I'm probably fortunate in that, within a 90-minute drive, I have two top-class builders of hand-made instruments and several top-rate repair specialists, all of whom are well-versed in working with Lowdens, Collings's, Huss & Daltons, Fyldes, any of the top-name brands you might care to name. I'd trust them with any of my Martins or my Lowden.

Possibly the worst experience I've had was with a UK Martin Authorised Service man! I stress that this was a previous guy, and NOT the current incumbent, Dave King, whose work I understand to be excellent (but I don't use because he's a four-hour drive from me).