Fan O' Zakk Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 First off, let me say that I've been lurking here for months, and I've found this place to be very, very informative, with a whole pile of GREAT people! I can't come here without being inspired to start something new! Now, onward to my current project... I snagged an old 12-string acoustic on Ebay for 40 or 50 bucks a few months back...it needs a LOT of work, to say the least...I threw together a quickie web page with info on the guitar here... http://www.mts.net/~klharlow/12st/Main.html Oh, and for those interested in amp building, click the "Metal Monster" link...the sidebar will change over to that of my other project... Now, right now, I've removed all of the old binding (had to because the stripper would have dissolved it anyhow), and found my first problem. Rather than this binding being a solid rectangular piece that sits in a channel, it's "L" shaped, and kinda fits over the channel like a 'cap'. Where can I possibly find replacement binding for this thing? And, am I right in thinking that cutting a regular sized channel would compromise the structure of the guitar? Secondly, I'm trying desperately to remove all the paint/stain/whatever that someone dumped on this guitar...so far, I've used a good stripper, but it takes FOREVER to get only a minor dulling of the dark color...any tricks to really taking that junk out? I'm thinking it was an oil based stain, 'cause it seems pretty much absorbed by the wood... Finally, can anyone begin to identify the guitar from the pictures on my site? There are no stickers or imprints of any sort on the guitar...so I'm lost. According to the seller, he thought it may have been an old Harmony...but I'm taking that with a grain of salt. Thanks to all for your time and advice! -Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchets Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 I wish I had something usefull to add,but...... I think I saw one just like that hanging on the wall at Chili's. It had the same headstock cover and bad stain. red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 not to go off topic, ,but your post count is 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 not to go off topic, ,but your post count is 0 I read through the 'help' section and found nothing on that...could you point me in the direction of my answers, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 Now, right now, I've removed all of the old binding (had to because the stripper would have dissolved it anyhow), and found my first problem. Rather than this binding being a solid rectangular piece that sits in a channel, it's "L" shaped, and kinda fits over the channel like a 'cap'. I haven't done any searches for "L" shaped binding, is there any indication that the binding might be 2-piece? You could buy separate pieces, glue the side binding first and "clamp" it on with many large elastic bands or some strong masking tape. And then glue the cap binding afterwards. Secondly, I'm trying desperately to remove all the paint/stain/whatever that someone dumped on this guitar...so far, I've used a good stripper, but it takes FOREVER to get only a minor dulling of the dark color...any tricks to really taking that junk out? I'm thinking it was an oil based stain, 'cause it seems pretty much absorbed by the wood... I've used a spray on stripper called "Circa 1850" for lifting off a heavy varnish coat on an old archtop. Just spray it on, let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes then start scraping. It shouldn't take more than 3 shoots, just do the guitar part by part, ie. top first, then back then sides. Once you have most of whatever coating off you can start sanding. No idea on what kind of guitar. I don't understand why the headstock tuning holes have been filled/covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchets Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 >>he thought it may have been an old Harmony No....Harmony and Stella had slots in the peghead on the 12 strings. Most Jap models had the neck heal reach the end of the body. I was not joking about this looking like what I saw.....the lack of a bridge seems to indicate that it may have had a Trapeze tailpiece and floating bridge...do you see any indication of that? I think the one I saw was a Decca from the '60s.... have you looked to see if anything is on the neck block at all...most have at least a number. red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 I was not joking about this looking like what I saw.....the lack of a bridge seems to indicate that it may have had a Trapeze tailpiece and floating bridge...do you see any indication of that? No indication at all...I am almost starting to think this was an unfinished build.. I think the one I saw was a Decca from the '60s.... have you looked to see if anything is on the neck block at all...most have at least a number. red There isn't a single digit on the neck block...oddly, though, the truss rod seems a lot longer than the neck...it extends 2 inches into the guitar's body...dunno if that's significant or not. At any rate, thanks for the help, Red! