1960 JR DC . I'm working on a trade.... images

[Harpozep]

So my friend Brian has been working too hard at having way too many projects going on.
He wants to work with me and trade me out one of his "Kits"
He gets these kits for ebay and from being in the business, taking his time assembling the correct vintage pieces for the final guitar.
His proposal is this. He wants to rade me for something I should buy for him. Weird, but fun. No rush, but it has a certain amusement factor in it too.
I tried to get him an early '40's Martin 0017 the other day, but lost by $40ish on ebay.

We both figure I should spend around $1,600.00 for a typical '40 or '50's era Martin that needs a neck reset or maybe a bit more. He's looking for a Martin that needs another grand of work and trading out the JR DC which , well needs a bit of work as well.

Any thoughts? Here's some pics of the kit thus far.











I really am intrigued since the guitar is from my year of birth, I had long given up owning a Gibson Les Paul from my year. This is an opportunity to get one and have fun bringing it back to life.

Since some work had been done to it, I really don't feel I should bring it back to total stock, but who knows. I'm thinking of leaving the Brazilian veneer on the headstock?

Oh, this is the guitar that had the butter knife for a neck repair, and it was not disclosed by the seller to my friend!

I forgot to take a pic of the neck repair. It was done by George Youngblood, and done right!

The only thing that does not come with it are the tuners, I'm on my own there..
Give me your thoughts.

[JasonC]

Looks like a great opportunity to me.

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Looks like a great opportunity to me.

Yeah, I have my guy Ken ready to shoot paint on it. He's a great guitar painter.
I figure I'll match my SG rather than go TV yellow since I'm not a fan of the original JR colors.

Don't get me wrong,, I'd take a JR with original paint anyday, but given this old wood is stripped and waiting a new skin......
What do you think, Elliot Easton Off white nitro? I think it would kook killer

[BCRGreg]

I have several sets of original tuners for your project, Boss.

Since it's been buggered, the only option is to do it in TV, provided the endgrain is well cleaned of red lacquer.

[JasonC]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

Yeah, I have my guy Ken ready to shoot paint on it. He's a great guitar painter.
I figure I'll match my SG rather than go TV yellow since I'm not a fan of the original JR colors.

Don't get me wrong,, I'd take a JR with original paint anyday, but given this old wood is stripped and waiting a new skin......
What do you think, Elliot Easton Off white nitro? I think it would kook killer

Yeah, that would look pretty good. Personally I would actually go with TV Yellow... or TV White maybe, but it's up to you!

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

I have several sets of original tuners for your project, Boss.

Since it's been buggered, the only option is to do it in TV, provided the endgrain is well cleaned of red lacquer.

Thanks fer chimin' in oh JR fiend!
I was gonna call you tomorrow about some stuff anyway.
Still in the midst of our 36 hour keep-the-store-open- marathon, with endless gaiming and a couple dozen artists creating comic books. Been a looooong night

We have sold so much caffeine. and damn if one of my girls did just the opposite of what I told them ( 17 year olds, grrrr She took No-Doze AND drank Jolt and Bawlz. well it was off to the bucket for her. man, they never listen. That's a caustic combo, your body say OUT.

Anyway, I'm long winded and in a rambling state.
Anyone bored , check out the preliminary photogallery of the event. Got a newer camera too that shoots 720 P vids and cool stills. Now I gotta learn this youtube stuff.......

The kids took over the computer and went photoshopping. I put some of them up as well.
24 hour comic and game day 101808 Photo Gallery by Robert Miller at pbase.com

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Yeah, that would look pretty good. Personally I would actually go with TV Yellow... or TV White maybe, but it's up to you!

If white TV looks good, I'll go with that, but really TV yellow doesn't do it for me. But who knows, it's early in the project. I gotta dig up a chaepish '40's Martin for my friend. Thankfully , there's no rush.

[JasonC]

Well whatever color you use, imo, it ought to be a fairly subdued one, and if you want a "TV" vibe, have the grain showing through. Just my opinion of course.

So you run a comic shop??

[shotgunlew]

Id say do it! I like the off white alot!

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Well whatever color you use, imo, it ought to be a fairly subdued one, and if you want a "TV" vibe, have the grain showing through. Just my opinion of course.

So you run a comic shop??

Yeah, it runs me,.to the ground!
Here's a sample of what we are:
Follow the links to the pictures if you want the odyssey.

