Carving into a 1960 Gibson ES 330 TDC | But in my defence, it is an Improvement!

[@JackRoadkill]

Another vote for filling the divots (or rebating and letting in new rosewood) here, I'm afraid. From a playing point of view I feel that would be better than leaving these big holes.

[@danielegger6460]

Full ACK. It's going to be horrible to play which is the whole point of a guitar...

[@ianwhite6812]

Yeah, seconded, thirded or whatever. I guess it was your client's wish, but surely filling wouldn't obliterate the natural crazing in the lacquer that truly represents the age and love that the guitar has been through.

[@themaskedgrappler]

The frustrating thing with this video was seeing the work done with the strings on

[@donbishop6994]

Same, about 10 seconds into the work I'm literally yelling at my phone... "Ben, why the hell didn't you take off the strings?" 😂

[@AvACyberSecurity]

I was just about to ask the same thing! Especially when he said it's had a fret job. So strings were off, so why not do it then? All I could think of is to make the relicing line up with the strings more.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

Personally, I'd like to see a "fixing atrocious repairs" series. It's always interesting to see the process of repairing a botched job

[@nicktubby3768]

Great idea!

[@theashen]

Starting with this one

[@tahoemike5828]

If it were mine, I think I'd want to fill those divots in the board. Maybe not try for invisible, but with some kind of inlay that showed the history, and the loving repair. Something in the spirit of 'Kintsugi'.

[@peterkitts8815]

Gold leaf and then tinted resin maybe

[@fepatton]

@@peterkitts8815😂

[@MrGrunge88]

"Are you interested in more of this style of video?" Absolutely. I love learning about how to approach these kinds of unusual edge-case repairs/restorations - for people who are trying to learn this stuff, having a diverse body of knowledge of all aspects of the instrument is not only valuable, but essential.

[@mulgerbill]

I'm all for more of this genre of video. Nut, frets and pickguard can all fall into the category of sacrificial parts that will need periodic replacement to keep her playable. What you've done here is a respectful and tasteful attempt to make her necks history blend with that gorgeous old body. I'd much rather see something like this than a badly done repair or even the somewhat jarring aesthetic of a new fretboard

[@fepatton]

I think I would have filled them since they’re so deep looking. (It may just be the lighting but the original gouges look pretty awful to me.) Another vote for re-fixing egregiously done repairs!

[@Furtheronmusic]

Given divets that bad I think I'd have wanted them filled somehow. As a player I'm a tip on if you get my point (classically trained) so I'd possibly feel then too much. If I did decide to fill I'd go with some rosewood inlay probably

[@wiltshiredoug9959]

Like this type of content - good work here. Nice fretwork. My choice would have been to fill the divots (with wood dust maybe?) just to give a consistent feel to playing

[@thehowlingterror]

If it were my guitar I'd be cutting my fingernails for a start. A bone nut. Either fill the gouges or replace the fretboard.

[@trevormorgan3629]

100% up for more repair vids like this

[@scootb7400]

I have played guitar for 25 years now, And 15 years ago I began to take woodworking & carving seriously. It’s only in the last 2 years I’ve combined those hobbies and started to build guitars. So I appreciate you taking the time to show this process. Regardless of whether it’s the approach I would take, it’s an interesting technique & solution to a problem! Much appreciated.

[@Richard56er]

If that was my guitar I'd want to repair those unsightly holes in the fretboard. Maybe the previous owner didn't trim their finger nails.

[@theelectricsexmachine7502]

A strange decision by the owner to go with the option of leaving the craters. Maybe the inclusion of some b4 shots would have helped the vid from appearing to be nothing more than product placement.

[@nsjohnston]

I'd have wanted those filled.

[@BrynBardsley]

Definately some milage in a series 'repairs' videos. The weirder the better. Seeing you apply your skills and knowledge to 'unusual' situations would be educational. Ps seeing as the divots dont seem to follow any recognisable chord/scale shape, I would have have filled them (properly)

[@eklypse69]

I think I would've tried to repair it. Either fill it or inlay wood. The other option would be scallop. I'm a heavier-handed player, and those divots definitely would screw me up. I love the builder/tutorial/how to content. I kinda wish you had shown remaking the pickguard, as I am about to tackle my very first pickguard today, and any helpful video tips would have been great. I still think you guys should do more demos and explinations of Crimson products. Show the stains lines - oil based, water based, pastels, etc.. Put them on scraps of figured maple, ash, etc. Talk about the uses, differences, and things you should avoid with deep penetrating oil, high build oil and finishing lacquer. Etc.

