It was a treat to perform at Brent Kirby’s 10×3 on June 19th. As a Cleveland area luthier, it’s rare I get to perform with instruments that I restore or repair. But that’s just what happened last night. When the output jack on my archtop failed, Ray Flanagan loaned me his 1923 Gibson L-01. I had done some major crack repair restoration to bring it back to life. Here’s me and the Gibson performing two of mine, “Jessica” and “Neptune Bar & Grill” then an old favorite with everyone singing along.
Author: Jim Kozel
Damien & Dantez are Reunited
As Pablo Casals said, “Perhaps it is music that will save the world.” Music is our universal language. All of us appreciate, perform, play it. This is not much of a repair video, but please allow me to introduce you to a present and future voice for our “universal language”. Meeting artists like Damien tempers my cynicism and feeds my hope.
Neptune Bar & Grille by Jim Kozel
As a Cleveland-area luthier and musician, one of my favorite venues is Brother’s Wine Bar. Every Wednesday night Brent Kirby hosts a 10×3 writers night. Ten acts, each performing at least two original compositions.
The February 13, 2019 10×3 was special in that each performer was assigned the task of writing a new song that incorporated the words “Neptune”, “Tuesday”, “memories”, and “maker”. Here’s my debut performance of, Neptune Bar & Grill.
Vintage Silvertone Parlor Guitar Makeover
Cleveland-based musician Rob Miller brought his new find, a vintage Silvertone parlor guitar, into the shop for some TLC. Here’s how we turned it into a very nice player.
Martin OM crack repair using winch clamps & button cleats.
Side fractures can be challenging to reach and repair. Here’s a detailed video on how I use winch clamps and button cleats to access and repair a crack on a Martin OM.
Jim Kozel, Luthier (Bay Village, Ohio)
Chad Hoffman’s Gibson J-45…34″ of crack repair.
As a Cleveland-based luthier, I see a wide range of instruments needing everything from a basic setup, to minor repairs and involved restoration. Chad Hoffman’s Gibson J-45 presented an unusual challenge. Damaged at a gig, it required 34″ of crack repair. Here’s how it was done.
Harmony Monterey Archtop Crack Repair x 5
As a Cleveland-based luthier doing guitar repair and restoration, I see quite a few instruments requiring crack repair. Instruments are allowed to dry out in the winter months or left in cars during the summer. Car interiors can get to over 115 degrees and down to 14% humidity during the summer months! This Harmony Monterey was an extreme case. Five long cracks that all needed to be knitted back together. Here’s a short video on how the repair was completed.
Cleveland luthier, Jim Kozel takes a musical lunch break…
When I’m not repairing, restoring or setting up guitars for local and not-so-local musicians, you can find me playing one of my guitars. Today I took a musical lunch break to relax with one of my compositions, Moonrise.
Alvarez Yairi Lifting Bridge Repair by Cleveland Luthier, Jim Kozel
This Alvarez Yairi came into the shop for an installation of my Lil’ Jimmy PA pickup system. But first the badly lifting bridge needed to be removed, re-shaped and re-attached.
1934 Martin OOO-18 Restoration by Cleveland Luthier, Jim Kozel
A 1934 Martin OOO-18 came into my shop for repair and restoration. After several crack repairs and some serious bar fret work, it’s singing again. It doesn’t quite need a neck reset.