Good luthiers near Savannah, Georgia?
 

Anybody know of someone who is really good on setting up guitars near Savannah, Georgia?
Thanks.

Master Luthier Ron Griffin of Griffin Guitars is located in Waycross, GA.

He does not use his website anymore, but his phone number is (912) 816-0073 or [email protected]

He is a SUPERB luthier, and a very nice guy to deal with.

Is Randy Woods still actively building and repairing in Savannah? If so, he's an incredibly knowledgeable and gifted luthier.


whm

While we're on the topic of Georgia, anyone know a good setup person/shop north of Atlanta? I'm in Alpharetta and Maple Street Guitars is a pretty good haul for me. (Plus, I'll end up buying something if I show my face around there.) :-)

Wade,

A couple weeks ago Eddie and Martha Adcock did a show here in Columbia and had been at Randy's place the night before. Martha made reference to him building guitars and she said it in the present tense so I'd say yes he does. I'd think that would be a great place to get some work done.

William Brooks is a great guy at Atlanta Discount Music in Chamblee, he used to work for Gallagher Guitars. They have a webs-site, they are located just off I-285.

Randy Woods is a legend in certain circles: a great builder as well as a superb repairman.

Here's his contact info:

Randy Wood Guitars
1304 E. Highway 80
Bloomingdale, GA. 31302
Voice: (912) 748-1930
FAX: (912) 748-0141

and his web address:

http://www.randywoodguitars.com/


Rockinrebel, at least talk to Randy to see if he can help you.

By the way, one of my great-great-grandfathers was the mayor of Savannah during the War of Northern Aggression, and was the man who peacefully surrendered the city to Sherman.

Which is why Sherman didn't burn the place to the ground!

Have fun,


Wade Hampton Miller

I'll add another reference for Randy Woods. Great luthier. Great guy. The first time I went into his shop for some fretwork, he seemed genuinely pleased to meet me and proceeded to show me through his whole shop!

When I needed to set up a Kay cello I had bought for my then-girlfriend, now wife, he positively fawned over it for over 20 minutes, getting his nose right down to the f-hole. When he stood up, he looked at me and wrote down the numbers from the label. "Find out what you can about this one" he said. "It's an old one."

Turns out it was built in 1938 and was one of the first 100 instruments ever made by Kay.

About two weeks later, I got an excited call from his shop. They had asked a cellist from the now-defunct Savannah Symphony to road test it, and I could hear it being played in the background.

Like I said, nice guy. and you won't find a better luthier.

GA to GA
 

Hey rockinrebel. I'm live and work in Statesboro. A coworker spoke of R. Woods in the present tense last week.

Thanks!!
 

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like Randy Wood is the man to see. I've had my J-45 for about 2 years now and installed a Bob Colosi bone saddle myself. It plays pretty well but just wanted someone who really knows what they're doing to take a look at it.

Let us know how it turns out. :)

And while you're there, take a close look at the mando with the really high tag on it. It's a work of art!

Thanks for the tip. That's actually fairly close to Maple Street, but is a few miles further north and is actually about a mile from a friend's house. Might use the excuse to go see him. :)

Alpione, I don't know the Atlanta area well enough to know where this is in relation to you, but you might try Ralph Luttrell
http://www.luttrellguitars.com/

Randy Wood or Ronnie Griffin,
Those are the two most talked about here in the south Georgia keys.