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This poor girl has fallen victim to improper repairs, and Lord knows what else. She needs a neck, crack repairs, and she's missing wood on the sides. Someone dumped a gallon or more of shellac all over her back and sides, as well as the cracked bridge and neck crack. I guess they thought it would hold the guitar together.

However, even in this shape, she rings like a bell. The owner was going to sell her as a project guitar. I told him that I think we could get her singing again. He doesn't care about looks; he cares about being able to play her. He actually likes the top with it's dowel pins which were used to fill in holes. Someone broke her neck off, so it's been "fixed". It will need a total neck replacement.

We call her the "Rattlesnake" guitar. She had 4 rattlesnake tales glued inside her. We're going to glue them back in when she's done.

that will wake you up in a hurry

Funny how we find a name for something.

All kinds of rumors why those are in there from keeping other pests out, to good luck to helps absorb moisture.

I'll ask John Hall; he's going to do the majority of the restoration. I'm going to start and he's going to do the really important stuff. I don't know enough to do this whole restoration.

Diane

Do you know the age/serial number? Have fun.

Ed

I my gosh, I just saw this. What a project.

it is a 1944 D 18. I just got finished rebuilding the heel I should have taken more pictures but in a nut shell I had to cut out the bad part , I do have a few old necks in the shop and I took some transplant material from them. The heel is not solid wood and not bond0. The fretboard is reglued , that was loose and I will pull the frets, re radius the board and then compression fret this neck. I did the reset and next week I will take this to my finish guy.
The plan isn't to make it a museum piece but to just make it a playable guitar.

ruby@magpage.com wrote:Diane

Do you know the age/serial number? Have fun.

Ed

Hi Ed,

Here is a photo. Although a train wreck, this guitar is rare. It has scalloped bracing rather than straight.

I have the photos of John's excellent repair of Ariel's heel. John used a compatible old neck that he had in the shop. He First, he cut out the area that had been filled with wood putty, and used the wood from the "donor" neck to replace this area. He then had to cut off Ariel's heel, which was replaced with the heel from the donor neck.

It sounds simple, but it was anything but. I hope I have the photos in the right order.

This is the sequence for replacing the wood putty filled area. BTW, please notice that the neck has about enough shellac to french polish 5 guitars!

Of course the neck had to be removed and the mortise cleaned

John cut out the area that had been filled with wood putty. He cut wood from the donor neck to patch this area. Then, the area was sanded and shaped: