Services
Specialised, end-to-end servicing.
1. Commission a Robin Moyes Guitar
Robin makes classical and steel string acoustic guitars. New instruments can be ordered directly from Robin or can be purchased from a limited range of shops or agents around the world. Instruments ordered directly can be tailored to suit the playing style and the technical requirements of the player. Obviously, finished guitars available from a shop or agent can be played and assessed against other instruments. For high quality luthier-made guitars many agents will send instruments to be purchased “on approval” giving the opportunity for the player to thoroughly test a guitar. If you are interested in commissioning a new guitar please contact Robin to obtain prices and discuss your preferences.
2. Guitar repair and servicing
In addition to making his own guitars, Robin also offers guitar repair and servicing on all kinds of guitars, all kinds of guitars. This includes guitar set-ups, intonation improvement and correction, structural repairs, pickup installation for acoustics, and restoration projects. You can read more about what is involved in these services to the right.
Please note that - as a general rule - Robin does not like to undertake refinishing of guitars for cosmetic purposes as it is time-consuming, expensive work which can rarely be justified in the value of the guitar. Re-finishing also removes history and character from the guitar and, in the process, can significantly reduce the value of the instrument.
Set-ups
The most common service Robin performs is set-ups on all types of guitars. This is arguably the most important service for most musicians on both brand new and older guitars. Playing a well set-up guitar can be quite a revelation for a player who may have been struggling with a poor set-up for years.
To read more about what guitar set-ups involve, why your guitar might need a set-up and how to assess the set-up of your guitar click here.
Structural repairs
This can involve re-gluing loose braces or gluing split braces, repairing splits in soundboards or backs and sides, gluing split pegheads, re-gluing loose bridges, bridge replacement, neck re-sets and more.
Pickup installation
A wide variety of pickups with or without a pre-amp and/or battery holder from a range of manufacturers is available for installation into acoustic guitars. Robin can make suggestions and recommendations to help with your pick-up selection as well as doing the installation. Sometimes manufacturer installed pickups do not provide optimum performance. Robin can also modify existing installations to improve output.
As a general rule Robin does not undertake pickup installation or replacement on solidbody electric guitars.
Restoration projects
Some guitars, because of their collectable value or musical quality, warrant extensive work involving many of the processes listed above and often with the addition of touch-up work to the original finish or, occasionally, re-finishing to match the original finish. Because of his extensive experience as a luthier Robin is well placed to undertake such work with sensitivity and respect for the original qualities of the guitar.