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I friend I had done some work for in the past knows I enjoy projects normally relegated to St. Jude. He sent me a 1950's Regal / National resonator. It had been stored in an attic for many years outside the case. The fingerboard has disintegrated, and it has a few side cracks, which I filled. It looks to be Mahogany veneer over plywood. It has two violin style f-holes with darts mid way up the f-hole. I noticed that both f-holes had the dart pointing towards the top upper bout chipped into a semi-circle. I assumed, that someone over the years had dropped something important in the f-hole, and chipped both out, trying to get the important object out. I was wrong. When I took the cone out I noticed the body was stuffed with insulation (I am hoping it was glass not asbestos), which seemed odd, until I noticed the little rodent pellets. It appears this resonator has done double duty over the years as a mouse condo. I gloved up and disinfected the inside and got back to work. It is a long story, but a cute on, and a first for me.

So, I used a half round file to make the gnawed out areas into semicircle in the f-hole, made a biscuit covered with similarly grained veneer, glued it in place, re-carved the darts, and stained it. I think I can even the finish out, by light sanding the top and then doing a few coats of shellac. It looks okay, but if someone looks, they can see the semi-circles. I have been kicking a few ideas around, with the understanding that the effort will far exceed the value, although, what has more blues power than a mouse eaten '50s resonator.

I was thinking about:
1.) painting faux cream binding on the f-holes like '50s to '70s Regal, Stella, and Harmony (It looked like milk paint to me). This would cover most of the repairs and would put a cream contrast to the dark stained mahogany top (the body has real cream binding), making the repair less visible - or -
2.) actually binding the f-holes, thereby replacing most of the repaired veneer - or -
3.) Putting MOP or Abalone around the f-holes - or -
4.)Putting MOP circles on the top around the area of the darts of each f-hole (bling) - or -
4.) Putting a fingerboard on it, stringing it and playing it
5.) Putting cheese and peanut butter in it, then put it in the attic and see if I can rent it out.


I don't think there is a right answer, just a fun project to work on, on a slow day. Does anyone else have a suggestion for what to do?

Regards,
GS

If you're doing it for fun then consider making it playable and clean it up cosmetically enough to look decent. Save the heroic efforts for something that's worth it - unless you just want to do it. Good luck and enjoy.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks Steve. It is mostly fun, and some science part science project. Based on the origin of the holes I'll probably paint the fills to look like Swiss cheese.

I should say that I've spent time and effort easily worth double the value of an old guitar to put it back together again. In this case it's a Gibson J45 that was so messed up it won't have any vintage value -but it is cool

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I totally get that. In your case you now have an old J45, pretty cool.

I noticed that many resonators moved to metal screens over the sound holes vs. F-holes. The rodent problem may occur more frequently than I had imagined, mouse condo with a domed great room.

Cheers,
GS

I ended up rounding out the bites, making mahogany plugs, staining them to match, and refinishing the top. A close inspection will reveal the repair, but not a casual eye.
GS

I ended up rounding out the bites, making mahogany plugs, staining them to match, and refinishing the top. A close inspection will reveal the repair, but not a casual eye.
GS

Hey George some pics would go a long way in letting us see what you are doing and what you have to deal with. Pics please?

Here are some WIPs pictures, starting with how it came in the door.

Oops, read from the bottom up.

I tabled this one for a while, but got back to it over the holiday weekend. I'll need to buff it in a few weeks when the finish settles. But I strung it up and it is ready for action:

That mystery filler is a mouse nest.

Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk

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Another day, another dollar.

Check, they left now. Too noisy in there these days.