and narration. 🙂
excellent......thanks!!!!!!the Graf sounds great!!!
Beautiful guitar
I'm not guitarist ,I'm a drummer and I like watching guitar repairs like yours for the craftsmanship and the out side the box " what's the best way to tackle this" type things. Nice work and you take pride to not do shabby work.
Awesome channel and craftsmanship 👍🏻
Thank you for another great video, Ted!
Amazing work
All I can say is...God bless you Ted for all you do...we players appreciate you!!!
I felt that about liking guitars. I’m a trainer and i tell my clients I don’t like working out, but i love to problem solve and that’s what i work on getting better at, i workout cause with all my injuries i ache hard if i dont. Thank you for all these as they’re therapeutic :)
I know your work is a stressful battle. But it is *so* satisfying to watch your achievements!! If I ever need one of my guitars to have some serious attention, *you* would be the one I'd go to!! THANK you for the video!
That Graf is a real beauty!
2:38 WOW, the detail and craftsmanship! Geez
Nice looking National. I like the steel ones, too.
You do a good job entertaining us guitar freaks
That is one lovely acoustic.
thank you. very cool instruments.
Oh. My. Days!
That Graf is one hell of an instrument, both in appearance and, more importantly, sonically too.
I'm really happy to see how you shimmed that nut. That's a fix that's accessible. Thank you for showing that.
Love that headstock
After watching a bunch of your vids I decided to repair my old wrecked Epiphone acoustic bolt neck guitar that was a gift from my young wife in 1972. After many years of neglect the top collapsed under tension crushing the rosette in half and breaking the side under the neck as the neck block rotated forward. With much cursing, super glue, shims and braces I have returned this POS instrument to life. There originally was a zero fret that was NOT anywhere near to making intonation possible so I placed small chips of walrus ivory on the fretboard above the actual first fret and got it in tune, only the high and low E were ok. I am emotionally attached to this thing and will never discard it. Than you very much for all your good and well explained work, best regards, Giovanni
I’m in the middle of making my own custom shop making original electric guitars. I can’t really thank you enough for all the information I’ve gathered from your videos. Your channel is a treasure trove man, seriously thank you for taking the time.
That was a pretty friggin awesome guitar
I always enjoy your channel so much.
Your voice gives me hope in these dark times.
I'm just not sure how.
Thank you 🎸
Just a kind note to fortify. Another excellent Sunday luthier video.Thank you.
Ted… a wealth of historic luthieric knowledge. I disengage from the weekly guitar mass encouraged, educated, and edified. Go Team Woodford.
That Graf is unreal nice.
As guitarist Is always a pleasure to watch your videos because I see the great passion you put in your work. I’ve always had a passion for luthier work (my uncle was a famous violin and viola luthier) but I have always limited myself to the ordinary maintenance of my instruments and I have always gone to luthiers for important changes even if, to test myself, I've built a couple of electric guitars.
What a great tip. I have a semi-hollow electric that had an annoying flubby sound quite noticeable on the G and B strings but only when amplified. I thought it might have been pickup-related but after watching this video, I found that the end-pin jack was loose, tightened it and the problem was gone. 👍 Thank you.
Good video twoofrd, keep up the good work.
What a lovely instrument. M Graf was a clever builder.
Thank you so much for spreading your knowledge all around. We need more craftsman like you to show their skill. We all can learn. I enjoyed every minute. I hope I can spread some knowledge, too. Long time ago I went to a doctors office and bought myself a pair of nose pliers for kids. I dipped the part that goes into the nose in Plasti Dip and use them for any output jack rapair. It grabs the jack perfectly from the inside and is sooooo handy!
Regards,
Etna.
That Oskar Graf is a truly gorgeous guitar.
I have applied the repair principals I have picked up from this channel mostly to things other than guitars. I find more value in watching people find creative ways to solving problems rather than getting a specific solution to a specific problem. Any content where I see someone approach a problem in a way that I would never have thought of, is very captivating to me for some reason. I think there is just a type of person out there that gravitates towards that type of CZcams content. Thanks for taking the time to put all of this out there. I certainly enjoy and get a lot out of it.
The internal bracing shot looks fittingly like a cathedral ceiling, only thing missing was a painting by Michelangelo or one of the other turtles
“As good or better than you were yesterday.” Sounds like a Formula 1 mentality to me!
Love the reference to race cars,,,,thats my profession and this kind of work parallels in so many ways !
I don't have any particular attraction to guitars, I just like to watch craftsmen doing their job well. I appreciate your craftsmanship!