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 that sounds about right. And a plus! it has one. It wasnt made to be a wall hanger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Hmmm, Im no expert at identifying acoustic guitars, but perhapse after removing the finish, find out the species of wood used in the construction could help you by comparing it to known brands. Well, the top appears to be a single piece of spruce... Sides and back appear to be mahogany, as well...back is also a solid piece of wood. At any rate you have a fine project on your hands and the brand is unimportant realy, I wish you luck. welcome to the forum Kev Thanks, lucky1!! Well, I'm really starting to wonder 'bout this guitar... On one hand, there's no sign of a bridge or tailpiece at all...that tells me it's new, or at least has been re-topped. But on the other hand, there was a rather significant hole that's been patched on the side...tells me it's been repaired... And I have NO clue why they laid a 1/4 inch piece of wood overtop of the headstock...but suffice it to say I'm removing it... And why were the pegholes filled? lol More questions than answers here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Well, the neck looks cockeyed. I would measure the scale, then strip it, mark it, check it, and glue on a bridge. As for the binding, it prabably had purfling on it at some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 dunno what it is, but it could make a killer guitar, specially if the wood really is spruce and rosewood. a trapeze tailpiece would look pretty cool on that guitar, but it'd have to have a tune o matic on there too. strip off the wood on the headstock, maybe there's some signs of a logo, or some other defining features. i gotta tell you though, it's a helluva project, but it could have amazing results if done well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 it could also be that the peghead was too thin for the tuners they were about to put on, and needed a thicker piece of wood there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Purfling is the answer http://www.stewmac.com/binding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2004 it could also be that the peghead was too thin for the tuners they were about to put on, and needed a thicker piece of wood there. Thing is, the extra wood makes it functionally impossible - the nut would have to be impossibly high, since a proper action would have the strings running BELOW the level of that extra wood...only way it would make sense if the previous builder wanted a 1/4 inch action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2004 dunno what it is, but it could make a killer guitar, specially if the wood really is spruce and rosewood. a trapeze tailpiece would look pretty cool on that guitar, but it'd have to have a tune o matic on there too. strip off the wood on the headstock, maybe there's some signs of a logo, or some other defining features. i gotta tell you though, it's a helluva project, but it could have amazing results if done well. Additionally, the hole in the side of the guitar looks to have been legit damage...it's too irregular to be anything else. Thanks for the link to stew-mac! I'd looked, but never found THAT on the site!! I guess when I order up the binding for my other project, I'll get this as well! Now, to decide on what purflings to use... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 only way it would make sense if the previous builder wanted a 1/4 inch action! well, it's got a wide neck, and if he wanted 1/4 inch action or so, it very well could have been the makings of a slide guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 only way it would make sense if the previous builder wanted a 1/4 inch action! well, it's got a wide neck, and if he wanted 1/4 inch action or so, it very well could have been the makings of a slide guitar. A slide 12-string?? Do those exist/are they viable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 i was thinking more taking off the octave strings, to use the wider neck as a 6 stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted August 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 i was thinking more taking off the octave strings, to use the wider neck as a 6 stringer I've already got a good 6-string...I would prefer this one to be a 12! That, and the neck is waaaaay too wide for a 6'er...at least for my hands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurphC Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 A 12 string slide is entirely possible... they make lap steels with a lot more too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 little bump...curious if you've done anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan O' Zakk Posted September 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 little bump...curious if you've done anything? LOL. Sorry, but I've been a bit tied up over the past few days here...I'm gonna be ordering up a load of binding, fretwire, and some hardware in the next few days I hope... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted December 4, 2004 Report Share Posted December 4, 2004 Think what you got there (or used to have) is either a Harmony or a Kay. That chunky body tells me what it ain't but the real indicators live under that headstock veneer. Don't expect any logo or anything cause most of that was decaled and wouldn't have survived the devastation it has gone through. I think someone was going to make this into a 6-string before you got it. Is that a zero-fret or the end of the "veneer"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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