Granny's makeover

costafonix · 2011-10-04T20:08:30+00:00

This guitar has been in the family since before I was born, and belonged to my late father. It's a no-name brand, estimated to be in the region of 60 ~ 65 years old. My brother and me decided it would be cool to restore her into her former glory (i'll be doing the elbow grease stuff and he'll supply any parts from overseas) so that we could do something special in memory of our old man who passed away 10 years ago. We all learned to play guitar on this 3/4 size axe which was so badly used and abused it almost landed up in the dump. This restoration project is still in progress and is in no way on the level of detail/expertise of Slyds rebuild nor Neon Gecko's Tokai repair (watch this space as Neon Gecko collaborates on this project later on), I apologise up front for the poor quality of some of the pics taken from my cellphone. ok, so here goes, dusty, battered and bruised with a missing 12th fret and some wood hacked out of the fretboard, with no nut and a really really bad 'varnish' job attempted over 30 years ago....let the fun & games begin

costafonix

so where the heck were we??? ???
I lost track with my yo-yo Telkom connection,,,,,,
oh yes,,, last I mentioned that I was not entirely happy with the bushes that came with the vintage aged machineheads...
so I had a set of spare, more 'vintage' looking ones and I think they hit the spot... 8)

Next, install the wooden tailpiece with some very cool professional engraving done by a 'goth' girl named Amanda (in case you need engraving work done, she works in Blairgowrie - JHB, for a company called Arcane Designs.....very professional work)....

forthcoming attractions,,,,,
cutting the nut slots..and a couple of other interesting bits & pieces
TELKOM - STAY WITH ME HERE,,,,,,,!! >☹ >☹ ?

racman

Great thread and wonderful work being done - thanks for the updates!

costafonix

Thank you sir ?

deefstes

It's looking good! I might actually prefer the haxagonal bushes but that's just me. These still look great. What is engraved there on the tail piece? Closeup perhaps?

Neon-Gecko

Thank you telkom! >☹ At least now I can get my steady fix on this great rebuild :-[

racman

Of course I am sure you noticed that the colour of the finish on your guitar got Wayne and I started along the road to where we are now on the Logan refinish ?

slyd

Simply awesome ?

Fish-Eagle

Awesome work done there!! This is a beautiful project!!

costafonix

thank you all,,
@RoyC, yes I did notice,,, good stuff going on there :yup:
I have a lot of catching up to do now that I can view everything properly again.,,.
@Dewald, I'll get some closeup pics of the inscription ?

vic

Costa and Gecko...it's lovely lovely lovely...wow ! Great job well done.
Sit down and have a cold one.... :goodtimes:

Neon-Gecko

Vic wrote Costa and Gecko...it's lovely lovely lovely...wow ! Great job well done.
Sit down and have a cold one.... :goodtimes:

Thanks Vic. It was a real pleasure woking on the 'ol gal. Now I, like the rest of the forum, is waiting on tender hooks to see how she'll look when done, so more post please Costa... ?

costafonix

its been one helluva ride,,,
and sadly this project is winding to an end.... ☹
not before we do some cutting of the nut slots ?

Norman86

Nice Costa ? about time hey ?

costafonix

and as this story winds down, all the little touch-ups are going on,,the old strings will be removed while I darken the fretboard slightly and below I'll be installing the 'piece de resistance'..

a piece of pearloid pickguard shaped to fit the heel

Neon-Gecko

Nice touch that Costa. She is really starting to look the part now. Can't wait to see it before she leaves...

costafonix

install the strap button with felt washer...

costafonix

and so this story winds to an end ☹

thank you for your interest in this project
I will publish the final pics and a soundclip played on this guitar over the weekend

Neon-Gecko

??? WOW! WOW! and WOW again! She really has come out looking the part mate, well done!

Zulublues

Hi CF, that is really the dog's b*ll*cks ! ! What a beauty. I really like the 'burst on the back of the neck, gives it great vintage vibe. Well done. I am just a lttle sad that this saga has now come to an end. You'll simply have to start another project !!

Ciao

racman

Stunning idea, thread and end result!!!!

Congrats Costa and all involved in making this such a great thread to follow ... but it isn't over yet is it? There is still the small matter of sound clips, YouTube links etc etc ?

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