I Restored an Abandoned Acoustic Guitar| Parlor 1930s
Hey Mates!
I have a confession to make
I absolutely love discovering old musical instruments. There is something magical about it.
In every decision there is a mystery that we are unlikely to discover for ourselves.
Like with this guitar.
This guitar was made in the 1930s
The first time I saw copper frets.
I saw a beautiful maple neck under a terrible hornbeam fingerboard, what motivated the people who made this? We won't be able to know for sure. But I hope that what I did with the guitar will extend its life and in 100 years, someone will be able to ask similar questions.
Thank you for watching.
00:00 Intro
00:27 Guitar disassembly
01:00 Guitar gluing
02:25 Removing Frets
04:10 Removing the bridge
04:50 Removing old varnish
05:25 Gluing cracks
06:10 Guitar painting
06:56 Toning the pickguard with ink
07:40 Working with the Neck
08:50 Making a new bridge
10:12 Neck Repair
11:48 Fretworks
15:34 New tunres
16:15 New Bone Nut
17:52 Final Guitar Setup
18:03 First Try
18:30 Demo
19:05 End
Instagram / mrk1t
I didnt expect the fretboard to look like that! Good looking!!
Me too, I was surprised when I saw it
@@mr.k1t Was that fretboard or just gunk that came off? Fantastic job Sir and Thank You! Best Regards and Best Wishes!
It's not surprising to see some sort of paint on fretboards in this kind of guitars. Most cheap Korean guitars still use this method. And since this is a Soviet era guitar that's probably what inspired it.
I give you credit and respect. I feel most people would have simply threw that guitar in the trash. With a amazing display of dedication and skill you have restored that guitar into a beautiful instrument that will be enjoyed for many more years. 👍
Thank you!
Just beautiful. I'm not a luthier but enjoy watching them at work. Your resurection of this instrument is just fantastic. Your work on the neck and fretboard was especially joyful to watch. Nice job!
Amazing refinish. I woulda probably left tuners/headstock as-is, and put the time back into the cracks on the top. Can’t get over how incredible the fingerboard came out 🤯 great job
What! Why not use the old bridge! That new one looks ALL wrong on that thing. I would have re-glued the old one...now it's no longer as the manufacturer intended...
He does what I love to do, bring new life to fine old parlor guitars. I salute you.
Totally wonderful! I'm now about to watch all your o
I’m glad you put your own stamp on it. I enjoyed watching your process and progress.
Thanks!
@@mr.k1t you’re welcome!
What a beauty! Well done sir.
I liked everything except the sanding. I would have dusted it, used turpentine to remove any old wax, used warm soapy water followed by immediate towel drying, then amalgamated the original finish with alcohol or whatever solvent works. Anyway, it sure does look great. Bravo.
I was originally going to congratulate the restorer on his excellent job restoring an interesting guitar, but after seeing what was done, I changed my mind. This is certainly not a restoration. The guitar was originally seven-string. By removing one string, the “restorer” destroyed the historical value of the instrument. Great job.
Not only that but he took way too many liberties and really heavy-handed, pragmatic approach as if there were no rules what should and what shouldn't be done. Total disregard to the original instrument..
Agreed. That was no 'restoration'. He converted an interesting historical instrument into an awful guitar.
Этот инструмент был сделан в моей стране почти сто лет назад !!! Мне приятно, что столь талантливые руки взялись за восстановление этого инструмента !!! Результат шикарный ! Ещё было интересно увидеть некоторые технологические детали на самом инструменте...никогда раньше не знал, что у нас в период раннего СССР был крепеж струны на пинах. После 1945 года стали применять другую систему. Благодарю Вас
Это не восстановление, он переделал
EXCELLENT, GOOD JOB, WELL DONE
That was a lucky old guitar, beautiful job and a joy to watch. Thank you from Spain..
I think they put the hornbeam veneer to cover the joint line you can see on the third fret.
