This photo is a screenshot from a recent post on a Setup and Repair guitar forum. Now, I’m not pointing fingers at people who ask “dumb questions”. The only dumb question is the one that doesn’t get asked.
BUT I AM pointing out that this dumb question isn’t just from some random person – it’s from someone with the audacity to put themselves out there as a professional guitar technician and take money from unsuspecting customers when they absolutely do not have the know-how or experience to call themselves “professional”.
Without a doubt, this is an unqualified guitar tech! But the real problem is that he’s in the majority. From my experience talking with self-proclaimed guitar techs and from feedback from hundreds of customers, plus what I see from complaints posted online, it’s actually rare to find a qualified guitar tech!
We are about to offer workshops and certifications, starting next year – not for “Luthier” or guitar-building courses, but for guitar technician courses on guitar repairs and setups. I can assure you that anyone operating with an authorized “Guitars Done Right Member” label, will be properly trained and subject to losing that label if customers are not satisfied.
Meanwhile, what can you do to help week out unqualified guitar techs? Have them take this quiz below (can YOU pass it?)
I once had a nut replaced on an acoustic guitar at a store where the tech had a good reputation. When I got the guitar back there was string buzz on the D string. Instead of complaining I just took it to someone else and had it redone and that person did a fantastic job. So yeah not all techs are created equal.