I think the thing that makes these videos so addictive is that I feel like I'm sitting on a stool next to Ted and were just having a normal everyday conversation while he works. He's got that natural charm and charisma.

“That’s where the tone lies!” OMG you’re killing me!

During world war two spruce was a strategic material and only wood that was not dense enough to make wing spars for airplanes was available for commercial products. The wood had very wide late growth rings and the sound boards had to be made thicker as the beam strength was not as strong. The top on this one looks like one of the war time models.

Yay! A Ted video to rescue me from boredom

Absolutely amazing video! Your knowledge and common sense are at another level.

A true master at work nothing else needs to be said.

I'm starting to feel short-changed if I don't get a "polishing, polishing, polishing" on one of your videos 😄

The level of education available here is phenomenal. Thank you.

Experience matters. Does it ever. I can't think how many times I have told youngsters "You can make anything look easy if you practice for 20 years"

No matter the job, you not only make the repair interesting, you teach us something along the way.

"The Leprechaun tells me to burn things!" --Ralph Wiggum There's a lot of great guitar repair stuff out there, but the dry humor is what keeps me coming back.

I've been watching you for years and I need to tell you that you are the best luthier that I have run across on the internet because I'm the luthier myself. You are better than me and you are better than most and I appreciate you uploading your videos so we can learn from you

It's always refreshing to see work done right. A real pro.

I'm not a guitar player or luthier, merely an occasional woodworker. I really enjoy watching you apply your skills and techniques, your passion to your work, plus all the experience you pull from as well. The history of these guitars and their makers is an added bonus. Thanks.

The D-18 had the sweetest tone. Another cool video. Always enjoy watching your work.

50s Martins!! As always, top quality work from you along with a history lesson.

A fascinating tour through three 50’s Martins. And as usual, very professional repairs.

It is such a joy to watch a complete craftsman at work. Thank you Ted.

The 000 sounds warmer and fuller to my ears. I think the 000 also has a 1.75 nut for large handed peeps. Great work Ted - Thanks!

Hey Ted..I don't know if you will read this but I just wanted to say that I look forward to your videos every week!!I find it really therapeutic seeing instruments being repaired and as a lefty I can confirm we really do see the world upside down !! Also seeing really expensive old Martin's is cool but I'd really love to see you repair just pawn shop junk guitars too... anyways greetings from Wales UK and some of us notice when you skip a week not putting a vid up lol!!!

Your videos are the genuine “TED Talks.”

The 000-18 sounds fantastic. ALWAYS a pleasure watching you work. Thank you.

+1 for the reference to Molly Tuttle. She's joined the ranks of players that can make my jaw hit the floor.

I remember back in the mid yo late 90's, I went to a guitar show in Columbus, Ohio. I played a 1954 D-18, with the owners OK. It was kinda rough, but not bad either. I don't remember the thousands that he was asking, didn't matter, I just wanted to hear it, and couldn't afford it anyway. It was absolutely, without a doubt, the best sounding guitar, I have ever held, played or googled over. The bass, I could feel it caving in my chest and the mids and highs were so sweet it made my teeth hurt. That's one of the few guitars I remember, still, to this day. I wish I could have afforded it.

Great work and thanks for bringing us along... something about a D28 that just melts my ears. Love Love Love 'em!

That D-28 sounds awesome! Keep up the good work!

000-18 FTW! "I know it looks easy..." Don't think so, YOU make it look easy having been at it for quite a while now. Always love the history lessons. You might not be the best, but I've haven't seen any better...))

Astonishing knowledge on display here, a wonderful video.

For any owner of a "vintage" Martin acoustic, this video will be highly informative. We all love those old 50s & 60s Martins -- I'm fortunate enough to own several -- but almost all of them have playability issues, most eventually requiring some neck and bridge/saddle work. I'm at a place in life where I'm thinking it just might be easier to buy one of the newer Martins where "modern" playability has been a design consideration, and just leave the old girls in the vault...

No doubt to my ears, the 000-18 sounds the best to me.Thank you for such a informative video, I have learned a lot from you, I enjoy and look forward to your videos every week. Thanks again

What a fabulous trio! I'd be happy to own any one of them. If I had a choice, that D28 would be it.

The second D18 sounds and looks spectacular! Great job on all 3!

Thanks for playing them for us Ted.

The histories you attach to the repairs really make your videos top drawer like your craftsmanship. A pleasure to watch bud. 👍🥃Respect to you mate.

One more for the best of Ted series. Thanks for your detailed explanations and backstories. While I know these aren't intended to be teaching videos, your digital presence has given me the confidence to tackle small jobs on my own guitars. Fret dressing and polishing, nut replacements, saddle lowering, set ups and minor finish repairs. I anxiously await each new video for my weekly dose of Ted. Total fanboy. Thanks so much.

