LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An instrument repair shop owner in Louisville told Spectrum News 1, they have noticed something during the pandemic: An increased demand in people who need stringed instruments repaired.

For 16 years, Ryan Scott has fixed stringed musical instruments like violins, cellos and guitars. 


What You Need To Know

  • Local music shop sees increase in the need for instrument repair

  • Ryan Scott owns Scott Guitar Works

  • He has had to hire extra help to meet the demand

  • The shop owner says its a good problem to have.

“I love bringing things back to life, ” said Ryan Scott, the owner of Scott Guitar Works.

In this shop, details matter. Every meticulous cut. Every slight adjustment to an instrument means something to someone.

“It’s about 40 years old, and it has stories to tell that are older than me,” Scott explained.

One of Scott’s most memorable stories was a while ago when musician Billy Gibbon’s guitar came through his shop. Gibbons is a legendary member of ZZ Top. 

Scott recalled, “It was … oh man it was invigorating. God, I would mention that every ding and nick tells a story. That much more when it comes from a band that’s paved a lot of what we know of our modern rock ’n’ roll.”

But, there is something else Scott and his shop have to deal with. A big business boost.

Scott fixes instruments from across the state. He says his shop is busier now than it has ever been before.

Scott explained that it is not easy to keep up with demand.

"It's a good problem to have, but it's still a problem, nonetheless. It's not exactly new, but it is probably at a capacity of which I was not prepared for. So it's ... have to think on our feet a little bit more than we had previously," Scott explained.

Scott said his shop has seen a 30%-50% increase in customers that want repairs, compared to this time last year. Why? He says more people have picked up musical instruments and started playing during the pandemic.

"It's kind of an inspiring thing to be able to help someone really be able to make their instrument play well, and feel good to allow them to keep at it," Scott explained.

That's one of the reasons Spencer Corbin was hired to help. He started in March of this year and repairs instruments. 

Corbin said, "In today's world where everything is so pick it up, use it and throw it out. Very just kind of disposable world, it is one of those things to where whenever people see us doing this work, they're like 'Oh My Gosh, how do you do that?'" 

The shop breathes new life into instruments, one restoration at a time.