Roger Williams Guitars

Restorations and repairs

In addition to making hand-made guitars I also do a limited number of specialised restorations, modifications and repairs.  I specialise in restoring old guitars that are finished in shellac French-polish.  Please note that I do not spray Nitro-cellulose lacquer it is an extreme health hazard.  However I do a commendable job of brushing the stuff and can patch finishes reasonably cleanly.

A very small sample of typical repairs and restorations is described below.

1982 Antonio Marin Classical Guitar for Xuefei Yang

This poor guitar was quite dilapidated when it arrived at my studio.  The previous owner had converted it to a "Flamenco" style guitar complete with huge golpeador and it had been badly abused!  On close examination, all three back braces were detached, the table was scarred and dented and the fingerboard and frets were in a dreadful state.  Some weeks later however after a full refresh and polish it's true character had been restored and 'Fei is delighted with it.

1969 Guild Parlour guitar for Gordon Giltrap

The neck had lifted to such an extent that it needed a reset.  This job needs to be done carefully and is not for the inexperienced or fainthearted, it is all too easy to damage the finish or remove too much material.

Roger Bucknall (Fylde Guitars) steel-string acoustic for Gordon Giltrap

The table had collapsed and needed re-bracing from the inside, a new bridge made and fitted with a Bridge-Doctor to keep the table flat, refret and complete refinish with shellac French polish.

Taylor 414 steel-string guitar

The owners wife had dropped a plant-pot on this one, but he loved the neck shape so much he wanted the top replaced at any cost!

Roudhloff c. 1840

This gorgeous baroque guitar was basically in sound condition but there were several cracks in the table and Brazilian Rosewood ribs that needed careful splining and cleating.  The bridge was nearly off and badly distorted and the French-polish finish was very poor in places.

Martin Fleeson Classical Guitar for Raymond Burley

Raymond Burley has recorded and performed with his Martin Fleeson guitar for over twenty years, and although it is now retired it is still a much-loved instrument.  I recently completed a major restoration and it now looks and plays like new, much to Ray's delight!

Intonation correction

The saddle illustrated is from a Harmony 12 string guitar belonging to Gordon Giltrap (check-out Gordon's website here ).  The intonation had been a problem for many years (as it often is with 12 strings), and my work on several other guitars of Gordon's was so successful he asked me to correct this one - and yes, it now plays in tune on all octaves and harmonics!

Repair work undertaken

• General repairs to all types of fretted instruments, including re-frets, fret-dressing, setups, new nuts and saddles etc.

• Restoring historical and cherished, classical and flamenco guitars that are French-polished

• Intonation correction for nylon and steel-string guitars (ask Gordon or Ray!).  Let me put your guitar back in-tune!

• I specialise in recommending and installing pickup systems to all types of acoustic guitars

I can arrange to have your guitar collected and delivered to my studio; please see my Shipping Instructions.