Question for Light

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
  • Start date Start date
Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
Hey, Light -

I have a '60-something Harmony Stratotone. The rectangular pearloid fretboard inlays are cupped concave, and the edges on a few of them are protuding so far as to make the guitar pretty much unplayable.

What's your recommended solution? Can they be pried out and reglued, or sanded flat, or taken out and replaced..... :confused:

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks! :)
 
You could just give it to me. I love 60s Harmony guitars, they're so... retro-crap.
They should probably be taken our and replaced, unless they come out in one nice piece, can be sanded or whatever, and then glued back in and sealed.
 
No, I'm not-wish I was, the opportunity came up at one point to be apprenticed to a violin-maker nearby, but it was costly and I wanted to go into recording anyway. But I guess you could say it's a hobby? I don't know. I wanted to start a guitar hot-rodding and vintaging business at one point, making guitars play better and look cooler and older, so I did a lot of research on that.
 
Well, the problem is that those inlays are celluloid. Sanding them is right out, because they are not that thick (besides, if you sand to vigorously, they could go up in flames, and celluloid burns FAST). Taking them out and replaced them would make the guitar playable, but it would cost an awful lot, and would have a seriously detrimental effect on the value of the guitar. You can sometimes get celluloid to flaten out by clamping it flat, but as often as not it just curls back up when you unclamp it.

No good news, I know, but (as always) the best thing to do is bring it to a good repair shop and let them look at it. Without seeing the instrument, there are too many variables to really say anything for sure.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I'm another who loves old Harmony guitars, what about a picture.
 
Light said:
No good news, I know, but (as always) the best thing to do is bring it to a good repair shop and let them look at it. Without seeing the instrument, there are too many variables to really say anything for sure.

Light
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Thanks, Light. :)
 
Clive Hugh said:
I'm another who loves old Harmony guitars, what about a picture.
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I have some pics on my computer at home. I'll try to remember to post one tonight.
 
Light said:
...those inlays are celluloid. Sanding them is right out, because they are not that thick (besides, if you sand to vigorously, they could go up in flames, and celluloid burns FAST).
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No shit - have you ever set a ping-pong ball on fire? :eek: :D :D

I'm thinking that I may remove them and try to flatten them.
 
Ever get a chance to post a pic up? :)

I'm on the hunt for a stratotone at the moment
 
ZB, Definitely one for a good luthier shop. I've had a few decent guitars come through for restoration that included re-seating celluloid inlays.

The problems are that they are flamable under heat as Light says and if the f/b has a radius you need to get them back to the same radius which is nearly always impossible without removing them because of the crap that will have collected underneath.

Once removed you need to clean the cavity and reshape them by pressing them on a former and mold of the same radius under the correct heat for the correct amount of time. None of which is a fun or easy job to do.

Lets see a pic to see how bad they are.
 
Oooh, this one came back from the dead! :D

Muttley, I did take the guitar to a local luthier several months ago. I'm not sure exactly how he tackled it but the inlays are now flush with the fretboard and they look good. It plays nicely now. He only charged me $25 USD so it couldn't have been too involved.

wreckd504, I have posted some pictures of that guitar on this forum. Lemme see if I can find 'em.........
 
TelePaul said:
Wait, you can set stuff on fire by sanding it fast???
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I think Light was talking about some kind of a powered buffer - I can't imagine hand-sanding being able to catch inlays on fire.

I've been wrong before, though. :eek:
 
TelePaul said:
Wait, you can set stuff on fire by sanding it fast???
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Yep, you ever been in the boy scouts? Two sicks and.....voila.;)

ZB, Sorry didn't see how old this thread was. I've been away for the last week or so. On my travels and am very, very tired...:) I'm back now though. Hope the fix holds up.
 
Zaphod B said:
I think Light was talking about some kind of a powered buffer - I can't imagine hand-sanding being able to catch inlays on fire.

I've been wrong before, though. :eek:
Click to expand...


It was a while ago, but I'm pretty sure I was mostly joking, but the stuff is pretty damned flammable.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
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