Pablo Jones Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I am looking to buy an Epiphone Century. I found a beautiful one but I found something very curious; two philips head screws on the bottom end of the fretboard. The owner doesn't know the origin nor can he take it to a luthier to tell him why. I'd like to buy the guitar but would like to know if these screws are normal or someone could have done a neck reset? I want one of these in excellent and playable condition. If the screws doesn't affect this then I'd be open to buy but for considerable lower price. This can't be stock. I searched images of this guitar and none had screws! Any ideas guitar experts?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 That's bizarre! I can only assume that the fretboard showed signs of lifting in the area and a previous owner decided to screw it down. Personally I wouldn't touch it not even at a reduced price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainjack Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I am looking to buy an Epiphone Century. I found a beautiful one but I found something very curious; two philips head screws on the bottom end of the fretboard. The owner doesn't know the origin nor can he take it to a luthier to tell him why. I'd like to buy the guitar but would like to know if these screws are normal or someone could have done a neck reset? I want one of these in excellent and playable condition. If the screws doesn't affect this then I'd be open to buy but for considerable lower price. This can't be stock. I searched images of this guitar and none had screws! Any ideas guitar experts?? I agree with what Pin said my take on it would be, if in doubt do without. Captainjack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Hello Pablo, and welcome here. This guitar is botched forever. I would stay away from it by all means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 ...I can only assume that the fretboard showed signs of lifting in the area and a previous owner decided to screw it down. Yes, the fingerboard extension over archtop bodies tends to warp if not supported properly. On High-end archtops, the support is carved from what is still part of the neck/neck block. On lower-end models, the fingerboard either just lays on the soundboard, and/or is supported by a "filler" strip. The transition area at the fingerboard extension is a problem on many archtops. Due to neck-set angle, most problem extensions seem to nose dive at the body. This is generally not a problem with playability, as most archtop players never play that high on the neck anyway. If the fingerboard extension seems to have raised, this could be a sign of other neck/neck-set issues. The bolt-on plate on the back of the neck heel looks to also show signs of major structural repair. Weren't these old Epi's set-necks? Run Away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleeko Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Interesting and cool looking guitar but umm no, I wouldn't buy that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I recently had a MIK Emperor with a neck repair. The person drove two big screws through the fretboard into the heel. Totally unnecessary IMO if the glue was done right. They puttied over them and I didn't see it in the ebay auction, nor was it disclosed to me. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve112 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 That guitar has been botched, it's now toast. Walk away, it's now suited for firewood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I recently had a MIK Emperor with a neck repair. The person drove two big screws through the fretboard into the heel. Totally unnecessary IMO if the glue was done right. They puttied over them and I didn't see it in the ebay auction, nor was it disclosed to me. Oh well. Now that's really bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokeyGhost Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 My immediate reaction on seeing any guitar with that sort of repair is Avoid At All Costs. Not even for parts unless the cost of the guitar is $1 and the seller pays freight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromnabulax Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I remember maybe 40 years ago trying out a guitar in some long forgotten shop. The guitar was interesting because it had a pair of dot inlays up around the 15th or 16th fret. As I was playing the monster one if the inlays fell out revealing the nastiest old Phillips head screw you ever saw! No, I didn't buy the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I wouldn't judge the guitar without seeing it, and that depends on what the price is. In my experience, all those older bolt-on Epi's (acoustic) are potential problems, repaired or not. I can't remember seeing one that didn't need work of some sort. If those two screws there are enough to put you off, you shouldn't be looking at bolt-on neck acoustics at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 all the ear marks of a DIY repair gone horribly wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col Mustard Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 run, don't walk away from something like that. your instinct is correct, and the deal smells bad. there are so many good guitars out there for sale, guitars which are no more and no less than they seem, you shouldn't consider anything fishy at all. And to answer your question: Why are there screws in the fretboard? A: Because there is bullshite somewhere, and the screws are to hold it together just long enough to sell. This is no bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes, the fingerboard extension over archtop bodies tends to warp if not supported properly. On High-end archtops, the support is carved from what is still part of the neck/neck block. On lower-end models, the fingerboard either just lays on the soundboard, and/or is supported by a "filler" strip. The transition area at the fingerboard extension is a problem on many archtops. Due to neck-set angle, most problem extensions seem to nose dive at the body. This is generally not a problem with playability, as most archtop players never play that high on the neck anyway. If the fingerboard extension seems to have raised, this could be a sign of other neck/neck-set issues. The bolt-on plate on the back of the neck heel looks to also show signs of major structural repair. Weren't these old Epi's set-necks? Run Away! Yes, indeed, these were set-neck guitars. That guitar is toast. I would imagine that the screws through the top of the fretboard are helping to hold the neck on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 The Century was Kalamazoo's Epiphone clone of the Gibson ES-125T. It was indeed a set-neck model, so this is a complete hack job. The heel must have been separating from the body, and the owner unfortunately added the fretboard screws and heelplate. I happen to have a '66 ES-125T, and it's worth keeping an eye out for a good one. Mine is in excellent condition, having survived fifty years with no structural issues whatsoever, so unquestionably you can do much better than this botched up example! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campbell Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Wow!?! I don't know whether to laugh or cry? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
357bullfrog Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 That's bizarre! I can only assume that the fretboard showed signs of lifting in the area and a previous owner decided to screw it down. Personally I wouldn't touch it not even at a reduced price. I agree That ones best left alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.