$50 Vintage Acoustic Guitar...Let's Polish this TURD and Hear It Speak

[@TheGuitologist]

3M Buffing Compound: amzn.to/2MEQl0k DR Veritas 12s (good strings, I really like them so far!): amzn.to/2MLMVZs Feeler gauges: amzn.to/2Mf9E0V Cheap Nut Slotting Files: amzn.to/33wXqqi

[@hadleymanmusic]

Damn 3m explosives cost too much. I took this one to the bathtub first. I still dont have the dust out of the insides. But man in the end this is a good guitar! Mine has no trussrod. Here let me give my md.# 319.12071000 classical tuners with the atom8cspinner.

[@TomTobin67]

At 11:43 - I get great results from using Sheila Shine on guitar hardware.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yes, the 3M stuff is expensive, but it lasts FOREVER. I've had that same bottle for about 7 or 8 years and it's still 1/3 full.

[@TheGuitologist]

@@GuitarNoize111 That's too bad. I haven't had that issue with this set yet. I used to use DRs back about 10 years ago. I liked them back then.

[@MrGavinspoppop]

great tip on filing the nut !!!!! Thanks wow ...sounds very good !!! Good job !!

[@Chris-jm4zk]

I honestly like the tone, sounds better than I expected.

[@UsserError]

He did a great job setting it up.

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Sears was the Best catalogue when I was a kid! It had women's lingerie, Guitars and car stuff! Thanks for sharing brother!

[@TheGuitologist]

My tribute to the Sears catalog: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6nXgp96f9V0hc0

[@Curtislow2]

We where poor, all we had was Monkey Wards catalogs. LOL

[@TheGuitologist]

@@Curtislow2 Wards catalog was good wank material too. :P

[@triplesevensix291]

Jerking off over bra pics. Hey...beggars cant be choosers! ;)

[@TheGuitologist]

@@triplesevensix291 They always had some very nice, sheer negligees as well.

[@biglutherie]

Nice vid, man! Once when I was guitar tech for Willie Nelson, Willie asked me to fix those pesky little flaking finish chips on his guitar. In my haste to come up with a solution (okay, I was just starting out), I tried an angle grinder with a twisted wire wheel on it. Well, I must say...it did the job admirably and Willie was really pleased with my results. No more flaking finish, and as a side benefit - a real convenient access point for storage. He told me he would put sandwich bags full of guitar picks inside. So.....you never know how your innovations will pay off!

[@TheGuitologist]

Hahahahah

[@Dubnot]

Truly peaceful playing at the end. Making Monday feel the way it should. Thanks Brother.

[@TheGuitologist]

Very nice of you to say, Bill. Thanks. The playing went on for about another 10 minutes, so I had to cut it down. :D

[@joshuawiley7200]

5:11 What, no wire brush? amateur.

[@guitarocd9984]

My unsuccessful rock and roll career all started with Sears silvertone stuff.

[@TheGuitologist]

Lots of careers started the same way. Harmony produced more guitars than probably all other makers combined for a number of years in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

[@guitarocd9984]

The rich kid down the street his father bought him one of the first vox Super beetles. All five of us used to plug into that thing at the same time.

[@UncleChillGuitar]

Guitar Ocd My unsuccessful career is still underway with much more money invested, don’t feel bad.

[@guitarocd9984]

Good luck.

[@triplesevensix291]

And yer still rockin!!

[@Starriddin]

Brad, 3M makes a really good “Polishing Compound” for your vintage finishes. It’s about a 1/4 of the abrasive ness of rubbing compound. It’s designed for automotive finishes to remove fine swirl marks in the clear coat after using their fine cut compound. It would be perfect for very shallow/fine scratches on a “good” guitar. But, still test first, as it is designed for modern automotive finishes. And, after that, they make a Polishing wax (liquid) designed to reflect the light in any micro fine scratches still left. If both used properly, you will have a high gloss “piano” finish. Note: this assumes your scratches are very minor and you have a fair amount of clear finish to start with. On this guitar, the rubbing compound was a good choice. You could enhance it with these other two 3M products. I was suggesting these products for guitars in much better shape finish wise.

[@scottyo.limpus6234]

This might be the best instructional video I’ve ever seen on KZbin. The playing at it’s finish was not only beautiful, but tied the entire thing together in a fashion I’m simply not accustomed to In KZbin videos. Really impressive. Thank you.

[@kimrice394]

Damn I thought you were being partial about the sound of these. You weren’t kidding! Sounds amazing😳

[@TheGuitologist]

The benefits of not being a snob. ;)

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

Damn dude, that was some of the SICKEST guitar playing I have seen! Amazing little find and restore. I gotta admit, at the beginning I had low expectations. But you blew me away

[@Monad333]

I had the same guitar, but mine was a Stella.

