What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside)

Kølabrennern · 10-10-2008, 09:01 AM

My family has always been musical, so it's natural that they left behind instruments and passed them down through generations, but I didn't expect to find this one. It's a really old Hagström acoustic, most likely pre-WWII. Unfortunately it's in urgent need of care and repair. First of all there's a break in the headstock that has been screwed together, not glued. Probably nothing some epoxy can't fix though. Then it's the fact that someone has put new tuning machines on it, for nylon strings after what I can see - but the stupid part is that that someone has drilled new holes and chipped the wood really bad. Oh well. There's also a break where the neck meets the body that's been glued, seems to be holding together, but the heel looks like it's ready to come apart. Not sure how one would go about to fix that. Lastly, the neck is far from straight, it has relief out of another world. I can't see any truss-rod, so this I neither know how to fix. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Some pictures:

What do you guys think?

Wuchak · 10-10-2008, 09:55 AM

Neat find. I'd check the blue book at the local dealer but I'm 99.9% sure it will cost more to fix than it's worth.

There is one like your in the middle of the page at Hagstrom - Real Oldies

pawpek · 10-10-2008, 04:27 PM

What a great find, I hope you can repair the guitar, and be playing again soon.

Kølabrennern · 10-10-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wuchak

Neat find. I'd check the blue book at the local dealer but I'm 99.9% sure it will cost more to fix than it's worth.

There is one like your in the middle of the page at Hagstrom - Real Oldies

That I am sure of as well, that's why I'll just do what I can myself and leave it alone. Nice little piece of decoration though!

JasonC · 10-10-2008, 05:54 PM

I'm sure there's a great story behind it, if anyone in your family might know.

Kølabrennern · 10-10-2008, 05:58 PM

Oh, and what's the deal with the first fretwire being located right below the nut? I've seen it before, but can't figure out why it's like that.

JasonC · 10-10-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

Oh, and what's the deal with the first fretwire being located right below the nut? I've seen it before, but can't figure out why it's like that.

Probably because it's a wooden nut and w/o that fret there it would wear through eventually.

JasonC · 10-10-2008, 06:03 PM

Regardless of monetary value, it's always awesome to see old instruments like that!

JasonC · 10-10-2008, 06:06 PM

If I were you, I would have it professionally restored even if it's "not worth it"... that's a part of your family heritage.

Kølabrennern · 10-10-2008, 06:20 PM

I did kinda want to play it on my next album. Where I happen to write lyrics about local history and my roots. We'll see what happens, I can't afford any restoration as of now, unfortunately.

ginormous · 10-12-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

Oh, and what's the deal with the first fretwire being located right below the nut? I've seen it before, but can't figure out why it's like that.

I think it's called a "zero fret"; supposed to improve intonation at the first note.

sitarsrule · 10-16-2008, 04:22 PM

Yeah it's called a zero fret, it's also used to change the sharp angle of the string so the string doesn't break at the nut!

GuitarDean · 10-16-2008, 05:32 PM

ABSOLUTELY FIX IT!

Wuchak · 10-17-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

I did kinda want to play it on my next album. Where I happen to write lyrics about local history and my roots. We'll see what happens, I can't afford any restoration as of now, unfortunately.

It looks like all that's really missing is the tuning pegs. I'd throw a new set on and leave the rest as is.

$10 tuner set http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/G...te_Tuners.html

$40 tuner set Golden Age Restoration Tuners for Slotted Peghead at Stewart-MacDonald

Add some very light gauge strings, and tune it up.

GooCart · 10-17-2008, 09:34 AM

I think all Hagström guitars have a zero fret. I also think that some Gretsch has it.

Kølabrennern · 10-17-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wuchak

It looks like all that's really missing is the tuning pegs. I'd throw a new set on and leave the rest as is.

$10 tuner set Economy 3-on-Plate Tuners at Stewart-MacDonald

$40 tuner set Golden Age Restoration Tuners for Slotted Peghead at Stewart-MacDonald

Add some very light gauge strings, and tune it up.

What about the oversized holes someone drilled out for nylon string tuners? Guess doweling is the only way to come around that. How practical that the holes are not perfect circles...

