1930 something archtop restoration (and question)
Posted: Wed May 26, 2021 6:24 pm
Hi guys,
I couldn't resist this old archtop for obvious reasons. I new it was a semi trainwreck, but well worth restoring. This much is certain:
It's solid wood. Bookmatched spruce top, back and sides are solid flame maple (and I mean FLAME!). The figure is outstanding.
It appears to be carved, top and back.
It has a dovetail neck.
I'm sure that the finish is shellac rather than nitro.
Now for the weirdness.
There's an old tag that's crumbling. It says:
Kasuga Musical Instrument company
Nagoya, Japan
Harmony Guitar
Made in Japan
From my research, the only Harmony made in Japan was in the 80's and they were electric guitars. When Harmony went out of business, Global something or other bought the name in '76. This guitar is a lot older than this, 100%.
Plus, the style of f holes suggest a Euro Import to Japan, either from Salvadore Ibanez (the actual, not the name) or an Italian who introduced mandolins to Japan, and imported archtops, by the name of Raffael Calace. I'm leaning towards a Calace, because of the Florintine inlay, f hole, and headstock.
If it was made in Japan, it'll be before wwii. I DID find 1 other archtop, on a Japanese auction site, with the same tag, except it said, "made in Occupied Japan". The f holes were similar, but no inlay, the headstock was different, the whole guitar was just a typical sunburst.
So, I have an Enigma.
Oh, there was also one of those little return address labels that someone stuck just inside of the f hole, on the top. It had a name and address of a person out of Chicago. I found his current address, after finding him in the 1940 Census. He's almost 90.
So, aside from comments in general, this is my quandary. Do I keep the finish as is, or strip it and bring out this natural flame maple.
I ask because there are 2 complete cracks in the back, so I basically have a 3 piece back that I'll be fixing right. I'll be undoing some other funky repairs. There's a crack by 1 f hole on the top. The heel was broken and the repair is funky, so I'll take care of that.
The bracing is too elegant to be a Chicago harmony. It's well sanded and shaped.
I got the history of the Kasuga company. They did have a separate facility, which I think you could compare to a Custom Shop here stateside.
So, opinions on the finish? They tried to make this fantastic flame look like curly maple. I like the look all right, but I would love to bring out the original flame, which is on the sides too.
What would you Do? I've learned to be minimalistic with restorations, trying to preserve what's there. But with this guitar, I'm not sure. How much would it affect the value if I refinish?
Pictures to come of the restoration.
I couldn't resist this old archtop for obvious reasons. I new it was a semi trainwreck, but well worth restoring. This much is certain:
It's solid wood. Bookmatched spruce top, back and sides are solid flame maple (and I mean FLAME!). The figure is outstanding.
It appears to be carved, top and back.
It has a dovetail neck.
I'm sure that the finish is shellac rather than nitro.
Now for the weirdness.
There's an old tag that's crumbling. It says:
Kasuga Musical Instrument company
Nagoya, Japan
Harmony Guitar
Made in Japan
From my research, the only Harmony made in Japan was in the 80's and they were electric guitars. When Harmony went out of business, Global something or other bought the name in '76. This guitar is a lot older than this, 100%.
Plus, the style of f holes suggest a Euro Import to Japan, either from Salvadore Ibanez (the actual, not the name) or an Italian who introduced mandolins to Japan, and imported archtops, by the name of Raffael Calace. I'm leaning towards a Calace, because of the Florintine inlay, f hole, and headstock.
If it was made in Japan, it'll be before wwii. I DID find 1 other archtop, on a Japanese auction site, with the same tag, except it said, "made in Occupied Japan". The f holes were similar, but no inlay, the headstock was different, the whole guitar was just a typical sunburst.
So, I have an Enigma.
Oh, there was also one of those little return address labels that someone stuck just inside of the f hole, on the top. It had a name and address of a person out of Chicago. I found his current address, after finding him in the 1940 Census. He's almost 90.
So, aside from comments in general, this is my quandary. Do I keep the finish as is, or strip it and bring out this natural flame maple.
I ask because there are 2 complete cracks in the back, so I basically have a 3 piece back that I'll be fixing right. I'll be undoing some other funky repairs. There's a crack by 1 f hole on the top. The heel was broken and the repair is funky, so I'll take care of that.
The bracing is too elegant to be a Chicago harmony. It's well sanded and shaped.
I got the history of the Kasuga company. They did have a separate facility, which I think you could compare to a Custom Shop here stateside.
So, opinions on the finish? They tried to make this fantastic flame look like curly maple. I like the look all right, but I would love to bring out the original flame, which is on the sides too.
What would you Do? I've learned to be minimalistic with restorations, trying to preserve what's there. But with this guitar, I'm not sure. How much would it affect the value if I refinish?
Pictures to come of the restoration.