CUSTOMER BEWARE!!!! I had a history of 3 projects with the Guitar Specialist (Doug Proper). As stated by others, Doug is capable of very exceptional work but it will take 2-3 times longer than stated to get your instrument returned. I was for several years a loyal customer, sang Doug's praises and referred others to his business. BUT, when I brought my 3d guitar, he gave me a long list of work it needed and he said it would take 12 months to complete. Every few months I would reach out to follow-up on the progress and was told the work was delayed due to "accident/injury" "illness of himself or family member"(which I was told during all 3 of my projects) or that he discovered other issues with the guitar that had to be corrected. He described for me in great detail the "neck reset" he had to do in very small increments, a gouge in the top under the bridge that had to be carefully refilled and many other "surprise" issues. AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF WAITING AND A LONG LIST OF EXCUSES AND HIDDEN ISSUES, I insisted on seeing the guitar for him to show me what was happening. Doug got immediately defensive and verbally challenging so I knew something was wrong. Once he realized I insisted on inspecting the guitar, he then said I needed to pick up the guitar and he would fully return my deposit, even though I offered to pay him for the work he had done. He angrily insisted on returning my full deposit. When I arrived, he insisted on taking the original work order and refused to open the case and show me the work that was done and the work still needed. He demanded I leave immediately with his wife present and adding demeaning comments. When I arrived home I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE ONLY THING DONE IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS WAS REMOVAL OF THE BRIDGE. NO WORK WAS DONE. When I contacted Doug and asked why did he lie to me for 2 and 1/2 years? Why would he do this a good customer who never gave him a problem or withheld work payments? He couldn't or wouldn't tell me why. BUT HE DID EMAIL ME A LIST OF MANY THINGS THAT HE CLAIMED TO HAVE DONE WORK ON THE GUITAR WHICH OF COURSE WAS NEVER NEEDED, DONE OR TOLD TO ME PREVIOUSLY. Since that experience, I have heard from other guitar owners that they have had similar experiences and that some have even taken legal action. SORRY FOR THE LONG STORY, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT NO OTHER PERSON WILL GO THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE. Turned out good for me, I found a very experienced vintage Martin restorer who said the guitar ONLY NEEDED a neck reset which was done and the guitar is spectacular. The restoration cost $600 instead of the $3200 for the many not-needed issues the Guitar Specialist (Doug Proper) insisted he to be done to make the guitar right. CUSTOMER BEWARE read more

This is an older repair job when he was back in his old digs. It was a repair on a Taylor 612C. When I brought it in he showed me the starting gap between the bridge and the body and the ever so slight waver in the neck. He reglued the bridge and leveled the neck and the finished results were amazing...even for a guitar notoriously having an amazing neck. The finished job was $1400 (with strings) which was nearly half of what I paid for the guitar. But great workmanship is great workmanship. Yes, he takes forever and only will schedule X amount of work until new time becomes available. So make sure this is not your main instrument that you need to record next month with. I trust his workmanship but it rivals ordering a new custom hand made guitar these days. It might take years to see it. Make sure your heirs know where the receipt is kept. They might be picking the guitar up! read more

Doug does excellent work. I've been going to him for years and he has always been honest, up front, and takes the time to walk you through what's going on with your instrument. Yes, it can take some time to get the instrument back, but I can assure it's to get the job done right and the work done is well worth it. Thanks Doug and Sharon for your dedication to the instruments. read more

While the work was great, don't expect to have anything done in a hurry. I dropped off a guitar in September for fretwork and a setup, Doug had told me it would be done in a maximum of 8 weeks. I finally got the guitar back today, January 21. It took double the time, and he never called to let me know. I had to call him twice, the first time he gave a reasonable excuse (not related to the work), and told me it would be another week, that turned into a month, and I called him again. Again, another reasonable excuse(that was not related to the actual guitar repair). It was another week and a half when I got the guitar back. Yes it is setup nice, yes it plays better than before. However, the customer service is less than desirable, and there was no offer to even try to make it to me. And when I did ask about possibly knocking something off the bill, it was a no. So, for anyone thinking about using Doug, maybe think about what happened to me, and be prepared to wait... because it may take twice as long as expected to get your axe back. read more

Honest, knowledgeable, generous - Doug is the real deal.

Slow is the word for it! Besides waiting to get your instrument back you may have to wait for a ridiculously long period of time, while being ignored as he swaps stories with the only other customer in the place. He just didn't give a s**t. Bad Vibes! Don't want it transferred to my instrument. read more