The problem I've encountered is that the headstock break is not very flexible, so I'm not sure how I'm going to get the glue between the wood. I was thinking that some glue comes in practical syringes, but as usual I find it extremely hard to find the stuff I need here in Norway.

10-10-2008, 09:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kølabrennern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 569 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) My family has always been musical, so it's natural that they left behind instruments and passed them down through generations, but I didn't expect to find this one. It's a really old Hagström acoustic, most likely pre-WWII. Unfortunately it's in urgent need of care and repair. First of all there's a break in the headstock that has been screwed together, not glued. Probably nothing some epoxy can't fix though. Then it's the fact that someone has put new tuning machines on it, for nylon strings after what I can see - but the stupid part is that that someone has drilled new holes and chipped the wood really bad. Oh well. There's also a break where the neck meets the body that's been glued, seems to be holding together, but the heel looks like it's ready to come apart. Not sure how one would go about to fix that. Lastly, the neck is far from straight, it has relief out of another world. I can't see any truss-rod, so this I neither know how to fix. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Some pictures: What do you guys think? __________________ Couple of my bands: Myrkgrav - Folk metal. Quadrivium - Avant-garde symphonic metal.

10-10-2008, 09:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wuchak Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 234 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) Neat find. I'd check the blue book at the local dealer but I'm 99.9% sure it will cost more to fix than it's worth. There is one like your in the middle of the page at Hagstrom - Real Oldies

10-10-2008, 04:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
pawpek Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Stoke on Trent U.K. Posts: 162 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) What a great find, I hope you can repair the guitar, and be playing again soon.

10-10-2008, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
JasonC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 24 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) I'm sure there's a great story behind it, if anyone in your family might know.

10-10-2008, 05:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kølabrennern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 569 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) Oh, and what's the deal with the first fretwire being located right below the nut? I've seen it before, but can't figure out why it's like that. __________________ Couple of my bands: Myrkgrav - Folk metal. Quadrivium - Avant-garde symphonic metal.

Today
Les Paul	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on My Les Paul Forums

10-10-2008, 06:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
JasonC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 24 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) Regardless of monetary value, it's always awesome to see old instruments like that!

10-10-2008, 06:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
JasonC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 24 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) If I were you, I would have it professionally restored even if it's "not worth it"... that's a part of your family heritage.

10-10-2008, 06:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kølabrennern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 569 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) I did kinda want to play it on my next album. Where I happen to write lyrics about local history and my roots. We'll see what happens, I can't afford any restoration as of now, unfortunately. __________________ Couple of my bands: Myrkgrav - Folk metal. Quadrivium - Avant-garde symphonic metal.

10-16-2008, 04:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
sitarsrule Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, Calif Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) Yeah it's called a zero fret, it's also used to change the sharp angle of the string so the string doesn't break at the nut!

10-16-2008, 05:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
GuitarDean Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 398 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) ABSOLUTELY FIX IT! __________________ Ahh, uh, like, link us, man! I can be located and contacted at: http://deanulmer.com Please come and visit me and leave a message! Copies of my first album can also be purchased there My recording studio can be located at... http://www.myspace.com/leapinglizard...ecordingstudio

10-17-2008, 09:34 AM	#15 (permalink)
GooCart Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 327 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What I found in my grandfather's attic (old wood inside) I think all Hagström guitars have a zero fret. I also think that some Gretsch has it. __________________ Thanx, Magnus Melkersson, Sweden GooCartsGuitars. GooCarts

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Would you trade this...for this... PICS INSIDE	gabrielnoel	Gibson Les Pauls	60	08-01-2008 04:52 AM
Should I get THIS r9?? pic inside	tasticafe	Historics & Reissues	57	01-24-2008 09:00 PM
Inside my '94 Studio. Need expertise!	Doctor Dread	Tonefreaks	3	01-21-2008 06:34 PM
My new ESP EC-1000!!! Pics Inside	brettk7	My Other Guitars	14	01-06-2008 12:26 AM
Inside an R7.	Gavin Morse	Historics & Reissues	11	09-25-2007 01:20 PM