Vintage Gibson Tal Farlow Just Acquired: Needs Work!

[Scott Memmer]

I'm new here.  Thanks for this great forum.  

Today was an amazing day.  I was able to acquire a vintage Tal Farlow archtop for a very reasonable price.  The guy had it sitting in the corner of his living room for 35 years (!) and never learned to play it!  Very nice married couple, guitar was not hot or stolen.

There was some confusion on a few other forums whether this was a Super 400 or a Farlow, but the consensus seems to be on the Tal Farlow model.  

It has a damaged headstock that will obviously require major surgery.  I came to this forum partly because I was referred over to Frank by George Gruhn.  I live in L.A., so it wouldn't be a horrible drive up to Gryphon in Palo Alto.

I'm going to attempt to imbed some pics directly into post, but in case I fail in that attempt here is a direct link to the 48 pics in a Photobucket album.  (It's called a Super 400 in album, and I can't get Photobucket to change the album name):

Vintage Tal Farlow Photobucket Album

I look forward to comments and suggestions.  I tend to do a lot of research before I move forward in a situation like this.  My goal is to restore this instrument as much as possible to its original factory condition and then find a great home for it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

Does this "Frank" fellow have any experience with this kind of repair?

Loosen the strings and take the pick guard off. The pick guard looks like it might be gassing off and (in a case) the gas will eat at the metal plated parts (which are in very good condition).

Doesn't look like much restoration is needed. All the parts are there and the guitar hasn't been "improved" over its life. The tuning machines were replaced a long time ago (and they needed it) and I would not spend a lot of time looking for the terrible Klusons that came on the guitar. I'd repack the Grovers and be happy. It's hard to tell but it looks like the peg head veneer is the only thing holding the peg head on. There might also be some neck joint issues, but that might just be finish checking.  If it were mine I'd give it a good cleaning and polishing (after repairing the peg head). I would be tempted to pull the harness and clean the pots and pick up covers.

Nice guitar. And absolutely nothing suggests a Super 400.

You should keep it. And get a copy of Trinity to keep in the case with the guitar.

[Scott Memmer]

John, thanks.  I feel kinda humbled to have had this guitar drop in my lap.  Gonna do right by it and hire someone to bring it back to life.  Will do what you said about the pickguard, etc.  Thanks again!

[Scott Memmer]

Josh, thanks so very much for your great input.  Forgive my slow response -- I'm a college English prof in my "real" life and we just finished Finals and all the attendant grading, etc.  

Per you advice, I've lessened the tension on the strings and will also remove the pickguard.  

Thanks for your insights about the Grovers, etc.  BTW, what would you recommend for polishing this guitar?  Obviously, with a 60-year-old finish one wants to use something very gentle.  Someone another site recommended the Stew-Mac product.

Thanks Again.

[Robbie Collins]

She's a beauty! 

Beyond cleaning the joint and gluing it up, you probably need a backstrap. The black lacquer on the rear of the headstock will work to your advantage.  See Frank's backstrap article here:

http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Structural/BrokenHead...

Also ask whoever does the repair to do a full setup and cleaning as Joshua suggested. They might be able to clean the pots using the StewMac Pot Cleaning Cap to spray DeOxit without having to pull the harness which would save you some money.

[Scott Memmer]

Oh yes, for sure, Robbie: Once the neck has been repaired I'll have a full setup done and bring it back up to snuff.

[Scott Memmer]

Robbie, thank you.  I've been crazy busy w my day job and neglected to thank you for your input.  All great ideas.  Appreciate it very much.  Thanks, Scott

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Scott - If you do not have the ability to do the repair on this guitar - I bet a dollar to a doughnut that someone on Frank Fords  team can do the repair for you- nice find - I wouldn't mind having it my self- good luck with your search on fixing it and please be safe-- God bless-- Donald :)

[Scott Memmer]

Donald, thanks.  I'm gonna take it slow and talk to a bunch of luthiers before moving forward.  You take care too, Scott

[Donald A. Fortune]

Good idea Scott -- Its always a better idea to think twice before you move once - and also its always better to ask a stupid question rather than  making a stupid mistake  --  peace , Donald

[Scott Memmer]

Donald, thanks again for your input.  I don't think I mentioned that I live in Los Angeles.  Most people who have seen the pictures of this guitar have told me this is not a particularly difficult break to fix, so I'll probably just find someone down here.  There are MANY fine luthiers in Los Angeles.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

This ought to open a can of worms...

I would start the cleaning process with an old t shirt, some good light and elbow grease. From the pictures it looks like the guitar was in the smoker's corner or near the kitchen. Try the t-shirt, well wadded so you don't put fingernail marks in the finish, and work a little under the pick guard to see the results. If you're moving dirt around, you could try a few drops of very dilute dishwashing solution (mostly water) or naptha, if the surface has a lot of handling "grease".

You might want to wait until the peg head is repaired. You've probably handled the guitar more than it has been handled in a long time and you don't want to make the peg head repair any more challenging than it already is.

[Scott Memmer]

John, thanks.  I've gonna ahead and forwarded some pics to my luthier here in Los Angeles.  He has a very strong background in Gibson electric, so this will probably be the direction I'll be heading.  I'll keep you in the loop.

Thanks Very Much,

Scott