Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Okay, so my birthday was this month and I got a new (to me) guitar. I play mostly electrics and I had only 1 steel string acoustic and 1 nylon string classical. My classical isn't really practical to take out playing because it is not really the type of music I would be playing out (if that makes any kind of sense). My steel string would be more suitable, but it is a 1976 Ibanez Concord in absolute perfectly minty-fresh condition and I wouldn't dare take it out to play for fear of getting dings or scratches or whatnot. I don't even take this guitar out of it's case until my kids have gone to bed and I never let it leave the house. hehe So anyway, I am going to be teaching a guitar co-op out of my house and I also have a couple of venues coming up for the holidays and I wanted to get a decent guitar that sounded good that I didn't have to worry about taking it out. I got a used steel string acoustic that would fit the bill perfectly. It's a good guitar, well made, good sound and it's in "player's" condition with the usual knicks, dings and some scratches on the back. I got it a couple of days ago and after looking it over, I just marveled at the beauty of the woods it was made out of. I'll spare ya'll the details about the types of woods it is made of etc, just suffice it to say that it is gorgeous and after a good cleaning and polishing of the frets she would look a heap of a lot better, but I am wondering now if I should take the extra pains to try to restore her to her former glory. This guitar is 40 years old and it must have been a stunner when it was brand new. I have a buffer that I use for auto detailing and the skills to use it and I also have some guitar polish that I could use with the buffer to remove some of those scratches. It wouldn't come out perfect, but I could do a lot to make it look better. Hubby says no, that I should just clean it and then leave it as it is since the scratches give the guitar character and I just cannot decide if I should leave it or go for the gusto. What do ya'll think? I'm sure this is all incredibly boring to most of you, but to a guitar freak like me it is a pretty agonizing decision. hehe If you've read this far and are still with me, thank you! So do you think yes I should restore it to the best of my abilities or no just clean it and leave it as dh says?? Thanks to all who reply. I really appreciate it. :) Blessings, Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Dh asks what kind of guitar it is. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Dh asks what kind of guitar it is. :) It's a Lyle A690 solid spruce top and solid curly mahogany back and sides. These were made by Gibson in Japan in the late 60's and early 70's and marketed under that brand. It's sweet! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty Social Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 and he says the varnish might be very different than what is used today....so you might damage the guitar/change the color by buffing it out. He suggests taking it to a luthier if you really want it restored and finding out more about the type of finish - you might be better off with a scratch filler type of polish. BTW, he agrees with your husband. If he buys a 40 yr old guitar, he wants it to show it's use....more character, more history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 My hubby says let her be as well. I will ask guitar player future SIL but I am pretty sure he would say let her be as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Dh says it sounds like a nice guitar! He wouldn't mess with it. If he wanted it worked on he would look for a professional. (but then he really doesn't know about working with wood.) How exciting that you found another guitar to love. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 If you restored it, then you would never take it out of the house. You would be back to square one.:lol: Paula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happygrrl Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 My vote is to leave it as is. I am partial to items with "character". Hanging in my house is a beautiful black and white photo of Willie Nelson holding his guitar. Can you imagine if he restored his guitar? There is barely any guitar left! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 It would depend on how you feel about the scratches. Do you appreciate the patina, the life stories, the songs...that it has seen and lived through? Do you look at the guitar and see a wonderful instrument with a past that gives it the balance and beauty that you fell in love with? Or do you look at it and feel sad for the scratches, the age, the tarnish? Does its age lend to its beauty or take away from it? Since you already have a few amazing instruments to gaze upon, I would let this one be. If you do have it restored, will you still want to take it out of the house? If you do decide to pursue the idea of restoration, definitely talk to an expert first! It would truly be a shame to cause any damage unnecessarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 If you restored it, then you would never take it out of the house. You would be back to square one.:lol: Paula ROFL :lol::lol: This is probably true! hehehe Then I would have to buy another one to take out! Sigh! It's a sickness I tell you. A sickness!! I swear I need a 12 step program or something. :p hehe Thanks everyone for your replies so far. Just a bit more info. The guitar polish I have is safe for all finishes including the old ones. I got my dh a guitar for his b'day last year that is the same make but a different model. It is about the same age as mine too and I cleaned his up really nice with this polish. His was in much better aesthetic condition than mine is and other than being just really dirty when I got it, it only had one small spot on the front that you can barely see and the rest of the guitar was perfect. You can see it here after I cleaned it up. http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/Guitars/Jen1379.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/Guitars/Jen1393.