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Set-ups,
Repairs and Restoration
Even an
inexpensive guitar or mandolin can usually be improved with
some minor adjustments and set-up. If you’ve purchased a
new instrument you may find that while it looks great it
feels hard to play. If it’s been around for a while it may
not sound as well as it used to. In both cases, a set-up
and new strings might improve the situation. Set-ups and
general improvement steps can range from cleaning and
restringing the guitar or mandolin to a better set of tuning machines or bridge
pins.
Guitars
and mandolins in need of repair are best taken care of sooner
than later. Sometimes it is a matter of fixing something
before it gets really bad – a crack with dirt in it is more
of a problem to fix than a clean fresh crack. Common
repairs in guitars and mandolins include cracks in the body,
an unfortunately broken neck or headstock, loose braces or
binding. Removal and re-gluing of a loose bridge will bring
back lost tone and volume.
My
guitar and mandolin restorations for the most part are intended for dad’s or
granddad’s old instrument that you want to be able
to play again – different from a restoration intended to
return an instrument to its original state. It’s not
uncommon for the old family guitar to end up in the attic
for several years and when it’s brought out it is
unplayable. At times the only value in the instrument is
the sentiment – and it’s hard to put a price on that. If
you want it playable, rather than to hang it on the wall; it
may be worth the effort to attempt a resurrection.
See some
examples of the guitar and mandolin repair and restoration work (it’s next to
impossible to show a set-up, but you sure can hear and feel
them):
Repairs:
Espana
Not
an expensive instrument but it presented an interesting
challenge.
It Hurts to Fall on Your Rear
A structural refinish was a great
option for this classic Alvarez
Oooops!
See before and after photos of a Spanish
built classical guitar repair
Perry
Mason Missed This Case
A mistreated vintage
tenor banjo case gets much needed repairs
Ovation Gets a New Head
-
See before and after photos of a
head replacement on an Ovation.
Vihuela
Gets A New Top -
See before and after photos of a
Viheula repair
Size
Doesn't Matter -
A ukulele and guitarron in the shop at the
same time
Harmony Monterey
This one still had charm, but
it was in rugged condition
Frankenphone
What happens after someone
saws off the back?
And
Restorations:
Hawaiian
Guitar –
See before and after
photos of a twang restored.
Ed Cunliff,
MandoAiki
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