Kovacik Guitars and Fretted Instrument Repair

Just finished up my first neck reset on a Larson Bros./WJ Dyer Symphony harp guitar (style 7). I've had other harp guitars in the shop through the years but this is the first that I had to pull and reset the neck. It was a challenge, because the opposing sides of the heel rather than existing in the same plane and are parallel (as is the case with a regular guitar of almost any make) are neither parallel nor in the same plane. The neck joins the body at the 13th fret on th...e treble side of the fret board while on the bass side it joins the body just forward of the 12th fret. This asymmetry is due to the curvature of the upper part of the body. While neck resetting becomes somewhat second nature/routine after having done a countless number of them this one was definitely not routine. But all went well, and the guitar plays great and sounds fantastic. I've got another waiting in the wings (a style 4) that also needs a reset that will come to the bench very soon. See more

Just in...2011 Merrill C-35...this is a spectacular guitar. Brazilian back and sides, red spruce top, ebony board and bridge, T-bar neck reinforcement, pre-war forward shifted scalloped top bracing, pre-war tone without the pre-war price. Check out the listing on the website for more photos and a sound file to be posted soon. $6850 plus shipping.

Just in...1950s era Martin Concert sized uke in excellent condition with original case. This uke has no cracks or damage, no repairs in the past and none needed now, one minor finish scrape on the top and one (even more) minor scuff on the back and that's the extent of the 'wear.' Plays and sounds great. Put a smile on your face! $995 + shipping.

Just In...1995 Gibson J-200 with original hard case. One owner guitar in superb condition...all original, virtually no wear. Just a little bit of lacquer crazing in a few spots and a tiny bit of fret wear in the first position keep me from describing it as mint. Flame maple back and sides, tight grain spruce top, rosewood board and bridge, factory original electronics...gorgeous. Big voice for strumming or picking. Go on over to the website for more pics and details. $3200 plus shipping, or c'mon over and pick it up!

Just putting the finishing touches on #81 before shipping it out to its new home. This guitar is the most recent reproduction of the 1968 D-45 built for one of my dealer-clients. The guitar is made with solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides (old stock Martin wood from the 60s), a German spruce top (what Martin used on the D-45 in '68) and other details specific to the year like a 'boxed' end piece, black pickguard and gold Grover "milk bottle" Rotomatics. Built to '68 specs on customer request.

Here's something you don't see every day...it's 1904 Martin 1-42, one of 8 made in that year and one of only 44 ever made. This guitar came to the shop from a client needing a neck reset, some fret work and a few other details tended-to but it is a lovely specimen that is crack free and quite clean. Sounds like another century.