Post by CTGull on May 19, 2019 12:54:40 GMT -5
We started talking about this nearly 6 months ago. He had hip surgery in January and wouldn't be able to to drive to meet for a month or so. I figured we'd meet in the Spring when the chance for upstate NY snow was gone.
He bought it for $75 in the mid 90's. A great deal!!!! He's a teacher and the guitar has spend most of it's time in his classroom. Over 20 years unhumidified! There is a 3" long crack in the end of the fretboard, and a crack in the bridge thru the pin holes. There's also a split in the finish up the central seam in the top but it doesn't go thru. Amazing, no cracks in the solid top! Also the pick guard is loose.
He also has 2 Taylors, a GS Mini and a 314CE. He's going to retire at the end of the school year and doesn't need 3 guitars. He's thought about selling the Yamaha to pay for his golf membership, but has been playing more lately. I suggested selling the 314CE and fix the FG-500.
A couple of weeks ago I emailed him, mentioning that I'd be driving thru his town TWICE the next weekend, would he like to meet on our way back.
So we met at Dunkin' last Sunday (a half mile from his house) and we talked for a while while I noodled on the guitar. Since it has been raining in the Northeast for the past FOREVER the humidity was up and the crack in the fretboard had closed some. I'll be, humidifying, gluing and cleating it so it doesn't open again. The action is definitely high, but there is plenty saddle available.
The next evening I did my usual of lots of pictures and measurements. I emailed him, saying the neck projects .06" below the bridge, but there was enough saddle to sand to make it playable, but only leaving .06" exposed. Would he like me to make it playable, or do the neck reset? He said do the neck reset. I also mentioned the first 4 frets need to be replaced (divots), possibly the 5th.
Loosening the fretboard was one of the hardest ever. The spatula kept pushing up into the fretboard instead of between the fretboard and top. It put up a good fight, but I finally got it separated. Then I removed the neck, which was one of the easiest ever. The heel cap came off after a minute or 2 of steaming, then I starting wiggling the neck and it loosened with each wiggle, coming off in another 15 seconds. They didn't use much glue in the dovetail and NONE gluing the face of the heel to the side of the guitar.
Now the fun part. Fixing the slight damage to the side of the fretboard and the top below. Of course, it's the bass side that you'll see! The other side is almost perfect. I want the neck sitting flush with the top, and fix the crack in the fretboard, before starting the neck reset, so I have to take a few days to fix this.
Crack in fretboard.
Crack in bridge. And the plug for Bridge Doctor.
Pick guard coming off.
High action.
Divots in the fretboard.
I forgot. The nut slots are all worn low. The D string was shimmed with a piece of paper!
Ready to start the battle of loosening the fretboard!
The battle has begun!!
Ready to take the neck off.
Not bad. Very little glue in the joint.
The fretboard clamped to flatten a slight bulge. This needs to be done while the neck is wet or it'll set like that. You can sort of see the damage to the side of the fretboard.
The pick guard removed.
The pick guard after scraping the glue off.
The pick guard clamped to flatten it. It'll stay like this until the neck is back on.
The crack in the top illuminated from the inside. It doesn't go thru!
He bought it for $75 in the mid 90's. A great deal!!!! He's a teacher and the guitar has spend most of it's time in his classroom. Over 20 years unhumidified! There is a 3" long crack in the end of the fretboard, and a crack in the bridge thru the pin holes. There's also a split in the finish up the central seam in the top but it doesn't go thru. Amazing, no cracks in the solid top! Also the pick guard is loose.
He also has 2 Taylors, a GS Mini and a 314CE. He's going to retire at the end of the school year and doesn't need 3 guitars. He's thought about selling the Yamaha to pay for his golf membership, but has been playing more lately. I suggested selling the 314CE and fix the FG-500.
A couple of weeks ago I emailed him, mentioning that I'd be driving thru his town TWICE the next weekend, would he like to meet on our way back.
So we met at Dunkin' last Sunday (a half mile from his house) and we talked for a while while I noodled on the guitar. Since it has been raining in the Northeast for the past FOREVER the humidity was up and the crack in the fretboard had closed some. I'll be, humidifying, gluing and cleating it so it doesn't open again. The action is definitely high, but there is plenty saddle available.
The next evening I did my usual of lots of pictures and measurements. I emailed him, saying the neck projects .06" below the bridge, but there was enough saddle to sand to make it playable, but only leaving .06" exposed. Would he like me to make it playable, or do the neck reset? He said do the neck reset. I also mentioned the first 4 frets need to be replaced (divots), possibly the 5th.
Loosening the fretboard was one of the hardest ever. The spatula kept pushing up into the fretboard instead of between the fretboard and top. It put up a good fight, but I finally got it separated. Then I removed the neck, which was one of the easiest ever. The heel cap came off after a minute or 2 of steaming, then I starting wiggling the neck and it loosened with each wiggle, coming off in another 15 seconds. They didn't use much glue in the dovetail and NONE gluing the face of the heel to the side of the guitar.
Now the fun part. Fixing the slight damage to the side of the fretboard and the top below. Of course, it's the bass side that you'll see! The other side is almost perfect. I want the neck sitting flush with the top, and fix the crack in the fretboard, before starting the neck reset, so I have to take a few days to fix this.
Crack in fretboard.
Crack in bridge. And the plug for Bridge Doctor.
Pick guard coming off.
High action.
Divots in the fretboard.
I forgot. The nut slots are all worn low. The D string was shimmed with a piece of paper!
Ready to start the battle of loosening the fretboard!
The battle has begun!!
Ready to take the neck off.
Not bad. Very little glue in the joint.
The fretboard clamped to flatten a slight bulge. This needs to be done while the neck is wet or it'll set like that. You can sort of see the damage to the side of the fretboard.
The pick guard removed.
The pick guard after scraping the glue off.
The pick guard clamped to flatten it. It'll stay like this until the neck is back on.
The crack in the top illuminated from the inside. It doesn't go thru!
