Martin Bell Guitar Works
Reid Street K9J 3R2 Peterborough, ON, Canada

A little love for this '52 Gibson. New frets, new unbleached bone nut and saddle. #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #vintageguitar #vintagegibson #daddariostrings

I had this trio come in for some TLC. New EVO frets for the Zager, set up and new tuning keys for the Takamine, and the Art & Lutherie... well, it needed some love. Loose braces, lifting bridge, and it needed a neck reset. I have worked on a lot of these guitars that hold sentimental value, where the cost of the repairs is greater than just replacing the instrument. The owner wanted to get it playable so he could donate it to a local addictions centre. Well, the least I could... do is donate the work. I hope this guitar will bring some joy and peace to someone who is going through a hard time... it's not often I am in a position to help, so when I can... why wouldn't I? #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #daddariostrings #takamineguitars

13 strings worth of @officialibanezguitars on the bench, both with floating bridges. To string these up, we usually snip off the ball end and insert the snipped end in the locking saddle. Or, you know, just wind it around the tuner post... #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #ibanezguitars #7stringguitar #emgpickups

I can only post so many times about fretwork... so, here is a bunch of guitar eye candy instead... #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #fretwork #ibanez #gretschguitars #gibsonguitars #daddariostrings #strumbellas #emgpickups

Just a set up, but too pretty not to share. This @officialibanezguitars George Benson reminds me I have to learn some more jazz tunes... #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #daddariostrings #guitarsofinstagram #ibanez

I had this 1960 Goya on the bench recently, with an intermittent bridge pickup. After trying all the less invasive fixes, we decided that it was time to rewind the pickup. I sent it out to my friends @guelphguitarrepair , who did a fantastic job! Once I got the pickup back, and reinstalled in the really cool electronics module (complete with Blend-o-matic switches), this guitar is back in the business of making music! Aside from the cool switching, it also has a see through r...esin fretboard, with stainless steel bar frets. How else would they have lasted 60 years? Oh, and the red sparkles... that's where the tone is... #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #vintageguitar #goyaguitars #daddariostrings #thosesparklestho #vintageguitarsofinstagram

Who doesn't love a nice semi hollow guitar? Unless it has wiring issues... guess what all of these had? Yup... most techs will charge a premium for chasing electrical gremlins in these guitars, because there is no access panel. So what do we do? I can't speak for others, but I "borrowed" an idea from another tech. Attach rubber tubing to the shaft of the pots, and pull the wiring harness towards the nearest opening (pickup rout, in the case of the seafoam green 335). Fix what... you need, and pull the whole thing back into place. Easy, right? Ha... on a completely unrelated note, swearing also helps... #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #epiphone #gretschguitars #guitarelectronics #vintageguitarsofinstagram

This cool little Kramer came across the bench recently, mostly for a set up, and to sort out the @floydroseofficial trem. While chatting with @sabretooth.tyler , he expressed an interest in adding a bit of versatility, so we discussed tapping one of the coils via a push pull pot. "Oh, yeah... not a problem!" Except it only had a 2 conductor wire. So... disassemble the pickup. Remove the old wire, and add a 3 conductor wire. The 3rd wire attaches to the internal connection bet...ween the 2 coils. This way, we can ground out, and effectively turn off, one of the coils. Grabbing a meter, and testing before installing, we can see both coils measured in series at 13k, and a single coil at 6k and change. Then attach to a switch (a push/pull pot, so we don't have to drill any new holes). I had a blast playing this thing. Set up with 8-38 @daddarioandco NYXLs. #guitar #guitarrepair #guitarmaintenance #guitarsetup #luthier #luthiery #guitars #guitarsofinstagram #fretwork #guitarporn #music #musician #guitarist #whatsonyourbench #smallbusiness #downtownptbo #electricguitar #vintageguitar #marshallamps #daddariostrings

Winter is coming! Learn how to protect your instrument from the potentially detrimental effects of humidity.

It seems only fitting that on the anniversary of Stevie Ray Vaughan's death , I have a battered, but much loved sunburst Strat on the bench. In for a refret... I think Stevie Ray would be proud...

Do you have a story like this? Do tell! Shared via Elliott Easton.

We often get asked for a budget range of effects, so we mocked up our first thought for a "Toanz training: My first pedalberd" we are hoping to pitch to product...ion partners!! What do you think? :D ... and yes, this is what happens at WampHQ when you are mocking up a new graphic and you get distracted, it's just Photoshop fun!! ;) (Original concept and PS work and genius idea by Matt Stoker, other silliness added by us)

Waking up to the news that one of our favorite artists and one of the most powerful voices in rock, Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the... Dog) has passed away at the young age of 52. All our hearts are broken, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. See more

Lots of work on this one!

Hey #PTBO musicians! We're looking for albums to review. Send us your tunes. [email protected]

Seems simple enough.

I believe I have had this conversation before...

"But WHY should I wipe down my strings after I play?" *shudders*