Stringed instrument repair, service, restoration and construction
Services
Things with Strings provides a range of luthier services to the music community in the Canberra and South East NSW region, including:
- Repair
- Vintage instrument restoration
- Modifications and customisation
- Bow re-hair and repair
- Pickup winding and electrical repairs to instruments
- Custom instrument design and construction
Michael is a trusted repairer and restorer for collectors, professional musicians, vintage resellers, and schools (WWVP registered in the ACT)
Michael works on a range of instruments from:
- Violin, viola, cello and double bass
- Classical and steel string acoustic guitar
- electric guitar and bass
- Bouzoukis, Mandolins, Dulcimers, Banjo, Harp, Oud and Lyre
About Michael
Michael has been woodworking since his early teens, and built his first guitar as a teenager in the early 1990's. In the early 2000's he worked under the watchful eye and expertise of Chris Brady at Brady Drums in Perth, manufacturing block snare drums. Chris would generously lend his workshop to Michael on weekends to build guitars under the "HG" logo.
Michael moved to Canberra in 2010 to pursue an alternative career, but continued to repair and restore guitars, and build under the "HG" brand. Michael has been continuously expanding his skillset to include orchestral stringed instrument repairs, restoration and finishing techniques, including French polishing.
Michael enjoys the challenge of complex instrument restoration and problem solving.
Michael prefers the peace and quiet of traditional woodworking, and keeps his use of power tools and machinery to the absolute minimum.
When not in the workshop Michael enjoys trips away with his family, playing guitar in a range of styles, audio engineering, cooking, playing squeaky noises on the violin, and is a frustrated drummer at heart.
