Looking for project
 

I watch the repair videos on-line and wish I could find some of those guitars to fix up. I'm constantly scouting on eBay/Craigslist but never find something that piques my interest. What I'd really like is a Gibson SJ-200 (vintage or not) at a good price that has been abused or just needs help. I just haven't figured out the secret to finding the good ones.

Pawnshops, Craigslist, Reverb, word of mouth, even the guitar/banjo/mando forums. These things show up regularly.

Thanks, I'll keep hunting. My two favorite guitars right now are the only ones I got as basket cases that were not playable. Something very satisfying to me to bring them back to the best that they can be.

It is indeed satisfying to bring back, to playing condition, a vintage piece that is damaged/hacked/unplayable. I've done my share! I am constantly looking for the next possibility, and over the last eight years, have watched prices on even basket cases climb, and then soar with the pandemic. One just has to keep scouring Reverb, eBay, Craig's List, etc, and hope for a score. Good luck!

A Gibson J-200, I'm guessing, will be pricey, even if needing significant repair or restoration.

Have you considered building the guitar you want? There are J-200 plans out there. A kit build will be less than a grand, a scratch build a couple hundred. Your guitar will be new and the build should be satisfying.

https://www.lmii.com/plans/3543-plan...le-guitar.html

That is something I should give some thought to. Thanks for the input. I will do some research on plans/kits. Such things as "are some harder to do successfully (is a dread easier than a J-200 with the tighter curves?)". In-lays are a bit intimidating to me right now but I haven't had to fix those, so I haven't researched it. Things like that. I did do a whole back refinish recently (not a vintage guitar) and that came out nice though I wished I had one of those Stewmac buffers.

Dot inlays are pretty easy with the right size forstner or brad point bit. I even recenly inlaid 5mm slotted squares with a 1/4" forstner into ebony. The Shop Fox buffer is identical to the old style Stew Mac buffer for 1/4 the price.

If you aren't stuck on a J-200 this looks like a pretty nice quality OM kit for the money, I think it's on sale now. Sides already bent.
The rosewood prevents me from buying it in Canada.

https://www.lmii.com/discounted-read...y-to-ship.html

I decided this is either a scam or a Fake. steering clear.

This just got posted on Craigslist near me. The price is way off from where it should be but.... Converting to a right hander?
https://daytona.craigslist.org/msg/d...538089141.html

Project found
 

I ended up buying a low-end Martin for $75 that has a messed up back that needs replaced and also needs a neck reset (bolt-on). There are no fretboard markers or binding either. Figured I would work on this one to see how well I can do and then maybe think about getting a kit. Ordered some pallet knives to start removing the neck first.