Drop D Tunings
I've recently started buying cheap used guitars with the purpose of learning how to do repairs and setups.
The idea is to clean, repair, add new strings and do a set up so they play as good as I can make them, then donate to a worthy cause.
19/09/2022
008 Mitchell MD100. Picked up for $30, to be honest it was in pretty bad shape. Frets needed leveling and dressing and the action was set at almost 4mm (.16in) at the 12 fret low E. straightened the neck out, fixed the fret issues and reduced the action to a hair over 2.25mm at the 12th. no fret buzz, but the saddle was the most difficult yet to sand down, whatever plastic it was made of was incredibly hard. Next time I'll replace the saddle if I get the same again. This will be donated to Instrument Angels.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
3 stars, good guitar, sounds great but the nut and saddle really are not great to work with.
14/09/2022
007 Jasmine S35. I was given this free with another guitar, it had sat with no strings, saddle or bridge pins for a long time. the neck had warped unfortunately from the top of the body so I had to shim up the new bone saddle to compensate. The frets were a mess, completely uneven but it gave me chance to do my first full level with a beam. WORKED GREAT! No more rocking on the fret rocker, cleaned the guitar, polished the frets, oiled the neck and set the action. Martin stings added. From the state this was its now a very playable guitar with medium action (around .09 in or 2.25 mm at the 12th fret low E). Donated to Instrument Angels.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
4 stars, for a cheap guitar (you can pick these up for 130 new) its incredible value. sounds like a much more expensive guitar!
01/09/2022
006 Jasmine S35. Picked it up for $30. Did a full set up. The neck was very dirty and frets were in bad shape. Had to reseat a couple of them and polish them all. Came out amazingly well and the sound is excellent. Tuners are a little stiff but it holds its tune pretty well. Donating to Instrument Angels on Saturday.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
4 stars, for a cheap guitar (you can pick these up for 130 new) its incredible value. sounds like a much more expensive guitar!
29/08/2022
29/08/2022
005 Yamaha FS720S . Picked up from a guy who found it a stage locker he bought. Was in need of a full clean. Smaller body dreadnought and shorted scale neck.
Did the set up, polished the frets, lowered the action as it was high. first time the neckl was too straight with a slight back bow, so I lowered the saddle and adjusted the truss rod to give a slight front bow (enough to get the tip of a pick under but no more).
retail price for this is 280, guy sold it me for 70. I ended up selling it for 140 to a woman who was looking for a smaller size guitar as the full size dread was too big.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
3 stars, sounds good but not warm enough for my liking. Ive heard better in its price range.
27/08/2022
004 Fender CD 60 Sunburst. Picked up for $50, added Martin phosphor bronze strings Lt Gague. Had a large nasty scratch in the back, started on a small area working backwards with polish, then scratch doctor until 5000 grit removed it. I figured going backwards until I found the grade that worked stopped me starting with 1200 grit and making more work.
Did a full fret polish and f-one oil on the fretboard. Whole guitar was cleaned and polished. Set was easy, came in very low and lots of fret buzz but was at 2 mil. Adjusted the truss rod and made it just over 2.3 at 12th fret.
Couple of frets needed reseating but now it plays excellent! Looks great. I may sell to help pay for a batch of new strings.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
4 stars, great budget guitar!
20/08/2022
built a custon cart so I can do all my setups in the basement and not on the kitchen island, everyone (especially Carol) is happy.
20/08/2022
003 Camp fire guitar, Epiphone DR01. Came in pretty badly scratched with some wood chipped off. sanded the whole thing clean but couldn't get the shiny finish I wanted. Took a shot at leveling the frets, came out ok for a first try. after good advice from my friend Dan I decided to add a skin to the top to hide the finish. Came out great! we decided to keep it and call it Bruce (see custom cover). for a cheap guitar this thing plays great! best one so far.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
4 stars, great budget guitar!
20/08/2022
002 Stagg acoustic small body guitar.
needed good clean, new string and a fret polish. the frets were in terrible condition but I managed to make them shine! Fixed the action. Donated to Instrument Angels, a non profit organization dedicated to helping children in need.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
Overall i would rate this 1.5 stars. Even with new strings and a full set up it plays good but sounds like a toy.
20/08/2022
001 first guitar was a Yamaha FD01s.
Nice guitar, needed the action lowering and a clean, new strings. donated to my daughters school King Elementary.
Rating for price, playability and sound:
2.5 stars. It plays really
Went after the setup but for me sounds a bit hollow, no warmth. Still a good guitar if you find one cheap.