Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:42 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 11:48 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:51 pm
Posts: 37
First name: Lou
Last Name: Moritz
City: Fords
State: New Jersey
Zip/Postal Code: 08863
Country: United States
About 4 yrs ago I got an email from a guy who was looking to get a restoration done on an LP headstock. He was referred to me by a local Music Store. The guy sent me a couple of pictures and explained that he picked this LP up at a “Fire Sale”……
The guitar left the factory as a flamed maple top cherry burst LP. The year is unknown as the serial number was lost to the fire. Anyway not only was the top of the headstock burnt but the entire was finish was charred along with the back edge of the body. To make matters worse, this LP was in the basement rec.room which was flooded with 2 feet of water. So as the story goes the original owner dried it out, stripped the finish, sanded away the charred remains on the body and did a quick refinish on the guitar leaving the headstock in it’s current condition as seen here. :

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Here is the rest of the guitar:

Image
Image

Here you can see how much was sanded on the body’s edge to get rid of the charred wood.

Image
Image
Image

Nothing works electronically on it either as it still has the original water damaged parts. Note the “Moss” that has grown on the inside of the cavity!

Image
Image
Image


Ok, on to the fix !
Pondering my strategy I decided on my plan of attack.

I cut the headstock at a 50 degree angle just above the middle row of tuners to get rid of as much burnt wood as possible while still retaining as much of the original wood as I can and then cut and squared up the sides.

Image

I also cut a piece of Mahogany for the headstock extention at 50 degree angle and glued it up between cauls to keep everything tight and square.

Image

After drying for 24 hrs I cut about 1/8” off the back of headstock with the bandsaw and a fence as a guide to keep it as straight as possible.

Image
Image
Image

Drilled out the remaining tuner holes to a ½” and plugged them with Mahogany plugs I cut from a scrap piece I had.

Image

I cut a piece of Mahogany slighthy thicker then 1/8” and tapered the lower portion and then bent it to match the angle where the neck meets the headstock using a heat gun after I steamed the lower portion of the wood to make it pliable.

Image
Image

And glued it to the back of the headstock. Note the ¾” socket used to press the curved portion down !

Image
Image

The back is built up but we’re not done yet.

Image
Image
Image

On to the front and sides.

Squared up the sides using a guide and the router.

Image
Image

Wings glued on and rough cut to shape.

Image
Image

Final shaping done.

Image
Image

Using this clear copy I was able to properly locate the truss rod nut access cavity.

Image

Fitting the Holly overlay.

Image
Image

Front and back sanded, back overlay blended into the neck,
Holly glued up and shaped.

Image
Image
Image
Image

Tuner holes measured out, Gibson inlay marked out and ready to be inlayed.
Now, in my haste I forgot to take pictures of the actual inlay process but most of you already know how it’s done.

Everything got a final finishing sanding and fitted the tuners.

Image
Image
Image

And last but not least…………the black dye applied to the Holly.

Image

"Finished"

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 11:50 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Nicely done.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 5:26 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:51 pm
Posts: 37
First name: Lou
Last Name: Moritz
City: Fords
State: New Jersey
Zip/Postal Code: 08863
Country: United States
Chris Pile wrote:
Nicely done.

Thank you Sir !


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 6:38 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:17 am
Posts: 995
Location: United States
City: Tyler
State: Texas
Yep, that another one back to new.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:56 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 126
First name: William
Last Name: Bustard
Country: CANADA
Nice Job!

_________________
You just pick up a chord, go twang, and you're got music. -Sid Vicious


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 5:38 am 
Offline
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Very nicely done AND documented here too Lou!!!

_________________
Ann Arbor Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 8:14 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:06 pm
Posts: 2739
Location: Magnolia DE
First name: Brian
Last Name: Howard
City: Magnolia
State: Delaware
Zip/Postal Code: 19962
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Very nice!

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com