Cleveland-based Rachel Brown and The Beatnik Playboys https://rachelbps.com delight audiences wherever they perform. So, when Rachel brought her 1964 Gibson LG-1 to the shop for a stage-ready restoration, I was happy to help. Here’s days of restoration/repair condensed into a ten minute story.
Videos
Alvarez Lifting Bridge Repair
A very nice Alvarez guitar came into the shop with a lifting bridge. Here’s the story of how the bridge was repaired and the probable cause of why the bridge lifted in the first place.
“Short Cut” by Jim Kozel
Some years back, I wrote a song about a miner in Telluride, Colorado. Here’s an arrangement of “Short Cut” performed at Brent Kirby’s 10×3 at Brother’s Lounge on September 18, 2019. I’m playing my latest Tele creation, the Jimmy-Caster.
Strat Stripped Neck Bolt Holes Repair
This Strat came into the shop with four stripped neck bolt holes. Here is how it was repaired with rock maple plugs taken from the 90 year old stage floor I salvaged from the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Pavilion stage.
Jim’s performs at the June 19, 2019 Brother’s Wine Bar Writer’s Night…the 10×3.
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.
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)
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.