Restoration Music

09/26/2025

https://prsguitars.com/blog/post/learn_the_story_of_the_s2_reclaimed_series

Introducing the S2 Special Semi-Hollow Reclaimed Limited Edition, a run of 700 unique guitars manufactured from reclaimed and salvaged woods.

09/26/2025

Another special run of Reclaimed Limited guitars from Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars. These woods are reclaimed from buildings in Brazil, are 100+ years old. Peroba Rosa and Guaribo Preto, with Mahogany salvaged from Puerto Rican trees downed by Hurricane Maria all combine to make a very cool guitar. I have been using some of these same woods in my guitars, from the same source. Check out the new PRS model Here: https://prsguitars.com/electrics/model/s2_special_semi_hollow_reclaimed_limited_edition_2025

08/08/2025

Hot off the bench. Gibson J-45 slope shoulder built to a 1947 bracing plan. Abalone trim and a belly bridge are not really Gibson-ish, but the nature of a custom guitar is to give the customer what they want, even if Gibson never made such a model. Honduran Mahogany cut from the crotch of the tree paired with Cuban Mahogany sides and a Carpathian Spruce soundboard. Equipped with a Baggs Hi-Fi pickup system.

07/12/2025

The electric guitar I built from reclaimed Brazilian Peroba Rosa sold at auction. Must have been Billy Gibbon's autograph. I think I got $1500 for it. It was for a good cause.

06/24/2025

Thanks Carlos Narvaez for the positive review.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DK7505rSYjo/

06/15/2025

A reel by Carlos Narvaez on InstaG about one of the Peroba Rosa guitars. I don't speak Spanish, but I think Carlos likes it. Carlos lives in Puerto Rico and is a lover of guitars, especially Paul Reed Smith guitars. and a close friend of the Wood Man. Thanks Carlos. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK5GLNPymtX/?igsh=MXB4Y3Vib3Qyd2J6Mw%3D%3D

06/10/2025

A couple of recently completed acoustics - a Martin-style OM and a 00 with reclaimed 100 year old Peroba Rosa back and sides. Torrefied Red Spruce (Adirondack) tops. Wood supplied by the world's foremost expert on arcane Brazilian hardwoods. You know who you are. In addition to being visually striking, this wood produces a wonderful tone. Somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. I hope the Buddha approves and blesses them

06/09/2025

This is a guitar I built for my friend Michael Reid. Michael is the Sr. Wood Buyer for Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars. The woods in this guitar is Peroba Rosa (top), Guaribo Preto (fretboard), Peroba De Campo (neck) and Brauna Preto (pickguard). Michael donated the guitar to an environmental organization in Montana. It now sports the signature of Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. It will be auctioned to raise funds to support the Big Hole River watershed in Montana. Bid early and often.

07/18/2024

A duo of Gibson style Mahogany L-00s getting ready for finish. Necks nearly complete. One is curly Mahogany with a Torrefied Sitka top. The other is Mahogany with a Carpathian Spruce top. These will be the last guitars to come out of the Dawn St. shop.

05/01/2024

Without a correction to the neck angle, this guitar would be virtually unplayable. This presented a real challenge because the neck heel is conical and had no surface that can be used to coax the neck dovetail out from the body. Fortunately, the neck shaft and heel are joined with a complex slotted joint. Once the fingerboard extension was loosened, the shaft/heel joint was very loose, and it was easy to correct the neck angle simply by injecting hot hide glue in the joint and clamping it to restore a proper neck angle. A thin ebony wedge under the fretboard extension solidified the neck back to the proper angle.

05/01/2024

Sometimes a really interesting guitar will come in to the shop needing attention. This one is a 175 year old Martin 2-17. The original Jerome tuners on the guitar date it to between 1840 and 1850. The bracing pattern shown here is from a photo in Pat DiBurro's excellent Martin guitar repair guide (https://www.amazon.com/C-F-Martin-Guitars-Patrick-DiBurro/dp/1574244183). This guitar needed some crack repairs, and already had several that were repaired previously. The non-original bridge was lifting as well. Lastly the neck angle needed serious correction. A neck reset on this one was made very challenging due to the "ice cream cone" neck heel. Note the stamp in the neck block - it's upside down. This is typical of very early Martins.

From https://vintagemartin.com/stamps.html:

"With the exception of a few early examples with the Spanish foot, such as the one above, all of the neck block stamps I've seen on Martins from the very earliest to this example built in March, 1889 are upside down. "

12/16/2023

Here's a 12 fret 00 with Cocobolo Rosewood and Torrefied Sitka Spruce. Lot's of abalone trim on this one. Getting ready for finish. Only a wash coat of shellac at this point.