1957 F-20 restoration (near)completion pictures

[Theem]

hey everyone

I saw the m-30 thread and thought I'd share a couple of pictures of the 1957 F-20 I just got back. The guy working on it went to travel the world for a few months, managing to finish the guitar to playable condition right before! The guitar had plenty of issues, and one that I underestimated, the guitar had been around a smoker and was covered in a thin layer of sticky crap, which had to be wet sanded off it. And with that, the top finishing being thin and fragile already caused the top to have to be refinished, with back, neck and sides saved but in need of touch up work. On the positive side, the guy didn't charge me for it! Just saying "It was raining, I had nothing else to do! no biggie", and that if the nut wasn't so thin he'd make a bid on it.

The pickguard was missing when I got it, and the guy has copied its shape and will make a copy of it for me later, however, as the top just isn't originally finished anymore i'm thinking about keeping it without a pickguard, looks pretty cool. And I don't use a pick.

here's some pictures, sorry to say I dont have a good before picture.

I bet in a few years the refinished top will darken even more as the new nitro yellows

Work done:
Rebinding in maple unlike the original ivoroid binding
new bone nut
new bone saddle
top refinish
some touch up work all over the guitar
Fret work
Bridge reglued
and a few other stuff

As for sound, It sounds damn good! The best sound for 1150$ I'll ever find! (including the restoration)

 

[southernGuild]

Looks great from down here Theem.........and what a good thing to do......and getting it done right!. NOW you'll have YEARS of reward. :wink: Enjoy that F20 magic. :wink:
"Saving the Guilds"

 

[bluesypicky]

Yep, nice save Theem. And very appealing little oldie!

 

[killdeer43]

Wow, a '57, no less! Super find, super job, Theem!
I'd like to find one of those oldies to restore, and I also like the look without the pickguard. Works for me!

Enjoy that little jewel, :wink:
Joe

 

[Ian]

I also like the look without the pickguard. Was the original one black or tortoiseshell ? Those new Tortoiseshell ones look horrible IMO.

 

[Theem]

Thanks guys !

Guitardude: It was tortoiseshell, I also think the new ones just dont look any good, old ones got alot more character. I'll go for a black one or transparent if anything. But I'll probably just keep it like this, theres no need to weigh that top down when it sounds good.
Killdeer I really enjoyed this, it was well worth it. I say go for it. Theres great satisfaction in adopting a beat up guitar and making it play right. I might get an old broken down 50s or 60s martin next time, with some nice play wear. Cause that usually tells you its a good sounding guitar!

And In some ways it got more mojo than my dads early 60s 000-18. Its very musical, I'm going to try to record it sometime.

 

[krysh]

congrats. can we hear it?

 

[Theem]

Sure, all I got is this short one I recorded this on a friends portable zoom player in his kitchen. I don't think it does the guitar enough justice, and I'll try mic it up better in a room with good acoustics when I get the chance.

here it is: guild.mp3

It does capture its feel pretty good but not good enough

 

[krysh]

access denied.

 

[Theem]

i think its fixed, I wonder if that site compresses files.. I think so, damn

 

[Treem]

It souds Niiice! especially on repeat!

 

[Theem]

Thanks man! but don't loop 35second clips for long, you'll go mad!

...our names are so similar...

 

[Treem]

Theem - It's still on repeat....and still enjoying it! I could finally hear the waterfall! :shock: :lol:

quiting time in 12 mins!

 

[Ridgemont]

That's a beautiful refinish. You don't that toner color on too many guitars. And it sounds amazing to boot! You got quite a bit for how little the expense was.

 

[learnintoplay62]

Sounds awesome and looks great. I love the color and the back mojo 8)

 

[krysh]

wow, sounds awesome,, congrats.

 

[Jeff]

Sounds great, character it has. Seems to have a different voice than my 57, maybe it's the tuning??

Whatever, it's a mighty big sound.

 

[Theem]

Thanks guys

Jeff, I think the sound is big sounding mostly due to the stereo recorder in a room that gives a bit of Tubbiness to the recording. And the fact that I pick with long guitar nails (thick as picks!) which gives a sharper edge to how each note projects. I also don't use bronze or phosphor bronze strings, but steel

Ridgemont yeah, the colour is like honey, golden honey. Very attractive. The guy who did it has finished guitars for most of this adult life, I think hes pushing 80. He asked if I wanted him to just sand the back and sides clean and respray them with new colour and nitro. Considering how well he did with the top i'd love to, but one gotta keep some of the guitars original worn character.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I think it's beautiful! The color is so warm, it just looks and sounds great! I'd be tempted to replace the PG for a more 'restored' restoration job. With your playing style you could certainly leave it off and it looks nice that way, but you can kinda see where it used to be too, unless that's a glare or something in the pic.