[@user-ny4ze5hi7x]

watching people fix things is great, please make more!

[@bananaas2]

Make your customers happy! It's great to see how you pretty up what has not been respected. Thanks, more of the same or similar please.

[@veguitars]

You're right this kind of content on top of your builds is super interesting. But I was wondering, wouldn't this have been easier in between the refretting? I.e while no frets were in? Cheers V

[@barrychristian4050]

Hmm on the fence with this, can see why the owner would want to keep the vintage played vibe but i don't like how it looks personally. Its interesting on how much of a guitar people see as perfectly ok to change and other parts are not, pickups, frets, nut, scratch plate all wear and are a commonly changed but just how bad does a fretboard need to be before its ok to replace and when does it become trigger's broom? To me it's boils down to the what the owner wants from the guitar, authenticity, wall art, playability, a cool looking conversation piece or a combination of them. In regards to type of content this was better than those pesky shorts but would prefer like many to see more build videos if possible

[@RiotBadger]

Wouldn’t be worried about the originality and ‘story’ of the guitar after it’s been refretted.

[@PeteGostelow]

Careful with those fireglass brushes - they are really handy but as they wear can give you invisible fibreglass splinters, which are horrible!

[@adammono1839]

More of this sort of content on the channel please!

[@andytraverse]

My dream guitar! The sounds that Barrie Cadogan (Little Barrie) gets out of his 1962 ES330 are incredible! ❤

[@DavidLye-no4ht]

Was the hand tool build ever completed? What about the SG? Nice video, but I'd vote for a full build video on a Saturday, and any shorter repair videos as midweek bonuses. Keep up the good work!

[@mark.guitar]

There are a lot of badly repaired guitars out there. Seeing them restored is a great idea for a series. You could even shout out to the viewers for instruments to do...

[@Smike2095]

I actually love repair videos, they show something always interesting I loved the one about the guitar/cello when it came out

[@higheriam]

I think like the Japaneese gold filled kintsugi pottery repairs it would look even better filled with something that excentuates the wear. I wouldnt leave holes in the fretboard.

[@johngray6277]

Yes, keep doing these!!

[@scottishgentlemen6038]

Not what I would have wanted, but I'm not the owner. Good video though, and I'd love to see more repair work. The fact that you did all of that without removing the strings drove me bonkers though. Why?! 😂

[@ptrisonic]

I had a '67 330. I became curious about the strange smell coming out of the F holes. With a long handled, what are called, surgeons use them to clamp up blood vessels I pulled out of the body about 20 dish cleaning sponges. I think a previous owner didn't like feedback..... The smell eventually went away and the guitar sounded way mo' better. Keep it up! Pete.

[@paxwort]

Honestly I kinda loved how it was. They don't look like real wear, but they're an interesting decorative feature. Hiding them makes it a bit... well, a bit like a prop with an invented history.

[@phil36135]

it would be hard to do but, I would remove the binding in the damaged area and remove the damaged section of fret board and resurface the sectiion of fret board , then put a piece of ebony under it and then glue it all back on.

[@JDStone20]

Brilliant work! I might want one of the smallest divots filled to as a test to see if I wanted them all filled in in it were my guitar, if I was so lucky!

[@toblexson5020]

I feel like leaving the new nut looking new is perfectly fine here; replacing a nut is a common enough maintenance job, and on a guitar as well, erm, played as this, it would be almost surprising if it looked like the original nut had survived.

[@robbyclark6915]

I have one of these with a Bixby tremolo. Just inherited from dad who recently passed away. It needs a fret job and possibly a nut and maybe saddles? It's not very playable right now, but it used to jam! I learned to play on that guitar as a 13 year old kid, and I just have to restore her former glory to her!

[@guywren4801]

It clearly needed a repair in its past and it was just done poorly. You have certainly have the skills to do a great job with sympathy for authenticity but please either repair or replace the fingerboard. This is clearly not a repair and faking additional wear isn't even preserving authenticity - its nonsense.

[@SkittleKicksPlays]

I believe in guitar character, and with the age being 50 years there's not one thing wrong with seeing them. Filling the divots in (as some suggest) just feels wrong on so many levels and I find that many miss that beauty of that wear. Would anyone dare to cover up the tobacco burns on EVH's guitars? How about all the scarring on a SRV guitar? What about one of Hendrix's guitars that he'd lit on fire? Guitars are tools that we musicians use to create our dreams and art. Scarring are the badges of honor for us!

