My xmas present....

[Clancy]

Well, I went to Brisbane for the christmas/new year period & went down to the Gold Coast to do a bit of follow-up setup work on the archtop I built for my brother in law.
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2565
Four months of high humidity had changed the action considerably so I tidied it up for him.

When leaving his queenslander I laughingly pointed out a dirty beat up old guitar hanging under the house.
He informed me that it was an australian instrument from the 40's and I could have it if I wanted.
I had visions of Kim's "Matey" project ......
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1903
.....and was inspired by Mathew's Bass rebuild....
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2414
.....so without looking too closely at it we wrapped it in bubble wrap, tossed it in the car, and that's the way it went on the plane to Alice Springs - along with the bags in the belly of the plane.

So, home in the workshop, I unwrapped what is affectionatly now know as The Beast.

Apparantly it's a Pacific "Chord" and this is the only reference I can find for it
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collect ... irn=350304

Got to love that painted on topwood figure.

On to the analysis

Broken plastic nut, painted on fret markers

The bridge - a picture says a thousand words

The back & sides are ply.
The back is about 5 mm thick and has no braces.

Back Damage

The top is solid "something" and is one piece.
It has 3 transverse braces - one above the soundhole, one below the soundhole and one about an inch behind the bridge.
There is no bridge plate??

Side plywood damage with a small piece of topwood missing.

More Side Ply Damage

And more

The neck is bent like a banana. Actually, it's worse.
At this stage the best use of the thing would be as kindling.
Or a home for cockroaches.

As a guitar it has no value whatsoever.
However....
For better or for worse, this is a piece of Australian Lutherie History.
For the moment I'll hang it on the wall as an interesting conversation starter (these conversations usually occur between me & myself).
I'll consider how I would go about "repairing" it should I ever decide to.

I am open to all comments & suggestions in regard to this, um,..... instrument.
If I do decide to begin any work on The Beast I will resurrect this thread & keep you all informed.

Thanks for looking

[kiwigeo]

..

[Puff]

Hey -plywood. Strong stuff

[John Maddison]

It looks as though you certainly like a good challenge, Craig.

I'd almost suspect the Alice Springs heat has already gotten to you! Will be interested to see how you go about the restoration. I recall Aussie mandolin luthier Steve Gilchrist at Playmakers a few years ago say that the best way to learn about instrument making is to take on a few repair jobs now & again.

Just out of interest, a brief history of the Pacific Guitar Co. is here.

[Clancy]

Thanks John,

I love the bit that says

relatively few of their instruments survive possibly due to the quality of the materials

They're not kidding

The sticker says it's

Fully Guaranteed

Should I take it back & complain??

[Nick]

It'll buff out

This reminds me of the 30 year old axe story... "I've had this axe for 30 years, it's got to be the best axe I've ever owned. In all that time I've only ever had to replace the head twice & put three new handles on it!"
Seems like everything's going to need replacement or some sort of work on it Craig & unless it is of some historical significance & worth your time & money, then for me it would be :



Love the stencilled name on the headstock though She's definitely a 'classic'.

[Clancy]

Shame on you Nick.

If this was a 70 year old hunk of ply from those East Ilses of yours, one of the first of it's type to be produced in your count(r)y, would you be so quick to condemn it?

It's a lovely little 12 fret parlour size instrument.
It just doesn't work at the moment

My rebuild thoughts are....

The sides are ratshit.
I could laminate a new piece to the outside of the sides, but really, might as well make new sides from something plain & solid.

Since the sides are going, I should be able to remove the top without much damage.
There's only 1 piece missing from the top so I should be able to graft a new piece in.
Then I'd add a bridge plate, give it a tap & listen, & then I expect I'd probably re-brace it.

The back has a bit of damage, but being so thick I think repairs would be fairly easy.
Of course, it would be important to retain that stylish sticker.

That's the body. everything sanded back to bare wood and probably re-painted.

The neck is still a bit of a mystery.
Off with the fingerboard, check out the neck joint & then decide on repair or replacement.
If replaced I'd probably try to graft the old headstock on to retain the lovely, non-centered stencilling.

[Kim]

What a beaudy Craig

Clean up carefully before you start and keep a close eye out for any stenciled cowboy or island theme because they would be cool to recreate. Maybe you could add some anyhow.

It may be a train wreck Craig but don't loose heart because I can say in all honesty that the matey project has turned out to be a well played guitar. It has opened up and sounds pretty good and my two girls love it because its easy to play and everyone comments about that "beautiful old Maton"

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it mate.

Cheers

Kim

[Paul Eisenbrey]

I love the label: Australia's best instrument makers.

I think the quality of Australian guitars has come up a tad in the past 70 years.

--Paul

[John Maddison]

I love the label: Australia's best instrument makers.

... and then there's "the finest selected timbers" .

Australia must have churned out the world's best plywood way back in the '40s!

[Kim]

Australia must have churned out the world's best plywood way back in the '40s!

'Acoustic' ply if you please.

[Nick]

Shame on you Nick.

[blazemite]

i have your guitars brother .... hahah mine the back and sides are perfect, neck is pretty straight .... i pulled the soundboard and fretboard off and never got around to a rebuild ... guess i should ......if memory serves me correct the fretboard was some sort of weird mdf/chipboard stuff ... so that might need a bit of replacement .....although the skulls spraypainted on the fretboard do give it a bit of charm

[Kamusur]

Lovely patina on the back but a word of warning, "refinishing a vintage instrument can seriously detract from its value".

Steve

Vous ne pouvez merde avec le cul que vous avez....