Retirement Notice
THE NOTORIOUS GUITAR HOSPITAL
Established 1971; Retired 2022
I am officially retired after 50+ years on my workbench. It’s been quite an honor and journey to be your repairman and luthier. Thank you for all of the years that you have supported my art.
I salute all the guitar players, bass players, mandolin players…(yeah and the banjo players too!)…uke players, Bouzouki players, sitar players, requinto players, guitarrón players, classical players. I salute all the folk players, the bluegrassers, country western players, the rock and rollers, the big band players, the studio players, the jazz players, the be-boppers and the rock-a-billies! Thank you all very much!
I want to thank the manufacturers too for putting their confidence in me to represent their products in their warranty programs. So, Thank You Gibson, Martin, Fender, Ovation, Takamine, Taylor, Washburn, Guild and C.G. Conn. Over the years these companies supplied me with parts, manuals, advice, paper work and money. Thank you all!
So I hoist a cold one to all of you players! The thousands of musicians that came to my shop.
Salute!
And last but not least, here’s to my teachers, my heroes, and my mentors:
- Dr. J.T. Anderson, my dad – an incredible engineer in thermo dynamics and heat transfer
- Kenneth J. Carpenter – librarian and founder of the Black Rock Press
- Owen David Mort – engineer, and bluegrasser. Interested in EVERYTHING! He got me started on my first and second repairs
- Craig Sheppard – teacher and artist. He taught me about colors and lines.
- Edward Yates – Professor, artist and teacher in metal smithing, metal casting, and integrity.
It was like having five fathers. I could not have done what I did without them and I sure do miss ‘em.
Steve Maytan – local business owner and musician. He showed me how to start a business and shunted a lot of work to me. Thanks, Mr. Maytan!
Salute!
THINGS TO NOTE
- In the future, I will be working on my own collection of guitars, mandolins, and banjos. They will be placed on this website for sale along with 50 years of parts for all instruments. It might be a while yet, but keep checking us out.
- I have only one apprentice. Neil Smith in Las Vegas, Nevada. His website is Vegas Guitars. He and his wife, Suzie have a nice little shop and Neil does top quality work. Check him out….you won’t regret it.
- And a special thanks to the most important one of all, my darling wife….my Marianne. She has supported me and helped me to elevate my game.
Peace
&
Stay Tuned
I’m always available to talk guitars, mandolins and yes, banjos!
THE NOTORIOUS GUITAR HOSPITAL
Established 1971; Retired 2022
I am officially retired after 50+ years on my workbench. It’s been quite an honor and journey to be your repairman and luthier. Thank you for all of the years that you have supported my art.

I want to thank the manufacturers too for putting their confidence in me to represent their products in their warranty programs. So, Thank You Gibson, Martin, Fender, Ovation, Takamine, Taylor, Washburn, Guild and C.G. Conn. Over the years these companies supplied me with parts, manuals, advice, paper work and money. Thank you all!
So I hoist a cold one to all of you players! The thousands of musicians that came to my shop.
Salute!
And last but not least, here’s to my teachers, my heroes, and my mentors:
- Dr. J.T. Anderson, my dad – an incredible engineer in thermo dynamics and heat transfer
- Kenneth J. Carpenter – librarian and founder of the Black Rock Press
- Owen David Mort – engineer, and bluegrasser. Interested in EVERYTHING! He got me started on my first and second repairs
- Craig Sheppard – teacher and artist. He taught me about colors and lines.
- Edward Yates – Professor, artist and teacher in metal smithing, metal casting, and integrity.
It was like having five fathers. I could not have done what I did without them and I sure do miss ‘em.
Steve Maytan – local business owner and musician. He showed me how to start a business and shunted a lot of work to me. Thanks, Mr. Maytan!
Salute!
THINGS TO NOTE
- In the future, I will be working on my own collection of guitars, mandolins, and banjos. They will be placed on this website for sale along with 50 years of parts for all instruments. It might be a while yet, but keep checking us out.
- I have only one apprentice. Neil Smith in Las Vegas, Nevada. His website is Vegas Guitars. He and his wife, Suzie have a nice little shop and Neil does top quality work. Check him out….you won’t regret it.
- And a special thanks to the most important one of all, my darling wife….my Marianne. She has supported me and helped me to elevate my game.
Peace
&
Stay Tuned
I’m always available to talk guitars, mandolins and yes, banjos!
Testimonials
from happy customers
Jim has worked miracles on 2 of my most cherished vintage guitars. His expertise is beyond any I have seen with his decades of knowledge. The repairs are absolutely undetectable and the playability is perfect. He set the guitar up to play in addition to performing the repair. I recommend Jim at the Notorious Guitar Hospital without reservation. He is the best of the best!!
Jim is the best at what he does. I have learned a lot over the years about instrument construction and maintenance from him. There is nowhere else I will take my instruments, period.
I have been to many places in many states over the years for guitar repair jobs. I have never found a shop with as much skill and precision as Notorious Guitar Hospital. You think your instrument is beyond repair? Think again! Bring your guitar to them and you will NOT be sorry.