[@nicholas3139]

yup- i'd love to see a whole process, from it's first touch to the bench to it's being handed back. there's all kinds of side journeys to repairs & i like seeing the whole thing. good work!

[@guitfidle]

Oh man, I love those guitars!! I almost bought a '67 at one point, but it sold before I could pounce.

[@theashen]

This is why you take repairs to a guitar repairer or restorer, not to a guitar builder.

[@LRBerry]

"Are you interested in more of this style of video?" Of course, I am. More of the not the usual kinds of repairs, please.

[@davidhill5684]

I'm impressed with the look you have achieved, also a bit shocked by the severity of those divots! My instinct would be to fill them straight away...is the instrument actually playable in this condition? As a piece of history I can see the importance of leaving them in. Tough choice!

[@rolty1]

Yeah, I'm actually the owner of the guitar and it is now very playable and a great pleasure. The divots dont look so bad in real life, although I do agree they don't look very natural. I'm not over the moon about the finished result, and I do like some of the suggestions in here. I played a gig with the guitar yesterday and it is very nice. The damage doesn't affect string bending as I don't really bend the first string at frets 1 and 2, which is the only time I am conscious of the divots .. it was a hard decision to make from a distance of a 3 hour drive from the studio and I took the advice of the luthiers about keeping it original including the battle scars!

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

I would have filled it. i imported a Greco stratocaster from japan and when it arrived someone had half assed scraped out the wood between the frets as if doing a scalloped fretboard. Couldnt see it in the fotos. Damn it I thought to myself ! I was gonna glue some rosewood veneer over the board and recut the fret slots. The guy at the wood shop told me that the neck was brazillian rosewood. So I had to save it. So I sanded down the board to remove most of the damage and with the dust mixed it with wood glue and filled the last of the damage. I had to scrap the filled damage to give it some grain. Then with some dye and oil i worked it into the board and there is only one very little bit that still looks shiny compared to the rest of the board but gotta say it came out super good !

[@miketurner1768]

Yes, more of this content please.. Challenging stuff...

[@diegobonaparte86]

“Sacrilegious” was filling the finger marks in the first place, l'd say. Tough job trying to restore the original markings to make them feel authentic, but the end result looks much better

[@normbarrows]

More content like this. Unusual repairs are where you learn new things.

[@markbader4942]

There’s cosmetic repairs, and then there are cosmetic repairs. I find most natural relic type blemishes are just a part of the instrument’s story. The original ‘repair’ work wasn’t necessary, but since it occurred I would’ve tried to disappear the grooves entirely. Sawdust and wood glue, maybe? I had an old Gretsch once that someone reset the neck on using a screw. I had a luthier replace the metal fastener with a wood dowel then blend the lacquer over it to disappear it. The spider cracked pick guard, the buckle rash, the worn finish on the back of the neck, all the nicks and dings stayed, but that stupid screw and any sign of it had to go.

[@monkeybrains]

What a mess. Didnt look any better after you'd carved it. Jeez As for the scratchplate why replace that and not fix the divots properly. Just wierd decisions in my opinion.

[@donbishop6994]

What Ben doesnt know, is that he's working on Freddie Kreugers first guitar.

[@francescofaccodelagarda5408]

Pretty obvious that owner only knew 3 cords, and all at the first fret! 😂

[@artbk]

Those holes tingled my trypophobia. I'd fill them in a manner that looks as discrete as possible. Also, yes, This sort of content is veery interesting! Botched repairs, old repairs and poorly applied and/or thought-out techniques are an immense opportunity to see how problems and solutions interplay within the world of luthierie, e.g. Ted Woodford's channel, who frequently re-repairs old guitars that have been cheaply, quick-and-simple-ey, or old-time-ey fixed, and now, be it for sentimental value or because instruments of certain vintage are rising in price, happen to be sent for crazy interesting works.

[@Zharkov1969A]

Given that it’s had a new nut and frets why not a new fingerboard?

[@peachmelba1000]

No need to do the entire board. Very extensive, expensive operation, and fairly fraught surgery, for any guitar. I would have routered and plugged those divets with the same species, prior to the refret.

