Vintage Electric Guitar Restoration - 1976 Old Semi-acoustic Guitar Repair

This is a restoration and repair video of a hollow-body (semi-acoustic) electric guitar that was made in Ukraine in 1976 (then it was a part of the USSR). Briefly about the restoration work I did on this guitar:
Refinishing / Painting
Tuning pegs replacement
Electronics repair
Headstock repair
Making a pickguard
Frets replacement
Deep cleaning and moisturizing of the neck
Bridge replacement
Pickguard cutting
Now in detail. I bought this Lviv guitar for $30. It was in really terrible condition. When I saw this dirty and rusty guitar for the first time, I immediately understood that it needed a complete refinish. As I understood, someone in the nineties modified it badly (as a clue I found an old bus ticket of already independent Ukraine inside). To get to the electronics, the previous "luthier" simply cut off a piece of the guitar and then covered the hole with a piece of plastic. The frets on the neck were almost flat so I had to replace them. The fingerboard on this guitar has almost no radius (yes, it's almost completely flat). I also had to restore the part of the headstock (it was cut with a saw because it was an obstacle for the non-original pegs). I also had to remove rust and old paint from the tailpiece. This guitar had a lot of holes from the previous bridges, pickguards, etc.
Overall, there isn't a spot left on this guitar that I haven't restored.

[@izzysantiago978]

As a luthier I say much more could have been done and approached but given the circumstances on what seems the limit of the tools, came out better than expected.

[@Gentile108]

The pick guard was the cherry on the Sunday of that guitar. Great job!

[@hpblack1953]

‘Sundae’ but we get your drift.

[@Road_Rash]

That turned out much better than I expected...

[@MrHardguitar]

You won't believe it, but the guitar turned out better than even I expected.

[@ritz1119]

Loved it! Wonderful work Mykola. Watched the whole thing mesmerised! Loved the sound design too.

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. That is very nice to hear.

[@Rose-bo9cx]

​@@MrHardguitar Hey just want to ask where is idunn goddess what happened to her is she ok plzz tell

[@MrHardguitar]

Yes, she is fine.

[@Rose-bo9cx]

@@MrHardguitar Good but why she quite KZbin Her subscribers missing her

[@MrHardguitar]

Human life is a complex thing. There are different moments and stages of life. For example, now there is a war in Ukraine (where she lives).

[@kimballormsby9908]

I wondered what you were going to do about the big hole. Great way to do it.

[@riffraff3658]

Great job dude! That was fun to watch. Nice to see any old guitar brought back to life.

[@MrHardguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it! ✌

[@steby123]

Maybe a bit more of restomod than restoration, but now a better looking and more playable guitar, great job !!!!!

[@MrHardguitar]

I absolutely agree. The fact is that sometimes there is simply nothing to save (or restore). Pegs, bridge, electronics were not original.

[@sacro9047]

Love seeing something beat up and usless given new life, thoroughly enjoyed this, end result is awsome 😊

[@newfieboyhello]

I have the same guitar as well, mind hasn't came out of its case I'd say in 10 years.....thinking of doing something like what done with years....by the way i enjoyed the video and awesome work...

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. But I have a question. Do you have the exact same guitar or something similar? Do you have a Lviv guitar?

[@no-brain_no-pain]

Более чем достойная работа, при этом самыми простыми инструментами. Мое уважение за работу👍

[@mike23639]

Was wondering how you were going to cover the holes. Great idea. Looks good.

[@MitchellMaichak-ze7mr]

Beautiful looking AND sounding restoration !!!

[@MrHardguitar]

It is very nice to hear that. Thank you.

[@TuneIn1]

Thats a very pretty guitar and a fantastic job you did on it!

[@BigHelianthus]

that tailpiece is SO COOL. I wish i could buy just the tailpiece

[@hankramos8663]

A whole lotta elbow grease and effort yielded some great results, good job! And I really dig how you covered up those holes man it adds some style and flare to the guitar!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. I was worried about this "pickguard" as soon as I started this project. I knew that this was the only chance to cover these terrible holes. But I was worried, because in fact this "pickguard" does not protect the guitar from the pick (because it is in another place).

