insane to attempt a rebuild?

freedomfarm · #1 01-24-2012, 03:00 PM

my "qualifications"
31 years as an equipment mechanic
do basic woodworking in my little basic wood shop
experience in automotive painting (back yard) and air brushing
guitar work experience . . . zip, zilch, clueless almost.

1. Would I be able to do this repair/rebuild without special tools?
2. Would anyone here be willing to help me step by step as needed, or would I just be a pain in the rear on here?
3. My main concern would be a if there were any neck alignment issues.

Looking at this Tenor Guitar:

This is the vintage Harmony Archtone H1215 Tenor Acoustic guitar project. 22.50" scale. 1.28" nut width. 15 5/8" bottom bout. 3.25" deep. Printed soundhole #: 1832H1215- date code not legible. Harmony made some of the worlds coolest guitars. Using only solid wood construction, the Harmony guitars sounded better and many have survived the test of time, makng for great family heirlooms. Made only from '56-'71, this H1215 Tenor features a solid birch design. This makes for a great resonant guitar. The chunky softened V profile on the neck keeps a great classic feel. Of course, the white pinstriped 'binding' gives a great looks against the sunburst finish. This beauty is all original, but needs some TLC to bring it back to 100%. The top bracing glue has dried and the bracing has fallen into the guitar. The top and back both have sections that need to be reglued- as does the end of the fingerboard. The bottom F hole has a split to be glued as well. This is the perfect project for a beginning or experienced luthier/tech/guitar enthusiast. With a little work, you will have yourself a great vintage guitar. This is your chance to get your hands on a real diamond in the rough- the vintage Harmony H1215 Tenor

gitnoob · #2 01-24-2012, 09:13 PM

I've never tackled an archtop, but I think you've got a difficult project there with very little upside (in the sense that it's not a very desirable or responsive guitar).

Since there's no sound hole, you'd need to remove the top or back for access to fix the braces, and that means new binding, refinishing, etc.

The old Harmony guitars can be easy to work on because they're put together with hide glue, but I'd pick a different model to start with.

If you're committed to moving ahead, then register on the Harmony forum, and they'd almost surely give you a heap of help.

http://harmony.demont.net/board/

Kitchen Guitars · #3 01-25-2012, 05:19 AM

How far are you from Eighty Four Pa? 15330 As you can see from my posts I have a special place in my heart for Tenors. I'd be happy to walk you through what I know.
A sharpened putty knife and slow pace will be your friend. You will know when you are going too fast you will hear a crack.
TAKE lots of pictures for reference!

fnesnor · #4 01-25-2012, 08:37 AM

Absolutely give it a shot. If "Kitchen Guitars" can give you guidence and you have patience you can do it. There are many sources of information to guide you on many of the tasks including Frank Ford's website.

freedomfarm · #5 01-25-2012, 08:58 AM

Thanks for the input.
Gitnoob . . . I probably should pass on it, but if I get it cheap enough, I suppose it'd be a good one to dive in on. Sound aside, I love the "f" hole looks, and would use it on occasion for some recording and probably just goof off with it.
Kitchen Guitars . . . Cool! Suppose we could PM/e-mail info as needed. Been down your way before, and Wheeling W.V. area, it's about 2.5 -3 hours (2.5 to Wheeling).
Fnesnor . . . I think I'll try to aquire it, force myself to take my time and between Kitchen Guitars, Harmony website, and the fellow you mentioned, maybe I can cut my teeth on this one.
p.s. Kitchen Guitars, you have any budget ones for sale?

Kitchen Guitars · #6 01-25-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomfarm

Thanks for the input.
Gitnoob . . . I probably should pass on it, but if I get it cheap enough, I suppose it'd be a good one to dive in on. Sound aside, I love the "f" hole looks, and would use it on occasion for some recording and probably just goof off with it.
Kitchen Guitars . . . Cool! Suppose we could PM/e-mail info as needed. Been down your way before, and Wheeling W.V. area, it's about 2.5 -3 hours (2.5 to Wheeling).
Fnesnor . . . I think I'll try to aquire it, force myself to take my time and between Kitchen Guitars, Harmony website, and the fellow you mentioned, maybe I can cut my teeth on this one.
p.s. Kitchen Guitars, you have any budget ones for sale?

Always happy to help. If you get her come by. I might be closer than Wheeling. I am 5 miles tops from the 70/79 interchange.
I have pulled apart a few and gotten them back. Right now I am working slowly on an Oak Train Wreck.
Budget? If you mean old ones you would want to talk to Vintage Parlors (Site Sponsor) . I am going to build and intend to sell eight custom mini Tenors this year. #1 the Leopard Munchkin is for sale. No price yet cause I haven't tuned her up yet. Fancy with Proto type imperfections. If the tone is what I think it will be I was thinking $800.
$1200 to $1600 on "Production" models. I see bandaged old Martins going for that much. I can get FANCY board sets off the full size guitar radar!
I have surfed the internet and ebay. Antiques, projects or Chinese. No customs "out there". I hope I found a hole I can fill.

freedomfarm · #7 01-26-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitchen Guitars

I am going to build and intend to sell eight custom mini Tenors this year. #1 the Leopard Munchkin is for sale. No price yet cause I haven't tuned her up yet. Fancy with Proto type imperfections. If the tone is what I think it will be I was thinking $800.
$1200 to $1600 on "Production" models. I see bandaged old Martins going for that much. I can get FANCY board sets off the full size guitar radar!
I have surfed the internet and ebay. Antiques, projects or Chinese. No customs "out there". I hope I found a hole I can fill.