[@Eeklex]

Another view. Many years ago, a banjo playing friend was considering buying a pre-war original 5-string Gibson Mastertone (and banjo freaks will know, an even pricier bird than that dot neck). The one condition issue was a non-original fretboard. I expressed my concern. He was dismissive: “Eh-fingerboards are like tires on a car.” Who here agrees that a fretboard replacement wouldn’t be desecration? - Paul

[@andysfishingandflytyingcha2310]

Lovely job Ben.👍

[@garethtravis1786]

@crimsoncustomguitars would a rosewood dust/superglue fill not work on divots that deep? Seems almost better to fill since fretboard was levelled before fretting 🤔 I'm not the expert though ... just curious!😂😂

[@dumbstupid5065]

Issue one; no context as to what it looked like before. Issue two; to most people on Earth it's going to look weird with holes in the neck. Regardless of playability, it looks really weird to my eyes. I would not feel confident and would in fact probably feel self-conscious about playing it in front of other people. My vote is definitely for filling the holes somehow.

[@pierrederesistance]

God that thing is beautiful. Just a heads up, the C in the model name stands for cherry, a natural one would be es330 TDN and so on..

[@szabolcsmezei4088]

If the player is okay with such craters, it's fine, but it does look gnarly.

[@wisterialosenge2546]

i'd probably fill it, with clear or red or black

[@ghosthawk65]

Verisimilitude indeed! I thought you would have used Crimson’s ‘sweat and skin flakes fretboard treatment.’ 😜😂

[@Birkguitars]

Talking of playing wear, many years ago I got to play a 1930's Gibson arch top. I got hands on it in the late 80's (even I am not old enough to be playing it new....) There were three areas where the deep burgundy lacquer had worn through to the wood. One was on the neck behind the cowboy chords, another was where the guitar rubbed on the players leg as it was played sitting down and the third area was, as here, where the forearm would rest. It was exactly the patina that you would want to see on an old instrument and as well as being a beautiful thing to play it looked incredible. It was owned by the guy who just sold the 58 Flying V at Gardiner Houlgate, but he never let me play the V [sad face]

[@ljdellar]

Has someone sanded off the binding from the fret ends? I can't remember seeing a Gibson neck where the fret ends were not covered by binding.

[@scottishgentlemen6038]

It's been refretted for sure. Those frets look almost brand new.

[@mrnikau1]

I would definitely fill those unsightly gouges...

[@donbishop6994]

The only question that needs answering is are you doing as close to possible as the customer wants done. If so, then no more questions are needed.

[@peterhansson7967]

In my world badly filled divots would be better than those ”holes”… And doing it with the strings on seemed akward and strange… They were clarly in the way and in the process of oiling the ”holes” the strings got oil on them 🤔

[@peterkitts8815]

It would have been interesting to see how you removed the filler

[@GxBxN]

Great video! Did Ben end up buying himself the PRS Silversky SE and modding it/relicing it?? Would love to see that 😄

[@angusmackay7281]

At trhat point I would have left it as was (once the epoxy came out) or gone all in and replaced the board. RTo me it doesn't look at all convincing,

[@stealingtomorrowband]

I'm going to agree with @themaskedgrappler that you ahould have taken the strings off ...

[@shysstasnubben]

In contrast to the vast majority of perfectionists here, I do think it is really nice to see the divots appearing more natural. Bad repairs look bad, but playwear tells a story

[@stuahlers1528]

With your talent and OCD the choice should have been a no brainer. Rosewood dust and thin CA glue wicked to create a fill with history. Not perfect yet visually appealing AND esthetically playable for the owner. Consider it on old story with a new chapter! Guitars like life occasionally need rejuvenation to accentuate the past into future traditions.

[@myeyesarewaiting]

tough call on how to handle that one. Think you did really well, all things considered.

[@phil36135]

Ive seen old Martin guitars with fret wear worse than this. And you dont have to have long fingernails to do it. Just play it everyday for 60 years.The acoustic Martins I have played with this much wear did not effect the playability of the guitar.

