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Had a guy bring me this Gretsch Electric Guitar for Restoration . I am NOT doing ANYTHING until I have a better handle on what I have and its Value . Please look this over and any Information or advice would be EXTREMELY appreciated . Back of Headstock says Made USA 3 059

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

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Without opening it up and checking the Electronics , the main repair seems to be the binding is crumbling to pieces. It also needs alot of brass cleaning . The neck looks straight and the frets need cleaned but dont seem to bad . It does have some chipped Laq. small spots .

1964 or '65 to 1972 serial numbers

(Most numbers are on the back or top of the headstock, and "Made in USA" is stamped next to the number starting in June 1967).

The first digit or first 2 digits = month (1-12).
The next digit = last digit of the year (1965 to 1972: 5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2).
The remaining digits = number of individual instrument, probably.
For example, 27136 should be February (2), 1967 (7) and the 1376th instrument made that year. Also note that this serial numbering scheme may have come into use earlier than previously thought.

Based on this from GuitarNucles.com its a 1970 model march 59th built

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

i think you'll ruin it, and i think collectors would agree, if you polish all the patina off the brass/other metal parts

I don't disagree , however that's what the guy wants me to do , he wants it cleaned repaired and playable . I found one on Ebay in excellent condition for about $2,100.00 .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

I agree it needs cleaned, but I would not actually polish anything as in buff it out as far a s hardware goes. You will have a bit of finish work involved in fixing the bindings and I would buff the entire guitar to even out the gloss and make the repairs less noticeable but I would not try to sand out any of the scratches or wear present on the finish. Restoration is more artistic than straight forward repair.The trick is to go far enough to make the guitar playable and look desirable again without losing the history and character.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I'm not going to sand out any scratches or re laq anything . Clean and even out the finish with a buff or hand rub. He does want the gold plated parts cleaned and buffed the binding is so far gone it will have to be replaced , I am going to contact Gretsch and see if "period" replacement binding is available . I have No idea at this point what the electronics are like . Will up date you .

He said it has been sitting in a Garage in the case for about 15 yrs ...... Sad ... so sad.

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Do you have the chops to repair this guitar? Binding replacement and finish touchup takes considerable experience to pull off successfully. This is not a guitar to learn on.

The guy told me and I quote "Restore it , Or get it restored for me". So I have some leeway on how I approach this . Replacing the Binding doesn't scare me at all . Cleaning the Hardware Doesn't Either . The Finish Touch up , and " Electronics " Are my weak areas . Still deciding what to do . I am not afraid to tackle this project , I am however open to advice and suggestions etc:

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

"Period correct" binding probably isn't the best idea, that stuff doesn't last. Binding deteriation is not unusual on those old Gretches. I think it's the same stuff John DeAngelico used on his archtops, many have the same problem.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Sorry wasn't clear . I meant the proper Binding for this Model . As in "New" Binding that is a replacement for this . I have emailed Gretsch to see what Might be available .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Talked to a restorer ( wont say who ) yesterday who said he has done one of these . I asked what he would charge to do the binding . He said $3,000.00 Just to rebind it . REALLY !! The Value on the Guitar is only $2,500.00 in pristine condition ! ummmmmmmmmmmm sounds like someone just doesn't want work to me .

Anyone out there you could recommend I talk to that might wanna give realistic ideas of repair cost ?

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

I replaced the binding on a Gretsch Anniversary model a few years ago and it wasn't very difficult. But the guitar had already been stripped of the finish and the bindings by the owner. So I had the advantage of being able to refinish the guitar which made the binding job much easier. Trying to retain the existing finish while replacing binding is a LOT MORE WORK. If your finish repair chops are not up to snuff, then don't take on this job.

3k is probably not out of line for a first class job.

Are you replacing all the bindings and purflings? Or just the ones that are falling apart? 3 K seems high to me, but close to 2 sounds about right, sight unseen of course. The finish repair isn't all that bad, its lacquer. An airbrush is the tool for these type repairs.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Its Mainly the Bindings . Polish the Hardware and touch up the finish . Still looking this over and deciding what to do .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Matching that old finish and blending it in would scare me, though it would be worse if it was painted I think.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.