You Guys Might Get A Kick Out Of This One

[Elias Graves]

My old Silvertone. Dad bought it new in 48. Solid spruce top and quite the little cannon. He played quite a few dance halls with it through the 50s. For some reason forever unknown, he tossed in the attic in the late 70s when I was a pup. I had forgotten all about it til I ran across it while getting some stuff for mom a couple years ago. It had pretty much disintegrated. The neck was off, the top and back were off and in pieces, the tuners were shot, etc.
I brought it down and set to work reassembling it. Never thought it would play again, but she sounds terrific. I finally finished the new nut for it last night and tuned it up. Wow, what a sound! The finish still needs some repair and I haven't completed the new bridge yet, but I'd say she has a few songs left in her.


EG

[Elias Graves]

Love the wear on the neck.


EG

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Elias Graves

I brought it down and set to work reassembling it. Never thought it would play again, but she sounds terrific.

That is great! I'm a big fan. The old Harmony / Kay / Hofner / Hoyer / Framus acoustic archtops of the world sound amazing. There is something about that really thin, pressed solid top sound quality that you can't find on even fancy carved tops (old or new). The problem is always the cheap construction so the necks are usually separating and/or the tops are collapsing. The frets seem to be made of brass or steel though. I have a 50's harmony where the frets are not worn at all and i have put many many hours on it.

Also, thanks for bringing it back to life. There are so many department store instruments that could be brought back into people's hands with a little love (or a neck reset ).

[Elias Graves]

Yeah, neck reset is an understatement.
The back was split in two, the top was is one piece but fragmented.
Frets are worn, but not bad. The fingerboard has valleys from all the cowboy chords through the years.
But it sounds good and plays good. Action is quite reasonable...well within archtop range.
The tailpiece is buzzy and I need to look into that and I have to repair the finish, but I do love it.

EG

[pingu]

That is great .........

I'd consider leaving the finish alone as tribute to its history

but I like worn in stuff in general

I've got an old Hofner President myself with a bit of history ... fab

[NSJ]

Hey, people (not me) pay good money these days to get their POS bolt ons "reliced" like that!

[spiral]

Originally Posted by pingu

I've got an old Hofner President myself with a bit of history ... fab

Old Hofners are fantastic with one exception: the nut is excruciatingly narrow (for my oven mitts). something like 1 1/2". I learned that the hard way.

[Elias Graves]

A good bit of that damage is a result of repairs to the split top. I'll probably touch up the burst a bit, hit it with a little amber and clearcoat it.
I don't want to leave that spruce bare but I'm not planning on putting too much makeup on it. I want to see the marks.

EG

[Jeff Gu]

That is just crazy cool... you must have the patience of a saint, or mad luthier skilz. I had a house burned down by the fire department that needed less work than that! Very nice to see it resurrected from certain doom!

[IconTheHologram]

That's one beautiful guitar. I could see it as belonging to Tom Waits.

[cosmic gumbo]

I'd paint it green and call it Gumby.

[Retroman1969]

I think that's incredibly cool, and the story that goes with it makes it priceless in my book. I'm glad you took such trouble to revive it.
Anxious to see the finished result.

[hot ford coupe]

That's way cooler than finding a mint 30's L5 under a bed. This one's got a history you can't buy. It only goes to show you, the great standard collectibles are not the only desireable guitars out there.