SRPČANIN BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO GUITARS

"Every guitar has its own story and soul, and my job is to bring back its true sound and revive its music," says Goran Marić from Srbac, who has restored and repaired over a thousand guitars and other string instruments — including the legendary guitar of renowned singer-songwriter Jadranka Stojaković.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Goran is not only a talented craftsman and musician, but also a healthcare worker, a father of three, and a man who turned his talent into a hobby — one that’s now blossoming into a true form of art.

It all began when he traded an amplifier for a broken guitar and decided to try fixing it.

"I tried everything — cutting and reattaching the neck, gluing, adjusting the frets, tuning it, and installing electronics. Eventually, it came back to life in my hands. I even played it for a while before giving it to my cousin. That was one of the first guitars I ever restored, and since then I’ve repaired many for friends as well," Goran recalls.

He was always fascinated by how instruments work. Using English-language blogs and online resources, he taught himself about electronics, fret replacement, and fine-tuning. Everything he knows, he learned through practice.

"The most common issues I come across are with the frets or basic setup. It’s not hard, but it takes a lot of patience and feeling. I used to spend seven hours on one guitar — now I can do it in three or four," he explains.

In addition to guitars, Goran also repairs double basses, tamburicas, violins, cellos, and bass guitars. Over the past 15 years, he’s mastered everything from structural damage to refinishing. His reputation brings clients not only from nearby towns, but also from across the country and even abroad.

One of his proudest moments came when he held the guitar of the late Jadranka Stojaković in his hands. It was brought to him by her former physiotherapist, a guitar enthusiast from Banja Luka.

"Jadranka knew she wouldn’t be able to play anymore due to her health, so she gave the guitar to him as a gift. It was in excellent condition, with its original case. I told him to take good care of it — it’s a valuable instrument and an even more precious memory," Goran told Glas Srpske.

According to Goran, only a handful of craftsmen in the region still do this kind of work, and there’s little interest among the younger generation to take it up.

"There’s a boy whose grandfather wants me to teach him. I plan to show him the basics, but it takes time and a lot of practice. Ideally, someone starting this trade should be a musician — a guitarist or bassist — so they understand how the instrument should feel. It takes patience, precision, and investment. At first, it’s practically volunteer work — you learn by doing and earn very little until you gain experience," says the talented craftsman, known on social media as Servis gitara Goran Marić.

He works in a medical lab at the Health Center in Srbac, and spends much of his free time performing music — solo or with bands from Banja Luka and surrounding areas, playing both folk and pop music. Though he’s a true guitar virtuoso, Goran is also skilled on the double bass.

"Balancing work and family isn’t easy. My wife Sanja takes care of the household and the kids, while I earn the income. The children are still young, but my middle son Nikola is always tinkering with toys — just like I used to. I never kept a single toy intact. Maybe he’ll take up fixing things too — you never know," says Goran, who’s currently working on his first original song — a ballad dedicated to his wife.

Besides music and instrument repair, Goran is also active in graphic design and video production. He dreams of starting music workshops and hopes to travel to Germany one day to attend professional training and further sharpen his guitar repair skills.

He also has a dancing past — Goran spent four years training in Latin American and standard dances with the "Ritam" Dance Club in Srbac, even winning awards.

"That was back in elementary school. Friends talked me into it, but they all quit soon after — I stuck with it. I learned different dances and performed at local events. It’s great for young people to engage in sports, dancing, and social activities," Goran concludes.