Blog Archives

Spring is on it's way

31/3/2017

Here at Torbay Guitar Repairs we love working on guitars, repairing them back to a playable condition or customising to your dream instrument.
If you're interested in having any work done, please get in touch and we'll be more than happy to arrange us working on your guitar!
Below is some highlights of the guitars recently through the workshop

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Paul Degville's 1960 Guild A150

17/3/2017

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Every once in awhile we're lucky enough to get something really special through the workshop. This 1960 Guild A150 was recently in for a restoration, it was previously owned by one of the pioneers of Gipsy Jazz, Paul Degville.
The guitar had sat for just over 4 years since he sadly passed away and it's new owner wanted it back to it's best. The main problems were it's electrics needed a complete overhaul and the headstock veneer was cracking and lifting due to its age so needed some attention!
Check out the photos below as well as a couple of links to Paul playing the guitar!

The wiring as brought in on the guitar, it looks like it had be patched up some time ago

All sorted with some small alterations a new switch craft jacksocket fitted

The veneer was lifting and had shrunk so badly that the mother of pearl inlay had to be glued back in too

The fragile veneer glued back down after carefully working glue into the cracks

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Fender Stratocaster Headstock Refinish

6/3/2017

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This Fender Stratocaster was brought in as the lacquer on it's headstock had started to lift and peal after it had been in storage!

It needed a complete refinish to the front and back of the headstock, with replacement decals. Along with this, it's frets needed a hand polish to clean off all the oxidation that occurred on them while it wasn't being used.

The first step in the repair is to strip the hardware, then sand back the old finish

Once the damaged finish had been removed, the headstock was sanded back to a smooth finish, then stained to match the aged yellow of the older lacquer on the rest of the neck.

The new decals were then applied front and back and left to dry before the lacquer refinishing could begin

Photos showing the headstock under various lights, the top two photos are before the lacquer has been cut back and polished to a smooth finish. Once done, the hardware is refitted and the guitar can be restrung.