Barrett Coughlan Luthier

Wow! Just picked my Heritage Sweet 16 from Barrett. (Think Gibson, only much better quality) I purchased this used guitar from a large online auction site (you know the one) and it was delivered in great condition, but the sound was not optimal, it was not playing great and the intonation was off.
Barrett recommended a fret dressing, fine tuning the nut, and some intonation work and adjustment of the wooden bridge.
Barrett completed this work in record time and called me several times to provide a progress report and some service options. The quality of the work is awesome. This is now the best playing and sounding guitar that I have ever owned. Barrett’s fee for the work was completely reasonable, (I would have been happy to pay much more for the excellent results)
I have been taking guitars to Barrett for many years. This recent experience leads me to believe that Barrett Coughlan is one of the finest luthiers and guitar repairman in the country. Portland guitarists are very fortunate to have this resource. Highly recommended.

I tried to talk to him about his experience and was very short on the phone, and seemed offended that I asked. I said thanks.bye.
He called me later, made an excuse he was with a client and couldn’t talk and said check my website???
First if you couldn’t talk, don’t answer the phone. Then when you call back you brush me off and tell me to check your website?
This is a business that involves a personal touch. If you can’t even speak to a client then I’m not sure I want to deal with you.

I traveled to Portland for a concert and had serious problems with my guitar at rehearsal. I checked with Martin for a certified technician and checked a couple of local guitar blogs and decided to call Barrett. He talked with me on the phone and he figured out my initial problem was a string issue. He didn’t charge me and war very helpful. Because he was so helpful, I took my guitar to him after the gig to address a growing intonation problem.
Barrett took the time to show me exactly what the problem was, a warped neck, and helped me deal with Martin to be sure it was still covered under warranty. He was able to repair the neck, a not so minor miracle, and I asked him to do a fret redres and setup as well.
Bottom line is that he did fantastic job at a reasonable price. My guitar plays fantastic. Even though I live in Texas, where we have several fine luthiers, I will probably save my work for my trips to Oregon if possible. I cannot recommend Barrett more highly.

Barrett is a good guy and a great Luthier. I spent a bunch of money on a dream guitar and he found manufacturing flaws in it that I would have overlooked. I returned it and got another and he set to work tweaking the action and dressing the frets. The end result is a very very sweet Strat.
If you’ve never had a guitar professionally set up, you owe it to yourself; Barrett can make a good guitar great… and he won’t rest until it’s right!

Barrett is a real master, I have been taking my guitars to Berrett for over 20 years, and every time I get the guitar back, I am always absolutely amazed. Barrett is the quintessential guitar whisperer. It’s amazing how he can take what I would consider a really good guitar and makes it a great guitar. He can transform it iinto a greater instrument.
Thank you Barett, you’re the best!

I had used several luthiers in Portland recommended by professional musicians for both acoustic and electric guitars before taking my guitars to Barrett. His work has been so outstanding that I use his services exclusively and my professional friends now use him. He is very pleasant and knowlegable. He always goes over the guitar carefully to find out what my concerns are, and carefully assesses how my technique and style affects the setup of the guitar. He has always given me an accurate estimate of what will be necessary, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. He has taken the time to call companies like Goodall, Martin and Fender to get information about specific guirars when necessary and has done accurate repairs that can’t be distinguished from factory work, except they are better. When the guitar is ready, he has me play it before I leave to be sure the problems have been addressed to my satisfaction. After trying many others, Barrett is my go-​to luthier.

I have a Martin D-​18 circa 1967 that has been my favorite for years. It was worn when I got it in 1985 and hadn’t really considered it worth restoring until recently when I recognized that it really does have a beautiful sound compared to even new Martins while shopping for a newer guitar. I thought about shipping it back to the factory but, since I hadn’t bought it new, I am not eligible for the Martin lifetime warranty.
Recently a friend was admiring it and recognized that the warp in the neck and the flat top were getting quite severe. He recommended Barrett Coughlin as the best Martin luthier he had found in the Portland area. I enquired and Barrett said to drop in. After some initial examination, while I felt like the parent of a sick child in the doctor’s office, Barrett said it wouldn’t be easy but he could definitely help the neck. The flat top might be more difficult but he pointed out in particular that Martin has recognized a misplaced bridge in this model which they had designed a special fix for. This would fix a tuning problem that had always existed for this guitar in my experience. Namely, tuning it for one key would require retuning for another key due to the mismeasured distance of the strings between the nut and bridge.
Already I could tell that I had come to the right person but it got even better when Barrett encouraged me to try making the new bridge myself since I love woodworking projects. After a two attempts, I had it right. Meanwhile Barrett was able to use a heat press to flatten the neck and top without having to do a neck reset which he pointed out many would have recommended but does not even correct that actual warp. He is quite proud to say that he has mastered this technique when others cannot get the results that he does.
The bottom line is that Barrett Coughlan addressed some very difficult issues that had been nagging this instrument for decades resulting in a the best sound that I have ever heard come out of this lovely instrument. The price was very reasonable and his expertise is the result of decades of experience. If you have an older Martin that needs expert attention for a fair price, there is no other place to go!