Guyatone LG50 Project: 8

In this instalment, I make and modify the various plastic plates for both guitars. I have the original pickguard for the Guyatone which I was keen to use, but as its matching volume and tone control panel was missing, I’ve had to make a replacement.

Obviously, I’ve had to make both pieces from scratch for my replica. The choice of plastic is very important; although they may all look similar their properties can be quite different. Back in the day (out of ignorance) I would have used acrylic but really it’s far too brittle. The pick guard with its large holes for the pick-ups, rectangular holes for slide switches and many holes close to the edge for fixing screws would be prone to cracking as you work. Also you can easily crack it around the fixing holes if you overtighten the screws. Therefore, I chose PVC for mine, which is much more forgiving!

Guyatone Project Part 7

To be honest, when I first saw the Guyatone up for auction, I thought it would be a quick flip, but as time has gone by, it has become more of a passion project. At the start of 2022, I thought that I’d be making some more mandolins and had in mind designing an oval hole archtop, never never never would I have imagined that I would be restoring an old Japanese electric guitar let alone be building a replica of it! As it happens, I’m really enjoying the work: the challenges it has thrown up, new techniques that I’ve had to learn, researching an aspect of guitar history previously unknown to me and in the process making some great new contacts.

So, in this latest video, I’m working on the neck of my “LG50”. One of the challenges was always going to be binding the head: watch the video and see how I tackled it.

Guyatone project- part 6

So, here’s the latest video in the Guyatone series. In this video there is an update of the progress on the LG50 and the body of my replica gets completed. If you follow my work, you’ll know that I very rarely use plastic binding, but of course I needed to on this build. When I’ve used plastic bindings in the past, I’ve found gluing it a real messy challenge, however, now I’ve discovered the “Acetone Method”!

Latest Standard Mandolin Completed

The latest Standard mandolin has been completed and now living with its new owner.

Below are some photos of the finished instrument for you.

Back together again

There’s been good progress made with the restoration of the Guyatone. Both the neck and fretboard have been reunited with the body and it’s beginning to look like a guitar again. One thing that struck me about doing this kind of work is, that the more time and care you put in to a restoration the less it looks like you’ve done any work!

Back on track!

Well, here we are, back on track, a new body! Mahogany core with book-matched figured maple top and back.

The joys of working with wood!