Wow, I was watching with my grandpa on 0.25 to not miss anything❤
This is the first time I've ever seen a 7-string acoustic guitar, let alone one that was made in 1930. Those folks must have been into some wild music back then. Very nice work, and the result is an unexpected beauty of a guitar! I've also read the comments already posted, and I see several negative ones. I disagree with those comments for only one reason; a guitar is only a valuable one if it makes you keep wanting to play it. Be safe there in Ukraine, and thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
I am not any kind of guitar player, except for myself..... I was curious about the 7 string guitar as well. I had always thought it was more modern. I would have tried to have kept it that way. Interesting...
I’ve been playing guitar for over 40 years and I can say I have purchased a handful of new guitars. But my favorite instruments are the ones I found at good will or were given to me by friends that just never learned to play. So much character in the older instruments. All that was needed was a little love, tuning and new strings.. great restoration project sir
Thank you!
You are 100% correct ! The old ones are the finest! They really have a great quality
Agree. I've had quite a few acoustics over the years. Big names and expensive. My favorites by far are a 50 year old Yamaha steel string and a nearly 50 year old Japanese Classical guitar. You can't buy that look, feel and sound new off the store wall.
Just beautiful! Maple neck ? Mahogany back and sides? Perfect for the front porch swing or an evening on a sofa.
Excellent work. Amazing. Blessings
Thanks
Very well done. Awesome restoration.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your restoration project. 🙌👌
Ive found a few $8000 100+ yo instruments this way that sounded incredible after restoring. Repairing and setting up playability is not rocket science, its easy and fun
there are certain problems with reliability in such guitars. they should be taken care of
@@mr.k1tmostly keep them away from modern heating.
Provided you know your skills and have the right tools!
Great work!
Thanks!
perfect work
what a precious sound
Super job !!!
Wow great job and well played ❤👍👌🙌🏿 nice nice very enjoyable video 🙏
F ing amazing! Beautiful work!
странная какая-то реставрация, переднюю деку шпаклевать не стали, было 7 струн, сделали 6... ну ладно, я не эксперт.
It is a soviet 7string guitar (from Moscow, between 1920-1940)
Привет, Борис. Гитару сделали в Москве не позднее 1926 г. После этого артель "ТОМП" делала только украшенные и "люксовые" гитары. С уважением, Евгений.
Una buena restauración, ha quedado nueva. Un 10👌👍🇪🇸🌿
Fantastic job. Congrats!!!
Incredible work!
Thank you!
Well done. Looks beautiful. Your joy in playing it will be that much greater. I wonder if nylon strings might be the way to go with this little guitar though. God bless.
amazing work, I enjoyed the video, well done, master
Thanks!
Very nice work, thanks for sharing. I was wondering why you didn't save the nameplate on the headstock.
Lovely job, looks amazing
great video, didnt feel it a lot like a restoration, it truly has a beautiful and unique sound but I would have loved to see the final 7 strings, greetings from chile
“The Restorer” responded to a similar comment by saying (to quote a response translated by Google): “it will happen to everyone.” It is very sad to see how the brain of an undoubtedly gifted person is clogged with such intolerance towards everything Russian (assuming that this 7-string guitar was a Russian guitar). Hatred cannot create, only destroy.
@@ernestolynch1926Didn't he say that he don't play 7 string guitar and had to make sure that what he restore can be played by him? I think that's a fair reason. Why would you restore an instrument if it'll only be a decoration on your wall?
Are you brain-damaged? Just read comments. @@tiramusi
quedo hermosa esa guitarra
Beautiful..
This video is great. Guitar looks and sounds very gorgeous. Prove me wrong 🙂
Why didn't you keep it a 7 string guitar, like it was originally?
I have a 7 string guitar and I don't play it, I wanted an old guitar that I would enjoy playing.
“The Restorer” responded to a similar comment by saying (to quote a response translated by Google): “it will happen to everyone.” It is very sad to see how the brain of an undoubtedly gifted person is clogged with such intolerance towards everything Russian (assuming that this 7-string guitar was a Russian guitar). Hatred cannot create, only destroy.
Sounds good
Thanks for the video! 👍👍
Nice job❤❤❤❤
Great job
Sweet restore!
Why didn't you keep the 7th string? Now it's just another guitar.
That's exactly what I thought! I wonder how the tuning was. I'm building a 7 string lute guitar myself, with an extra low D string.
I have an old 7 string guitar and I don't play it, I wanted to make a guitar that I would want to play
@@mr.k1t Ok, that's a very good reason. Thanks for answering!
