More guitar ruminations

[JohnRippert]

When you look at my 70's Japanese Tele copy at the right angle to the light you get to know its primary owner/player a bit. They spent a lot of time over the high strings and really pulled on the upstroke as well. Almost all the wear is on the bottom side of the guard, and it extends up under the high E almost to the B string. It is little things like that which I really like about old guitars.

I have not gotten to polishing the frets on the Fender MIM Telecaster yet but I did sit down a couple nights ago, took it apart and cleaned it. Pictures just do not do the Surf Pearl paint justice. When you look at it from close the pearl just pops, especially now that I cleaned the layer of scunge from it. Wiping it down with alcohol soaked rag cut through it but left a lot of streaks. I had to go over the finish with a slightly damp cloth followed by a dry one to get rid of the last of it. It is unfortunate that the rust made its way to the bridge plate and the saddles, but I am planning on going a bit more vintage with this one anyway. I have a Fender marked 3-saddle Tele bridge on the way, as well as a set of as new Fender Classic Tuners that were pulled off a Player II Strat. Combine those with the new brass barrel saddles I have in my parts bin and that classic look will be complete.

 

[biku324]

An acoustic story....

I picked up my guitar from a luthier last week- he's an older guy that does outstanding work. He mentioned that a preacher came by with a 1952 Martin D-28 that needed work; the preacher said an old man at his church gave it to him because he played guitar and sang gospel songs; the old man had no one to leave it to.

The luthier gave an estimate on the repairs (he's a Martin authorized repairman) - the preacher gulped and said, "Is it worth fixing?" The old craftsman laughed and said he'd pay $2000 for it right there. The preacher decided to get the work done.

When he picked up the guitar, he asked the luthier how much much he should insure it for, the old craftsman told him that in the factory repaired condition it could not be replaced for less than $20,000.

Quite a gift from the old guy at church.