1969 Martin D-28 Restoration - Part 1 | Assessing my $6k investment...

[@bradstock]

One of the greatest comments I read in a luthier forum regarding caution in approaching a cosmetic repair was “well I can always make it look worse“

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Yeah this is true, and it always looks worse before it looks better. These are destructive procedures and it’s simply not possible to dismantle a guitar - especially an old one, without some degree of damage. The trick is to cover your tracks as much as possible. Hopefully you’ll see through this series how I cover mine!

[@bradstock]

Excellent point!

[@dyamariv3628]

Recently found your channel, please keep doing what you're doing video wise,You have an awesome talent! Looking forward to Part 2

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Thanks so much for your kind words! It really means a lot. Part 2 coming soon :)

[@aviatorblc]

For what it's worth, my first PG replacement was on a 1971 D-41. Nervous? Oh, yeah. But, I heated it with a gooseneck lamp with a 45 watt incandescent bulb in it. Took my time, heated it well without f'ing up the surrounding finish, and it worked - no tearout. I've been doing it that way ever since. Try it out on the next one and see what you think.

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Yeah that’s really good advice. Mine was most definitely a demonstration of what not to do…

[@jcwoodstl]

Always good to see a new video from you. You do amazing work!

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Thanks for your continued support :)

[@Gunslinger320]

Says dont glue in shims while removing shim...glues in shim lol. Im just teasing you do amazing wor, subscribed!

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Thanks very much for supporting the channel!

[@andrewdarnley4608]

Before you sand back get some acetone to melt the finish. Acetone is a well know reducer for nitro. Martin used nitro exclusively on D28's from then up to today. Martin specs are for 2.5mm for the bass E at the 12th fret.

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Yeah you’re absolutely right on both counts. Acetone is my go-to for stripping nitro finishes in most instances. With this guitar though I was actually hoping to avoid removing all the original nitrocellulose finish, so was using denatured alcohol / methylated spirits to remove the shellac on top of it, but in the end it basically all came off. You’ll see in the next episode that after stripping with methylated spirits it just needed a light sand with 240 grit and was then ready for pore fill. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewdarnley4608]

@@BeardsworthGuitars Well you're doing a nice job and this guitar was a great find.

[@kaptkrunchfpv]

WTF puts a vintage Martin in a gig bag? No matter the condition! Cmon man!

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Hah - maybe the same kind of person who slops shellac all over one?! That was just the bag it came to me in.

[@Mike-hr6jz]

Yes, appearance of the headstock looks like it was broken and the top which would be a spruce top is completely worthless and is ruined. It needs to be removed and get a new top from Martin to even hope to get close to having any value whatsoever when you strip the finish, the wood dries out Almost completely repairable depending on how long you leave it without anything on it and without humidifying it I think you have a piece of garbage now, but you could take pictures and send it to Martin company and let them tell you exactly what I’ve just told you

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

No signs of headstock breaks and I guess you’ll just have to wait and see with how the top turns out ;)

[@stuco]

I see no headstock break. I think you are seeing the added finish gummed up on top of the original finish near the headstock. And a guitar top becoming "worthless and ruined" because it didn't have finish on it for a short period of time is a new one for me.

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

@@stuco yeah mean to say… I shouldn’t have turned into a novelty bookshelf last night after all?…

[@davidsims1329]

So you payed a tone of cast for a martin, and and you rip off the pick guard with out protecting the time? I seen some use dental floss and sawed back and forth after heating it up,

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

That about sums it up… It was absolutely an exercise in what not to do but you live and learn, and ultimately the guitar will not be affected by the blunder. Great tip re the dental floss btw. Thanks for watching.

[@robinleebraun7739]

$6000? I don’t know. Unless you literally have money to burn, that’s too much.

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

I know it sounds a lot for an instrument of this condition, and it is. BUT I based my buying decision off the potential resale value of a well sorted late 60s D-28. Time will tell if the gamble has paid off. Right, I’m off to throw another wad of 20s onto the fire!

[@sambow4u]

Right now ,,, I cant remember seeing a man , destroy a guitar and better ! I've made it 22 minutes in the Vid and Can't take anymore !

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

C’ya!

[@dada1952]

The way you took the pick guard off was just plain stupid. Think before you do any more unnecessary damage.

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

I’d love to disagree, I really would. But nope, you’re absolutely right. I was awaiting a replacement palette knife at the time and decided to try and get it up by hand, which of course pulled the grain upwards - absolutely not what you want. I could have edited this out of the video but then nobody would have learned from my stupid mistake. Ultimately though the repair turned out fine and the damage will be invisible. Thanks for watching!

[@howardcrane5902]

I’m sure you’ve never done something you regretted. Yes, it was not an elegant move but your choice of words are unnecessary.

[@TheMrJackvocal]

Sarai anche bravo ma parli troppo!

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

Turn the subtitles off - problem solved.

[@andresrosas781]

Este tio no sabe nada de guitarra...

[@BeardsworthGuitars]

And who are you? Tony Bacon? Thanks for watching!