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/Guitars/Jen1391.jpg Mine is similar, except that it's a solid top instead of a laminate top like dh's and the back is absolutely GORGEOUS!! The finish is completely intact and has no finish cracks or wear of that kind and the only issue it has other than the dings, which I wouldn't really do anything about, are some surface scratches on the back that I know I could buff out. It is the quality and beauty of the wood that makes me want to go for it. The buffer I have is gentle (it's a dual action buffer not a rotary) and I have gentle pads for it too and I've been using it for years to detail cars. Coupled with the guitar polish and a mildly abrasive pad I'm sure that i could remove the superficial scratches without any harm to the finish and only the deeper scratches would remain. It won't make the guitar look like new, but it would improve the appearance. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 It sounds like you are going to polish up this beauty. Post the pictures! Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 It sounds like you are going to polish up this beauty. Post the pictures! Have fun. LOL That's the thing, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. Well, let me amend that to say, either way it is going to get polish because I am going to clean it good, polish the frets, oil the fingerboard and change out the bridge and end pins before I restring it. The question is do I polish it by hand or with the buffer. :) hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hey Jen, You lucky girl. Sounds like a beauty. So, I have to weigh in for leaving it as is. It can't look any worse than Neil Young's guitars. Neil was probably old before you were born but if you scroll down the page after the pictures of "Old Black", you'll see his guitar that he played in the Jonathan Demme doc. "Prairie Wind". The Martin D-28 belonged to Hank Williams and it is beat to heck and then some. I think it is beautiful. Have fun and please post photos.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hey Jen, You lucky girl. Sounds like a beauty. So, I have to weigh in for leaving it as is. It can't look any worse than Neil Young's guitars. Neil was probably old before you were born but if you scroll down the page after the pictures of "Old Black", you'll see his guitar that he played in the Jonathan Demme doc. "Prairie Wind". The Martin D-28 belonged to Hank Williams and it is beat to heck and then some. I think it is beautiful. Have fun and please post photos.:001_smile: LOL I turned 38 this month so yes I know Neil Young. :) That Martin does look nice. Mine doesn't have the same finish wear that that one does on the front, if it did I would definitely leave it. Neil's guitars there are all what guitarists would call "relic'ed" and that is cool on it's own, but mine is not far gone enough to be relic'ed and it could probably be brought back a lot to it's former glory although not perfect. I don't want perfect because after all it's meant to be my "beater" guitar. hehe But being the OCD freak that I am, I always have to mess with things and do what I can. hehe You should see how I am with cars! :eek: :svengo: hehehehe Ay, I should probably post up some pics of it how it is now so that you can all see for yourselves the finish. I thought about doing it, but I didn't think anybody would care that much. hehe It's too dark outside now to do it but maybe tomorrow I can take some before pics outside in the natural light and then ya'll can see what I'm dealing with and base your opinions on that. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Okay. I got some pictures taken. So what do you think?? Clean it good and leave it or go the extra mile? :) Look at this gorgeous piece of rosewood on the fingerboard! http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen117.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen118.jpg Here's the front. http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen119.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen121.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen122.jpg Here's the back http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen125.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen126.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen130.jpg Here's the right side http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen124.jpg Here's the left. Isn't that a gorgeous piece of wood? :D http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen134.jpg So you can see that the finish is still glossy and intact so it could definitely take a polish without compromising it. So what do ya'll think? I want to start working on it today. :) Thanks. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 So you can see that the finish is still glossy and intact so it could definitely take a polish without compromising it. So what do ya'll think? I want to start working on it today. :) Thanks. :) I think it is gorgeous! I really appreciate quality wood in a guitar. Many of the guitars made and sold today just don't have that same quality unless you pay BIG money. As far as restoring it, I kind of agree with your dh, the wear on it does give it character, but, if restoring it would be something you would enjoy doing, I say, go for it! Enjoy your new guitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Okay some pics of the work in progress. I just finished polishing the frets and cleaning and oiling the fingerboard. Here are the befores http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen136.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen137.jpg And here are the afters. Is there anything more beautiful than Brazilian Rosewood?? I couldn't get a good shot of the frets. My house is dark as a dungeon right now with this storm outside, but I'll have her all done tonight and take some more outside shots tomorrow. But at least you can see the beauty of the wood. :) Not a single groove or wear in the frets in a 40 year old guitar! Unbelievable! :) The Hive has spoken, and I will obey. I will not polish her, just clean her good. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen139.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen148.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think it is gorgeous! I really appreciate quality wood in a guitar. Many of the guitars made and sold today just don't have that same quality unless you pay BIG money. As far as restoring it, I kind of agree with your dh, the wear on it does give it character, but, if restoring it would be something you would enjoy doing, I say, go for it! Enjoy your new guitar! thank you. :) They really don't make them like the used to. I love getting old guitars. :) They're the best and they come with nice aged wood already and sound great! :) I cannot wait to hear this one once I string her up again. The strings that were on it were so nasty and corroded I would have needed a tetanus shot to play it, but with my DR's on there, she should sound like a dream. