I am Jon Free, guitar repairman and restorer by day, guitar-abuser with Gin Palace by night...
I create one-off Rebuilt 1950s Archtops electrified and structurally re-engineered to sonically rival or even surpass classic Vintage Gretsch designs. Prices start from £750! Further details and photos of these guitars can be found at Black Guitars' Free London page. The guitars are now available to try out in person at Macari's 92-94 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H
I did my first refret some 22 years ago (at the tender age of 13!), upon a '59 Futurama (the George Harrison model) now owned by Tom Cullinan, who still pulls it out for occasional Quickspace gigs.
I have run Vintage Guitar Sales and Repairs business Black Guitars with Kev Morpurgo for the last three years. Since 2006 I have run the Guitar Repairs Workshop at Rose-Morris in Denmark Street, London WC1, and am now acting as technical consultant for Longfellow. Aluminium Guitars
If you have an ailing guitar, bass or other stringed instrument which needs repairing or restoring, I also have a Home Workshop in Stoke Newington, North London, so please drop me a line for quality work at mates rates! Basic Set-Up £25, Hand Carved Bone/Metal/Plastic Nut £25, Fret Levelling/Dressing from £30, Re-frets approx £100-£150. Pickups Installed from £20 each.