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Monad333 Mine was a Stella. My Dad smoked Raleigh cigs and saved enough coupons to order the guitar from the Raleigh catalogue, like S&H green stamps. He played it for 2 weeks and I got it after he found out I had broke the high E string sneaking it behind his back. The first song I figured out was Johnny Be Good! That's how I started. I was 12. Thanxz

[@scarmyguitar]

I don't see how that's a Turd! Looks like you fixed up a real nice relic to me!

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah man, these are sweet little honeys when set up properly. The fixed bridge ones are even tighter sounding.

[@neilpatrickhairless]

Old Harmonys are cool old guitars for the most part. Seen more than a few that weren't in great shape but the ones I have seen that were... definitely worth sorting through a pile of 'em to find "the one"

[@colourofthunder]

I thought the same and snagged it immediately

[@WillyMcCoy50]

You made that thing sound just like Al Dimelio!

[@Ron_Padgett]

LOL!

[@grantkoeller8911]

Al DiMeola

[@user-km4xm4br8l]

Nice little piece

[@aladorngm]

I still have my Kay G-101 (fixed bridge), It has dings and scratches and a slightly bent D tuning key, but it still sings. It was always near at hand at the end of the couch and now it hangs within arms reach of my gaming chair. My grandfather gave it to me in either 69 or 70 when i was 6 or 7 years old, so it has seen some miles. Thanks for the cleaning tips....it needs it.

[@thomaskafafian2871]

Beautiful playing Brad

[@mikehornung2577]

Thanks for the tip on setting up the nut !

[@TheGuitologist]

Makes it almost impossible to cut too far down.

[@contrabandjoe7974]

Great video.. I consider this type of video to be "vintage guitologist"

[@fossilmatic]

But is it “authentic” guitologist? I mean, is he “coming after us” with his finding and fixing of these guitars? Is his “buffing” the “real deal”?

[@contrabandjoe7974]

@@fossilmatic huh??

[@CaptainScarlet1961]

@@contrabandjoe7974: Methinks "fossil" is taking the piss out of that awful Gibson "play authentic" video for a guess😉

[@audiotechlabs4650]

I was the only kid I knew that had a Stella. After reading these comments, there were a lot of us who had these. Wonder how many guitar careers were launched with this guitar. Thank you Brad for sharing your resurrection of this little jewel. Thanxz

[@johnnydilelio5615]

Beautiful instrumental

[@Axess-sv8nq]

My brother and I had plastic Sears guitar toys in the early 70's! They actually said Sears on the headstock!

[@sski]

NICE! That end jam was super cool and the guitar sounded great. Nice work! :D

[@taotuhao5969]

I have an old Harmony very similar to yours and absolutely the quality is surprising. Plus it plays and sounds excellent. In fact, I have found quite a few stellar budget guitars at garage sales or even Goodwill over the years, usually for next to nothing, and some of these good fiddles are so awesome that I will never get rid of them. For example, I have an old early 90's Hohner HR SP1 that I play every single day while my low end Martin sits and collects dust. BTW, thanks for putting out a lot of videos this past week, I was having withdrawals and needed some The Guitologist content as the fix.

[@caseylee12]

I received my grandfather's Silvertone f-hole typr guitar when my dad passed away. My uncle bought it for my Pepaw at Sears in the early 60's. It needed cleaning and some new strings and a setup. It's easy to play, and it's tone is 100 times better than for instance an Ibanez artist hollow body (no electronics), obv. I love this guitar and i play it all the time and it always reminds me of my grandfather. Great video? Takes me back...

[@timmiller4499]

That my friend that was $50:00 well spent and there is something about the tone that I really enjoy!!!

[@irishwanderer4206]

Just a suggestion for the missing paint use a used teabag to stain the wood back you'll still see the area but the colour will match back up or leave it if you want.

[@TheGuitologist]

I don't think birch takes stain very well, but a stain pen would to the trick too.

[@irishwanderer4206]

@@TheGuitologist birch will take a tea stain because it replaces tannins in the wood it might take 4 or 5 coats but it works I do woodcarving and I use it alot another good stain is wire wool in vinegar just leave it oxidise or whatever it kinda gives a grayish tone it would be good for relic jobs for dirt marks and stuff thanks for the reply.

