A sad story about my $3,000 Martin D-18 Guitar
By The Horse
@TheHorse (203765)
Walnut Creek, California
July 11, 2019 4:58pm CST
I bought my Martin D-18 dreadnought guitar about two (maybe three now) years ago. It was to be my "cannon," my largest and loudest guitar, mainly for use at acoustic (no amplification) jam session with friends.
I got the guitar for only $2000 at Guitar Center and was amazed by its beauty (mahogany rarely has cross-grain lines as distinct as this one) and sound (it is bold, yet balanced).
I was surprised when some of the binding (the dark plastic around the edges of the guitar) "came up," but I did some research, bought the necessary glue, and glued it back down. It looked nearly perfect from more than a foot away (see photo) but there was a minor gap I wanted filled so I wouldn't "obsess" about it.
Recently, I took the guitar to a "Martin Licensed Warranty Repair Facility" to have some final touch up done on my repair.
The fella who did the work on it "butchered" my guitar. He used a kind of glue I'd never used, and did so without masking the guitar. Said glue pulled up the finish and made light brown splotches on both the back and the side of the guitar that are literally 2" long and 0.5" wide.
I refused to take the guitar home and (after speaking with the folks at Martin Guitars) ultimately called the shop, instructing them to send the guitar to Martin Guitars, in Nazareth Pennsylvania, where they will know how to repair his error, use the proper finish to color-match, and return the guitar to me in "like-new" condition.
I will be without my Martin D-18 for literally two to four months. Have you ever had someone totally screw up a minor (or major) repair to your guitar, car, house, etc.? Sometimes the "experts" are no better than we are after doing a bit of research. My Larrivee D-03E (the one that was once broken by United Airlines, and later fixed by Larrivee) will be seeing some extra action over the next few months.
17 people like this
15 responses
@Dena91 (15776)
• United States
12 Jul 19
I am so sorry that happened to your guitar. Good thing you refused to take it after you saw what they did. I wonder how many people just take the thing worked on because they don't want to deal with the people.
Only once did we take a car for a front end alignment, in which the man said he wished he had a mirror so he could kiss himself, because it was the best alignment he ever did. Once Mike and I pulled out we knew it was the the same as it was when we took it in. We called, talked with the manager to let him know we would never be back.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
11 Jul 19
All kinds of people really mess up. We have a stick shift car that is older, that a mechanic messed up the shifter. At this point we cannot find a replacement anywhere.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
12 Jul 19
Yes, I have experienced some major screw ups in my life.
On a car I had, the garage put in a wrong piece which burned all the electrical wiring and then they refused to fix it and I had to go to court.
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
12 Jul 19
Did you ask for a “loaner” while yours is in the shop? This is music after all!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (455039)
• Switzerland
12 Jul 19
I am so sorry, but this is the sad reality, sometimes the workers make more damages than good. My husband had a problem years ago with his Mercedes car. He took the car to the garage for a simple and easy annual routine check and when we went back to get the car, it had a dent on the back. My husband is not someone who shuts up and keep quiet, he had the car repaired, but he was furious.
@xander6464 (40718)
• Wapello, Iowa
16 Jul 19
I wish Martin would have forced the shop to let you have a comparable guitar for the time it'll take to repair yours but at least it's "only" 2-4 months.
This is the second time this week, I've felt compelled to quote the same Frank Zappa song in a comment. Sorry for the repeat but I will use a different verse this time:
They can't fix yer brakes
You ask 'em, "where's my motor? " "well, it was eaten by snakes"
You can stab 'n' shoot 'n' spit
But they won't be fixin' it
They're lyin' an' lazy
They can be drivin' you crazy
@wolfgirl569 (93556)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Jul 19
Sorry you have had so much trouble. I know you were looking forward to getting it back.
@BarBaraPrz (45226)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Jul 19
Well, that's not good. And you say UA broke one of your other guitars? What guitar god did you anger?