#61
|
|||
|
|||
I enjoyed this thread - I got an unbranded 12 string off Gumtree (Australia's craigslist) very cheap - and sure enough it's unplayable, totally needs a neck reset. I can't bang in a nail straight but I am going to try and do a bolt-on neck reset along these lines. This thread will be one of my references for sure.
__________________
National Resophonic NRP 12 Fret Loar LH-700-VS Archtop Eastman E8-OM Herrmann Weissenborn Recording King RP-10 Recording King RG-35-SN Lapsteel Maton 425 12-string ESP 400 series telecaster Eastman T485 Deering Americana Banjo My Youtube |
#62
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb |
#63
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Bolts are heavy, ugly, and completely unnecessary in this case. I used the word "assaulted" because what I really want to call it would get be booted from the forum. It's your guitar and you certainly have a right to treat it any way you want. However, our views of how to care for and maintain vintage instruments are so far apart that I don't think we can have a productive conversation. We're speaking two different languages. |
#64
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the input. Something for people to consider.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb Last edited by johna2u; 02-29-2016 at 04:05 AM. |
#65
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb |
#66
|
|||
|
|||
"I don't think we can have a productive conversation. We're speaking two different languages."
Yep, that's a valid way to feel. Might be more productive to let it go and go play guitar or something. |
#67
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
For the record, if this had been a thread about "should I reset the neck on my vintage OM-28?", I would say no way - you're crazy if you try that. Practice on a a few Harmony guitars first and make sure you can do a clean and accurate job before you do work to a valuable guitar which can't be undone. As far as I'm concerned, that's what those old Harmony guitars are for. I bought a couple while I was learning the art of guitar repair. I called them "cadavers", and I tore them up, and I don't regret it a bit. They do sound great though when you get them playing good. I've played many modern guitars that have bolt on necks. Some high end builders such as Dana Bourgeois use bolt-on construction. As far as I can see or hear, there is absolutely no drawbacks from using bolts to attach a neck, other than the fact that any deviation from tradition will be considered inferior by certain purists and nay-sayers. A few extra grams of brass and steel won't make an otherwise good guitar sound bad, period. |
#68
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
The fact that you managed to get the job done so quickly inspired me. I'll be spending the majority of my day adjusting neck angle on a D-28 and an old LG-2, and I'll be hopefully gluing in shims if all goes well. Wish me luck! |
#69
|
|||
|
|||
Hey! It's a 200.00 guitar!....or...it was.
Yes, I would not have attempted this on a Martin. I'm not that crazy. I do respect that Harmony's are a vintage collectable guitar even if they are inexpensive. After watching all the reset videos I could find I figure this method could save up to a week in the process. One guy suggested letting the joint dry out for a week. Then clamp and dry for 24 hours. I was able to do it start to finish in one afternoon. I guess if the neck had been stubborn it would have needed more dry time first. Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb Last edited by johna2u; 02-29-2016 at 09:51 AM. |
#70
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
______________ ---Tom H --- |
#71
|
|||
|
|||
The guitar was not in in original condition when I got it! The headstock overlay was completely missing. What I did to it was an improvement in its design and it is a better guitar now than when it was new. Had I hacked off the dovetail and then installed bolts it would have destroyed the guitar. The way I did it actually improved it.
I am going to play, tinker with, and enjoy this guitar. Not sit and watch it rot behind glass pining for a bygone era. It lives in the world today. I agree there are times when preservation of originality is important but I really think you guys are going overboard on this one. Do you not agree my design modification actually adds to the toolkit available to people to fix this issue. Not everybody can afford to pay 500.00 for a neck reset or have a pristine collection of vintage guitars. I devised an alternative to the very destructive saw off technique that will actually probably save many guitars in the future. And I took the time to document how to do it. Guitars are meant to be played. Not hoarded. Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb Last edited by johna2u; 03-01-2016 at 01:32 PM. |
#72
|
|||
|
|||
I would just like to say that all the comments about the importance of originality is valuable information to those that might come across this thread in hopes of finding a way make their guitar playable. Those points are definitely something to take under consideration.
I've been a member here for about a month and in that time I see that we are all here because we love acoustic guitars. Maybe for vastly different reasons but it connects us all together just the same. Some of us love the history and heritage and think of a guitar as a work of art that must be maintained in the condition of the original maker. Others just like to make music. Even if it is on a Hello Kitty guitar. There are some that worry they don't have enough 5000.00 guitars and others that are thrilled because they just got a brand new 200.00 Chinese model. Professional musicians and those that are struggling with their first chord. I am sure there are many people out there with an old, maybe collectible guitar that needs work. They may not have the money to have it done. Nor the skills to do it properly. They just want to play and fix it themselves if they can. They should have a right to do that without being looked down upon. Even though the opinions about preservation are appreciated I think comments like "assaulted with bolts! Unbelievable!". Are just mean spirited and unproductive. Personally I think being overly obsessive about this is the equivalent of putting plastic slip covers on your sofa. Sure the fabric will last longer but what is the point if you can't enjoy the feel of the fabric. Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb Last edited by johna2u; 03-01-2016 at 10:25 PM. |
#73
|
|||
|
|||
There's some pertinent info here:
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforu...problems-stuff and here: http://harmony.demont.net/kamikazie.php |
#74
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I'm not sure what parallel universe you're living in where a harmony flattop deserves the same treatment as an 1890 Martin, but I'm afraid that your rationale defies logic. What it WAS is a guitar that was completely unplayable, which would have undoubtedly REMAINED unplayable forever if it weren't for John taking on the project himself. Why? Because what it WAS is an old guitar that's not worth fixing, because there's a million more just like it, so they're a dime a dozen, unlike an 1890 Martin, which is a much finer instrument, and much more rare, and therefore much more deserving of being restored to as close to original condition as possible, by the most qualified luthier available. Quote:
Because of John's work, and because of the perfectly appropriate modification he performed, this classic guitar will be played and enjoyed just like it was meant to, all over again, bolt or no bolt. Karma? You've got to be kidding... Last edited by Hot Vibrato; 03-01-2016 at 10:06 PM. |
#75
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
__________________
Nashville N500D (Martin D45 knock off) Harmony Sovereign H6303 Taylor 414ce Silver Creek T-160 Fender cd-140s Guild GAD-50atb |