[@hankramos8663]

@@MrHardguitartrue it's not a pickgaurd per'se but great idea nonetheless, very creative!

[@rutikuiwa7133]

Excellent work

[@KekmanForTheRestOfTheWorld]

nice repair! i would have used a floating bridge though. the top does not seem to be supported with a block from underneath. it might develop post leaning in the future. the black and white look is beautiful by the way :) kind of deserves an ebony fretboard now

[@MrHardguitar]

Maybe floating bridge would be better. And it would be easier to install. Thank you for your opinion.

[@kayjones392]

This is a beautiful restoration! Love the back and white.

[@rnemchev]

Great restoration! Even without power tools! Cheers!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. Technically, I used one power tool to make the piece for headstock. 😉

[@elianu7027]

Really nice! I like the white pickguard you added

[@HannaShevchenkoUA]

Seriously, after your restoration the guitar looks like Lennon himself would play it.

[@MrHardguitar]

This guitar was made four years before his death. So maybe he did those failed upgrades.

[@doovie101]

Vladimir Lenin maybe.

[@rafaelmalafaia7499]

*AWESOME AND MAGNIFICIENT WORKING, MAN! CONGRATULATIONS! CHEERS!*

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you.

[@rubenfernandezcampos8648]

Take my like ...,and buy a decent kit of tools with the royalties.😉👍🏻

Excellent work, it looks beautiful. What type of paint did you use on the body? Did you use anything else for the finish? Thank you.

[@lacorseful]

Amazing workmanship!

[@pasyensyatv9092]

The paintbrush technique on a guitar suits it well. what type of paint did yoy use?

[@ronaldwexler8570]

Great job. I like the black paint.

[@devschlong]

Nice job and great video. Although it was creating anxiety for me watching the sanding without a block or pad 😂

[@Rennmeen]

Weird restoration, but satisfying on the same time

[@MrHardguitar]

You hurt my feelings but complimented me at the same time.

[@Rennmeen]

Sorry, but keep it up bro :D

[@ukranianbandura]

This poor hollow body used to have the exact same colors as soviet flags and posters. Nice job! Man, you've made that refreting job look easy! Greetings from Dolyna, Ukraine (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

[@CharlesMines]

Okay I see this all of the time on here and it's a real buzz kill or a pain in the ass if you will but all of a sudden we watch a few of these videos on here on any subject and all of a sudden we're all experts and we all want to be critical of everyone else's videos on here folks. I mean really people the primary objective on here is for all of us to learn something from someone else and take the skills that we learn to improve our every day lives and remember knowledge is power as the old saying goes so for once in your life stop criticizing everyone else and just keep learning and you might just benefit from it really people!

[@larylhuntington5398]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice! What were some of the products you used?

[@EssEnn-p3c]

Nice Work!

[@Bulletman426]

Wow, amazing job! It also sounds really good! Nice job

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. It is very nice to hear that.

[@RichardAlvey-q7k]

Great job!! With the simplest tools too! I applaud you for this :)) Slava Ukraine, Heroyam Ukraine! ! Rich UK :)

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you for your feedback. And thank your country for the help. 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇦

[@RichardAlvey-q7k]

Our duty, and pleasure😁@@MrHardguitar

[@serjones-j5g]

... я уехал в Майами но мысленно я с вами... ))))

[@FingersOnAFretboard]

SOmebody was like "F this F-hole, Imma O yeah my way to these pots like the Koolaid man with a coping saw'

[@MrHardguitar]

I think the previous "luthier" thought so. But, I don't understand one thing. I don't understand one thing. If he couldn't get there any other way, why didn't he put a hole in the back of the guitar?

[@OttoVonRaz]

Just. WOW. That was so satisfying to watch. Where did you learn these skills? Thank you for sharing!