Worth the wait, as always. Thank you Ted!

Great video. I wish you had enough time to walk us through one of your own builds. But like they say time is money and the money for you is in the repairs.

You can definitely hear the difference, the D-28 plays at a much faster tempo! :-) But seriously, another absolutely wonderful video. Bravo!

I always thought the “tone” came from the “tone nails”? I learn something every time!

Hi from Georgia (country) 🇬🇪

To see those wonderful old Martin's handled with such care was quite emotional if I'm honest. Thanks Ted, taking some time but I'm saving up for a T-shirt.

This master luthier amazes me with his knowledge and skillset.

Nothing like seeing Martins and learning about them. Thanks.

All interesting and useful information. I was especially interested in the differences between through and blind saddles. Thanks very much.

Dang Ted, you sir, are amazing.

I will say that watching your videos has given me the confidence to work on my sons sub $150 generic acoustic. Using just my regular tools, I've added some relief to the neck, leveled the frets and gotten the string height to 2.5-2.75 mm. I still haven't figured out how to set the intonation on it though, but I"ll keep watching and experimenting.

Love the history expertise you have, really enjoy your videos, thank you.

I wondered what I've been missing lately? I couldn't put my finger on it... 🤔 of course!!... it was my weekly dose of twoodfrd!!...as usual great technical content great history lesson great results... I've had my fix now...cheers Ted

Man, that 00018 is NICE!

That 000-18 has a great sound for picking. Lovely note separation and balance.

i really want to be a luthier/repair guy. im 17, left school a few months ago because it didnt suit me. quite the opposite to school, i love the whole concept of taking your time to do the job properly, rather than some other professions where the employer would rather you do something by numbers rather than quality

Of all the luthier channels, yours is the one I never want to miss. I am disabled and heading into retirement. I am practicing instrument repair as a hobby with the intentions to supplement my Income when I finally do retire. Thank you for letting me learn from you.

Well, they all sound great! Fantastic work as always, and thanks for sharing these great videos!

Exactly. Watching videos doesn't give you experience. It only serves to inform you of what to expect. They give the capable people a good idea of whether it's something they want to attempt. I replaced the nut on my first electric guitar 3 months into owning it. I did that despite multiple people telling me that I needed to learn to play for 6 more months before trying that. As if learning to play more & better would somehow help me replace a nut lol. I did it anyway and it turned out great. Don't let naysayers turn you away from trying something. But don't overestimate your own abilities at the same time.

Experience is everything. And even having had a lot of it, one never knows what they are going to encounter. Whoever coined the phrase " a little bit of knowledge is dangerous" was dead accurate.

What good fortune to have three beauties in one video. They sure sounded nice! Thanks for making a better day for me. 😊

I had a late 40's OO-18 and the sound of that OOO is so reminiscent of it! Miss that little guy!

Good job! They sound wonderful too.

I really enjoyed the history lesson along with the repair. I happen to own a 1941 O-15...not your typical Martin. Budget for the time with an all mahagony body, top and back and neck. Came to me from an Uncle and my father. Nice sounding guitar that has survived some very sketchy years.

Thanks, Ted! I was just binging your J45 vids when this came up! 🤣👌

I know it’s been a good while since you’ve posted this video, but I really felt the need to comment on your videos. I thoroughly enjoy your commentary and explanation’s during each job and the history that you often provide. The professional attitude and effort that you approach a catalog guitar from the 50’s vs a Martin of similar vintage is inspiring. You see the value of each and respect each for what it was, is, and will continue to offer both musically and aesthetically. I’m not implying that others don’t do a great job, but you are truly a professional and an artist. I’m originally a bagpipe maker and have sold my work all over North America and abroad, but I am now delving slowly into the world of my first loves: guitar, banjo, and mandolin building. Watching you is an inspiration to continue to do so and is a great information to work on a few old yard sale specials and other similar instruments. As you mentioned watching your videos is not a substitute for the hands on experience , but it is a magnificent guide and touchstone for pursuing the endeavor. Thanks again from an old man in West Texas, Ray Hughes

I don't really even like acoustic guitars but I'm addicted to you resetting necks. Love the vids. I watched em on loop for hours at different times. They're just calming. Would love to see a podcast chatting with other Luther's about your experience with whole gammit. Have a gooday man

vey cool channel ! when I was a teen there was a local luthier in my area .(northern ontario) named rene roy. spend many days picking his brain . good stuff

Your videos are a wealth of knowledge and I thoroughly enjoy them! Thanks for taking the time to make them!

