Overlay repair

[jp]

I've been thinking about what I can do to salvage the headstock overlay on my '65 SF restoration project, and I was wondering if anyone here has experience with this. Some questions:

-- What exact type of material is the overlay?
-- Is there a compatible type of filler I can use to fill in the gouges?
-- Is there a good way to flatten the edges that have come loose?

My guess is that it's a thin layer of plastic glued to wood veneer. It shrank over time, probably from overexposure to heat. I have a feeling that I'd have to apply heat to get it to flatten out again before gluing. I have no ideas for filler other than a thick-gelled cyanoacrylate with black dye. I don't know how it well it will finish, though, and whether I can make clean seams to the old. If I can match the material in sheet form, I could possibly cut out sections evenly around the gouges, cut, fit, and glue in new sections, and fill the seams, if possible. Or perhaps I may be better off salvaging the inlay and making a new overlay with some ebony veneer. That's probably the cleanest and will look most professional, depending on my skills, of course. :?

Any thoughts?

 

[coastie99]

JP, I should think that your suggestion of a new, ebony overlay is likely to produce the most satisfying result. I don't imagine "patching" would look very pretty. I don't know, without experience, how you'd go about salvaging the inlay though. Are you sufficiently skilled to make the necessary routs ?

Perhaps, if you decide to go with the ebony option, you might also care to add some tasteful binding ?

 

[jp]

Are you sufficiently skilled to make the necessary routs?

I feel confident enough to pull it off but I lack proper tooling. I'd need a decent adjustable depth Dremel jig, or depending on the thickness and stability of the laminate, it may even be feasible to use a small routing table with a precision bit. As far as the patching is concerned, it would all depend on the type of plastic it is, and what type of compatible fillers are available. It doesn't seem very promising, though. And you're right, I don't have any experience trying to gussie up a 45-year-old piece of plastic.

Here in Oregon, I don't have much of a tool setup, and I've yet to build a decent workshop. In my previous work, I had access to a complete industrial workshop: wood shop, metal shop, paint spray booth, warming ovens, air tools, even a clean room. It was fantastic.

I like the binding idea. I didn't even think of that. Initially I was just gonna slap it together and plug it in. I'm starting to think I should do a complete resto? Hmmm . . . maybe I'll have that blue guitar I've always wanted. :mrgreen:

 

[coastie99]

feel confident enough to pull it off but I lack proper tooling. I'd need a decent adjustable depth Dremel jig, or depending on the thickness and stability of the laminate, it may even be feasible to use a small routing table with a precision bit. As far as the patching is concerned, it would all depend on the type of plastic it is, and what type of compatible fillers are available. It doesn't seem very promising, though. And you're right, I don't have any experience trying to gussie up a 45-year-old piece of plastic.

Here in Oregon, I don't have much of a tool setup, and I've yet to build a decent workshop. In my previous work, I had access to a complete industrial workshop: wood shop, metal shop, paint spray booth, warming ovens, air tools, even a clean room. It was fantastic.

I like the binding idea. I didn't even think of that. Initially I was just gonna slap it together and plug it in. I'm starting to think I should do a complete resto? Hmmm . . . maybe I'll have that blue guitar I've always wanted. :mrgreen:

There's certainly a lot of satisfaction to be derived from "rolling your own", and proper tools are certainly an essential part of that. I've recently started tampering with amps under the fab. tutelage of Cap'nJuan, and the purchase of relatively cheap, decent equipment has helped my workmanship enormously.

I harbour a secret desire to have a little workshop, a Dremel, and the tools necessary to have a shot at inlay work. All the information necessary for just about any project is out there ........ good on ya Mr Google !

Please, keep us updated.

 

[jp]

There's certainly a lot of satisfaction to be derived from "rolling your own", and proper tools are certainly an essential part of that. I've recently started tampering with amps under the fab. tutelage of Cap'n Juan, and the purchase of relatively cheap, decent equipment has helped my workmanship enormously.

That's exciting! I know the capn has lots of great info and experience to share. Can't think of a better mentor! I loved the Dave Hunter book he recommended to me. Have you checked that one out? For amp tweaking, I only have a nice multitester, but I should pick up a variac, just to take better care of my amps and tubes. My wish list includes an oscilloscope, tube tester, better soldering rig, and a tube bias tool. It's really not a big investment, but the time is.
----

So a bumpity bump bump. Anyone else have any insight or advice about what I should do with this overlay?

 

[GardMan]

Hey JP... you know, if it was mine I might just glue and clamp the overlay... and not worry about filling in the missing pieces (assuming that you photo shows the worst of it). I don't think that damage you show would detract that much... (it's character). Don't know if you would need to heat the overlay, as opposed to just pulling off the tuning machines so you can use a caul to clamp the whole thing flat aginst the headstock. My D-44 had a little bit of delamination of it's headstock overlay... I think my luthier just glued it back down with white or yellow carpenters glue?

Good luck!
Dave

 

[jp]

Hey JP... you know, if it was mine I might just glue and clamp the overlay... and not worry about filling in the missing pieces (assuming that you photo shows the worst of it). I don't think that damage you show would detract that much... (it's character). Don't know if you would need to heat the overlay, as opposed to just pulling off the tuning machines so you can use a caul to clamp the whole thing flat aginst the headstock. My D-44 had a little bit of delamination of it's headstock overlay... I think my luthier just glued it back down with white or yellow carpenters glue?

Good luck!
Dave

I do think I'd have to heat it. The overlay is pretty stiff, and straight clamping might do damage if the plastic has become too brittle with age. I could improvise a gently heated platen to clamp on the face, and yes, I was expecting to clamp the full clean headstock without tuners. The other side is also coming up.

I'm not against leaving the gouges, however, it's been refinned once already. There's red overspray all over the inside of the f-holes. It wasn't that bad of a job either, but it could benefit from fine wetsanding and a new nitro clear coat. With all of these changes, I'm on the fence as to whether I'll do a complete renovation, or just enough to get it up and running. It needs a full on fret job too, and I don't trust my skills enough to do that part.

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, that's pretty warped, jp. You will probably need to heat it to soften it up before you clamp it down.

You might be able to fill the missing chunks with some new black vinyl. I don't know; I'm talkin' out my patootie here.

Good luck.

I've always wondered what those faceplates are made from. Never really liked that they used plastic so prominently like that.