Messing with a junk guitar

[5thumbs]

I sometimes sit in the back yard playing. Yesterday my neighbor walked up to the fence carrying a guitar case. “Is this any good?”.

It was an old Cortez 12-string. He told me it had been sitting in his attic for “20 or 30 years”.

It’s pretty much a basket case. Baking in a dry attic for years, strung, seems to have done it in. Serious lower-bout belly and a neck pulling away from the body.

I told him it was not worth trying to save. He then said I could have it if I wanted to mess around with it. Well, why not?

The belly is probably somewhat fixable – the weight and humidity trick, or worst-case, a Bridge Doctor could possibly help.

The other issue looks more serious. As you can see in the picture, the neck heel has pulled away from the body.

Obviously, this guitar isn’t worth bringing to a luthier, but I was wondering if gluing and clamping might be worth trying. Otherwise I suppose I could drill and bolt it; that wouldn’t be pretty, but hell, I’ve got nothing to lose, right? Unemployed for six months, I’ve got more time than money right now and it would be a fun toy to mess around with until I could afford a Guild 12-string.

Has anyone here ever tried anything like this?

 

[taabru45]

Hi Rick, at risk of you're starting a new career, here is an useful and interesting site that also shows you how to do a 'reset' but by taking off some of the binding on the bottom, then loosening the bottom to a degree, pulling the neck down and gluing the bottom back on, and trimming off the edge a bit....it at the bottom of the page....I bought an old Degas for $20, because it came with a soft case that I wanted, cranked the neck down, lowered the nut, and now it has playability, and sounds kind of dark and nice....why not have some fun with it...regards Steffan
http://mrglyn.blogspot.com/search?updat ... results=17

 

[dane]

I say go for doing the repairs yourself. At best you have a twelve string, at worst you have fire wood. Ether way you’ll have some knowledge and experience about guitars that you didn’t have before. IMHO. Peace

 

[cjd-player]

I messed around with an old Epiphone Texan (sorry Jerry ) that I got from my brother-in-law.
It had spent several years in an unheated garage. The neck was a bolt-on, but so loose it could no longer be tightened. I took it off, messed around a bit trying to change the angle, then bolted and epoxied :shock: it back on.

I also replaced the bridge and saddle.

Funny thing was, it actually sounded pretty good and played well after I was done.

Someone eventually bought it as their beater guitar.


So I say go for it. You've got nothing to lose.
Worst that could happen ... you might learn something. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[JerryR]

I messed around with an old Epiphone Texan (sorry Jerry ) that I got from my brother-in-law.
It had spent several years in an unheated garage. The neck was a bolt-on, but so loose it could no longer be tightened. I took it off, messed around a bit trying to change the angle, then bolted and epoxied :shock: it back on.

I'm a great believer in duct tape :mrgreen:

Someone eventually bought it as their beater guitar.

Well, its's my beater guitar :roll:

 

[5thumbs]

Steffan, that is a very interesting article! It certainly looks like something worth trying. It’s true; I’ve got nothing to lose. Worst case, it will keep me amused for many hours. If I end up with a playable guitar that would be even better.

Thanks much for the tip. That’s a very entertaining and educational blog.

And thanks for the encouragement, everyone! I think I’m going to give it a shot.

Now where did I put that mahogany duct tape? :lol:

 

[taabru45]

Hi Rick, glad you enjoyed it, I think the alternative to the neck reset is great, I have an F112 that has had the neck reset, but the bridge is very thin, and the fretboard is higher at the body end than at the head end, kind of....anyway, it should have a new bridge, and proper reset. my luthier will do the one described, he had done it before, because it is way less expensive than removing the neck, and, he wasn't impressed with the previous work and said until you try to remove the neck, you don't know if the guy used epoxy, which would make it impossible to remove the neck....I just wish people wouldn't work on the 'good' guitars till they know what they are doing...good luck, you might end up with agoodun....Steffan

 

[dapmdave]

Go for it, buddy. Regardless of the outcome, you'll learn something. And that's always good, right?

Dave

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Rick; take your best shot ... I looked at Steffan's linked blog and noticed that the guy put the neck back generally where it was. If yours is as messed up as you say, you'll need some kind of reference point ... that is, if you put it back on before re-stringing it, how will you know it's where it's supposed to be? Not trying to be annoying here ... just a veteran of a few poorly thought-out projects.

You might try laying the guitar flat on it's back (if it has a flat back) and measuring the distance from the tip of the headstock to the surface the guitar is laying on. Depending on which way you are trying to get the neck to go, at least you have some over/under reference point when dry-fitting; that is, you'd have an answer to the question; 'is it where it's supposed to be?'

