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Topic: Disassembling guitars |
Paul Osbty
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2003 11:37 pm |
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I see many pictures of guitars, steels included, with the owners showing how they have taken apart the instrument. I am very hesitant to do this, moreso with standard guitars.
I purchased a Deluxe 6 about 2 months ago. It was in fine shape, but I later found that the owner (a nonplayer) took it apart to find the build date (most likely to get more money). He didn't wreck anything, but didn't torque the screws well. It took me 2 weeks to finally get the thing back together before I got a good string response up and down the neck. It's now a beauty and I melt from that sound! I have never done that much work on a guitar before, however minimal.
An example:
A guy was selling a '68 bass guitar. I like guitar history, so I looked at it. Sure enough, he had taken it apart to "prove" the build date. Well, it was now worth nothing to me. He wanted $2500. Maybe to someone, but to me only if Fender built it, not him.
I've owned pro guitars for 25+ years and have yet to remove a neck. I replaced one bridge. I replaced one tuning machine. I did two truss rod adjustments.
Am I being overly doubtful, or "retentive" of people's abilities? I guess I think an instrument is not an appliance. Original to me means still in one piece since manufacture. |
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Tom Olson
From:
Spokane, WA
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 12:03 am
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I would say it depends upon several things. For example how technically competant the person is who disassembled/assembled the guitar, and how much money they're asking. Also, as you've alluded to, it depends on how anal the purchaser is. I tend to be anal that way fairly often myself about stuff I buy, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it -- that's just the way some people are. At least you know what you want -- there's nothing wrong with that either.  |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 7:23 am
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How about strings? If you ever replace them then it's not original anymore? 
I don't understand this thing about taking it apart ruining its originality.
Uff'Da! |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 8:10 am
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 16 Jan 2018 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 9:47 am
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I'm in agreement with Erv. I'm not an "antiques freak". If I can improve an older instrument, I will. Of course, if you originally bought the instrument for investment and plan to sell it later, keep it as original as possible.
The real consideration here, for me, is not to deface the asthetics of the instrument. I've seen some good instruments brutally butchered.
I have three steel guitars that I have restored and they are considerably better than new.
Rick |
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Dwight Mark
From:
Denver, Colorado, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 10:50 pm
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Interesting discussion. I have an original Weissenborn and one of the tuners stripped on me. I took it off and try to find someone to weld the thing to see if I could fix it. My friend replaced his with some tuners, but had to drill a couple of new holes.
I took tuners off my Oahu guitar, and got the holes to line up, but they are reversed, so I have to tune them backwards, and they're a little loose and I have a hard time getting the thing tuned up.
If I play this thing, what's better, to deal with an instrument that's hard to tune up, but has no additional tiny screwholes, or have an instrument that is completely playable?
I've have come to a conclusion that I like vintage instruments. They have soul, they have stories to tell and stories to make. I am now much more forgiving for even repaired cracks and scratches. If the thing was made by hand and is solid wood and has been played, it beats breaking in a new factory made instrument. The only exceptions is the fact that some vintage instruments were not made to play my way, such as I play acoustic guitar and play solos. A cutway makes a big difference. No vintage acoustic guitar is going to give you access up beyond the 12th fret. Since I became an e-Bay junkie, I've found over time that almost all acoustic instruments I've bought requires setup to play my way; requires a new bridge saddle or new nut, or I want to put a pickup in them requiring an endpin jack or something to to make the thing play better - but less original.
When it comes time for resale, I just hope there's someone out there that can accept a more played and playable, than more purely collectable instrument. My 2 cents.
Dwight |
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Paul Osbty
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2003 11:14 pm
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Of course I change strings as that is a standard operation. I fully agree with restoring a great instrument to playability, original or not. Un-playable is the worst thing to happen, so anything is better. I have no need for resale since I intend on keeping and playing. I am a player, but not a luthier. If some work was needed and professionally done, a receipt is simple to retain. I guess I think a guitar is disassembled because 1) something broke or is modified. I want to know what that is, or 2) someone was exploring. Well, I get suspicious of that.
Many flutes, saxes, clarinets, etc. are made to be taken apart to fit into the case. I'm going to see if there are 1-piece flutes.
Quote Jeff Au Hoy:
...replaced (with the help of a professional I will not name) the relatively short screws anchoring the faceplate of my Stringmaster with extra long ones...
I am interested in this. Why the problem? Authenticity only or ?
...An accompanying picture showed the faceplate unscrewed and the entire pickup assembly completely lifted off.
That's pretty funny! I guess unmolested has some leeway.[This message was edited by Paul Osbty on 07 March 2003 at 11:21 PM.] [This message was edited by Paul Osbty on 07 March 2003 at 11:22 PM.] |
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mikey
From:
New Jersey
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 9:10 am
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God...I'm a player..so playability is utmost concern..but violation/rape is undesireable...but, I sold a Strat once(on Ebay) and one of the questions was are all the screws original...now I got the guitar used 20 years prior, and it was already used, so I had NO IDEA...but...it played well and the screws made no difference to me...so, if someone is more concerned about those things...I'd rather see the instrument go to a player...but I think in the learning process everyone should , be careful, but taking things apart to date or se how they work it's a neccessity...especially if something needs to be fixed on site...don't be scared...just carefull..and don't overtighten or lose parts...
Mike |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 9:24 am
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 16 Jan 2018 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 10:00 am
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C'mon, Jeff, you have some redeeming qualities ... even though some Forumites have considered disassembling you. 
I think changing the length of screws -- with a clear, performance-related purpose -- doesn't equate to some of the butchery we see from time to time. Unfortunately, too many guitar owners wield tools with more good intentions than skill. Caveat emptor ...
[This message was edited by Russ Young on 08 March 2003 at 10:08 AM.] [This message was edited by Russ Young on 08 March 2003 at 10:53 AM.] |
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Paul Osbty
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 12:36 pm
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Thanks, Jeff and everyone. Yes, that was the same problem I was having on my Deluxe 6. I did have a very interesting effect. Playing a single B note (16th fret) gave a great harmonic. Almost like a flute doing a split-tone. I loved the sound, but it happened ALL the time, so it had to be remedied. It did turn out to be tightening all of the hardware.
I would have no problem if you refinished yours. It is already altered, so a restoration is what I would do (when desired).
Funny thing, though. I brought this Deluxe 6 to the "pro" shops around here to fix the problem. NO ONE would touch it! I couldn't believe the disinterest and cowardice displayed by so-called guitar pros. So I do sympathize with people doing their own work as it can be difficult to find good help these days!
[This message was edited by Paul Osbty on 08 March 2003 at 12:38 PM.] |
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Peter
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 12:53 pm
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I picked up a Gibson BR4 in excellent condition for the equivalent of about $60.00.
The only problem was that the 1st string was very soft. As I did not want to open the instrument for above reasons, I emailed Gibson and they offered to rewind the pickup.
They suggested I would take the pickup off the guitar and only send the pickup, not the whole guitar.
So I was forced to look inside the guitar, and guess what: the bar-magnet was loose and had shifted. All I had to do is shift it back and tighten the screws that hold the magnet.
The point is that it is not a sin to CAREFULLY open a guitar and rectify simple problems.
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Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 1:29 pm
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 16 Jan 2018 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Peter
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Posted 8 Mar 2003 1:46 pm
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Jeff, yes we do have sharks, but the big ones are only on the Indian Ocean side. And they are not hungry anyway because the tourists ignore the warning signs.
Here in Cape Town are some good surfing places on the Atlantic side, but the water is cold!
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Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa
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