@@woutmoerman711 Hello, that`s a 7string guitar, built in russia. The low seventh string was mostly tuned in low B (H). You can see it at the tuners of cheap thin metal and the top, made of three pieces. I`ve repaired two of this Guitars and I can`t understand, why not put on 7 strings and play it with them. It`s a very interesting task. I play them as Blues-Guitars. Best wishes!
@@saiteninstrumente-and-music thanks for your reply! Low B, interesting.
Good sound ? Favorite sound !！
hi, what kind of tools are you using to glue the bridge?
Great job, my friend! Pleasure to watch and pleasure to play! 💞
🫶
Excelente!
Great job sir.. U saved her.... nice..
Bravo....😊😊😊
Nice work!
Can you please list of things you used for finishing the wood? helpful if you list all the equipments also, I am looking forward to buy those..
I saw many 7-string guitars like this when l toured the Soviet Union in 1974. No one ever used the 7th string. Seldom was there ever a seventh string even on those guitars.
That looks great. The fretboard is especially beautiful, I've never seen one quite like that before.
Thanks!
That was a very cool transformation...
Master, please tell me. after gluing the frets, what kind of product do you apply to remove the excess?)
Acetone
@@mr.k1t thanks!!!
And do the frets have to be glued to the fretboard? I could imagine they stay in place without glue.
@@hanswurst495 обязательно надо приклеивать, а то будет гулять чутка в дереве при нажатии
Nice job, but like some others, I could not miss that is started with 7 strings and finished with 6. Nice job on changing base side 4 tuners to 3. Challenging job attractively accomplished.
It was a joy to watch that.
Well done
Nice job !!
Thanks!
What a talent
That's a classical guitar, brother. Amazing work you did! 😁👍🏻
great!!!!!!!
Nice Work,,, 😄👍
What a fascinating video, please tell me, what did you spray on the 2 cracks on the top soundboard Just before you Glued them?😮😮😊
Шикарная работа,браво!!!
Good job, fella
Beautiful guitar great work !!
Thanks!
Ótimo trabalho de restauração, apesar não manter as características das 7 cordas como era.👍🏾
Very Old Guitar from Moscow, nice!
Thanks!
Such a rare piece of art Beautiful
@@ivandashkevych2120and he turned it into a turd....
A rare piece of art - it was.... @@ivandashkevych2120
Nice job. Did you give it shellac as polish?
Thank you I wanted to but ended up using nitro
Hi, I wonder why you use the soldering iron when removing the fretz? I have seen several who only use the pliers. Andreas.
the fret heats up faster and I can remove it with less damage to the fretboard
Hello. Excellent work. It's wonderful how you left the instrument. One question.....what liquid do you use to remove excess cyanoacrylate from the frets? thank you
Thanks! I used acetone
Amazing refinish! What is it originally meant for metal or nylon strings?
Thanks! Metal
What is the wood stain product you are using at 6:13 ? And what colour is it? Looks nice.
This is an aniline dye for fabrics, the color is brown, but I advise you to buy several and select the color on a test board
Just a nice old simple guitar. Probably would be nice to play some folk music or some story songs!!! Lets hear some burl Ives or some John Prine!!! Thank you for sharing my friend!!!
Great work, but I died when you hit it with the sander
A light score either side of the frets with a scalpel prevents so much tear-out when removing frets.
of course, if the fretboard wasn’t destroyed by time
born again !!!
Nice work ❤what did you use to darken the soundboard?
Thanks Black ink
You made a stunning instrument out of it! I guess, it had been a romantic guitar before with seven strings to play Schubert on it for example.
Класний проект. На одному подиху. Цікаво було б мабуть бачити скільки часу займає той чи інший процес.
