Every once in a while a vintage guitar ends up on my luthier’s bench at Wimberly Guitar & Luthiery. It’s always a privilege to be able to work on these instruments, and you need to be extra careful with them. When my good friend Jim called and told me he was leaving his Gibson Melody … Continue reading Jim’s Melody Maker
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Late ‘50’s Kay Archtop Refurb
Mama warned me about archtops ….. so I was instantly drawn to them. There’s something about old “department store” guitars that makes them special. Kay, Harmony, Silvertone, SS Stewart ... the list goes on. Many of these guitars were specially made for department stores. Sears , Montgomery Ward, etc., and just the ticket for Junior … Continue reading Late ‘50’s Kay Archtop Refurb
Mitch’s Guitaron (Mariachi Bass)
Occasionally some really cool instruments show up in the Wimberly Guitar & Luthiery workshop. Such is the case with this Guitarron, or Mariachi bass. You’ve seen and heard them in almost every mariachi band. It’s a very large acoustic 6 string bass, tuned A1, D2, G2, C3, E3, A2. The interval relationships the same as … Continue reading Mitch’s Guitaron (Mariachi Bass)
Carol’s Bowlback Mandolin
Probably from the 1800's, don't think the strings had ever been changed, fixed 3 cracks in the back and 1 on the soundboard (still visible), needed 8 new mother of pearl inlays cut and installed for the binding, fixed the tuners, installed a new nut, set the action and intonation, polished the tailpiece, polished, polished, … Continue reading Carol’s Bowlback Mandolin
TNT ~ The Neighbor’s Tree
Some time go, a mighty wind brought down some of my neighbor's trees on my backyard fence and outdoor furniture. He never said anything to me about "the incident", and I went about repairing my fence and cutting up the trees (and outdoor furniture) for firewood. Half way through this exercise I realized "hey, this … Continue reading TNT ~ The Neighbor’s Tree
Wimberly Guitar & Luthiery 