Curious as to what you mean by "mini." I like the custom part, that'd be cool. Thanks for the invite! I may take you up on that if I get it.

Kitchen Guitars · #8 01-26-2012, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomfarm

Curious as to what you mean by "mini." I like the custom part, that'd be cool. Thanks for the invite! I may take you up on that if I get it.

Here is mine (unfinished) next to a Blueridge (Martin Tenor size size)

Here she is next to a Dred I am building.
Thats what I mean by TINY

freedomfarm · #9 01-27-2012, 09:02 AM

Nice . . . those will be very nice . . . (nut width? or custom it could be any?). I missed out on the "f" hole Stella. I wasn't going to pay that much for a busted up tenor. Round hole one went for 450ish+ in decent shape. I'd rather by one from you. BUT in the mean time I did find a just listed with a buy it now Stella round hole tenor for under $100 and sucked it up! It's very cosmetically challenged, but that's my "stronger area

" and has two small cracks. I'll be looking for guidance when I get it . . . would love to check out your work too . . .

Howard Klepper · #10 06-28-2016, 03:58 PM

Assuming you already have a woodworking shop, you still will need to buy and make some tools.

But the thing is, this was a bottom of the line guitar from a low end maker. It has painted on "binding" and fretmarkers; all parts are the cheapest made. The nonadjustable necks are rarely straight. Nothing you can do to it will make it a "great vintage guitar." If you get it for free (a fair price given the condition), and do great work, it will still be a cheaply made, bottom of the line guitar. You may value your time at nothing, but you will spend more on tools and materials than the guitar is worth after it is fixed. Rick Turner used to refer to this as "polishing a turd."

You don't need to take a chance beginning on an expensive guitar, but if you think you can do competent work (it sounds as if you can), do it on a guitar that is worth investing your time in.

mirwa · #11 06-28-2016, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomfarm

my "qualifications"
31 years as an equipment mechanic
do basic woodworking in my little basic wood shop
experience in automotive painting (back yard) and air brushing
guitar work experience . . . zip, zilch, clueless almost.

Your mechanical background and aptitude lend well to being capable of doing repairs.

Do not see an issue, many people (here/forum) have good ideas and can walk you through the unknown.

Steve

Ned Milburn · #12 06-28-2016, 06:40 PM

Not insane at all. But important to keep in mind what Howard stated.

These instruments can be nice for hobbyists to work on specifically because of this. Better than working on a 6k vintage instrument for the first attempt at a re-build.

murrmac123 · #13 06-29-2016, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

Assuming you already have a woodworking shop, you still will need to buy and make some tools.

But the thing is, this was a bottom of the line guitar from a low end maker. It has painted on "binding" and fretmarkers; all parts are the cheapest made. The nonadjustable necks are rarely straight. Nothing you can do to it will make it a "great vintage guitar." If you get it for free (a fair price given the condition), and do great work, it will still be a cheaply made, bottom of the line guitar. You may value your time at nothing, but you will spend more on tools and materials than the guitar is worth after it is fixed. Rick Turner used to refer to this as "polishing a turd."

You don't need to take a chance beginning on an expensive guitar, but if you think you can do competent work (it sounds as if you can), do it on a guitar that is worth investing your time in.

Sound advice , Howard, albeit four and a half years too late for the OP's purposes ...

fazool · #14 06-29-2016, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomfarm

... Harmony made some of the worlds coolest guitars. Using only solid wood construction, the Harmony guitars sounded better and many have survived the test of time, makng for great family heirlooms....features a solid birch design. This makes for a great resonant guitar. ...Of course, the white pinstriped 'binding' gives a great looks against the sunburst finish. This beauty is all original, but needs some TLC to bring it back to 100%. ... a great vintage guitar. This is your chance to get your hands on a real diamond...

That seller is a master salesman.

redir · #15 06-29-2016, 08:01 AM

I would have to agree that there is almost nothing you can do to make this a good guitar. I never really understood why people like these so much but the fact of the matter is they do and sometimes I make money fixing them even though I try to convince customers it's not worth it. Usually it comes down to, "it was my grandfathers guitar that he used to play for us as kids.' And that's great! That makes it very worth fixing up and repairing.

But you can have fun doing it and might even learn something too.

I have recently gotten the bug to build a tenor. Once I clear a few projects out of the way and have some free time to build one on my own it will be a tenor. They are very cool instruments.