Your problem, Ted, is that even when what you're doing is boring, you have the ability to make it entertaining. You have the wisdom and wit to make even the most boring, repetitious and tedious job fascinating to watch because of the comments you make while engaged in the activity. I am so impressed by how you go to painstaking effort to ensure that what you do will in no way cause a nick, ding, or scratch to the guitar. Oh, if I had only been so cautious with my guitars over the years! I wait with baited breath for your new videos, they are the highlight of my meager existence! Thank you so much for your efforts!
I know that I always tell you about my brain injury. It's pretty serious. I was a guitar player with 30 years. I think this is within the next step i experience in my journey and watching you really teaches me a lot. I wish to thank you Ted. You taking my time watching your videos and I so very thing up, I am really soaking it up you need to please believe me. The ability to work on the guitar it means a hell of a lot to me if I cannot play anymore
That Graf guitar sounds fantastic :)
Well, I’ve always been an overachiever because Uncle Wally’s Guitar Repairs has been in business for almost 20 yrs. now. I’m just as happy doing repairs as I was when I graduated from Luthier’s school. Building instruments and/or repairing them is a labor of love. I didn’t get into this business for money, I got into it because of my appreciation of craftsmanship and music. My grandfather was a violin maker so I guess some of it is in my blood. Always enjoy your videos and almost always learn something new. Keep up the good work. Thank you
I wonder if that little strip of Ebony on the nut slot edge was to prevent grain tear or break out ?
You pointed out that the builder was thinking ahead when he designed the bridge and allowed for ease of maintenance but what if he was thinking about less damage to the guitar during bridge saddle cutting and nut removal ? Not many guitars have such a large trailing edge like that in the nut slot so maybe he was aware that end grain can get damaged easily when the nut is removed ?
Solid train of thought there, Ian. Makes sense.
Exactly what I was thinking👍🏻
It is there to compensate for a nut which is slightly too narrow for the recess. Common practice both at manufacture but far more likely when a nut has, at sometime, been replaced. And instantly points to why the guitar is buzzing on first string, first fret! Correct procedure would be to remove the strip and make a new nut to the correct width and height! A skilled job! But something I’ve had to do hundreds of times and something which is regarded as fairy routine procedure in any repair shop worth its salt!
This really is fundamental stuff and would have been immediately noticed by any competent repairer!
And, of course, let’s file down the the bottom of the saddle! Thus compromising the saddle’s vital contact with the bridge and any piezo pickup lurking there; well, can you file perfectly flat?!
Far better to re-profile the top of the saddle but, of course, that’s a little more complicated than sandpaper and a, hopefully, perfectly flat surface and a perfectly steady hand!
@@paulmcronk The lacquer on the face of the headstock is continuous right across the add on piece, it looks like it was fitted before the lacquer was applied.
@@paulmcronk Are you saying T. Woodford is not a competent repairer?
Nice work
In the middle not every project I will have a moment where I go "building guitars is a mistake, I've wasted years of my life on this stupid hobby" and then I manage to power through it. I'm slowly working on bludgeoning the perfectionist part of my mind so that I can enjoy just making cool weird stuff for my own enjoyment.
Interesting exposé about Canadian guitar making. As a classical player, who has played and owned everything (including a gorgeous Fleta for twenty plus years), I now play a Canadian guitar by Daryl Perry. I have never looked back. I am not surprised about the high level of guitar making in Canada.
The rosette on that Graf is absolutely gorgeous. The entire guitar is beautiful, but that rosette is the standout feature, for me.
I've started doing some minor lutherie thanks to inspiration from your calm, methodical approach, but for now it's staying as a hobby. I haven't even started looking to try to make money from it.
And as for monograms and the like... I have an autograph, and I have a signature, and as they should be they're different things, so even though my income from "celebrity" so far has been enough to buy one container of oatmeal it's not possible to use an autograph to bamboozle my bank into giving access to my money; of the two, my autograph is the more legible one. I sign things often enough that my signature has ceased to be writing and become an easily repeatable drawing.
Enjoy your channel bud thanks for sharing. Respect.
That bracing is artwork.
By the way, that guitar is a work of art. I want it around just to look at it: also imagine and appreciate the craftsmanship and time that went into building it. Outstanding indeed.
That's a gorgeous instrument. Edit: I love this community. So many with the same comment. I want to know how many commented immediately without watching the whole episode (raises hand)
I don't play guitar however I am a fan of the instrument. I watch and thouroughly everyone of your videos.
I can totally understand about burnout when you are working on something day after day. I like to restore and refinish old furniture. It can be frustrating sometimes when you ar trying to get something just right. I like working with my hands and creating. I think that you are a master at what you do and I enjoy and look forward to seeing the craftsmanship!
👍 Amazing guitar! Looks really well build. And sounds fantastic, too! The rosette is really intricate and interesting. I wonder how it's made...