[@Nafan60]

Shocking! Thanks for the pleasure! You are a real master! I believe that Ukraine will be rebuilt with such people!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you.

[@NataliaKozlenko]

This video sounds are music of creation!!!! Great video!❤

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you! 🤗

[@nissesguitars]

Awesome job! Well done! 🤘😎🤘

[@geraldstamour1312]

The difference is like night and day, Mykola!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. I hope that the night is the guitar BEFORE and the day is the guitar AFTER.

[@geraldstamour1312]

@@MrHardguitar That was absolutely what I intended in saying that!

[@NovaniPA]

this is not an restoration it is a upgrading

[@MrHardguitar]

Maybe you're right. But the only original part of this guitar (before my "upgrade") was the tailpiece.

[@NovaniPA]

If you are going to restore it, you return it to as original a condition as possible and then you look for the original missing parts if they can still be found. you just put other new improved parts on it, nothing wrong with it, but then it is an upgrade and not a restoration, that's all@@MrHardguitar

[@metalmick]

Looks like you got a message from Mr Pedantic.

[@billyfoster3223]

That's the ticket! Great work on this guitar! Looks very cool! Great playing, too! Cheers! 😁👍🛠️🔧

[@12footgrave]

This was awesome!!!

[@j.lietka9406]

Would using a commercial type paint stripper be better than sanding the previous finish to bare wood?

[@THRobinson]

Even back then, most of those types of guitars had a poly finish... Done a few, and stripper just sits there.

[@j.lietka9406]

@@THRobinson that sounds right! Thank you

[@davidAll5]

what a nice job congrats !!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you for these kind words.

[@DblakeDeathMetal89]

Why were those yellow screwed on pieces on there? Looks like someone cut a hole in the body

[@zvirb]

1:16 Yellow pieces of something are looking like little birds with red wings. I hope, you haven`t thrown them avay?

[@MrHardguitar]

I think it was supposed to look like fire. But since it is not like fire, everyone sees something different in it.

[@hahanonya4015]

Very good job

Woooow! Fantastic job! Congratulations, man. By the way, what kind of paint did you use? The guitar looks so beautiful!

[@thirteenthnile3536]

I really like that pickguard design.

[@old_falc]

Гитара "Ритм". Львовская опытно-экспериментальная фабрика народных музыкальных инструментов. Это кто же так над гитарой издевался? Отличная работа. Респект. Получилось лучше чем с завода. (В те времена таких комплектующих не найти было "днём с огнём"). Хвостовик оставил старый с логотипом фабрики - правильное решение. С новья на этой гитаре стоял простейший тембр-блок с тремя потенциометрами - можно было легко восстановить. (Судя по дыре в деке, владельцы гитары пытались воткнуть дополнительную электронную начинку - руки бы по-отбивать). Вставку (ПикГард) бы сделать из белого перламутрового пластика - красивей бы было. ЗЫ. А билетик не спроста был вставлен под пикгард: № 457736 - это так называемый "счастливый билет" (сумма первых трёх цифр и последующих одинакова).

[@lenniejosephful]

Really nice work!!

[@fromthenorth2]

That's such a beautiful guitar.

[@fr1200]

amazing job! cheers from 🇨🇱

[@ilikeguitars3511]

Man you sanded all all that by hand? Your arms must be jacked now

[@MrHardguitar]

I'm quite an adult, but I still don't have an electric screwdriver. Although I used a lot of self-tapping screws in my life. I don't have an electric jigsaw. Although I made a lot of things that had to be sawed. And there are many such examples. And the answer is simple! If you can do something without a tool, then do it without a tool.

[@bobmarlenelewis2303]

The black finish is * MAJESTIC *!!!

[@ivanmansilla9323]

Muy buen trabajo, además suena muy bien la guitarra, saludos 😊.

