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Post new topic Weissenborn Teardrop Restoration
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Author Topic:  Weissenborn Teardrop Restoration
Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 25 Mar 2010 7:09 pm    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
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T. W. Hatem


From:
Northern Hemisphere
Post  Posted 26 Mar 2010 6:56 am     Kia ora back atya Tony !
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Cool Whoa! Shocked Whoa! Cool

Stunning !

Good Luck & God Bless

TW
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 26 Mar 2010 10:42 pm    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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T. W. Hatem


From:
Northern Hemisphere
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2010 6:19 am     Noice....
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Good blog, great pics.... kinda makes a guy want to go out and take apart an old guitar ! Thanx for de-mystifying and deceptively simplifying the process somewhat. I can almost smell the glue and wood from here !

Do you put the iron directly to the wood ? Shoot the steam to the joint ? Pad the wood from the iron with material ?

Looks Beauty, I like how nicely you cleaned up the inside too, revealing the saw marks and not disturbing most of the original work.

I for one will be looking forward to the next installment.

Kia ora

TW
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2010 2:19 pm    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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James Williamson


From:
California & Hawaii
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2010 8:37 pm     Teardrop restoration
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These are great Tony keep em coming....what a job this was!!!!
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Mark Bracewell


From:
Willow Glen, California
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2010 9:54 pm    
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When you look at the pics, you know it's like a life being saved by a pro. Brain surgeons should probably study guitar repair for a semester. Love the pic with the knife sticking out Smile
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 2:23 am    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Alan Barley

 

From:
Austin, Texas
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 11:08 am    
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Thanks, Tony! I really enjoyed reading your blog on the restoration process. Great job!

Alan
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www.alanbarley.com

Weissenborn Style 1, Asher Royal Hawaiian, Ben Harper, Ben Harper Series 2, & Dual Sonic prototype, Paddy Burgin Weissenborn & Baritone Weiss., Weissenborn Teardrop copy, '46 Bakelite, '42 Bakelite, '35 Frypan, '53 National Dynamic, Clinesmith Dobro.
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Mike D

 

From:
Phx, Az
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 2:03 pm    
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Very nice Tony.
I still can't get over how little time it must have taken to put one of those things together at the factory....and the size of that bridge plate, Holy Cow! Whoa!
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 11:52 pm    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Mike D

 

From:
Phx, Az
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 12:58 am    
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I've seen a couple other rebuilds in person and found them to be on par with other guitars of the time, it's just kind of a shock compared to modern standards. Or at least that of higher end builders (thinking here of the 'kerfed' braces in some Gibson archtops). Not saying they weren't well-designed instruments, and of course they sound great, but you gotta admit they are pretty rough inside.
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 1:44 am    
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Hi Mike,

No doubt - hence the banner "Only a Gibson is glued enough" - actually Weissenborn could be a fair contender for that title. Interestingly Martin's were as squeaky clean then as they are today.

What I find interesting about Weissenborn is that they knew quite clearly what they were doing. One example of many; the braces were all cut to dimension on the table saw, the critical top braces were then planned for a perfect fit. The back braces however were left rough - less critical. Today almost all the Weissenborns I see are still perfect at top glue joints, and most every back brace is loose. Go figure.

Tony
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Mike D

 

From:
Phx, Az
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 9:10 am    
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"Only a Gibson is glued enough"

Mr. Green
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Tony Francis

 

From:
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2010 3:52 am    
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Last edited by Tony Francis on 24 Nov 2012 11:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2010 6:56 am    
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You've done a great thing here, Tony. Thanks for sharing the process with us!
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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Peter Lindelauf

 

From:
Penticton, BC
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2010 9:15 am    
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Beautiful work, Tony. Almost inspired to resume some vintage zither restoration. The video above was a hoot--especially the guy playing slide with a bottle on fence wire
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...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot)
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