DZMods is guitar and string instrument restoration, modification and customization by me, Dave Zolla. I have been doing this kind of work since I started playing guitar in 1970. It began as a need to improve my inexpensive instruments as money was in short supply, and a natural enjoyment of wood working. What evolved from necessity, became a serious interest, and by my mid thirties, a means of adding income as an off shoot of my existing recording studio business. Now I am embarking on a new level by bringing lutherie to the forefront as the main part of my business, and making recording the second string. (pun intended, sorry.....). I will use names, in code when talking about different brands. For instance, Flander, Glidon, Morton, Paul Reed Myth - you get the picture. I have been playing guitar for over 40 years. I was trained on classical violin from age 7 till 13, when I switched to guitar and am entirely self taught. I am also self taught in lutherie, and would only consider myself as a luthier some time after age 35, twenty six years ago now. I have come to some basic conclusions. Foremost among them - people will believe anything they read, and never use their own common sense.

I was 13 in 1970, and the guy behind the counter was probably 55, a W.W.II vet, and I thought he was probably 100. He wasn't the Beatles, or in any way current with the music scene of the rock and roll golden age, he didn't have a cool look, or much hair, but that guy could play. And he knew stuff. Back then, the dealerships for major brands were protected. You couldn't buy a Glidon or a Flander etc., on every street corner. I was in Massachusetts, so you had to go to Boston. One store. Wurlitzers, on Newbury Street. Everybody else was locked out in the region. That was because Glidon was still actually in business, in MI, and they were interested in quality control. Same with all the majors. But I lived in little old Norwood, and as luck? would have it, there was an old music store there. This place was so old, 50 years plus even then, that it was around before Wurlitzers even. And they had all the major lines first, so they were able to keep them. Farnhams Music. The place smelled wonderful, like a musty old violin case. I can still smell it. There were all kinds of musicians of every age and stripe, old timers who were full time players in the "union". And young rockers, teachers of all types. Back then, It would take 6 months for Glidon to fill an order. Why? Because the instruments were largely hand built buy talented people, not stamped out by CNC machines run by underpaid monkeys. So in the style of Floyd's Barbershop in Mayberry, Saturdays were spent hanging around the old music store, dazzled by Glidons, Mortons, Grettas and Goulds, locked in glass showcases, because they were "instruments" and were respected. All clean, pristine, and set up so a serious customer could truly check them out. No slimy finger marks all over an imported piece of machine made cookie cutter "sales item".  These were 'special' forbidden works of art that you waited to grow up to touch, unless dad was rich. As a kid it was amazing to watch and listen to the old timers, and the only guy for 5 surrounding towns who could play that new "Jimi" sound.... instead of fifteen talentless kids sitting on benches playing (?) whatever they tore off the wall all at the same time! It was a different world, and what you learned then was mostly reality based. Man, how things have changed! More on that later as the site develops.  Until then, thanks for stopping by, and drop in any time.