That video might be considered for some kind of award from us your loyal afficiandos....the palatable comparison at the end was delightful. I think you revealed the mystigue that Martins enjoy....its all in the materials and repeating adherence of their basic joinery

6:36 When we harvest wine there will always be some ladybugs around. It's "tradition" to tell the kids the bugs have to stay with the grapes - because it's what the good flavors come from. 😁

22:49 Lmao. If I weren’t wearing good earbuds, I would have missed that little gem.

way beyond just showing how the job is done. Brilliant teaching and work. I'm about to dive into neck resets. years ago, this information was, literally, mostly unavailable in such detail. Dan Erlwine was out there. But there's always something new popping up in every job. So thankful for your dedication to the work, and .... us! 🙂

Sweet! I'd been considering picking up a used Martin for a while. I dabble in guitar, but mostly play bass and have a Martin B-1 bass. With Ted's regular talk about local makers though, I decided to pick up a guitar from a very local place, Echo Bridge Music and got their EB-450, which is their version of the D-18. I love it!

You have motivated me into starting to do major to minor work on my massive herd of electrics and hollow bodies. *One thing I've always needed was a neck bending iron to straighten some out, and think I finally have a design I can build.*

I've played several prewar martins (1940's) at a guitar trade show in Orlando. They were truly spectacular. I remember playing a 1950's as well and was not impressed, but that's just one example of course

Hey Ted I can understand that a leprechaun that tells you to burn stuff is a worry also I love the way you talk about the wood you are a master thanks🌈😇🙏🎶©️

Great video, well worth the wait. Thanks

Always a pleasure to watch you work, I have put together a few kits, kinda successfully, but to watch what you do, after me building the kits, I realise that you are a real artist, such skill and always sharing it. Thanks.

Thanks Ted, really enjoyed that...as ever. Brilliant. Love the 000 Keep safe 👍

My favorite is 000. Love mine! Thanks Ted for your methodical work! 🎶🎶🎶

Oh my god, I was already craving

So true about watching several KZfaq videos and thinking I can now do it...lol .. My bridge fell off my 65 Epiphone Texan FT79N and I thought it would be easy to glue back on. It wasn't. After purchasing the correct clamps and then carefully scoring around the old bridge, to remove the finish that Epiphone left on (and not scoring too deep), we finally glued the bridge back on. It was way more work than I thought it would be but it turned out very nice. Now I want someone to make an insert, tightly fit, to replace that adjustable saddle (like you did for that 60s Gibson). So I now have to search for a quality luthier to do this for me. I won't attempt this my self.

Man I love a sneaky Simpsons reference. As usual, great work.

Ted, I'm a fan and always get a lot from your videos. The more I get into guitar repair, the more specialty tools I collect and I have to periodically re-organize to keep my shop efficient. Nothing worse than having a specialty tool and not being able to find it when you next need it. All that to ask; would you consider doing a video on how you organize your shop? I'd be I'm not the only one who would love to see where you stash your specialty wood; your neck-removal jigs; your Les Paul neck repair router jig; etc. Thanks!

Very informative! As always, thanks for playing all 3 at the end! 👍

Thanks for another great video! You keep making my life easier (although I never do neck resets) just by adopting your methods.

Great video once again. I love the sound of the D-18 and the D-28.

Sure wasn't expecting a visit from Molly Tuttle! I'm a fan - glad to hear she's getting heard far and wide. I live near her hometown used to participate in a bluegrass jam mediated by her father, Jack, at Gryphon Stringed Instruments.

Loved this video🙌

Surprised how much I preferred the sound of the 000 to the dreadnoughts. Very rich and sweet

I am absolutely addicted to this channel. Love your videos man. This may sound weird but these videos really help my anxiety. I enjoy watching you work. Keep it up!

Fantastic work!

Great work as always.

The ‘55 D28 sounds great. The two of us, that guitar and me, are both 67. Amazingly, the D28 is about three times brighter…

If it looks easy, you're looking at an expert.

Love the Molly Tuttle call out!

"I know it looks easy" And that's why you're the best, Ted.

I AM about to do this for the first time :-O It's my only acoustic. Not cheap but not expensive enough to have done for me so no loss as i dont play it now due to action. So neck heal Jig made, iron bought, foam cutters bought and spatulas thinned... Just waiting on a day when I am brave and calm lol.. I have removed a fretboard before on a neck I made that didnt work out... But thanks for all you great and clear videos I now have some confidence it what to expect.

I just got my first Martin guitar, a 2005 HD-28V. What a guitar too. But the action was a little high so I had to file the saddle down. That through saddle is way harder to lower than a blind one.

You must have nerves and balls of steel. Don't you ever feel nervous working on an old and expensive instrument? These three Martins are all dream guitars for me.

Worth the wait!! Thanks Ted!

Closing in on 100k! We'll deserved!👍👍👍🎸

That D18 sounds the best to my ears

Del Mccoury, Brian Sutton and Billy Strings come to mind when I think abkut stage used pre-war Martin's. Although Billy only uses his 48 D28 live when sitting in with others, and his 44 D28 when playing directly into a mic(mainly encore)