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OK, so I've got this Seagull 12 string... bought it for $15 off Craigslist. Headstock cracked - two big cracks down the neck right where the truss rod slot is routed. Unbolted the neck as soon as I got it home. Already yanked the fingerboard and truss rod assembly, and have it all glued back nicely.

Some moron made a huge Magic Marker scribble on the top - buffed that off with Crest. Took the shiny off with some Scotchbrite.

Problem? About halfway between the bridge and the tailblock on the center line, someone gouged an almost round hole, and glued in an Irish coin. The edge of the coin is proud of the top about 1/32 of an inch. Someone already tried to pry it out and poked a hole clear through the top, and put a nice divot right next to the coin.

How the heck do I get this out? No idea what glue they used. And then, how shall I fill the hole. I mean - it's gonna be real obvious something happened there.

Ideas, folks?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Ok, just to get the ball rolling, I'll toss out a couple of ideas. Not having removed a coin from a guitar top, these are totally unproven.

1) drill small hole in coin and through top and thread in a screw. The right sized sheet metal screw should dig into the coin, yet be free in the top due to the taper at the end of the screw.

2) then heat the coin with a soldering iron. It should transmit heat very well to the glue no matter what kind it is and using the screw as a lever work the coin till it comes free.

I'm guessing the resulting hole would be impossible to match to the top, so maybe a wood inlay matching your taste a little more than the coin does could be utilized to conceal the damage.

Good luck with the project!
Mike

I put a few red flags down... maybe this will help in the future

Coins should always be screwed on, not glued, in case you need some cash for a pack of smokes.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

I like the hot coin idea - wasn't going to save the thing, anyway.... Next problem.... I am terrible at inlay. But Larry Ayres (an OLF member) is just down the road, and he's a monster at it.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

NEWS: Coin removed via the heat method (good call, Mike). That thing is HARD, took awhile to drill through. Also, enough cured epoxy left in the hole to fill a pothole in the road out front. The guy glued in the coin to cover the gigantic hole left when someone stabbed the soundboard with a possibly sharp object.

Now.... does anyone have a largish wooden coin to inlay?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I'd offer a hand, but have one of two covered in "splint" from surgery.
I'd be tempted to inlay a contrasting wood, MOP, anything unique.
Know any local artists who carve a copy of the Seagull symbol? It'd look like it belongs.

Thanks, Allan - but a nephew had a large wooden nickel with a buffalo on it. YES, in the mail.

Sorry to hear about your hand. Should we get together this weekend and I'll take your mind off your troubles?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Wooden Buffalo nickel adds a Kansas vibe to it.
Sorry to hear about your hand Allan.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Hope so, Dave.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Anxious to see PICS with the wooden nickel!
A few years back I inlayed Japanese coins that were first minted the year my Sensei was born in a custom pair of tonfa for him. To this day I don't think he's figured out that they were to cover a mis-drilled depth for the handle screw.

"The mark of a professional is how well he can cover his mistakes"

The surgery was for "tennis elbow" brought on by the D**m 6 string lessons. Should have stuck to bass.
BTW, I'm still planning a get together in the new shop. Any members that are close enough to drive in are welcome. I also have a custom amp builder I plan to invite and one or two picker friends. It will probably be later part of September now.

Almost forgot about this.... finally got the wooden nickel inlaid (did an OK job). Got the cracks repaired, truss rod installed, fingerboard glued back on, and the neck bolted and glued back on. What a PAIN! Trying to hold the neck on to start the bolts, and got glue on my fingers. Now I can't let go of the bolts - they stick to my fingers. Anyway....

Reinstalled the nut and bridge, installed new tuners, grabbed some light Martin strings. OH MY. This thing plays as nice as any Les Paul with butter smooth action. Not a full bottom end, but angel-like shimmering top end, and it stays in tune for days.

Click on link, and scroll forward through the 5 pix.
http://s588.photobucket.com/user/studem ... sort=3&o=0

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Wow! What a gorgeous back on that thing! The crack repairs look good too. Heck of an investment. Let's see, $15 plus 80 hours of work, you'll need to get at least $2000 for it....

It has cherry back and sides, I think. Thanks for the compliment, Allan. It wasn't quite 80 hours....

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Those guitars are keepers , or usually given away to family /friend who can appreciate the time and effort

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Just sold it on eBay for a pretty penny.
It's headed to ol' Virginny.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Chris,
1. Your story makes me wonder if this guitar was used to deflect a knife attack (hole), and then used to subdue the attacker (neck break). The coin would indicate . . . hmmm, was the guy you got it from in the Peaky Blinders?

2. As long as you have a hole to fill that you cannot hide, what about 3 shades of wood that look like your logo you use on the forum.
GS

You made me laugh, George. I don't think it was used in an attack, but it's a good bet drinking was involved. I bought it from a guy stationed at Fort Riley, KS. I did consider a Studebaker logo (my avatar) for the filler, but I've used it before on other projects, and decided to give this one a pass.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Glad to see someone is selling something.

It's been a good month. Sold that black Explorer and a purple Washburn... plus some small stuff.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I think I counted at least 5 in the rack that I'd like to move. Two Squier basses, including one from the first/second year they made them in Korea, at least two neck repairs, the gold top JBLP, and maybe the ivory custom. Time to invest in a better bass. At least that's what the pain in my elbow, after playing a few chords for 15 minutes, is telling me.

The magic marker part reminds me of a friend of mine. In Jr. high he won a stratocaster in some random drawing. It had a signature on the pickguard of someone we never heard of. He cleaned it off and was happy to have a free guitar. Years later, we all got into the music of Martin Sexton, and we have seen him multiple times. A few years ago he was cleaning out stuff left behind at his parent's house and came across his old journals. He showed me one particular entry where he writes about winning a free guitar "autographed by some guy named Martin Sexton. . ."

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Yes..... but did it make the Strat play any better?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Well he certainly didn't

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.