[@UNKUHNOODLES]

That's the (bus) ticket!!! FANTASTIC! Using that blackest black paint really did it. Amazing! 🔈 🔉 🔊 🤘🤘🤘🏅

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you. In addition, this black matte paint hid all the imperfections.

[@dreamingkoala-lullabiesrel6036]

​@@MrHardguitarVery smart decision

[@RodFleming-World]

He did a grand job but now you know why I don't care for black guitars...

[@old_falc]

Это не просто билет на автобус. Это, так называемый "счастливый билет": 4+7+7=7+3+6

[@pczTV]

Hmmm. Some interesting choices and techniques….

[@GabrielBarreragodisgood]

Wow man, what an exceptional job, congratulations

[@arenotdiy]

Musical instruments should be played, and we will only do that if we want to. Having an old haggard "classic" around just for the purpose of keeping its "value" is disrespectful to the instrument. (IMHO) I think you've done a wonderful thing here Mykola, you restored this guitar's life, so that you, and others after you can do what it was intended for. Making music. Keep making rock my friend :)

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you for this opinion. In the past few days, I have already come across criticism several times. Like, the guitar is beautiful with all its flaws. And I partially agree with this. But the guitar cannot be one big drawback: with frets that are flat and one millimeter high, with electronics that don't work, with a neck that leaves splinters on the hand.

[@curtis2308]

Not the best resto I’ve seen. But nice colour scheme and effort.

[@DavidBostock-ti2fv]

I'm thinking "resto-mod" and considering what they started with and the much better tuning machines a very pragmatic and less nonsensical idealistic way to go. Aspiration for me with my meager miserly talents will be turd polishing, old & cheap & as original as possible but greatly enhanced precision of action for playability and great finished tuning including compensated nut or compensated zero fret that established excellent production guitar manufacturers don't trouble themselves to do, apparently most luthiers don't bother with compensating nuts either.

[@0074craig]

Pretty cool redo ,,,,,

[@ALBERTLennerdt-z3s]

i need all the parts how much i have the same body how much for all parts

[@theo9952]

Ιt looked just like one of those ugly soviet era e-guitar jobs but you turned it into a more than just decent looking instrument. Excellent.

[@MrHardguitar]

If you compare this guitar with other Soviet guitars, then this one is simply a masterpiece. But if you compare it with modern guitars, then, unfortunately, a mid-budget Chinese guitar will be better.

[@theo9952]

@@MrHardguitar No doubt a modern mid-budget guitar will be better in every way. When i was in my teens, budget guitars (made in Japan in the sixties), were terrible, though better looking than the ussr made ones. As for this guitar, i would not expect it to meet today's standards in any way, I just like the way it looks after the restoration.

[@MrHardguitar]

I have another Lviv guitar. But everything is original in it. Check out my review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnYloSErMuXf6s

[@theo9952]

@@MrHardguitar I watched it, a much better looking guitar indeed. Doesn't sound bad either. But i wonder about the big ugly hole next to the f-hole on the guitar you fixed. How did it happen ?

[@danielboucher3027]

Great job!!! 👍😃🎶🎸

[@dreamingkoala-lullabiesrel6036]

You made a real beauty out of this beast! ❤

[@MrHardguitar]

Thanks ✌

[@RockStory-Steve-Randall]

Strange.... Why not unmount the pickups, and the "paint job" is really odd too. The fretwork seems a bit iffy too... well for a wallhanger, ok, but no more.

[@MrHardguitar]

What a strange comment. Explain why I needed to unmount the pickups? And what did you not like about working with frets? And why paint job is odd?

[@8Junio76]

By hand? Jezz 😮

[@MrNeiltonoman]

A good video and the finished guitar looks great. A couple of things though, why didn't you remove the pickups and neck before sanding to remove the original finish?