When I was a kid, I saved my babysitting money and bought a $20 Global from, I think, Montgomery Wards. People told me it would fold over on itself. It never did. I was a bit embarrassed to show it to a friend of my parents' who really knew guitars, but he didn't make fun of it at all. In fact, he complimented me on the good care I took of it, and the tone that came out of my little guitar. He offered me $50 for it, but I wouldn't sell. LOL

[@57too]

Great find...great fix....great playin'.....

[@johnskelley1117]

The feeler gauge tip, for cutting nut grooves was great! Thank you from the UK.

[@tammydickey7737]

Thanks alot! Grrr, I did what you asked to support your channel. I stood at the corner of 4th and Main at rush hour nude screaming "long live the guitarologist" ...now I need bail money. Thanks for another great video!!!

[@TheGuitologist]

Without video, didn’t happen. ;)

[@kostaskritsilas2681]

A lot of these types of guitars were ladder braced (not X braced). Gives a lot of projection, a distinctive tone (what a lot of folks call "old time blues" tone). You may want to think about getting a bottle of Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #2 for polishing out guitar finishes. It is labelled as "Fine Cut Compound", and pretty much eliminates any possibility of sanding off too much finish.

[@ccgsales]

@14:45 ... it sounds kinda like the organ intro of the song 'Just An Old Fashioned Love Song' by Three Dog Night

[@TheGuitologist]

That's me playing that organ part. It's actually the intro to Metallica's "Blackened" played backwards. ;)

[@Sarklord]

@@TheGuitologist ouch.....got me to it.......you ruined the guessing game Brad :P

[@Dman85612]

Bet it would record nice , very distinctive mid range bark...also open tuned to G or D. Love the distinctive sound of the less expensive acoustics..

[@BeggarsForSomeSoul]

Got the same one free on the side of the road. Loved it.

[@michaelmattson3515]

Learn something new every time I watch your videos.

[@gabevieira8732]

There are three grits that I know of Scotch Brite pads. The gray ones are a much finer finishing one to use for that satin finish.

[@TheGuitologist]

Cool. I didn’t know that.

[@oatnoid]

Still have my Silvertone electric from 1969. "I'll never, never sell my guitar,because Lordy that would be a sin" - Alvin Lee. Sounds surprisingly good in the hands of a true artist.

[@johnnyteres]

This should be called, "From Turd To Shred". Nicely done man! That lesson about nut height and grooves was great.

[@dannork1240]

I love your playing on this video.

[@neilpatrickhairless]

I've said it before - the man does a lil sumpthin on old acoustics

[@neilpatrickhairless]

Infact, I subbed due to his playing in one of his "Hunt" videos where he plays an old classical guitar with much tact

[@3cardmonty602]

Xaviere and Washburn put out some fantastic inexpensive guitars nowadays

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, I like those little throwback Washburn parlors. Cool little boogers for the money. Art & Lutherie make some really cool parlors too.

[@mosneedly3751]

The magic is in you, Brad. Make of it what you will.

[@TheGuitologist]

Does that mean I also have AIDS? :)

[@54fighting5]

@@TheGuitologist hahaha and a million $$ contract??

[@jeffbuckleydisciple2013]

I picked the right channel to support

[@UncleDoug]

Wow.....in your able hands that little jewel "rings like a bell" (to quote Chuck Berry).

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks Doug. I appreciate that.

[@rijosigns]

happy thanks giving from canada yeah we do that at this time. cheers

[@TheGuitologist]

Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians!

[@hadleymanmusic]

Damn ! Yall already grubbin huh?

[@hadleymanmusic]

Yall sing jingle bells?

[@hadleymanmusic]

I was look8n at a map. Yall got a whole bunch of lakes up in the north north east!! Wow i wonder if its ALL been seen? Its magnificent.

[@TheGuitologist]

@@hadleymanmusic There are places in Canada where there probably isn't a soul in 100km radius.

[@simmonphoenix3206]

I found a sears acoustic at a music go round once and I almost bought it because I loved the mojo it had. It was rough. But the frets were too far gone to be bothered replacing. Old school cool though.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, if frets are screwed up, or if the body has a lot of water damage/loose braces, or if the neck is banana shaped, give it a pass.

[@arbuthnotmumsboy8178]

Eat your heart out Gibson. This guitar is genuinely AUTHENTIC! I got a feeling Mr. Agnesi would just not get why this instrument is as AUTHENTIC as it gets. Nice one Brad.

[@jonlennon3348]

I had the silvertone model in the early 70's. I built some serious caluses play it. But I kept it mint the whole time I owned it.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, those shipped with bridge cables for strings too.

[@SappyLiopleurodon]

I love those vintage parlor guitar's, I got a stella harmony from a thrift store that i put nylon strings on and it sounds great

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

I still love the sound of those old inexpensive birch acoustics. Mine is a battle to intonate but fun nonetheless.