This won't be one of those deals where after you get lost, you can just drive around for a while and ask directions ... even though your wife asked you to an hour ago ... :wink: Good luck with your project! Pics will be appreciated. John

 

[taabru45]

Hi Rick; take your best shot ... I looked at Steffan's linked blog and noticed that the guy put the neck back generally where it was. If yours is as messed up as you say, you'll need some kind of reference point ... that is, if you put it back on before re-stringing it, how will you know it's where it's supposed to be? Not trying to be annoying here ... just a veteran of a few poorly thought-out projects.

You might try laying the guitar flat on it's back (if it has a flat back) and measuring the distance from the tip of the headstock to the surface the guitar is laying on. Depending on which way you are trying to get the neck to go, at least you have some over/under reference point when dry-fitting; that is, you'd have an answer to the question; 'is it where it's supposed to be?'

This won't be one of those deals where after you get lost, you can just drive around for a while and ask directions ... even though your wife asked you to an hour ago ... :wink: Good luck with your project! Pics will be appreciated. John

Good point CJ..........the getting lost thing.......is that the voice of experience? I heard a comic say, If you ever get lost, go to the 1st Mall you see, and there is a map just inside the door, it has a red dot on it that says 'you are here'. :lol: :lol: Steffan
P.S. How you feelin' these days my friend....

 

[capnjuan]

... the getting lost thing ... is that the voice of experience?

I'd be lying if I said no; both geographically and electronically :wink: Feeling pretty good Steffan, thank you. John

 

[5thumbs]

CJ, that is a good point. Being a “measure twice, cut once” kind of guy, I expect to spend a fair amount of time with a ruler and straightedge before I start hacking.

And I sometimes tend to overbuild (anyone need a coffee table that will support an engine block?) so this could turn out to be a long project. I will take some pic’s and try to document my adventures (creation of the most labor-intensive stack of firewood in history?).

As far as getting lost, I’ll paraphrase Daniel Boone: “I’ve never been lost, but I have been a mite confused for a few days”.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Rick; we all keep score differently but:
Better = 2nd prize at the beauty contest
Worse = go back three spaces
The same = Go to Jail, do not pass Go.

I can live with mistakes but not with spending tedious hours and winding up where I was when I started :evil: . As ever, your results may vary ... :wink:

 

[RussD]

I vote for giving it a shot. But you might want to consider a really good book - great readig either way): http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_...tar,_acoustic/Guitar_Player_Repair_Guide.html

If it works, it can be amazing; I'm not sure I know many feelings better than playing a well-set up guitar that you worked on yourself. Good luck!

 

[Brad Little]

I vote for giving it a shot. But you might want to consider a really good book - great readig either way): http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_...tar,_acoustic/Guitar_Player_Repair_Guide.html

It's more expensive, but Stew-Mac also have a Dan Erlewine video on resetting a neck. Gives all the angles and formulae needed to do it right.Of course, it assumes you have some good and sharp chisels and a place to do the work.
Brad

 

[5thumbs]

My original plan had been to try to hack this baby back into some kind of playable condition, regardless of looks.

You people are inspiring me to take it to another level - a serious repair.

You are right; I will learn something from this. That’s reason enough to try.

RussD, thanks for the link. I’m going to order that book; it does look like an interesting read.

Brad, I’m going to try the book first, but I’ll keep that video in mind. Yes, I have a decent workshop and a set of Marples (fine English chisels, right Jerry?) that I could shave with (if I shaved, which I don’t).

Veer warning here! How many LTG guys have beards? I’m getting the impression that at least a few of us are old enough to shave.

Oh, never mind; I’m just getting goofy. I know this forum is a serious place. Anyway, more to come.

 

[taabru45]

[
Veer warning here! How many LTG guys have beards? I’m getting the impression that at least a few of us are old enough to shave.

Oh, never mind; I’m just getting goofy. I know this forum is a serious place. Anyway, more to come.[/quote]

Right....uh huh......well ok.......hmmmmmm...... :lol: :lol: Steffan
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14068

 

[5thumbs]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I rest my case!

 

[cjd-player]

I know this forum is a serious place.

Which threads have YOU been reading. :shock: :shock: :? :? :?

:mrgreen:

 

[JerryR]

Yes, I have a decent workshop and a set of Marples (fine English chisels, right Jerry?) that I could shave with (if I shaved, which I don’t).

Veer warning here! How many LTG guys have beards? I’m getting the impression that at least a few of us are old enough to shave.

Probably 90% of the guys and 50% of the gals :mrgreen:

( I risked putting that on the premis that the gals won't read a thread headed 'tech shop' :twisted: )