Work Page 11-2020
Lance's 1949 Martin 0-15
Repair as needed to play
Instrument came to me with no top or fingerboard
Fabricate Fingerboard-Rosewood (Allen Guitar)
Fabricate Honduras Mahigany top with rosette (LMI)
Rebuild (not replace) broken side
Install kerfing where needed
Install new tuners
Install pickguard
Instrument came to me with no top or fingerboard
Fabricate Fingerboard-Rosewood (Allen Guitar)
Fabricate Honduras Mahigany top with rosette (LMI)
Rebuild (not replace) broken side
Install kerfing where needed
Install new tuners
Install pickguard
Sequence #1
Sequence #2
Sequence #3
Sequence 4
Sequence 5
I have some dialing in to do, but I am as close as I could have hoped to be.
Thanks to a few important tools and a little experience beforehand, I may survive this build.
Much anxiety today on the initial string up, and now it needs to be under tension so I get to sweat that out a few days.
Then on to final adjustments.
I think that it would have been better to use a non slotted or drilled bridge in retrospect.
Very difficult to use the tool in one that is precut.
Even with the scale setting tool, its off by like 1/2 semitone on 4 strings and 3/4 semitone on 2
That I can handle , by compensating the saddle so not too much grief.
The neck set seems good, but I have a minor deflection towards the bass side so the low E string is 1/64 closer to the edge than the high E.
The top deflecton seems good, not too much belly.
Considering I had no top to start with that I could measure under tension, that was a crapshoot that rolled a decent number.
Again, pretty close not to have any of the factory style jigs that make for a more precise assembly.
So I will have to get creative with the bridge pin holes by refilling them, and re-drilling them 1/64" to the treble side.
Then I will ream them and that will be that.
Again, on this predrill bridge, they may have been offset from the maker, or I could have just missed the mark.
So far, alot of things have gone well, and a few things need addressing.
So if the bridge doesnt fly off in the next 3 days, we will be thinking about ordering a nice case for it.
I want it to go back to Lance as something that was worthy of his money and our combined efforts.
Thanks to a few important tools and a little experience beforehand, I may survive this build.
Much anxiety today on the initial string up, and now it needs to be under tension so I get to sweat that out a few days.
Then on to final adjustments.
I think that it would have been better to use a non slotted or drilled bridge in retrospect.
Very difficult to use the tool in one that is precut.
Even with the scale setting tool, its off by like 1/2 semitone on 4 strings and 3/4 semitone on 2
That I can handle , by compensating the saddle so not too much grief.
The neck set seems good, but I have a minor deflection towards the bass side so the low E string is 1/64 closer to the edge than the high E.
The top deflecton seems good, not too much belly.
Considering I had no top to start with that I could measure under tension, that was a crapshoot that rolled a decent number.
Again, pretty close not to have any of the factory style jigs that make for a more precise assembly.
So I will have to get creative with the bridge pin holes by refilling them, and re-drilling them 1/64" to the treble side.
Then I will ream them and that will be that.
Again, on this predrill bridge, they may have been offset from the maker, or I could have just missed the mark.
So far, alot of things have gone well, and a few things need addressing.
So if the bridge doesnt fly off in the next 3 days, we will be thinking about ordering a nice case for it.
I want it to go back to Lance as something that was worthy of his money and our combined efforts.
Sequence 6
After a few days of seeing where it ended up, I decided to make a "move"
I just could not satisfy myself with adjustments, so I will reset the neck.
This time, with the body complete, I should have a better outcome.
I thought that it would pull up as it should but it did not.
These are things that happen in projects such as this.
So with pride, I show that reversal now.
If you cannot face the fact that you are human, and will err...stay out of this line of work.
I just could not satisfy myself with adjustments, so I will reset the neck.
This time, with the body complete, I should have a better outcome.
I thought that it would pull up as it should but it did not.
These are things that happen in projects such as this.
So with pride, I show that reversal now.
If you cannot face the fact that you are human, and will err...stay out of this line of work.
Sequence 7
FINAL PICS
This was one of the biggest challenges in my repair career.
I hope that Lance can get some hours on it making music after many years of carrying it around , hoping to do just that.
Thanks for looking, sharing and weathering the storm with me.
Semper Fi Pardner, its been great working with you!
VM
I hope that Lance can get some hours on it making music after many years of carrying it around , hoping to do just that.
Thanks for looking, sharing and weathering the storm with me.
Semper Fi Pardner, its been great working with you!
VM