[@SweetTGuitars]

I think would have either filled the holes on the fretboard or even replaced it. If the guitar player only plays chords down there, then the repair would be okay but I would have an issue with bending strings. Those divots would be annoying to try and play around!! I guess it all comes down to the owner and what they want. I get trying to preserve the history and the story of the guitar but I couldn't deal with that!! Just my thoughts!! Peace & Love

[@claudevieaul1465]

Too bad you've already refretted it - with any dust you sanded off the (then empty) fretboard, you could've concocted a pretty much colour-correct filler for these holes. And shrinkage wouldn't have been any issue - rather the opposite actually, as you'd still have those slight dips in the rosewood, indicative of years of happy playing :) Anywho, I love a 330 style guitar - far more than the more common 335 style, actually... It's the sound you'd expect from a semihollow, I feel: very "woody", very resonant on front and back. Even if it takes a little away from the sustain. Mine, by the way, is an 80s Aria Pro-II TA-60, and it's absolutely gorgeous....

[@micksguitarsarecool]

Cool guitar! Any update on ggbo? What are people building? How's the comp going? Let's get some content going for ggbo! Yehae

[@whiletr]

Besides this all, I feel the strong need for skibidi toilet guitar build project.

[@guitarflyer172]

I would have used rosewood saw dust and drop filled the bad areas. Then you could have leveled and added the grain look after the fact. Just my 2 cents.

[@plugtheheliflyer]

How that looks would drive me nuts. I would have to fix it wood dust superglue

[@scottakam]

Cool video. I don't mind the wear on an old guitar but this one looks like they only played the same 4 cowboy chords for 60 years. I might have gone for the rosewood inlay if it were mine. I would be distracted by those pot holes in the fretboard!

[@Slikx666]

Ben. As long as you and the customer has agreed on the work that's done, you can do whatever you feel needs to be done. And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you see the guitar I sent you and your team a link for. Wooden body?

[@bevo65]

The divots still look artificial. To make them look right would probably require at least a partial filling. Regardless, your work is an improvement! 🤠

[@sporadicamnesic]

Actually surprised you didn't just scallop the frets entirelly so the dips are uniform across all strings

[@adammono1839]

Howabout a 3rd channel? Crimson vintage! Old guitars and stuff like this

[@kardRatzinger]

Doesn't C stand for Cherry?

[@somerville004]

Maybe before refretting and restringing the guitar. Come on Ben...

[@terryhunt2659]

The customer gets what the customer wants and pays for, but personally I detest the "relicing" of new instruments. I agree that necessary repairs and replacements on old instruments should be made to look consistent with their overall condition, but in this particular case those divots must surely reduce playability. Unless this guitar is destined to be displayed rather than played (which is in itself fine), I would have wanted them re-filled.

[@VideoDetection]

I vote for replacing the fretboard with a vintage looking and matching one from Gibson or equivalent.

[@leonrusz3190]

Thanks for your vids

[@davidwellings2783]

I love to see ALL your video pieces Ben! There’s always something to learn or a technique that is applicable maybe somewhere else. I understand the ‘need’ to be true to the story of an instrument and that there is the requirement to be careful with vintage guitars! However, there is playing wear and then there is apocalyptic abuse….! What on earth has been done here..?? Playing with ‘G’ clamps…!! It would bug me to the enth degree to have a fretboard like this - it would have to be gone, I’m afraid! 🥰🥰😊😊🍷🍷🎸🎸

[@MrFudgepump]

Ben, I've watched you make guitars, basses and even cigar-box guitars. After googling the definition of "Luthier" and finding out you make stringed instruments I have one question to ask. Where's my balalaika?

[@MrFudgepump]

WHERE'S MY CRIMSON SPECIAL BALALAIKA BEN?!

[@andytraverse]

I don't think I'd mind the fretboard wear, with new frets the correct (or preferred) height my fingers would never feel it, and it’s part of it's well played history.

[@shyboy2112]

Bruh had a comb over tattooed on his head

[@tomthumba1]

Love this content

[@vincentkessler7130]

TD C for Cherry Ben ... not Cutaway.

[@ukulelegothboy]

I like this augmentation of the fret board. I believe it returns the character to the instrument.

[@peachmelba1000]

This resulting cavities from removing whatever was used as filler look, to me, as thought they were preshaped prior to filling, likely with a rotory tool, like a Dremel. The divets are so elongated, and they taper to a vanishing tail. They don't look like natural wear at all. Personally, I would have routered each wear position to a symmetrical shape, made plugs of the best possible matching like-wood, and leveled them to the board radius prior to the refret.

[@PeteCollier21c]

I'd be interested to know how deep those were as I think the caamera makes them look deeper than reality. Love this soft of content though and no right or wrong about the filling imho - owners preference.