[@MrHardguitar]

Everything is very simple. I knew I wouldn't be able to completely remove the old paint perfectly. Also, the wood grain on this guitar isn't the best either. So I knew from the start that I was going to paint the guitar an all-black matte finish that would hide all the imperfections. That's why I didn't think it was necessary to remove the paint in difficult places, since all those places will be covered with black paint anyway. And one more.. This is a very old guitar that has been stored in poor conditions. I didn't show it in the video because I didn't want to make it too long, but almost half of the screws in this guitar just broke in half (because they were rusty) and stayed inside the wood (then I had a really hard time getting them out). And theoretically, the same problem could happen with the neck. So if something stays put and works, I'd rather not touch it 😁

[@MrNeiltonoman]

That all makes perfect sense!!@@MrHardguitar

[@JeffHulett-oy5ud]

Nice job

[@CNTHINGS]

Look good! Will that paint hold up without a clear coat on it? And is the white banding a different material? I've got one of these that needs to repair. Trying to figure out if I can just sand it and restain the top and keep all of the white banding. Your video is helpful! Thanks.

[@petrdemidov9962]

Отличная работа, Микола. Сохранили аутентичный струнодержатель. И добавили немного Гибсона в виде колков и бриджа. Однако старые звукосниматели можно было поменять на современные, вряд ли они будут выдавать сейчас хороший диапазон по герцам. Хотя тогда бы Гибсон получился, а их и так много. Успехов в дальнейших работах.

[@old_falc]

А "счастливый билетик" на автобус под пикгард тоже надо было вернуть на место: не просто так его бывший владелец засунул 🙂

[@edwinh7908]

Very Nice! Cool Guitar!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thanks a lot!

[@vincentcuevas]

Very good but I have certain questions... if you have the guitar disassembled; Why didn't you repair the big hole and preferred to cover it with a pick guard? Why didn't you do the same procedure that you did to the "strings holder" on the pickups and preferred to paint them? Why didn't you finish sanding the piece of wood you added to the headstock?

[@creepin_deth]

Почему не поставил переключатель звукоснимателей?

[@brailr13]

К покрытию есть вопрос, почему без лака? матовость обычно придают покрывая лаком и далее полируют, а здесь краской покрасил и всё

[@bms9144]

How do you create perfectly round and centered holes with a file?

[@Untold_Artist_offiicial]

Is you use acrylic colour black?

[@nightwing3174]

Isn’t this “semi acoustic guitar” called a hollow body?

[@Ififitzisitz]

The sound holes appear to be facing backwards.

[@ОлегОлегович99]

Хоспаде, хоть бы датчики снял для покраски, я не знаю.. Судя по так и не снятой гребёнке - лады не шлифовались, а с такой технологией впрессовывания - страшно представить, какое там расстояние до струн в итоге вышло (а потом будете говорить, что "ой, эти совковые гитары как не переделывай - всё равно говно выходит). И ещё, для закругления краёв ладов специальный инструмент существует, закатник называется, он стоит копейки. Красить кисточкой в матовый чёрный - отдельный фейспалм + кантики, походу, пошли по п..де, для таких дел специальная малярная лента используется, она тоже не то чтобы дорого стоит. Короче, внешне лучше не стало, по играбельности - наверняка можно было бы сделать лучше, если б нормально подойти, а не на отвались, чтобы видос снять и забыть. И, да, на будущее: реставрация - это восстановление в оригинал. Но тут уж лучше и не касаться скользкой темы сомнительного смысла необратимого переделывания аутентичных и самобытных инструментов под современную фурнитуру

[@andreygordeev2822]

Плюсану пожалуй... Согласен с предыдущим оратором, что не безрукий в общем человек отнесся к инструменту не бережно и заморачиваться не стал. После восстановленного краешка головы грифа, я ждал, что будут заделаны дыры в корпусе, но нет... Тюноматик непонятно зачем здесь? Для сустейну похоже. Но в оригинале плавающий бридж, такой не проблема купить или сделать. По черному цвету непонятно был ли слой лака, или размазали тряпочкой краску и все... Гитара заслуживает большего, примерно так. Извините, если что.

[@davespears2241]

Love your work.

