Thanks guys! I’d love to do a tracking build thread but I don’t have the patience. Plus after months of research on guitar forums and luthier threads, I don’t know that I want my decisions torn to shreds by traditionalists who would rather see a complete correct restoration, rather than simply saving this beauty from the scrap yard. I’ll give some narrative though
Using a gentle orange stripper sparingly, no sandpaper, only thin card scrapers to avoid removing wood, and TONS of patience, I was able to get the spray paint off, but not without removing the original lacquer. I’m a little bummed about that, because one spot removal begets another, avalanching into stripping the entire instrument, NOT what I wanted to do.
Silver lining: I never would’ve seen the beginning hairline cracks on the head (especially around each peg hole) or neck, or the delaminating sections on the back.
So I’ve very carefully stopdrilled each crack, dried it naturally in low humidity and never over 85*F, and gently filled each crack with gorilla glue. I researched and researched and finally decided on gorilla over hide or wood glue, because I’d like the additional spot drying the curing glue affords on the old wood. I understand there’s a small amount of expansion with curing that type of glue, I am keeping a VERY close eye on further crack propagation
I got a small tuning hammer and gently tapped out the top and bottom, listening for the telltale thud of a delamination, marked each, made a small relief cut at each edge, and injected wood glue, pressing gently until cured with homemade tension clamps. Further tapping has helped me believe I got all the delams taken care of.
Another thing I wasn’t expecting was that the top was painted and never intended for the grain to be displayed, so Guild spliced a section under the bridge to the lower F Hole. I REALLY wanted to avoid repainting, and just stain and seal to let the 65 year old wood show its beauty. I’m gonna have to think on this one for a bit.
When I bought it, all the pickups, knobs, and wires had been unceremoniously removed, and I’m toying with the idea of properly plugging the holes and blending, keeping it as a slim acoustic only hollow body.
I’ll update as I go
Thanks!