[@triplesevensix291]

Sometimes we have to fight them....all good fun though. ;)

[@63stratoman]

My very first guitar! Looks to be the same exact model except mine was more of a reddish sunburst. Got it in June 1972 for my 9th birthday!

[@Studio_Earth]

@The Guitologist 14:45 Hey Brad. just curious what the song you used for this portion of the video. sounds like a version of blackened by Metallica?

[@IcedFIame]

Pretty sure you'll get Blackened if you reverse this piece ;)

[@TheGuitologist]

That's exactly what it is. When I was a teenager, I was playing my Justice cassette and at the end of the tape there's a runoff where you can actually hear the Blackened intro backwards on a badly calibrated tape player (which I had). I didn't know at the time the intro was even backwards, so I figured it out backwards and played it on synth. That's what you're hearing there...an old recording of me on synth.

[@Studio_Earth]

@@TheGuitologist Very cool. Sounds good. Keep up the great work on the videos. I always look forward to them.

[@timothybedwards5440]

Awesome job

[@Andrew-ry7iw]

You are a bit too good at shaking that bottle Brad 😛

[@UncleDunk]

My first guitar in 1964 was a single pup Sears Silvertone. It had a crack that followed the left side of the bass side lower bout to the strap button. The local guitar store wanted $25. I bought it, taped the side and commenced to learn “Wipeout” melody only. Next challenge was learning chords. Damn that damn F chord. Great video, brother, keep it up.

[@sfn4702]

This is why I subscribed. This kinda video. Awesome. Thank you.

[@GregAlanEdwardsEmmanuelRidge]

I have 5 of these sitting in my shop waiting to become that one. 3 student models and 2 standards. I was going to turn them into a table but now I'm thinking of going ahead and restoring them as far as I can go with them. Thanks!

[@glenfougeron2823]

Beautiful playing, Brad!

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Sounded (unexpectedly) like a medieval lute!

[@wesleyAlan9179]

Hah,yeah,it was absolutely awesome!

[@arcitejack]

Wow that piece at the end sir was perfect.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks man. I was just making shit up, as usual. :)

[@roncarter2188]

Damn Brad, I'm impressed with your playing as well as the restoration tips, Bravo!

[@UncleDunk]

After all that love, Miss Piggy is smiling and singing better than when she was born!

[@owenmayes2128]

Nice one Brad. Lovely noodling at the end too.

[@robnic52]

Beautifully played and recorded Brad. Amazing tone, it's the beginners guitar I would have loved. Mine was horribly cheap plywood. Bridge was miles out of position, (some frets too). I screwed a brass strip to the front edge of the bridge to help intonate it. Filed the brass down lower to improve the action. Still a total dog to play, struggled with that for about eighteen months, dragged it into school in London 1970 and played it during breaktimes, country blues tunes learned from.a Stephan Grossman LP and tab book. Made a lot of musical friends still in touch with most.

[@gregmonk9037]

Wow, that was so much better than i thought it would be, really nice tone for an old stick

[@ronwoodard9391]

nice find

[@briancoyne6700]

Great vid! I watched this while strumming my 1968 Harmony Stella. Very similar construction to what you have there. Solid piece of birch top and back. Mine needs some fret polishing for sure. The tone is super vintage. When I close my eyes it sounds like early Led Zeppelin. I think Paige played a Harmony Stella on Stairway. Harmony was a great brand!

[@TheGuitologist]

Jimmy Page played a Harmony Sovereign. Used it on a lot of stuff.

[@indiefab]

As the owner of a couple Turd guitars, I appreciate this.

[@glenkepic3208]

Best friend sells my Dad his Audition acoustic for under $20. This was '68. Dad put on a set of Black Diamond steel strings with a nut riser and played it for 40 years or more. I get it, '06, use half a bottle of Martin guitar polish to clean away the nicotine (yep. threw the T shirt away). Brought it to a local shop for a restring and set up. Nylons !! Played great after some filing. Gave it to family.

[@TheGuitologist]

The way it should be!

[@colourofthunder]

I bought this guitar, and while I am not as skilled as Brad, I love her already and will cherish , but also play the snot out of it. It sounds amazing and has an incredible amount of reverb and sustain. It's the coolest!

[@tonnygarcia8417]

Nice playing at te end Brad, guitar looks awesome

[@mark-dietz]

Nothing better than seeing an old closet relic given a new life!

[@yosemitesam4549]

It sounded surprisingly good.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yosemite Sam thanks, man! I agree.

