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Luthiers! How would you fix this mess of a Les Paul Deluxe

aaroncheong

New member
Joined
Nov 12, 2021
Messages
1
Just got this guitar from a friend at zero cost!

Realised that it had quite a couple of problems! The neck broke and was fixed (quite badly, in my opinion). Body wash refinished as well…and the pancakes are falling apart on some parts of the body

I was horrified to see the state of the truss Rod cavity

The neck repair was done with some reinforcement metal plates, which can be seen in that picture of the truss Rod cavity

I just wanted to politely find out from the experienced luthiers on this forum, what would they do, and if this is salvageable.

The guitar sounds really awesome though

Here’s a link to the pictures I took of the guitar
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7LANDQWrWrDSfzeH8

Thanks!
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
|Is there a gap in the pancake on the body, or does it appear to be finish cracking?
If just the finish, then I don't think there's anything to worry about. if there's actual separation, then a good luthier may be able to get glue in there or something. (I'm no expert in repairs.)
How about the neck? Is the repair smooth from the outside, at least in back? IF it's stable, then |I wouldn't do anything.
Yeah, it's ugly, especially what ever they did to the truss rod cavity. |But if the repair is stable, then play the hell out of it and don't worry about beating it up more.
 

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
I'd likely repair the finish. Depending on how bad, mostly just by filling the cracks with lacquer after cleaning the wax out of there. How does the top look?
new TRC would help. Headstock face look good?
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
From what I can see in the pics, one could either play it as is or re-finish the guitar. I don’t see the evidence of metal plates in the picture you give us. If there are metal plates embedded 8n the repair and the repairs is stable, then done is done. The finish is done for, that is sure. It would be very rare for the body laminations separate. That is likely just finish problems…as it appears here are finish problems everywhere. The missing serial number is a drag. Can it be seen at all?
you could make a little,profit by selling it as is. You could,play it. Or…you could spend a fair amount of money on a finish job.
 
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