Sarge's Comics : Comics, Manga, Collectibles, Gaming Supplies & More

[JasonC]

Cool! I'm not so much into comics, but I was an action figure nut for awhile. Horror stuff... Mcfarlane, NECA, etc... Still have every one I ever bought... though half of them are opened. Have an original set of the Mcfarlane Kiss figures still in boxes though.

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Cool! I'm not so much into comics, but I was an action figure nut for awhile. Horror stuff... Mcfarlane, NECA, etc... Still have every one I ever bought... though half of them are opened. Have an original set of the Mcfarlane Kiss figures still in boxes though.

I was at the San Diago Comic Con whan an early reales shipment of those Kiss figures arrived. It was madness! half a tractor trailer load of Kiss figures, gone in an hour. Then sold for hundreds on ebay later that day! Now they are not worth much, but they are still cool for the Kiss Collector.
McFarlane makes great action figures.

[JasonC]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

I was at the San Diago Comic Con whan an early reales shipment of those Kiss figures arrived. It was madness! half a tractor trailer load of Kiss figures, gone in an hour. Then sold for hundreds on ebay later that day! Now they are not worth much, but they are still cool for the Kiss Collector.
McFarlane makes great action figures.

Yeah the value on those things peaked early and tanked. Still cool toys though!

I think NECA makes better figures now though.

[JasonC]

Anyway, action figures aside... I would definitely go for this. I bet it will be an incredible guitar when it's finished.

[twinrider1]

Go for it. Looks like a fun experience.

I like the Vandersteens too. Almost bought some, but put it off. Then they came out with the 2Ce and I didn't like the change.

Ha, 36 hours! It's like your own mini con! That's cool. (Former gamer here). Let me know when 80's comics are worth anything again. :-)

[Harpozep]

Thanks. I'll do my best to make this work out. I can really get into this project since it's my year of birth guitar.

Vandersteens ? I like their loudspeakers if that's what you are referring to, but I currently run B & W.

[Harpozep]

Looks like I'll be getting a 1944 Martin for about 2K, then doing the trade.
The JR did not come stock with gold parts, but all the vintage stuff that comes with it is gold, so I'll be staying with the gold theme. .

I'd like to go with the same off white as the EE SG I own, but it's not quite vintage. Still the guitar will never be a real unmodded vintage piece since the work on the neck and headstock as well as the goldish hardware.

My friend who's doing the deal with me sent me this:Here's a supposedly vintage color on one like mine will be. Thinkng.........it's not quite the white I want, but I do like it better than TV yellow.

[Harpozep]

So it looks like I'll be doing the trade this week. Lining up a decent painter may become a job. My guy ken does not have his paint booth in his new location and won't for some time.
Ken has a friend who does great jobs on nitro, He has a paint booth, just not set up. I guess it is one of the old Guild paint booths. I live near the old Guild Factory in Rhode Island. Their former guitar guys are all around here.

I'd like to gt the guitar painted locally for a number of logistical reasons.

Which brings me to a pint I kinda thought about in another thread. What about a serial #. The original has long since disappeared, so why bother, or ..??
Since this is going to be a keeper and from my birth year, I was thinking of putting my birthday in for a serial #. That'd be kind of the ultimate personalizing, donchya think?
I am bringing this thing back from the brink, so I figure to make it mine but keep it fairly vintage and cool.

[Harpozep]

Here's a before and after of the headstock.
George Youngblood did a great job bringing it from Swiss Cheese to a good solid foundation that just needs some sanding and perhaps a little drilling for the tuners.

[diceman]

Wow - that looks fantastic!

Glad to hear that things are working out for you on this guitar - you've been talking about her for a long time!

Very cool.

[Harpozep]

Picked it up today. More pics to come.
Here's a short video and a pic.
I'm looking forward to the project and I'll be asking you folks for suggestions.

YouTube - 1962 Les Paul JR back from the brink.

Looks like I'm off to get sanding blocks . Going to be careful to keep the lines. They are still there after at least one other repaint, so I'll just clean things up a little.

[JasonC]

Wow, that repair is impressive! That white color... looks like a supposed "TV White", which I'm not sure if it really was an original color, but I have seen it before. The original TV Yellow was supposedly opaque (from what I've read), but very thin and started showing a lot of grain after a few years.

[diceman]

Too freakin' cool! I really enjoyed the video clip. That is going to be amazing once you get it all finished. Looking forward to seeing the progress - keep us up to date!