OK, so a fellow comes to me (just yesterday) with an old cherry vintage Martin D-18. The guitar was inherited from his dad and is in pretty fair shape. He hands it to me and I can see that a few things needed to be addressed: a small crack on the face needs to be repaired, some binding needs to be reglued, and the frets are significantly worn. Maybe a neck reset--- maybe not. We'll see. All fair enough.
Now comes the tough part... he wants the guitar refretted with "high & wide" Ibanez-style rock frets. AND he wants a hole drilled in the top to install a pickup.I took the guitar and mumbled that I'd call him today with an estimate.
The last thing in the world this guitar needs is "rock and roll" frets! These old D-18's don't need (or want) frets made for a Korean solidbody electric guitar. And here comes the dillema: do I perform the work as the customer requests...OR... do I act as an advocate for the guitar and refret it per the original specs?
Please understand that I usually believe "the customer is always right"...but in this case... he's WRONG! Where is my responsibility? To the customer or the guitar? I tried to talk some sense into him, but he stands firm... he wants the !$#@ rock & roll frets AND he wants a hole drilled for a pickup volume control. Ouch. There are actually 2 issues: the frets can always be "reversed" back to the originals.... but a hole is forever!
So ya' know what I'm gonna do? I'll call this guy in about ten minutes and tell him to pick up his guitar and that I can't help him! It goes against my grain to turn down work, but this just doesn't sit well. My conscience won't let me do it.
Had this been a 70's Gibson Hummingbird or an 80's Yamaha...no problem! But damned if I'll be a party to descecrating a beautiful vintage Martin D-18 just to make a buck or two.
OK...What do YOU think? What's the line that a repairman should (or shouldn't) cross when it comes to modifying vintage instruments? It's the age-old dilemma of doing the RIGHT thing for your soul or the WRONG thing for personal gratification, isn't it?
good pickin'.... Mike Kolb
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