Project Cheapo

Chris Dack · #1 07-19-2013, 03:20 AM

Hello all , I was thinking other day about a Falcon Fg100 big dreadnought type guitar that was just hanging around in shed . Its a very cheap guitar with huge string action. Im thinking is it possible to turn it into a nice sounding guitar .?

So far i have switched nut , saddle with Bone . But what else can i do ?
For example could i used some nice wood to modify the sound hole etc
Any suggestions would be great - the more Diy and crazy the better .
I will post pictures as i work Thanks all

Bruce Sexauer · #2 07-19-2013, 05:40 PM

Wow, 2 hours 3 minutes and no attention! I usually don't hold out hope for a response in less than a day, and I am a regular here. Best of luck, you're not in my area of expertise.

guitom · #3 07-19-2013, 05:44 PM

I think it was more like 14 hours, but still.

I can't help either, but if you want crazy I'm sure some people will offer some advice.

mikealpine · #4 07-19-2013, 06:44 PM

As long as when the guitar is done it isn't named "Patience".

Bruce Sexauer · #5 07-19-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitom

I think it was more like 14 hours, but still.

AM/PM, whatever; my bad.

printer2 · #6 07-19-2013, 09:20 PM

I was waiting for pictures. Kind of hard to comment on modifying a guitar without knowing what it looks like. Don't know why you think it sounds bad and what you want it to sound like. You did the nut and saddle, I don't know, new strings? Also do not know anything of your capabilities. Not that I know a heck of a lot you can do.

Bruce Sexauer · #7 07-20-2013, 02:20 PM

I googled this guitar and discovered it is well under a hundred bucks brand new. This makes it a great candidate for messing about with as little can be lost, but I have found it true that cheap guitars do not react to tweaks as expected and so there is a high potential for false lessons. It is extremely unlikely that there will be a silk purse inside there, but dreams are made of this.

printer2 · #8 07-20-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I googled this guitar and discovered it is well under a hundred bucks brand new. This makes it a great candidate for messing about with as little can be lost, but I have found it true that cheap guitars do not react to tweaks as expected and so there is a high potential for false lessons. It is extremely unlikely that there will be a silk purse inside there, but dreams are made of this.

I picked up a Ritmuller, nothin' German about this guitar, Korean I think. Have seen them advertized as 'A guitar for beginners with a quality that exceeds its price!'. Picked mine up for $70 in a drugstore. Yeah, I guess it was a $80 guitar. Had to file the nut and took down the saddle to the point where there is not much or a break angle to talk about. Don't think the bridge is glued on, I can stick my fingernail under the ends. What the heck, screws work.

But you know, It actually does not sound that bad. Basically sounds like a guitar, no real faults, nothing special, nothing that stands out that would annoy anyone. Would be a good guitar to take anywhere and not worry about it. I could modify it and not worry about screwing it up, but then I would have to find another good cheap guitar to replace it. So I am happy with what it is.