Guitar Repair in London

[Wibbleflex]

Reposting in new forum in case there's any more ideas.

Can you recommend anyone in London (or not far) for guitar repairs?

[Studio Support Gnome]

Machine Head.
The guitar Experience
Chandlers.
Angel Guitars
Andy's guitars

There's usually a few advertising in the classifieds section in the back of guitarist mag.... go check it out...

I should probably spend some time investigating this subject.... Obviously I never have to worry about it for myself, but It might be nice to be able to give people current and useful advice

Max

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Joseph Kaye guitars. Man's a genius.

[shroop]

Celine at Luthier's Corner in Denmark Street is an artist. Google 'Luthier's Corner' for details.

[DAGGILARR]

I played one of this guys guitars in Ivor Mairants shop and had a chat with him and swore that when I needed work done, if I could, I would have him do it. His skills are outstanding.

David Antony Reid

[agent funk]

Am I missing something here, I mean 9 years between posts must be a record!

[DAGGILARR]

Am I missing something here, I mean 9 years between posts must be a record!

oops

[caveman82]

I played one of this guys guitars in Ivor Mairants shop and had a chat with him and swore that when I needed work done, if I could, I would have him do it. His skills are outstanding.

David Antony Reid

+1

[Jabba1]

Knights Guitars in Surrey. Did an amazing job on a severely bashed vintage Gretsch of mine. Cant reccomend them highly enough.

https://www.facebook.com/knightrepairs?ref=ts&fref=ts

[Frisonic]

I think that covers everyone I know of except Wild Guitars in Highgate/Muswell Hill.

[SecretSam]

Just to record that 'Chandlers' and 'Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience' are two different institutions these days. Or they were last time I looked.

[Frisonic]

They are. And there tend to be two camps of thought as to which is the better emporium. Chandler is the original shop. Charlie Chandler is the brother of the founder. There have been family and professional bust ups over the years. Personally I use the Chandler bench for all my luthier services, the head luthiers being Brinsley Schwarz and Andrew Scrimshaw, with Jess Hoff of Lazy J Projects providing amp tech services on site one day a week. Other's feel Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience is the better bench. And not that it makes any material difference but for clarity Charlie Chandler is not the Chaz Chandler of Animals and Jimi Hendrix association (who died in 1996). Although Pauline, Charlie's ex sister in law (who remains I believe now joint owner of Chandlers - she and her first husband started the first business in 1979 and Charlie worked for them for some years) did once meet Jimi Hendrix at a church fete in Kent. All over buttered scones and a nice cup of tea. So there you go. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Or not! A quick peek at either of their client lists will reveal much of their respective, illustrious histories.

[Andy_79]

Speaking of Chandlers in Kew, I once had a guitar put together by Charlie, back in the early '90s. On the day it was ready to collect I couldn't go so bribed a mate to go along. When he walked in the door he sees Gary Moore sitting on an amp blasting away on a Les Paul. Twenty years on he's still going on about it.

Another tale, this one more of a warning, I asked one of the above centrally located London repair shops to refret a neck ( the one from Chandlers, as it happens ) and think I was diddled. It's my fault for not paying enough attention to the details at the time but I'm pretty sure all they did was relevel the frets that were on it. I say this because a)the new frets didn't measure up height-wise to what I asked for and b) there was absolutely no signs of any frets being removed ( a maple neck ).

Anyone else ever been handed a relevel instead of a refret?

[Salli]

For the guy who recommended Joseph Kaye, I know 2 people who have been fleeced by that guy. He will try to find extra things to charge you (like pickups, bridge, nut) and somehow do work you never asked for and talk you into paying more. Maybe he used to have more dignity, but it is not a coincidence that I know 2 guys who have been messed about by Joe. I hope he stops this behavour!

[zenguitar]

For the guy who recommended Joseph Kaye, I know 2 people who have been fleeced by that guy. He will try to find extra things to charge you (like pickups, bridge, nut) and somehow do work you never asked for and talk you into paying more. Maybe he used to have more dignity, but it is not a coincidence that I know 2 guys who have been messed about by Joe. I hope he stops this behavour!

You have gone to a lot of effort to revive a 9 year old topic with unsubstantiated "friend of a friend" allegations.

I don't know Joseph Kaye and how well qualified he is. But equally I don't know you and how well qualified you are to critique his work.

Andy

[Moroccomoose]

I can recommend Knight guitars http://www.knight-guitars.com in Addlestone. Its been a while since I used them, but they did a lovely job on my vintage gretsch. Back in the day, they had a few big names on the books, but I think the son continues the business now.

Stu

[adrian_k]

Knights Guitars in Surrey. Did an amazing job on a severely bashed vintage Gretsch of mine. Cant reccomend them highly enough.

https://www.facebook.com/knightrepairs?ref=ts&fref=ts

Deja vu!

[Arpangel]

Chandlers Guitars.
Charlie Chandler is a man of integrity, a true gent, with a sincere passion for what he does.
Never miss an opportunity to recommend him.