Дякую, почав займатись цією гітарою ще влітку)
Some tips: Please do not use a chisel to remove the bridge even after its' been heated by an iron. Careful workin from a gap spot and maybe several spots work as close as possible against the surface of a sound- board. Often use sharp cutters for it. This varnish becomes brittle and was in a bad condition. It can be easily removed with a block with sandpaper around it, only moving in the grain direction. Watch what comes off. When the yellowish dust changes into real wood stop immediately and work this way over the whole surface of the soundboard. The varnish and some spots really were bad but sometimes you can "fresh up" soundboards like this with 95 % alcohol. The lighter traces will vanish after the alcohol treatment. Glance the soundboard afterwards with Nikco, a great polishing compound that freshes up dull surfaces and is cleaning it. Repair the cracks that still close with a sucker cup and work in the glue with that. If possible BEFORE the lacquer has been removed. That will avoid ugly glue traces on the rest of the soundboard. But you did a job I simply like because otherwise the guitar would have ended in the garbage bag. I'm also working for years with these kind of "lost treasures" with sometimes remarkable results! Compliments!
Me gustan estos videos de restauraciones. Lo que si, me hubiera gustado verla terminada con 7 cuerdas, tal como se demostraba con los clavijeros.
Estoy de acuerdo con usted. Destruyó el valor histórico del instrumento.
за пятницу вообще респектуха шикарная работа!!
love it
Мужчина, Вы только что из серьёзного раритета сделали рядовой новодел. Уже не говорю о том, что семиструн от "ТОМП" стоит (вернее, стоил до того, как Вы до него добрались) серьёзных денег. А теперь гитаре цена - 8 центов. Стоило корячиться!
I use Google translator, I apologize if there is something wrong in the translation. You are absolutely right in saying that the guitar is ruined. “The Restorer” responded to a similar comment by saying (to quote a response translated by Google): “it will happen to everyone.” It is very sad to see how the brain of an undoubtedly gifted person is clogged with such intolerance towards everything Russian (assuming that this 7-string guitar was a Russian guitar). Hatred cannot create, only destroy.
Совершенно так, камрад. Спасибо за поддержку. Удачи!!@@ernestolynch1926
@@ernestolynch1926 Probably not “hate”, but ignorance of the subject. As @EvgeniyKondratyev correctly pointed out, there are not many guitars left from the TOMP artel (музыкальная артель ТОМП) and almost all of them are in poor condition. Therefore, a seven-string guitar from 1937-1941, restored according to the rules of thе restoration, would become the pearl of the collection, while a remade one is an ordinary musical instrument with the wrong sound for a Spanish six-string guitar.
Привет, Ернесто. Докладываю: эта гитара построена не позднее 1938 года. позднее этого были другие этикетки внутри корпуса, а также (и это главное) - другие шильдики на голове грифа. С наступающим. И - удачи!!@@user-hd3gm3sc2e
Sadly, you are wrong. it was pure hate.@@user-hd3gm3sc2e
Un lavoro meraviglioso...il sogno della mia vita.un suono di chitarra unico.lavoro fatto con amore.non c'è prezzo per il risultato
What a wonderful restoration. I did exactly the same with an old guitar that my dad found in the trash. I was just twelve years old when I restored it, my first ever guitar. Keep up the fantastic work friend. Kind regards. Paul.
Thanks!
watching so many restoration videos makes me wanna restore my great grandmas lute guitar which is now mine, I play it regularly but the thing has a few cracks and the action is super high because both the neck and the top itself have bent a lot. it could be a 200y instrument perfectly or even more ancient cus my mum told me when my great grandma bought it it was already an antique. it sounds fenomenal but its got a few problems, maybe one day I'll get to fix it
This is as satisfying as watching woody getting restored in TS2
Just curious, how many hours did you put into this repair?
I started doing it in the summer
@@mr.k1t I'm really enjoying your videos. In fact, you and Tanya Shpachuk are the two Ukrainian luthiers I've been following, lately. Great work.
3:45 i hope you put this label back on the guitar instead of throwing it away😢
Interesting they would do thin veneer fretboard on a old guitar like that. And a screw on neck. Sounds good in the end. Anything that old sounds good.
Cool.
Words can't even describe how awesome this repair was! This guitar looks amazing now! And the "real" fretboard was a wonderful surprise. This is just crazy to think that this guitar is almost 100 years old... Did you find it yourself, or is it a customer who brought it to you? If that was a customer, I'm sure he was stunned by the final result!
Thank you! I was very surprised when I saw this veneer cover. This guitar was given to me by a friend, it was found in an old house in the village
Beautiful work. Nice sounding little guitar