Model: Harmony Silvertone 1217, circa 1970. Recently, another very clean Harmony-made Silvertone 1217, ca. 1970, came into the shop with an unreadable date code. This piece was made for Sears, but the “splitting atom” SR hologram headstock sticker is missing. The guitar also misses the pickguard, but that shows more of its lovely sunburst top. […]
Harmony Silvertone 1217 Neck Reset Read More »
Model: Silvertone 3/4, circa 1960 This is my little Silvertone 3/4, ca. 1960, for which I, unfortunately, cannot recall the model number. This piece came with a cheap little hardwood bridge, string through, and a fret wire saddle, and it had terrible intonation when I first got it. I recently received a request from a
Silvertone 3/4, circa 1960 Amazing Restoration Read More »
Model: Early 1920s Hermann Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar Style 3. This guitar came in very good condition, with a solid flame Koa body with rope binding on the top, the fretboard, and around the soundhole. Three very fine hairline cracks are barely visible: two on the back edges and one on top near the 10th fret. Regardless,
Hermann Weissenborn Hawaiian Guitar – Incredibly Special Find Read More »
Check out this late 19th century guitar by C.F. Bauer in Mannheim, Germany. Model: C.F. Bauer, late 19th century I did some research and found a little info on the maker, who did work as an apprentice at Stauffer’s workshop in Vienna around the time a young C.F. Martin was there! Unfortunately, I cannot date
19th Century Guitar by C.F. Bauer Read More »
Model: Gibson Banner J-45, FON 2149-40. Circa 1943-45 Supply shortages during World War II forced manufacturers to scavenge for materials. This Gibson Banner J-45 guitar is an excellent example. This piece has a poplar neck and tail block lacks a truss rod and has an enormous 1 23/32” wide neck. While the fingerboard is Brazilian
Gibson Banner J-45, 80 Year Old Guitar, Amazing Bridge Repair Read More »
Model: 1961 Harmony Sovereign H1203 This 1961 Harmony Sovereign H1203 came in very clean. No cracks or breaks, and very minimal wear. This model is super lightweight. Only 3 lbs. 7 oz. with a 25” scale and a 15” 000 style body. Moreover, the woods used here include a solid Sitka Spruce top, solid Mahogany
Beautiful 1961 Harmony Sovereign H1203 Guitar Read More »
Albert Shutt was a musician and inventor living in Topeka, Kansas, in the early 20th century. Several of his patented inventions are seen here, on this mandolin ca. 1920. He had little, if any, commercial success, and finding a Shutt is rare, although they are out there. Sometime around the late teens, he trained the
Exciting Find From The Past – Sterling “Shutt” Read More »
Model: Gibson LG-1, mid-60s One of my favorite repairs is the Gibson LG1 plastic bridge replacement. This little LG1 is going to be a beauty once again. Norlin-era Gibsons were strange birds. They were wonderful, well-made guitars but the top brass had too many ideas about cutting costs and eliminating warranty work, so they developed
Gibson LG1 Plastic Bridge Replacement Read More »
The days are getting colder and the air dryer and your home’s furnace will dry the air out even more. Learn how to protect your instrument from the winter. Even if you have a furnace humidifier, they are designed to work up to ~30-35% relative humidity. Maintaining relative humidity of ~40-45% is imperative to avoid
How To Protect Your Instrument From Dry Winter Air Read More »
