Wisdom - Prov 15 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 This is to share restoration project on early 1970’s Epiphone 12 string model FT-165 in the event someone has one or similar. This is not a high dollar guitar due to poor bolt on neck design, 0 fret, laminated back and sides, and not assembled well in Japan. Anyone interested in doing similar might consider cost or time involved but for me this post is to say restoration was worth it given the vibrant almost harpsichord sound it now provides. I thought to take on this project because I really wanted a 12 string, can work well with my hands and enjoy luthier type challenges. Anyone who had seen this guitar prior to start may think it ready for the trash. Seriously, this thing had unwanted drill holes, broken sound hole, missing parts, broken stiffener, dings and other problems. After repair surprisingly and although not perfect, the guitar plays beautiful and holds notes under full tension standard med gauge 12 string tuning (eE, aA, dD, gG, BB, EE). Here's what i did to pimp this nearly 40 year old guitar- • Plugged (4) bolt holes through body next to neck • Plugged (4) bolt holes through fingerboard, neck, and neck block • Replaced (2) fret sections of rosewood fingerboard • Inlayed new abalone (1) place • Re-glued/filled lifted Pearlite inlays multiple locations • Block sanded frertboard to 16° radius and removed fingerboard gouges • Re-fretted and honed all new copper-constantine frets (kept 0 fret original stock, slightly larger) • Adjusted limited truss rod (use as is) • Re-glued broken mid body stiffener • Re-glued loose neck block in body • Replaced 2” section of missing/damaged sound hole top/roseette • Routed neck cavity flat • Hardwood lined neck cavity 4 sides for best neck location and centering • Removed and reamed headstock tuner holes • Installed new gold Grover mini tuners • Installed hand fabricated engineering grade graphite thermoplastic nut and cut slots • Removed adjustable bridge and filled with slotted rosewood • Installed hand fabricated engineering grade graphite thermoplastic compensated bridge • Sanded, refinished and buffed guitar body, neck and peg head • Created missing blue tag label • Re-drilled body-neck through holes • Modified (4) new ¼-20 bolts for fastening body to modified neck heel with (4) furniture nuts • Fabricated neck cavity tapered shim • Installed new truss rod cover (epi logo) • Installed (2) new steel guitar strap buttons • Installed new string pegs and strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Congrats on your restore. Yup, you'll never make money fixing them up, just music.... beautiful music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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