Guitar In Traction
Braces being carved
This guitar came to our Byrdstown music store on trade. The older gentleman who brought it in had found it in a landfill just as it was about to be pushed over with a load of dirt. He stopped the bulldozer driver and took the old guitar home.
I traded him a new foreign-made guitar for the old Martin and when we looked inside we found that it was a 1954 0-18. The guitar was in terrible shape from years of playing and abuse. Being left out in the rain and sunshine had taken a toll. I am always amazed at how much abuse these old Martins can withstand and still come back to life.
As I take it apart and restore the individual components I am struck with an admiration for the craftsmen who built these instruments. After removing the back I was able to repair all the top cracks and re-glue the bracing. The back had many cracks and needed to be re-braced to get it back to its original shape.
Using some old Sitka spruce I replaced the back braces.
Closing side cracks.
Body repairs done and ready for the back.
