Polishing turds

Some people shouldn't be permitted within a city block of any guitar.

 

Yep. It's a thread about turds.

 

I have my limits as far as my desire to polish turds so mine was more of a baby turd. This goes back about 10 years or so as I was rebuilding my gear.

I'd read good things about Classic Vibes. Used CVCs were going for around $275-$280 at the time and I found one listed on CL. The guy had started at $300 but was now asking $280. A closer look at the pics told me it was not in the greatest shape or well cared for but it was worth negotiating over.

I contacted the guy with some questions and found he knew zippity do dah about guitars. Apparently his roomie gave it to him in lieu of rent he owed and told him he could get $300 for it. I said top dollar was probably $280 for one in near perfect condition and this one was not. He suggested $250.

I said I would consider $250 once I saw it and played it so he offered to bring it by. It wasn't so much beat up as it was dirty and in need of some TLC. It was strung incorrectly too and I was all set to bring him and the guitar in so I could plug in and play it when he admitted the neck pickup was broken too.

I kinda added up the costs of making it whole again and told him I'd give him $200 for it broken pickup and all. He took it and said now his roomie only owed him $200 for back rent. Not my problem brother. I've got a guitar that needs some work before it's gonna be playable again. Here it is today and all that's left of the original is it's alder double bound body.


New pickups; Bill and Becky Lawrence/Wilde Keystones
New neck; 2006 Nashville Deluxe swapped for CVC rosewood neck
New electronics; Oak-Grigsby 4-way, Mojotone/CTS pots, Treble Bleed
New chrome control plate and knobs
New compensated brass saddles
New Vintage Pearl pickguard

Pretty much the equivalent of any top level MIM or base level US build with roughly $150 in material cost plus the $200 initial cost of the guitar. $350 in all or about what new CVCs sold for then. Well worth the effort as well.

 

Ok, but it's the same scenario we discuss frequently, here. Even if you keep it until you expire, it will eventually be released into the wild where it will be a "Fender" to the unwary.

 

There's a lot of hard-won knowledge, here, and folks who want to share. Thank you for sharing.

 

The cream strat and Black LP are great!!

 

Sadly, since I really don't care for burst finishes I rather like the before pics better. I like to find perfection in imperfection. Thankfully so does my wife.

 

Ah hell, the way buyers look stuff over now if only because of all the fakes fewer buyers are deceived by them any longer. Sellers just need to be honest and offer full disclosure. If a buyer balks at the price don't sell to them.

But I would also draw the line at re-badging a non-Fender with a Fender decal.

 

Started as this:



Ended as this:

 

Yeah, that Strat's a killer guitar. The LP, not so much.

It's interesting to compare those two actually, both of them having plywood bodies. The Strat is very light and resonant, totally debunking the myths attached to plywood guitars. The LP, however, is exactly what the internet would have you believe - heavy and dead-sounding.

 

Good point.

 

I kind of went the opposite direction from polishing on this one but it plays and sounds a lot beter than it looks.


Made this one to help kids in an alternative charter school learn how to play. (See thumbnail)
Made this one for an auction to raise money for said school

It started ou like this.

Then there was the coin caster that raised over $4000 for a charity.


Started out as this.

 

1385343 703058866390481 779877943 n by Jeepocaster posted Feb 14, 2014 at 3:32 PM

1270584 702998143063220 1959745928 o by Jeepocaster posted Feb 14, 2014 at 3:32 PM

1380212 703081353054899 1360341852 n by Jeepocaster posted Feb 14, 2014 at 3:32 PM

I like sparkle!