Beautiful old guitar (and hat) Jack. It'll make a beautiful "wall hanger" of course, BUT it looks to be in better shape than the no name parlor guitar I just brought back to life and I'll bet you dollars to donuts that your May Bell still has some good music left in her. I always use "Silk and Steel" low tension strings on these old guitars to reduce the stress on their old bones.
Thanks & I value your opinion Rick. I don't imagine there is too much bracing inside but I haven't looked in a while. Nothing rattles but it might buzz. The back is cracked & separated at the bottom. The old headstock is wallowed out at two tuner posts, & the fret board would need to be leveled up. I'll look it over more & maybe next winter I'll take the project on.
I'll be interested to see what you decide to do with her Jack. She's a real diamond in the rough. Thanks for the little walk down memory lane.
The only way I would know to fix the headstock would be to drill out the wallowed out holes, then fill them with a dowl rod & redrill the hole. Is that how you would do it? I wouldn't want to change out the tuners but the originals don't hold a tune. I have no idea on how to check the neck & level the frets. That's why I always think "wallhanger".
Check out these round relic nickel conversion bushings and the recommended bit to ream out existing peg holes Jack. If you decide to fix her up this winter feel free to PM me and I'll help you in any way I can.
That is so cool that you still have it! A gift from family makes it priceless! My first guitar was a gutted solid body electric, with four strings. My dad picked it up from a back room at bar he was servicing. No desire to own my first, but I still have my second guitar, that I got for my 10th birthday.
I'm sure there are things in this catalog I had no idea of so I'll be giving it a good look over. Never thought about a bushing! Thanks again, Rick.
Pics or it didn't happen.
No truss rod, it would just have to be reset if it was too bad.
The Trimble and Mandolin. This mandolin is a beater! It is a Washburn model 1923-24. I bought it at a garage sale for $5.00, and it was covered with years of dust and grime. I found the bridge inside it, but thought it would be a wall hanger. After some cleaning, repairs, and strings, she sings again! One of the E string tuners is not holding, so I will see if I can fix it, the string is off of that one at the moment.
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Thanks Bama! She has been played hard, but I'm glad I rescued it.
Good job in saving it DD. I like that nice well played satin finish, & agree that the pick guard is beautiful! Love that Trimble too.The Trimble and Mandolin. This mandolin is a beater! It is a Washburn model 1923-24. I bought it at a garage sale for $5.00, and it was covered with years of dust and grime. I found the bridge inside it, but thought it would be a wall hanger. After some cleaning, repairs, and strings, she sings again! One of the E string tuners is not holding, so I will see if I can fix it, the string is off of that one at the moment.
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Thanks Jack! Are you thinking about that old guitar now?
That is a nice old guitar and picks! The OR is great too. Did you play it in open G, like a Dobro?
Excellent hat there DD, but that mando is a little gem. Good on you for bringing it back to life!The Trimble and Mandolin. This mandolin is a beater! It is a Washburn model 1923-24. I bought it at a garage sale for $5.00, and it was covered with years of dust and grime. I found the bridge inside it, but thought it would be a wall hanger. After some cleaning, repairs, and strings, she sings again! One of the E string tuners is not holding, so I will see if I can fix it, the string is off of that one at the moment.
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Usually did, I think. I'd like to have one of those steel bodied National Dobros from the 1920's. They're bringing good money.
