It's Here!! my '65 M-20

[jgmaute]

Just amazing...I took her over to John's for an adjustment and new strings. Honestly, she was a big hit at the store. We all looked her over very closely and couldn't find a scratch on her. Absolutely no fret wear. Once we got the old strings off, got the neck adjusted, some oil on the fret board and bridge, then put on new strings (I went with D'Addario 10-42s) she was sooooo happy and just sounded so sweet and loud. The action is still high (as Chip has told me) a bit lower than before and OK in the cowboy frets, but she deserves a neck reset.

I know...I know...you want pictures...

here she is next to my GAD 30R, they're about the same depth. The nut on the M-20 is narrow, about 1 5/8 or maybe even 1 9/16

front and back

here's my NewYorker next to the M-20, NewYorker is deeper and only has 12 to the body

the pickguard is drying out but at least it isn't curling up like a '65 Martin would

What I should do is take her over to Randy tomorrow and have him do the neck reset, and I might do that...or I might keep her and play her for a while..but then again the sooner I take her over the sooner I'll get her back..

Thanks to everyone for their help ... Joan

edit: I forgot, she's really light weight and just feels so nice to play; she's also a nice red mahogany.

 

[GardMan]

Congrats! She looks great! Looks like there is a fair amt of saddle above the bridge... can you lower the action sufficiently by just lowering the saddle a bit? Might make her playable for a while... letting you put off the neck reset until you have had a chance to enjoy her. You'll likely need a new saddle after the reset, anyway... so there really isn't much to lose by giving it a try. Enjoy, Dave

 

[hansmoust]

Looks great Joan! Hope you will enjoy her!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[jgmaute]

Congrats! She looks great! Looks like there is a fair amt of saddle above the bridge... can you lower the action sufficiently by just lowering the saddle a bit? Might make her playable for a while... letting you put off the neck reset until you have had a chance to enjoy her. You'll likely need a new saddle after the reset, anyway... so there really isn't much to lose by giving it a try. Enjoy, Dave

Thanks Dave. John sanded down the saddle just a little (it's bone, smelled like drilling at the dentist) but he didn't want to take it down any lower until Randy saw it. (John's is the great shop here on island, Randy's is about 45 minutes away and where everyone, including John, goes for luthier work.)

Hans, it's going to be a tough job, but I'll do my best to enjoy her!

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Very nice, glad to hear it all worked out so well.

 

[dapmdave]

Just by looking at the pictures, you can see that this guitar just oozes character.

Dave

 

[Graham]

Congrats Joan, glad it worked out, even gladder LTG could assist. :mrgreen:

What a place!

Thanks again Don

 

[killdeer43]

I love a story with a happy ending....but then you've only just begun to enjoy a very special guitar, so the story continues.

Rejoice,
Joe

 

[Pike]

Congrats Joan! What a little beauty...

 

[Default]

When I was taking lessons back in the day, Howard Herberts had three or four M-20's as "beaters" for the students who forgot their instruments. Neat little guitars, but boy, did they need new strings. :lol:

Enjoy, it looks like a sweet one!

 

[Guildmark]

What a beauty, Joan! Nice going!
Thanks for posting the pics so quickly. Any chance of hearing her soon, too!
And add a tune or two on that llittle NewYorker. That's a nice looking little "parlor" instrument.
Thanks for sharing the experience.

 

[jgmaute]

What a beauty, Joan! Nice going!
Thanks for posting the pics so quickly. Any chance of hearing her soon, too!
And add a tune or two on that llittle NewYorker. That's a nice looking little "parlor" instrument.
Thanks for sharing the experience.

Thanks Guildmark. You know I couldn't wait to post those pictures of the new family member. Well, it will be a while I think before I'm recording her. I've got to get used to that narrow neck and I'm not sure when I'll take her for the neck reset. However, here's a cut from the CD I'm working on, I'm playing the NewYorker on the main finger picking, the additional guitar work, harmonics etc is a friend playing my D55. The song is by Janis Ian and Woody Guthrie, I Hear You Sing Again

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Just a beautiful song, Joan, and a great job. And congrats on the new guitar.

 

[Pike]

I Hear You Sing Again

Very nice Joan, thanks!

 

[TonyT]

She's a beaut!!!

 

[coastie99]

Looks like a real sweetheart, Jane.

So nice that it's worked out well for you ...... enjoy, enjoy, enjoy !

 

[john_kidder]

I expect that little guitar will make you very happy indeed., as mine does me. Congratulations.

 

[jgmaute]

Thanks folks...I took her to Randy today. He spent some time looking her over, checking the adjustment, saddle, etc. He thinks he can bring the action down enough to avoid (or at least postpone) a neck reset. I should have her back next week. After I've played her for a while I'll know first how the action plays for my style and second how much I'll be playing her and for what type of songs.

Yes, I'm a very happy camper! and...she hasn't been played for decades...once I start playing her I'm thinking she'll be singing even better. Joan

 

[krysh]

congrats joan, beautiful guitar!

 

[JHCrawLaw]

Hi, Joan.

Glad to hear your new baby made it all the way down to SC in one piece! She's looked like a keeper to me, neck issues notwithstanding!
BTW, she hadn't been played in decades, but she did spend about 20 minutes in my lap about 2 weeks ago. Glad to be of assistance in this grand Guild rescue

Chip