EJ200 Acoustic Guitar Project - Input Gratefully Received - PICS ADDED

Rox

I was so impressed with the early 90's EJ200 I got (despite slight damage in transit) I've been looking for another.

A Vintage Sunburst one that has seen much better days popped up on ebay, so I snapped it up.

It's the same early 90's vintage, but has seen better days.  There's been a poor heel repair, some binding on the neck is missing, and the fretboard is coming away from the neck.  BUT, it's a gorgeous colour.

For £40, I figure that if it really is beyond playable repair, it's still going to look very pretty hung on the wall.

As you can see, there's plenty missing.  I've got some worn gold Grovers on the way I picked up very cheaply...

So, I need to locate a decent nut, bridge pins and bridge.  I need some neck binding too.  These are the things I'll need at the very least.

I'm planning to remove the rest of the headstock veneer (which is around 2mm thick and seems to come off quite easily), and even consider reshaping the headstock... In the interests of not fooling anyone, if I do add a G logo, I have the idea of adding the Epiphone rounded E logo in the centre of the crown, making it unambiguously an Epi.  Could look pretty good, I think.

I'm even tempted to replace the moustache bridge with a more Gibson-y one - they seem reasonably cheap - but how difficult is that to do?

As it's already knackered, it's a good project.  I'll post more pics when it arrives... but in the meantime...

All the bridge pins, nuts and bridges seem very cheap on ebay.. anyone have any experience of good ones to get - I don't want to end up with tat.    A TRC with that very wide white border...

Also, I've been searching for a decent J200 scratchplate / pickguard - but I can't find any decent ones!

Let the suggestions, help and inevitable criticism begin!

SimpleSimon

I had one of the early small headstock Epi J200's but sold it when I gave up music for a period. Boy do I wish I still had that, did many a gig with it Mic'd up and it sounded amazing. It always drew nice comments from the audience too. Mine had the redder deep sunburst finish of the earlier models.

paulnb57

In the scheme of things anything is possible, everything you suggest sounds doable to me except replacing the Moustache bridge, I reckon the finish will have aged a little over the years and bridge removal could show up as a different colour, if the new bridge would cover it then no probs! But as you like the colour so much, be a shame to spoil it?

 As you say for 40 beers tokens not much to lose......

Paul

Rox

Yeah... the existing bridge looks fine, so if it's best to leave it alone, I have no problem with that.

The worn gold Grovers have arrived - they'll be perfect.

So, anyone seen a good place for a nice J200 pickguard?  Can't find any decent ones around, which seems odd, so I'm clearly not looking in the right places!

usedtobe

Ej200's are brilliant.

Sassafras

I saw that on ebay and was going to bid on it but I forgot all about it. Well done, it looks fine. Shouldn't be too hard to revive it.

Rox

@Sassafras - I am very grateful you forgot.

Sassafras

You're welcome.

Andyjr1515

With care, lots of watching YouTube 'how to' clips and asking lots of questions here, most of what you say is perfectly doable and the source of a great guitar and immense satisfaction . As others have said though - unless it's actually coming off - don't touch the bridge...

Rox

Okey dokey... as the consenus is to leave the bridge, that's one less job on the list. 

So, as far as I can tell (before it arrives and I assess the damage for myself), these are the items needed:

Machine Heads - Got 'em

Binding

Nut - 41mm

Bridge Pins

Compensated Saddle

Scratchplate

I'm sure there's something I've forgotten!

--------------------------------

Thinking about the scratchplate, I was wondering if I should consider engraving one myself.  Seems like a nightmare to try and get one that doesn't look like a 99p job from China. I haven't even found someone doing repros at extortionate prices.  (Just for reference rather than anything else!)

I've got a cheap rotary tool - but I do know it's a little weak,,, I wonder if it's worth a try.  Perhaps even come up with my own design inspired by the original.  I like the older design with the border.

My biggest enemy here is my own impatience.  I often rush out of excitement, so I'm going to try and temper my own enthusiasm!

I'm not intending to bring this up to 'perfect' condition' - but make it playable and hopefully let it wear it's age and battle scars as sympathetically as possible.

usedtobe

Have you thought about a tooled leather one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-Tooled-Carved-Custom-Leather-Pickguard-fits-Gibson-J100-J200-Acoustic-/301699214710?hash=item463eacad76

chrisj1602

usedtobe;733558" said:

Have you thought about a tooled leather one?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-Tooled-Carved-Custom-Leather-Pickguard-fits-Gibson-J100-J200-Acoustic-/301699214710?hash=item463eacad76

Nice

usedtobe

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I find myself strangely drawn to them.

Rox

Just looking for something a little more vintage traditional for this project, BUT I did love the look of this one:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/229357500/leather-pickguard-for-j200-acoustic?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=j200&ref=sr_gallery_9

hobbio

I'm looking forward to seeing this one brought back, I saw it on evilbay too. Pleeeeaaase don't put a Gibson logo on it, let it be proud to be an Epi

Rox

The Epi logo is completely trashed... so it will need something completely new on the headstock...

hobbio

How about something like that? :P

Lol, put what you want on it, I've just got this thing about G and F logos on guitars that aren't Gs or Fs.

Hertz32

It has the epiphone headstock, put an epiphone logo, or a totally different word there.

Rox

Waiting for it to arrive is interminable!

Rox

I'm considering having no wording on the headstock, but a nice design instead.  Found an FB page that does lovely scratchplates - but they don't answer their messages!

Rox

Okay, it finally arrived - so here we go!