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Post by chezvoz on Jan 27, 2012 20:16:10 GMT -6
I've been haunting ebay late at night when I can't sleep. Unfortunately, that happens a lot these days. Anyway, I bought a project a nameless japanese hollowbody, which I will refer to as a Crown because of the logo.  As received. It looks like this thing was kept out in the barn - lots of dirt, not just the usual grime. Is in decent shape, the neck seems straight with only a small chip in the finish along the binding and a pit in the fretboard. It is a bolt on neck, has a zero fret, 3 toggle switches and 3 pots (1 missing). I think they were copying a Gretsch, judging from the knob and switch placement. There are 2 switches where the usual position switch is, a hole for a master volume like a Gretsch, 2 pots in the usual place and a 3rd switch behind that. Notice the dirt! There is some checking on the body, but not too bad. But he finish in sort of dull, almost milky in a lot of places. Could that be from moisture from underneath? HOw can I get it to look like aged glossy finish, like it has in some parts? Also, I have a stripped screw, quite small, in the pickup ring. Any suggestions about how to get that out without damaging anything else? Thanks. |
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Post by siblingchris on Jan 28, 2012 7:51:09 GMT -6
looks like an interesting projecvt. Not seen that crown logo before
I wonder why they painted the sound holes on given the fact its a hollow body?
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Post by chezvoz on Jan 28, 2012 10:32:55 GMT -6
When I first saw this guitar and tried to find info, I entered "crown headstock" with no results. But yesterday, I found if you put in "crown guitar" you find it's a Japanese brand from the 60s., but not a lot of info or photos of guitars.
BTW siblingchris- I love your Simpson's icon. Wish I had seen it first.
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Post by dnic on Jan 28, 2012 11:25:06 GMT -6
About the stripped screw drill a very small hole and use a very small easy out. Any other ideas I have might damage the pup ring. About the shine. Clean everything with Naphtha and a tooth brush. Then use the Stew mac cleaner polish and see what that gives you. Then hand buff with fine polish and back to the cleaner polish. Should be somewhere close to what you are after. I'd also say they were going for the Gretsch look with the edged fret markers. Is there a beam through the center? If not that could explain the fakey F holes. It would scream like a Banshee with no center block. But the painted F holes could just be a cost cutting thing. One last thing, that crown logo looks to me to be exactly the same as one I've seen before. Wasn't there a Crown Productions with that logo that did cartoons in the fifty's or sixties?  |
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Post by chezvoz on Jan 28, 2012 12:50:33 GMT -6
THanks for the info. It's a full hollowbody, no center block.
I've got some naphtha, so I'll try that this weekend and report back. Unless there is something comparable at the hardware store, it'll take a while to get the polish going.
I also remember something on TV that had a crown, but can't remember more than that.
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Post by dnic on Jan 28, 2012 14:32:35 GMT -6
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claptonpage
Full Member
Too many, never enough time
Posts: 190
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Post by claptonpage on Jan 28, 2012 16:43:02 GMT -6
Looks like a copy of the Gretsch Chet Atkins County Gentlemen (http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2401135892)
Chet like the painted on F-holes for a more traditional look with no feedback
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Post by wirewrapper on Jan 28, 2012 19:53:50 GMT -6
Cool guitar! Hey, this one don't have f holes either. Attachments:
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Post by chezvoz on Jan 28, 2012 22:11:33 GMT -6
The BB King model! I think the rotary switch has similar if not the same combinations that an L6S has. One of the reasons I got interested in the L6S back in the 70s was because it had an out of phase position, which was supposed to be the BB King sound.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 16:33:42 GMT -6
Hey I seen that guitar on eBay. How cool you got it! Looks like a fun cool rebuild!
I've been out of town so I'm just getting back to the post on GA.
This should be a lot of fun! Please keep posting about it.
EB
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Post by wirewrapper on Jan 29, 2012 19:34:30 GMT -6
The BB King model! I think the rotary switch has similar if not the same combinations that an L6S has. One of the reasons I got interested in the L6S back in the 70s was because it had an out of phase position, which was supposed to be the BB King sound. The thing about the switch on BB's guitar is that It looks out of place for a factory install. |
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Post by chezvoz on Jan 29, 2012 21:01:28 GMT -6
DNIC - I applied some Naphtha like you mentioned, but didn't notice any change in the finish or the cleanliness. However, the Meguiers worked like a charm! Thanks! I was expecting to spend lots of time on a small spot. But I gave it a pretty decent cleaning and shine in about 45 minutes. Remember how dull the photos looked at the start - "like it's covered in frost" was my wife's comment. Check it out:    Still some spots that could be buffed out where the old tuners metal edge was resting, but such a difference from when I got it. The neck pocket show some stress cracks in the corners.  This one gives some idea of the difference between the original dull matte finish and now.  Here's an interesting problem- the pick-ups holes and ring sizes seem to match no current standards. pup opening width - 1 5/16th" pup opening length - 2 3/4" total length of opening - 3 3/4" Anyone know of pickups that would fit comfortably, without too much slop, in those openings? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 21:17:04 GMT -6
Wow what a big change already! Here is a link to the one I done not too long ago! I don't know if you can find pickups like is in my rebuild on eBay or not, but they sound pretty good for pickups from the 60's. But there are a lot of cool pickups to choose from that can give you that classic look of the guitar. Stress crack in the neck pocket is pretty common, as long as the wood in the neck pocket isn't cracked, you should be alright. Is the body a semi hollow body or is it hollow? If it is hallow you might have to reinforce it so that the neck won't bow the body. That is what I had to do to my rebuild. When I did it, the body was already bowed. I like that guitar a lot! guitarattack.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1418EB |
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Post by dnic on Jan 29, 2012 22:08:30 GMT -6
The Naphtha was just to cut through the grime and nasty DNA looking stuff. The pups may have been large single coils. I ran into that on the Guild bass rebuild I've had in the works for two years now. The guy That owns the bass ordered custom replacements. I'm sure a little time on Goggle will tell you exactly what came stock on your instrument. It looks like a different guitar all together with some shine it. Duh, Gretsch copy. Check the replacement pups sized for Gretsch. www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Retrotron-Series_c_99.html |
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Post by stratpurist on Jan 30, 2012 7:59:12 GMT -6
I'm impressed. that's an ambitious project! the binding has that patina that cannot be faked. I'm interested in seeing how that roller bridge cleans up.
looks like you're missing most of the vibrato tail piece. PM sent
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