My first ‘serious’ guitar was an Eko, always had a soft spot for them. Good, honest guitars.

Glad you enjoy it! It’s Daniel Kaede, I have only just discovered him.

You use the facilities available at the time. Back in my workshop now. Initial checking took place before the video. Someone once explained that plywood is made up of layers with the grain at 90 degrees to the ones above and below whereas laminates have layers that the grain running in the same direction. From experience I can say that this is not always the case. Also manufacturers will tell you that their guitars are superior because the sides are solid wood, but master luthiers will often laminate the sides the make them stiffer.

Thanks for taking the time to comment. X bracing is certainly one way forward but I would be concerned with it changing the character of this guitar. Despite the bridge appearance the Texan was originally designed to take steel strings, but many people seem to fit nylon. In my opinion there are a few too many sharp edges on the bridge and tuners. Cheers. John.

Thank you, much appreciated.

Many thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

I find that on the smaller cracks hide glue sits on the surface. Thin superglue has a capillary action so it gets into all of the fines and gives a strong joint.

Thanks for your kind words. 😊

Hi, thank you I did find a treasure. I have seen him a few times since and have been given even more, from specialist items, such as a baritone ukulele mould through to plywood for making jigs.

@@engine-room That's nice to hear! I guess he must be happy, too. Knowing that his tools, jigs and parts don't get "down the trash bin". It's a legacy, and he must be happy to know everything in good hands. I think, I'm going to subscribe to your channel, so I can watch what finally evolves from both "the treasure" and your new contact (friend?). Happy building and Greetings from Germany!

@volkerfriedritz8149 Thank you and welcome to my channel. He seems very keen to pass his skills on. I will be starting my building journey in the autumn once I have finished my current stock of repairs, and have bought the materials.

Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it.

Thanks for the comment, yes it is light. The completed guitar weighs 4.6 kg.

Hi, it is For Far Too Long by Wanderer’s Trove. I found it on Epidemicsound, they are also on Spotify etc.

Thank's a lot! 🙏​@@engine-room

Hi, the braces on this guitar are quarter sawn, any vertical lines are saw marks, as these were budget guitars the braces were not fully sanded. Maybe as it is shot on my phone it doesn’t show very well.

Ah I understand, you prefer the braces rotated through 90 degrees so that the flat sawn face is on the side?

@@engine-room Yea because they almost never crack that way.

@@davestambaugh7282 Thanks. I will remember that

Judging from what’s left of the label I would estimate late sixties or early seventies.

@@engine-room I read they started making guitars in 1942.

@billkaroly yes, quite an old company, I think they have gone through a few different owners since this was made.

I bought the dvd box set off eBay when I got home.

I haven’t noticed a change in tone, in theory as the belly bulges there is more pressure on the bridge, so more transference of vibration. I will have to give the next one I work on a listen. The wood only seems to bulge to certain degree, it is warping more than expanding so I haven’t seen one that’s split -yet. Normally the glue on the bridge would give out before things got too extreme. The guitars that I use steam on are normally the ones that don’t justify a neck reset, either because of value or I simply am not sure of the joint/ glue used on them. The Japanese had a nasty habit of using epoxy. A neck reset is the more permanent repair as wood has a memory and the bulge will eventually return. Hope that helps.

It was in with a bunch of damaged guitars that I bought a few months back.

I do usually on Fenders, but I think it would make very little difference to these. Most people seem to like these because of all the things that would be regarded as faults in more expensive guitars.

@@engine-room I've recently bought one in a junk shop and was thinking of modding it. Perhaps putting better tuners and/or maybe see if a p90 or some other singlecoil might work instead. Haven't got round to testing the stock pickups yet

@chriseyett1256 the original pickups are the most microphonic I have come across, they take some getting used to. P90s would work well, I would use shielding paint if fitting them.

The action of the file is gentler than it sounds, it is rare for it to pose a problem. If a fret does come loose it is usually a symptom of other problems, such as wrong fret wire or worn slot.

@@engine-room Thanks John.

I sold this one to someone who used to have one as well, funny how memories soften over the years. My first was an Eko with mile high action. My young hands weren’t strong enough to play it, but I occasionally find myself looking at them on eBay.

@@engine-room As you've shown, with a little work you can make a guitar like this more playable. If only we knew that back then!👍👍

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying. The low e at the 12th is currently 2.75 mum and the break angle is about 20º. The bridge does seem to be leaning forwards slightly, so maybe will need a bridge doctor, shame because it’s quite a pretty bridge, shame to add a pearloid dot. Maybe I will try to cut a rosewood plug for it.

I have it next to my chair now, still needs a bit of work but is very nice.

I am doing as little as possible to the older ones, I like the look of genuine patine.

I have already decided to keep a few. I am selling some of my existing guitars that are similar, but more modern. Plus I need to make some space!

Yes an under appreciated classic.

Thanks for your kind comment. I am enjoying the variety if tasks that these are presenting.

It is beautiful, unfortunately this was the last sunny day of this trip. It rained for the next six days, but I still enjoyed it.

@@engine-room so..England is definitly à beautiful country....😄

I spent a week exploring Northumberland, this was one of the few days that it didn’t rain. I still loved it and will probably go back again this year. Unfortunately I don’t have many videos as everything go so wet!

I bet you miss it, all that warmth and sun must get very tiresome 😜

Thanks Eireann,I hope to spend some time in Scotland this year.

Thanks Yves, the relaxed Cali suits these locations. I haven’t ridden much in Brittany, hopefully will be doing more over the next two years.

Good Morning Ivor, Yes I still have it, it has done about 5,000 trouble free miles. It is not my main bike, I take it in my motorhome to Portugal where I explore the mountains on it. It has climbed some seriously steep roads. I also use it in the winter in te UK. Like most Chinese bikes it gets through a few head light bulbs, so i always carry spares. The rust isn't as bad as I was expecting, probably not as bad as my Motor Guzzi. I would highly recommend it to anyone, it always turns heads and people constantly come and ask me about it. John

@@engine-room many thanks John... Ernshaws has a low mileage one for sale.

I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality, the mudguards are a little flimsy, but they are stainless steel so shouldn't be a problem. I asked about the parts availability and was told that all parts are interchangeable with Honda CG125 parts, intact they recommended using Honda brake shoes. Before I bought mine I looked over one that has been used for computing for nearly two years with very little maintenance, it still looked pretty good.

Hope you enjoy it. I judge mine against a Honda Cb750c and a Moto Guzzi Califodnia EV 1100. I didn't expect to enjoy riding it as much as I do