Regent Semi Acoustic | Part One

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Here is a vintage sunburst Regent semi acoustic that came in earlier tonight, courtesy of my pal Izzat and his buddy Tojeng (the owner). Based on my research, I am of the opinion that this guitar was manufactured by Guyatone in Japan in the late '50s to early '60s, and then exported to Canada under the "Regent" label. Now, although the guitar looks pretty beat-up, the intonation is almost spot-on and it plays like a dream; testimony to the quality of Japanese craftsmanship in those days. The Bigsby-style vibrato tailpiece is smooth and stays in tune. The volume and tone pots are all functioning as they should except for intermittent contact and some scratchiness every now and then, so they'll have to be serviced. Tojeng wants the tuners changed, the wood and hardware cleaned and polished, and a fresh set of 10s put on. Next, in Part Two, we'll look at what was done to get this guitar back in shape.

References
1960’s Vintage Guitars
Hoshino Gakki Ten: IBANEZ and related brands
 

Note zero fret

Note non-original bridge pickup

Neck plate with six bolts

 

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Ibanez York 628/12 Restoration | Part Two

Part One  | Part Two |  Part Three

Oh, happy day! The good news is that I've finished clear sanding the topcoat and am starting the polishing process. The bad news is that folds of my sarong have left creases in the finish. This is a clear sign that the lacquer has not hardened completely. So I'm hanging this baby for a few more weeks before going any further. By the way, a new nut has been installed and the two loose inlays (1st and 3rd frets) have been reglued. Here are some pics.

See Also: Part One | Part Three

New nut

Part One  | Part Two |  Part Three

Ibanez York 628/12 Restoration | Part One

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Just found out today that all the pics from my July 31 post on this Ibanez York 628/12 are missing. Serves me right for hotlinking. That post has already been deleted. And so, here is a repost with all the details and pics; for those of you (like me) who are into this sort of thing. The guitar has been partially stripped and refinished. It is currently undergoing the last leg of clear-coating (see last 3 pics), after which it will be hung to dry for as long as possible before final wet-sanding and polishing.

Details
Name / Model No: Ibanez York 628/12
Category: Dreadnought / 12-String Acoustic
Serial No: 75 328
Production Notes: Crafted in Japan circa 1975

Specs
Full Length: 43"
Body Dimensions: 19.75" x 16"
Body Depth: 4.5"
Neck Width: 1.75"
Top: Spruce
Back and Sides: Mahogany
Soundhole Rosette: Wood Marquetry
Body Binding: White
Fingerboard: Rosewood / Bound / Abalone-like Block Inlays
Bridge: Rosewood
Tuners: Chrome / Unsealed

Front view.

Back view.

Front of headstock.

Back of headstock. Tuners still working okay.

Nut is falling apart. Owner wants it rebuilt.

Serial Number.

Seems like a previous owner had this refinished.

Shrunken pickguard. Needs to be replaced.

Extensive damage to the back.

Neck heel/neck seam has come apart.

Damaged mahogany back.

Binding has not been scraped clean.

Finish damage near the end pin.

Nice bridge.

Fixing the split in the neck heel / neck seam.

Inlays at 1st and 3rd frets actually came loose.

Regluing the back to the sides.

Baking soda/CA glue nut rebuild attempt.

Spruce top stripped, sanded and restained. 

One pesky bottom brace reglued.

Clear coating in progress.

Hung to dry in between clear coats.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Goodbye EB 2220. Hello GHS GBH.

EB 2220 11 - 48
Shown below is the last pack of EB 2220 Power Slinky strings I'll probably be opening. Been happily using these since the '90s without any notable rust issues. However, the last 3 or 4 packs have featured 'pre-rusted' plain strings. Have actually been forced to sand the E, B and G strings before use. Looks like 'Element Shield Packaging' is no match for the climate here. Bummer. This pack remains unused as I've had enough. Time for change, me thinks.

Element Shield Packaging: 

1. resists humidity 

2. keeps your strings as fresh as the day they were made 

3. longest life 

4. fresh all the time 

Sorry Ernie Ball, Element Shield Packaging has lost the battle against the local climate. Kindly take a closer look at the 3 strings below:

Rust

More rust

Even more rust

GHS GBH 12 - 52

Seems like these GHS GBH 012-052s with 'Fresh Pack' technology have fared much better than the EBs through their long journey from the US of A. Tried them out on a hot and sweaty lunchtime gig Wednesday, and they played like butter, no kidding. Guess I be sticking to GHS from now on. 

Nice and smooth.

Look ma .... no rust!

Ibanez GIO GRG170DX BKN

Details
Color: BKN (Black Night)
Serial No: A08120495.
Made at the Saein Plant, Korea in December 2008.
Production Number: 495.

Specs
Neck: GRG / One Piece Maple
Body: Basswood
Fingerboard: Bound / Rosewood
Inlays: Sharktooth
Frets: 24 / Medium
Bridge: Fat 10
Pickups: H (STD-H1) - S (STD-S4) - H (STD-H2)
Hardware: Chrome
Controls: Master Volume / Tone
Selector Switch: "Patent Pending" 5-Way

Work Done
1. Hardware Servicing / Adjustment
2. Checked and serviced all electronic components.
3. Replaced unshielded output wires with a shielded cable.
4. Replaced faulty output jack.

Interesting truss rod cover.

New shielded output cable and output jack.