A little experiment...

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HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8017
edited February 2020 in Guitar
In the spirit of empirical research (or, as I prefer, “try it and see”), I decided to find out if I could successfully replace a section of damaged rosewood fretboard.

The candidate for surgery was this...

https://i.imgur.com/vcLoYmI.jpg

A name long-forgotten by many (and probably all but unknown by t’kids).

Now, I’ve always maintained that the only decent thing about MIK Marlin Sidewinders is the neck - it certainly wasn’t the plywood body, shitty pickups or self-immolating vibrato blocks. To me (anyway!), the neck profile has always suited and they actually feel like a decent piece of solid wood.

However, the hideous giant blobby fish logo at the 12th fret is pretty vile by any measure.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjbhqNFe5Tc/U9Z0BTz7B_I/AAAAAAAAFR8/9rmm96Tqx-E/s1600/Marlin+Sidewinder+Advert+1988.JPG


So...Part 2 to follow...



HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
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Comments

  • Firstly, I have to state that:

    a. This was a kitchen table job - I had a spare hour and used whatever tools were to hand.

    b. I’m categorically no luthier, carpenter, etc.

    However...

    I basically carefully chiselled out an oblong from the board, separated the board from a scrap neck, cut a replacement section from that, shaped it to fit and glued and clamped it. Tonight I drop-filled a few gaps with rosewood dust and superglue, then cleaned and oiled the board.

    https://i.imgur.com/EWUHwIT.jpg


    I have to say that I’m quite pleased with the result, given the conditions.

    It’t not the prettiest, but you can’t feel the replacement.

    There are a number of things I’d do differently next time (like doing it in my workshop, instead of in the kitchen with blunt spoons), but it’s another job I’d now feel happy to tackle (should the occasion arise).

    :)


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

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  • OilCityPickupsOilCityPickups Frets: 9982
    tFB Trader
    I would put a dot marker in mind ... it would take the eye away from the off fact there is no 12th fret marker. otherwise, great job!
    Professional pickup winder, horse-testpilot and recovering Chocolate Hobnob addict.
    Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups  ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message  

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  • Just goes to show what can be achieved , nice job .
    Yes that flipping fish at the 12th is an eyesore . 
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  • Actually quite nice necks those
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  • Actually quite nice necks those
    Indeed. They’re surprisingly good quality, considering the rest of the guitar they were screwed to...



    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

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  • Were they made in east Germany at one time then India . You can see how people could be wowed by them at first glance . 
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27344
    Of course, from the collector’s perspective, you’ve completely ruined the guitar now.

    These things can go for up to 57p if they’re in proper original condition (as you probably well know).  With that mod you’d be lucky to get £57 now.

    :D




    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • King85King85 Frets: 631
    If you'd had the tools could you have pulled the frets above and below the 12th then cut through the channels the fret sit in removing the section entirely and replacing by cutting the same out of the donor?
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  • Marlins always looked good from a distance and perfect now for learning .... carpentry on!
    Thing is they were a major step up from the   woolies  top 20 guitar I started on .  
    www.maltingsaudio.co.uk
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  • Were they made in east Germany at one time then India . You can see how people could be wowed by them at first glance . 
    Apparently, very early examples were East German (Musima) and everything else was Korean. 

    Re. India - are you thinking of early Sunn Mustang models?


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 71956
    HarrySeven said:

    Apparently, very early examples were East German (Musima) and everything else was Korean.
    That's correct. There's an East German one in the shop just now, with a sort of blue-to-white shaded finish - a copy of a Fender one of the time called 'Stratoburst'. It's not terrible, but it's not as good as the Korean ones... some of which are actually quite nice, as long as the bridges haven't spontaneously self-destructed.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • spark240spark240 Frets: 2073
    Try something wacky...chop loads of them out and infill with a different material...like aluminium ;-)


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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14321
    Just scallop it.
    Be seeing you.
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