1967 Guild Starfire IV restoration (Pics)

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hi Fixit,

What exactly did you do to the headstock overlay, besides glue it back down. It looks like it's been freshened up, somehow:

Great job , btw!!!

~nw

 

[dapmdave]

mmmmm... Frets and fingerboard looking nice. Anxious to see that body get even more shiny.

Thanks for the new post.

Dave

 

[Fixit]

The headstock overlay was lightly sanded avoiding the area where the inlay is and then clear coat with nitro.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

So how much of a hassle is it to have to notch the tangs at the ends of the frets so they go out over the neck binding?

I believe Guild is one of the few builders to do it this way as opposed to filing down the binding between the frets and having binding "fret caps". (As shown below)

Of course, the Guild style can lead to this...

Even with the cracks I think its a much better look! (There's those crazy fretboard strips!)

I'm enjoying this thread immensely!

 

[Fixit]

Hi Grot,

It probably takes about 2-3 min. per fret to prepair a fret for that kind of installation. I also like the looks and feel of the fret over the binding vs. having the raised binding. I have a 2006 Gibson Les Paul Std. 59 re-issue. That has the raised binding? I thought that was odd
since I don't think Gibson did it that way in 1959. But I am no expert on old Gibson guitars. If anyone else knows, let me know. I don't remember seeing this until receintly. Could it have anything to do with guitars Gibson does the fret dressing on a PLEK machine?

 

[kakerlak]

Hi Grot,

It probably takes about 2-3 min. per fret to prepair a fret for that kind of installation. I also like the looks and feel of the fret over the binding vs. having the raised binding. I have a 2006 Gibson Les Paul Std. 59 re-issue. That has the raised binding? I thought that was odd
since I don't think Gibson did it that way in 1959. But I am no expert on old Gibson guitars. If anyone else knows, let me know. I don't remember seeing this until receintly. Could it have anything to do with guitars Gibson does the fret dressing on a PLEK machine?

I'm pretty sure Gibsons have been that way for a long, long time.

 

[Fixit]

Hi Grot,

You are most likely right, I probably just haven't noticed. I did have a Les Paul Custom that was made in 2000 that had the normal frets over the binding. I wonder if they only did it on certain models? I guess i'll have to research that one one of these days.

 

[Fixit]

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0 ... ign=ts0131

I found this, it's interesting!

 

[bluesypicky]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing Tom.... and for the SF-IV updates! :wink:

 

[Fixit]

Hello everyone,

Have been working on the clear coat. This is a slow process of a few coats followed by some drying, then wet sanding and more clear coats.
this takes a while to get everything leveled out and still keep the finish fairly thin. I don't really like using those thick and heavy grain fillers,
although it would speed up this process. The trick is not sanding through the color coat while wet sanding.

Here's a few pictures of where we are at now.

Getting close! next will be some curing followed by final wet sanding and buffing, then assembly and setup and then FUN

 

[Treem]

Looking good! 8) :mrgreen:

 

[Fixit]

Thanks Treem, been working on it tonight, getting closer everyday.

 

[bluesypicky]

Love it.

 

[Beat_Dominator]

This is the most inspiring thread I've seen on any forum (I am a member of dozens) in a long long time. Thank you for taking the time to share with everyone!

 

[AlohaJoe]

I agree with Beat. Your work is great and I appreciate your willingness to document and share it.
- Joe W.

 

[adorshki]

The trick is not sanding through the color coat while wet sanding.

Here's a few pictures of where we are at now.

GAWD I love cherry...You cruel cruel man! :lol:

 

[coastie99]

GAWD I love cherry...You cruel cruel man! :lol:

Can't say that I ever have, but I sure am starting to !!

 

[Fixit]

I didn't forget you guy and gals, Clear coats almost finished! I'll post some more pictures in a few days. Then it will need a little cure time before assembly, so there will be another lull in the action. Hang on after that though, assembly and setup will be fairly quick. I will post a bunch of finished pictures as well, those should be fun to compair to the begining of this project

More soon,

 

[twocorgis]

I didn't forget you guy and gals, Clear coats almost finished! I'll post some more pictures in a few days. Then it will need a little cure time before assembly, so there will be another lull in the action. Hang on after that though, assembly and setup will be fairly quick. I will post a bunch of finished pictures as well, those should be fun to compair to the begining of this project

More soon,

Can't wait! Having "saved" a couple of Guilds myself, though none of this magnitude, I can certainly relate. It seems to be its own reward, too. 8)

Pictures please, sir!

 

[Fixit]

Hi Folks,

Well her are a few more pictures, as I said last post the clear coats are just about over, maybe one more. After curing for about a week, there will be a final wet sanding with about 1000 grit to level everything before buffing. enjoy! :lol:

More later,