In Southern Utah, whether you’re into country, rock, classical, jazz, or any other type of music, you can usually find places to listen, purchase, and even perform it. And when your gear breaks down, you can find a place to fix it, thanks to Dan Worthington.
It’s just not where you might remember it.
Dan’s Guitar Repair, a well-known establishment among the local music community, recently moved from its old location on Bluff Street to 344 Sunland Dr. #6 in St. George.
“Six years ago, when I opened up the shop at the urging of a local musician and barber, I located the shop next door to his establishment. The location wasn’t ideal, but it worked for a while,” Worthington said. I’ve had my eye on moving for about two years now, and when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped.”
An army of volunteers, many of whom have ties to the growing Southern Utah music scene, pitched in to help.
“Moving is expensive and time-consuming, so the first thing I did was advertise on Facebook that we were having a half-price sale. The response was great, and it allowed a chance to build up the funds needed to secure the new location,” Worthington said. “Then I put out a call on Facebook for some help, and people just came out of the woodwork. It was just spine-tingling how much help showed up.”
Through some other friends, Worthington had a lease contract within 12 hours, and the move began in earnest. About 40 people showed up, and less than 48 hours later, among empty Gatorade bottles and pizza boxes, Dan’s Guitar Repair had a new home.
Worthington said that he has received a lot of positive feedback about the new location.
“[My customers] love how easy it is to find and get to, and everybody in town knows about this commercial complex on Sunland Drive. I couldn’t ask for better neighbors, like Findlay Auto Group and Wilding Wallbeds.”
Worthington has 30 years of experience as a luthier, building and repairing all makes and models of guitars. He also plays in the local bands Mr. Hyde and Cactus Surfers, and is a founding member of the Southern Utah Performing Artists Registry, a group of musicians dedicated to improving the quality and availability of local music in Southern Utah, as well as the viability of professional musicianship as a trade. As such, he prides himself and his business on the ability to get repairs and modifications done right, and done quickly.
“I’m a performing musician, and I understand how a quick turnaround on a repair might mean the difference between a gig going well or not, and that can equal money in a performer’s pocket. I strive to have things done quickly and accurately, to get people back to playing as soon as possible,” Worthington said. “I’ve even studied up on making instruments such as medieval lutes, just to learn about tone and how the construction of the instrument affects it.”
Rod Barlow, bassist for the local band Purple Tuesday, recently visited Worthington with an electric bass guitar that was having bridge issues. Worthington immediately went to work, searching the shop for the right parts to fit the bass, although due to the move, everything is not yet “in its place.” Within moments, he was busy fixing the problem with the correct part, getting Barlow back on his way.
Dan’s Guitar Repair is run with an efficiency that comes from Worthington’s own desire for perfection, his background in the military, and his desire for good music, both from himself and from his customers.
“We’ve had a few slogans attached to the business over the years: ‘When you care enough to play the very best,’ ‘It’s a tone thang,’ and our newest one, ‘When good enough… isn’t,’” he said.
Working alongside Worthington is fellow musician Gary Huff, who brings some 40 years of electronics and musical experience to the table in the repair, modification, and building of custom amps, effects pedals, switches, and the like. Together, these two men can take almost any musical problem and reduce it to a logical conclusion using a combination of good science, craftsmanship, and a love for the art. Also, if you buy strings from Worthington, he’ll put them on your guitar for free!