[@trashcontent6503]

It sounds beautiful man I love that little section you did with the high part it sounds great keep up the good work man

[@jipes]

Sounds really warm and well balanced the bass are amazingly mellow

[@johnnyhoward7856]

Some of your best playing, I've heard, on a $50 guitar. Great content!

[@rickatica]

I grew up in southern Indiana, glad to know you can still find stuff like that, thanks for posting,you've made me homesick though !!

[@RADThird1]

That was fun. Thanks for the tip on cutting the nut slots. That will come in handy for me for sure!

[@georgelackey622]

Brad, you made that thing sing!

[@joelaughlin2815]

You n unka Doug, my favorite ones, glad you’ve kept your sense of humor! Gonna try to make the Dallas show this fall, would like to meet you if you’re there!

[@kengihepworth7568]

Sounds awesome, really bold clear and full rounded tone, I would love me one of those.

[@clawhammer704]

I remember seeing that sears label. Iv had guitars years ago and didn't know what it stood for. Thanks for the information....I was young and had my parents to take me up to a music store in town to change the strings and tune it up. There was no tuners back then so I got a pitch pipe. Had a old guy down the road give me some lessons on the front porch on the different cords. I was off and running.

[@LesT537]

Did my first (and second) neck reset on a 12 string Sears and Roebuck. Learned a lot and got it right the second time. That one sounds great!

[@truthhurts2149]

I picked up a free one on marketplace. The bridge had fallen off. The way they glued them half the bridge was over laquer. I got it cleaned up, reglued and just restrung it for my.wifes birthday. Sounds pretty good to a first timer. They glued the nut offset so its not centered but i can fix that later. Bugger is glued in rather tightly. Finish is in really good shape for the age. I love restoring old things.

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Don't forget, JJ Cale had a whole career on his modified Harmony. BTW, loved your playing!

[@mischef18]

Never thought of a scourer pad to brighten up the frets, cheers for that tip bro. Sounds nice now you have waved your magic wand over it.

[@teodelfuego]

Great job! Superb playing and nice sound

[@goodun2974]

A magic eraser sponge would probably work well, either wet or dry. Those things are actually melamine, similar to kitchen countertop laminate, that has been foamed up with lots of air. They are most definitely abrasive.

[@SamFugarino]

Who would think that thing would sound so good? Nice!

[@RichardKraneis]

Brad, Exceptonal video. Great instructions on repairing it. Then, a wonderful demo on its happy parlor voice. I am a Chicagoan so I am on the lookout for a Made in Chicago guitar like this one. I subscribed. Wonderfully well done video.

[@RichardKraneis]

Brad, success. Today, I found this exact same guitar at auction. I won and paid $53.77 plus tax. Unlike your example, my guitar has a pick guard. Our guitars are 36 inches long. Mine comes with a case. Supposedly, the guitar was "in the family" untouched for 40 years. It needs a setup and then I'll own a playable piece of Chicago history: An Atomic logo Chicago Harmony.

[@hungryfireworkshop7906]

Brad, your playing is great

[@JohnCarey1963Jag]

Brad, you really played the $_it out of that SR! I heard you say you were "pretty good player back in the day" but wow, you still have some chops! Nice tone and looks like a loved relic to me. Thanks for your videos.

[@stevehogan8829]

Wow, what a great tone out of that guitar. Nice job man. It sounds great.

[@Other442]

I started with u moking that poor bastard trying to restore an acoustic guitar with a wirebrush... then I select a random vid of ur selection and now u get a new suscriber. U did a great with this guitar bro, it sounds amazing.

[@dookiehowitzer]

Your playing at the end was excellent. Had to click back for a few replays. I loved the sound of that guitar.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks, Tom. Yeah, you can get lost in the natural reverb. The tailpiece I think is what does it. It transfers the sympathetic vibrations of strings over to other strings and makes harmonics ring out, simulating a spring reverb effect.

[@elijahfrost6258]

What were you playing at 16:20? i gotta learn that

[@TheGuitologist]

No idea. I’ll let you name it.

[@davidrussell8918]

A early 60s version of that guitar is what learned to play on, it was set up by a local hot jazz picker ,action was great, made it very easy and fun me to learn, wish I still had it.That was the best $10 I ever spent.

[@nelsonnichols922]

Great job resurrecting l that old guitar sounds really good really interesting content I love hearing your playing. You’re a very good guitarist as well as an excellent technician.

[@jaredheld2672]

This video is Aces. Always great content on this channel!

[@tomahawkhead]

Excellent advice on the nut filing, very cool. The guitar sounds nice too. Cheers!