I picked up my 65' Hoboken F30 at the border today.
The seller had a 2 day return policy so, parked at the border patrol parking lot on the US side, I took out the guitar, gave it a good look over and played it in the back seat for at least 30 min. If ever the guitar wasn't what I was expecting, I could head over to the nearest UPS store and ship her back...
As expected, it does have its share of battle scars. Most notable is the top crack just under the pickguard which is common I hear for a guitar from this period. Its been professionally cleated and stable, but its there and quite visible. The action is relatively low and comfortable, however, there is little to no room left on the saddle to go any lower if ever it needs it. And the neck has no relief, flat as pankake. Surprisingly, the frets show very little ware. After playing for a little while, I can say this F30 definitely has a lot of mojo going on. The tone is rich, full and clear as a bell. Tons of character and charm, I'm very pleased.
Looking forward, my only worry would be if this guitar would eventually need a neck reset. The seller was not able to say if it ever had one. The neck joint doesn't show any apparent signs of it. Can anyone here tell by looking at the pics?
If the action is low and comfortable now, after 55 years, and barring any sudden or massive changes in humidity, is it safe to say the neck has moved as much as its going to and likely remain stable?
Any opinions are welcome