[@dashiernervt123]

Awesome job man!! 😮👌

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you.

[@randallhaney7909]

Very cool and Fun video Boss The guitar finished out really; nice for sure, I don't think it is a Ural ? What brand was it? For now I'll call it a (Myko 335 Special) .. Peace Out Brother, keep yourself and your loved ones safe warn and healthy.

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you! This guitar is called Lviv. In honor of the city in Ukraine where it was made. I have another Lviv guitar (not so old and in good condition, all the details are original there). You can see my review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnYloSErMuXf6s

[@randallhaney7909]

@@MrHardguitar I have an old mid.1960's Harmony H45 I am restoring very similar looking yo your Myko 335 Special/Lviv and was mod'ed (not by me) I have some not original holes in the body to deal with as well. Lots of work Lots of fun

[@MrHardguitar]

Tell me how you solved the problem with the holes in the guitar?

[@randallhaney7909]

@@MrHardguitar I was lucky the holes were hacked out from1single coil pup; to 2 humbucking Pups. So I can cover the holes with a Strat. or SG full face type pickguard. As for the other smaller square hole I used rocker switches for the Pups. From a Magatone Zephier X5 guitar of the same age. So all & all my job is much easier than your project. But to replace the missing pieces is near impossible to match wood and the figuring in the wood grain on a natural finish. So paint is the only option, if you want to cut and replace missing wood. In my experience anyway. Hope that answers you Boss.

[@MrHardguitar]

Yes. Thank you.

[@ivancrookedhand7895]

Кайф, дуже гарний пікгард вийшов!!! Дивився до цього моменту з нетерпінням) І круто що все виконано простим інструментом, який у кожного вдома!! Робота супер, кожна гітара має звук і все залежить від людини, що грає і вміє відчувати характер інструменту;-) Най щастить!! Чекаю ще)) Тільки не фарбуй звукознімачі, дуже прошу))))😂

[@RED_CARDINAL.]

После того как напильником увеличили отверстия для колков, вбивание ладов без клея и отсутствие шлифовки ладов стало ужасно что будет дальше. Почему внутри полость не покрыли графитом 505? Неплохая рестоврация,но есть ещё над чем работать.

[@DavidBostock-ti2fv]

Let's call it resto-mod instead of restoration. BTW- sanding new frets is starting to be recognized as stupid. Please Google - compensated nut, for a tremendous oversight of the vast majority of Luthiers.

[@bobbymalta73]

Well Done Mate.

[@Lonely_Wolf24]

Спасибо за видео. Местами заморожено, но результат мне очень нравится!

[@skald163]

Замечательно. Но почему было не поставить инструменту минимально приличные датчики?

[@virulint]

Чудова робота, захоплююче)

[@MrHardguitar]

Дякую! Thank you.

[@valakhdavidson8283]

hermoso trabajo

[@80srocker65]

Really cool

[@noahdavidson3601]

Where do you find guitars like this?

[@domformula1]

I must compliment you on your re-fret technique, really no messing around, do you ever have issues doing it that way? Also I think a really nice job overall, I get that some people want to see the original being brought back to stock, but I do appreciate the fact that this is a players grade guitar that (as a result of your hard work) is being played again and enjoyed!

[@MrHardguitar]

Not everything I did with this guitar is on video. I didn't want the video to be too long. I wanted this video to be original, but every fret replacement job looks the same. Of course, I leveled them in height and polished them. But I really didn't use glue. And I've seen comments about fretboard sanding. In the video it looks quick and easy (like I'm only using one whetstone). If I ever make similar videos, I will show the process in more detail. Thank you very much for your opinion.

[@masarukun5526]

Why don't you remove the pickup?

[@skalewilly]

What a great job in this guitar, congrats!!!!

[@MrHardguitar]

Thank you very much. Such words inspire me to shoot new videos.

[@Drew.Parry-Guitars]

Too many people on the internet have no clue what they’re doing.

[@axe-ologist]

nice. good job. peace!