Luthier/guitar tech in NY for pre-war Super 400

[OzarkArchtop]

I’m looking for recommendations for a luthier or guitar repair technician in the New York City area who would be an especially good fit for a prewar archtop — specifically a Gibson Super 400P.


I’m going to be in NY in a few weeks to look at one I’ve got my eye on. If it works out with the guitar, I’d like to have someone excellent look it over, do any appropriate preventative maintenance, and give it a proper setup. It has not been set up in quite a while, and given the age and significance of the instrument, I’d value having someone with real experience with vintage Gibson archtops evaluate it carefully.


I know there are lots of great shops and repair people in/around NYC, so I’m less looking for “any good luthier” and more interested in who forum members would personally trust with this kind of instrument. Ideally, I’d love someone who is:

• Highly experienced with vintage acoustic archtops / prewar Gibsons
• Careful and conservative about maintenance and repairs
• Strong on setup work for a guitar that will actually be played, not just collected
• Good at evaluating condition and flagging anything I should know before finalizing things
• Easy to communicate and work with
• Potentially able to advise on, coordinate, or handle safe shipping back home to Arkansas

I’m not looking to modify or “improve” the guitar unnecessarily. The goal would be preservation, playability, and a clear understanding of its condition.

If you’ve had direct experience with someone in the NYC area whom you’d trust with a guitar like this, I’d be grateful for names, shops, and any context about your experience. Bonus points for anyone who has worked specifically on vintage Gibson archtops or other high-end prewar instruments.

Thanks in advance!

[ThatRhythmMan]

For someone with lots of experience in archtops and vintage Gibson ones too it might be worth checking in with Ric McCurdy.

McCurdy Guitars


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[OzarkArchtop]

For someone with lots of experience in archtops and vintage Gibson ones too it might be worth checking in with Ric McCurdy.

McCurdy Guitars


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Awesome. Thanks, Chuck!

[paulkogut]

Check out Evan Gluck in upper Manhattan, he does excellent work

New York Guitar Repair

PK

[John A.]

For an evaluation and set-up, there are a lot of people who would be fine. I think you’d really only need an archtop specialist for major restoration work. That aside, I’d recommend:

- Matt Umanov (the retail shop is closed, but the repair shop is open Matt Umanov Guitars)
- TR Crandall (TR Crandall Guitars)
- Rudy’s (Rudy's Music)
- Norio Imai (doesn’t seem to have a website, but there’s contact info on the web)
- Steve Bloom (Harlem Fret Works)

I’d recommend contacting any of these first to get a sense of their backlogs. Some might need a couple of weeks to turn a job around.

[ThatRhythmMan]

For an evaluation and set-up, there are a lot of people who would be fine. I think you’d really only need an archtop specialist for major restoration work. That aside, I’d recommend:

- Matt Umanov (the retail shop is closed, but the repair shop is open Matt Umanov Guitars)
- TR Crandall (TR Crandall Guitars)
- Rudy’s (Rudy's Music)
- Norio Imai (doesn’t seem to have a website, but there’s contact info on the web)
- Steve Bloom (Harlem Fret Works)

I’d recommend contacting any of these first to get a sense of their backlogs. Some might need a couple of weeks to turn a job around.

Steve Bloom apprenticed with Ric McCurdy!


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[John A.]

Steve Bloom apprenticed with Ric McCurdy!


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Yup.

[OzarkArchtop]

Thanks so much, y'all. As always on this forum, great info and advice.

Thank you!

[Stringswinger]

Try Manny Salvador at 646-483-7218

He did great work on my 1935 D'Angelico Excel. He may be retired. Good luck!

[Bob_Ross]

Check out Evan Gluck in upper Manhattan, he does excellent work

New York Guitar Repair

Came in to post ^^^this.

Evan was my guy for >20 years; he's very skilled, experienced, thorough ...and, atypically for New Yorkers, friendly and funny as all get-out. A real mensch. Highly recommended.

[jim777]

Norio Imai is the only one in NYC I trust with my guitars, whether it's a Telecaster or a Campellone or anything in between. I wouldn't honestly consider anyone else as long as he is still in business.

(212) 675-8408, 20 W 22nd St New York, NY 10010

[rlyacht]

He's not retired. He's working out of a space at Rogue on 30th.

[Groooooove]

two recs from long island

Edward Maday is a violin and guitar maker in woodmere. he's the greatest, and loves old archtops (he makes them, i played one, best sounding guitar i've ever seen.) he is an instrument maker, and most likely would politely decline since he's booked up with new orders to built, but he occasionally takes on repair jobs. worth asking. he's a wonderful, very nice guy.

assuming he can't take it, look into Larry Fitzgerald, located in Wantagh. I know larry fairly well, and he's proven to be a cut above all other new york luthiers. He worked at rudys and several other very high-end shops, I know during his time there he had a hand in restoring (literally) some of the most valuable archtops on the planet. He's a really cool guy, and I consider him a friend. There are other "guitar builders" who secretly send their necks out to larry to do perfect fretwork.

to your point, about someone who "Really knows archtops" a while back I had asked larry if he'd make me one. we chatted a bit, and he mentioned that many of the modern makers are missing something since they have never restored original loar era gibson, dangelico, daquisto or others - and he has. many times.

best of luck! there are lots of luthiers in NY, but not all are the same quality, unfortunately.

I’m looking for recommendations for a luthier or guitar repair technician in the New York City area who would be an especially good fit for a prewar archtop — specifically a Gibson Super 400P.


I’m going to be in NY in a few weeks to look at one I’ve got my eye on. If it works out with the guitar, I’d like to have someone excellent look it over, do any appropriate preventative maintenance, and give it a proper setup. It has not been set up in quite a while, and given the age and significance of the instrument, I’d value having someone with real experience with vintage Gibson archtops evaluate it carefully.


I know there are lots of great shops and repair people in/around NYC, so I’m less looking for “any good luthier” and more interested in who forum members would personally trust with this kind of instrument. Ideally, I’d love someone who is:

• Highly experienced with vintage acoustic archtops / prewar Gibsons
• Careful and conservative about maintenance and repairs
• Strong on setup work for a guitar that will actually be played, not just collected
• Good at evaluating condition and flagging anything I should know before finalizing things
• Easy to communicate and work with
• Potentially able to advise on, coordinate, or handle safe shipping back home to Arkansas

I’m not looking to modify or “improve” the guitar unnecessarily. The goal would be preservation, playability, and a clear understanding of its condition.

If you’ve had direct experience with someone in the NYC area whom you’d trust with a guitar like this, I’d be grateful for names, shops, and any context about your experience. Bonus points for anyone who has worked specifically on vintage Gibson archtops or other high-end prewar instruments.

Thanks in advance!

[deacon Mark]

I would call Larkstreet Music and see if Ian Davlin is still doing the repair work there. Ian is a well-known luthier and unless he is retired he is in the general area. I had forgotten about him, but he is one the finest

[Hammertone]

Leroy Aiello is in Point Pleasant NJ - not so far from NYC.
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[MarkL]

Another recommendation for Norio. I live outside the city but make the trip for everything but basic work on a few modern electrics I consider replaceable. Last time I visited his shop he told me he was cutting back on accepting new customers, but perhaps he'd take on a prewar Gibson archtop.

[John A.]

Leroy Aiello is in Point Pleasant NJ - not so far from NYC.
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It's pretty far in terms of travel time (a couple of hours or more, depending on where in NYC you're coming from). Hard to imagine anyone who is in NYC making that trip to get a guitar fixed when there are so many local options.

[jim777]

It is nice to know there are sooo many local options, though.