Guitar Works

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Guitar Works Professional Luthier Ian Allerton offering Guitar repairs, restoration & custom builds. From a simple set up to a full custom build.

Specialising in Vintage guitar restoration offering period correct materials & nitrocellulose refinishing. Ian has personally worked on instruments for Angus Young, Eric Clapton, Dave Gilmour, Kirk Hammett, Prince, Greg Lake, Clem Clempson, Hank Marvin, Mike Oldfield, Scott Gorham, Gary Moore, Elvis Costello, Mick Ralphs, Bert Jansch, Brinsley Schwarz & many others.

22/10/2026

Up close & personal with a 1963 Pre CBS Fender Telecaster neck.

1961 Gibson ES355 neck replacement. Part 3: Neck successfully removed. Note factory fitted shim.
22/10/2026

1961 Gibson ES355 neck replacement. Part 3: Neck successfully removed. Note factory fitted shim.

1961 Gibson ES355 Restoration. Part 2: Fingerboard successfully removed.
22/10/2026

1961 Gibson ES355 Restoration. Part 2: Fingerboard successfully removed.

22/10/2026

Unfortunately I have been asked not to share these images. The photos were taken by me with my own camera at my own workshop at my own private home address when I worked on the guitar in December 2005 and exist only in my private photo library. I did not think there would be any harm sharing the images with the community and I apologise if any harm has been caused.

Another one from the archive. Picture of Case Tag from when I did some restoration work on a Red Jedson Lap Steel.

1961 Gibson ES355 long tenon neck joint.
22/10/2026

1961 Gibson ES355 long tenon neck joint.

1961 Gibson ES355 Original PAF pickups.
21/10/2026

1961 Gibson ES355 Original PAF pickups.

1961 Gibson ES355 neck replacement. Part 1: Fingerboard removal. New neck being made to replace factory fitted ( in 1965...
21/10/2026

1961 Gibson ES355 neck replacement. Part 1: Fingerboard removal. New neck being made to replace factory fitted ( in 1965, I guess original neck got badly broken ) narrow nut neck. Fingerboard, binding & headstock overlay will be re used.

Vintage 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom 3 Pickup Black Beauty that I restored to original spec Black Nitrocellulose finish a...
21/10/2026

Vintage 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom 3 Pickup Black Beauty that I restored to original spec Black Nitrocellulose finish after it had been previously re finished in Cherry Red.

The mythical Pre CBS Fender "Clay" dots. What were they actually made from? Lot's of speculation, Vulcanised Fibreboard,...
20/10/2026

The mythical Pre CBS Fender "Clay" dots. What were they actually made from? Lot's of speculation, Vulcanised Fibreboard, Forbon, Lino, Clay? I personally believe from handling many examples, is that they were inconsistent and different materials were used at different times. These examples on a 1961 Pre CBS Fender Stratocaster neck display a definite grain pattern.

This vintage 1961 Gibson ES355 semi acoustic electric guitar had a replacement neck fitted at the Gibson factory during ...
20/10/2026

This vintage 1961 Gibson ES355 semi acoustic electric guitar had a replacement neck fitted at the Gibson factory during the narrow nut era that began in 1965. The customer purchased the guitar online assuming that it had the original 1 11/16 inch ( 42.8mm ) nut width but it turned up with a 1 9/16 ( 39.7mm ) narrow nut. The challenge? Make it 1 11/16 again! Let me know if you'd like to see how it was done?

Address

Field Cottage, Albury Hall Park, Albury
Ware
SG112HX

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+447968627128

Website

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