acme97

I am continuously amazed that this guitar I originally garbage-picked in Ohio, but sold on ebay (because I didn't have the nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills to fix it), soldiers on in a new life. And with a thread of its own. The headstock and neck were sticking straight out of a blue garbage container, I spotted it as I drove by and it seemed to say "pull up here" so I did...and was amazed to find the whole guitar in not-so-bad shape. I always liked the first-wave Japanese Epiphones, one of the very, very few brands of which I don't own an example. Hmm. The neck block...that's the deal maker/breaker with those. As we now see. Well...cheers all.

Well then...very good sir! I would be the one who sold it on ebay. Glad to see things worked out...I didn't have the skills for all that repair work!

Well...I just got one myself. I'm using on a guitar resting in a guitar stand, the Tone Rite placed right above the bridge, kind of sitting on the top of it so the rubber feet contact the guitar top in between the strings. I had a little trouble getting it to stay, so I used an ace bandage wrapped just tight enough so there is even contact. That worked well. The original post in thread, several pages ago, gives other tips in case you haven't looked back. Enjoy. If John Arnold says (regarding the Tone Rite) "it does something" I'm inclined to believe there is something there as opposed to no effect whatsoever. I read that on another unofficial forum. Shhh...

I say this guitar is worth 50 bucks...but even these Japan Epiphones, and my buddy has a early 12-string I've played at his house for years, play like 100 bucks. So we're ahead if it fixes. These old Epiphones have their own thing going on and I love the sound for what they are. Thanks again!

I have the original bridge, it's just not pictured. I did talk to a guy who said he has absolutely seen that type of bracing (the aluminum U-channels pictured) on these Epiphones before. But I don't know, those two pearl dots on the bridge (covering however the U-channel is affixed to the bridge) make me wonder. But I don't care really. I think it's a classic neck-block problem like you say and from what I've read. Let's see if it fixes...thanks!

A close look at the picture of the tag reveals an uneven cut along the bottom with just the top of the "AN" letters where they cut off the "MADE IN JAPAN" printing. Besides, my surfing around reveals that the 6832 was not made in the states...one of the first Japan guitars. No solid wood, all laminate materials.

Ahhh...nevermind. I did some more surfing (of this forum) today and found some old threads that went into pretty good detail about these early Japan guitars. All laminated wood. BUT also found a good thread about what goes commonly wrong the neck block on these guitars...which was real helpful and now I think I'm starting to imagine the repair history of this guitar before I found it in it's nearly final resting place (the compactor of a garbage truck). I may just try to mess this one myself after all, what the hell. nothing to lose, it was free.

Are the sides and back laminates? The back sure does look like one solid piece of wood because the grain pattern on back I can see inside the guitar. The sides...I'm not so sure. I also assume the top is solid spruce? It doesn't look like a laminate looking at the soundhole edges.

I cannot imagine the metal bracing that's addressing whatever issues the top had can allow for a great-sounding guitar as is. Do they make a replica rosette decal like that? Maybe Stew-Mac or somewhere? I'm going to take it in. I wish I was competent to do guitar repairs myself but generally I am not. Man, the money I could have saved over the years...sigh.

Hi...new on this board! Well, I always got a little jealous when I'd hear about people finding Gibsons in someone's trash, one time a guy told me about finding his Martin D-35 in the garbage in the '60s. After which I threw up. So I finally got my own little story. Driving by someone's garbage, I saw an Epiphone headstock sticking out...I figured it was just a neck but I turned around and said what the hell, and gave a tug. Out came a whole guitar. HA! Everything's there. Only two strings that evidenced way high action but otherwise intact. The back and sides look great...I felt around inside and I can't make the top move along the cracks, I don't think they go through. Please tell me more about this guitar. solid top, solid back, laminate sides? I know it's a Japan guitar but someone cut the bottom of the tag off (I think) which I thought odd. There are two metal braces inside (???), so it's been messed with. The neck is a screw-on, so the bad action can be fixed pretty easy, right? Is it worth just refinishing the top, and do they make a replica rosette decal if I go that route? OR just leave it and get the neck angle fixed. I do like these old Epiphones...is this a OOO size? I collect player guitars, got a couple old Gibsons which I love to play. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so...here's three, including one inside (of the metal brace)! Thank you!