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 When you name her, post please. A beautiful instrument and I have to say that I could tell you were a musician the first time I read a post. No one could love music so very much without making some of her own. Enjoy your "new " guitar it is just magnificent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I'm no guitar expert, but I've always loved Willie Nelson's holey guitar. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) When you name her, post please. A beautiful instrument and I have to say that I could tell you were a musician the first time I read a post. No one could love music so very much without making some of her own. Enjoy your "new " guitar it is just magnificent. Thank you for your kind words. :) Funnily enough, as much as I love my guitars only one out of the eight has a name :) hehe This one. I saved every penny I had for an entire year in order to get that one and some days I never thought I would make it because they were limited edition and only 400 of each color were coming to the US. And I only wanted this color. It was a friend of mine that encouraged me to try and because of that I named the guitar after them. :) As for the "new" one. She's all done! I took off the tuners and WD-40'd them and scrubbed it all into the grooves and cleaned them all up. I cleaned the whole body, replaced the bridge pins with ebony wood and abalone ones and slapped on some new strings. She sounds wonderful!!! I'll post up some pics tomorrow when it is daylight. :) Thanks everybody for weighing in and helping me with the decision. She came out real nice. :) Edited September 21, 2009 by Ibbygirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 Okay!! I took her outside and got some after shots. So what do ya'll think?? Did she come out nice? :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen152.jpg I spray painted the truss rod cover black. I think it looks better. At some point though I'll replace it with one of those 3 ply ones. I like those better. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen153.jpg How do the frets look now?? Better, no? :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen154.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen155.jpg I replaced the bridge pins with ebony ones that have abalone inlays. I actually think the white ones look better with this light colored bridge, but the ebony ones give lots of sustain. Maybe in the future I'll get a set of bone ones to make them white again, but for now she's fine as she is. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen156.jpg Here's the side http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen157.jpg And the back http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/Jen162.jpg So what do you think?? Well, I can tell you that she plays like a dream!! I tuned her up last night and ran through my requisite Sweet Home Alabama and Suite Madame Blue riffs ( I use these to check the tuning when I'm too lazy to get my tuner out. hehe) and she sounds GORGEOUS!!! She has a perfect balance of lows, mids and highs. I played a ballad with my ear resting against the guitar's side and I swear I got all emotional she sounded so sweet. I got choked up! hehe But I got over it quick enough and had a blast playing her last night. I was grinning from ear to ear. :) I am so happy I got her even though they guy at the music store charged me way too much for the case that I bought to ship the guitar in. He charged too much for the shipping too, but it seems that I got the last laugh because he obviously didn't know what he had in this guitar. That's the good thing about relatively obscure brands, pretty much only collectors or a small group of players really know about them. I think I got this guitar for a steal and I'm very very happy with my new baby. I will be proud to take her out now. :) Thank you all for your input and for sharing the experience with me. :grouphug: Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Jen, your guitar posts always make me smile. It's a pleasure to see and share your joy in acquiring a new friend. She's quite lovely and you did a great job on her. Any chance you can tell us about your venues for the holidays? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Jen, your guitar posts always make me smile. It's a pleasure to see and share your joy in acquiring a new friend. She's quite lovely and you did a great job on her. Any chance you can tell us about your venues for the holidays? Thank you for your kind words. :) I teach a group of girls on Wednesday nights at my church and twice a year we do community outreaches. One for Christmas and one for Easter. We go to nursing homes and visit the residents and sing songs to them and visit with them and bring them gifts etc. We always team up with another class and go together. Last year another one of the teacher volunteers brought her guitar so I just sang with the girls, but she has since stepped down from her volunteering and there was nobody else who plays except me so I stepped in. I was trying to figure out which guitar I would take of my acoustics since my electrics are way too impractical to bring since I would have to schlep my amp and cables etc along with. Plus, I don't know that the residents would take to it much. hehe :tongue_smilie: I decided that my nylon string was too quiet and had too much of a distinctive sound and that a steel string really suited the occasion, but there was no way I wanted to take my Ibby Concord out. See below. http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/1976Concord669-3.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n106/FloridaNat1ve/My%20Guitars/1976Concord669-1.jpg So that set me looking for my new one.:) The other thing I have coming up, also for Christmas is another outreach but with my ladies Bible study group. We're going into a women's jail to sing Christmas songs and bring them gifts and hopefully just bring them some cheer for the holidays. Other than that the only other thing is my guitar class that I'm teaching out of my house. It's a co-op for homeschool kids. :) That's all. :) But any occasion is a good one for a new guitar, no? ;) :D hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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