'39 Epiphone flat top

[Larry Pederson]

A friend has entrusted me with some shrinkage crack repairs on an all original 1939 Epiphone FT27 flattop “brown burst” guitar. In examining the cracks closely I was suddenly aware of something that, I think, was uncommon about this guitar. It has what I will refer to as “glitter” in the original finish. It’s in the neck finish, sides, back and on the pick guard. See the attached photo. 

I’m curious as heck about anything the FRETS.net contributors know about this finish. It’s subtle but, none-the-less, very much there. It really doesn’t seem to be a feature that would even be noticed by the audience in a small venue if a guitarist was playing it on stage in a spotlight. 

This is a nifty, ladder braced guitar that is smaller than a dreadnaught, and has no truss rod. It may need a neck reset. Do any of the experts out there have any experience doing a neck reset on this model guitar, and if so, are there any cautions they can share? 

The guitar was played very little so frets are fine. I’m leaning toward recommending the guitar be strung up with light gauge strings after the cracks are repaired. It should just be played to see what the neck does over a period of months. The neck angle seems, at the worst, borderline with almost no playing on it.

Any information will be appreciated and shared with the owner.

 

[Frank Ford]

As you look over the top of this one, take note of the pickguard, which is tightly glued to the top, and may be responsible for that big crack below the soundhole.  If it appears to be the case, consider releasing and regluing the pickguard to relieve the tension:

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Pickguards...