zombywoof Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 I do not snag these kinds of guitars because I am necessarily looking for a challenge or just something to do. It is because I am a notorious cheapskate. Anyway, here be a 1953 Epiphone Triumph Regent. These were pretty much the Epi version of the Gibson L-7C with a deeper cutaway. I do not even want to ponder what happened to this instrument. The blood-like streaks on the top were caused by the pickguard literally melting. I have what is left of the pickguard and it ain't pretty. The binding has shrunken and popped off the top and the back binding is missing although I do have it. The Frequensator Tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners are also missing. Probably removed and sold along with the original Lifton case. Assuming I run into nothing else inky though, all in all a very doable repair job.
j45nick Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 I do not snag these kinds of guitars because I am necessarily looking for a challenge or just something to do. It is because I am a notorious cheapskate. Anyway, here be a 1953 Epiphone Triumph Regent. These were pretty much the Epi version of the Gibson L-7C. I do not even want to ponder what happened to this instrument. The blood-like streaks on the top were caused by the pickguard literally melting. I have what is left of the pickguard and it ain't pretty. The binding has shrunken and popped off the top and the back binding is missing although I do have it. The Frequensator Tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners are also missing. Probably removed and sold along with the original Lifton case. Assuming I run into nothing else inky though, all in all a very doable repair job. Actually, that looks pretty nice, ZW. Is the construction like the L-7, with carved top and back, or is it press-molded ply? My 1947 L-7 just went to a new home in the UK a few weeks ago. It was a really nice guitar, but I never really bonded with it. I'm a flat-top kind of guy at the end of the day. The original celluloid finger rest on my L-7 was "melting" when I bought it. It's quite remarkable how much damage deteriorating celluloid can do to metal parts and the finish. I was sorely tempted to light the guard with a torch to see what happened. Maybe I've finally grown up enough not to conduct such experiments, which frequently ended badly when I was younger.
sbpark Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 Heck, if you have the skill, time and patience to restore that, then I say go for it (and post pics for the rest of us to drool over!) As long as the neck and body are in decent shape, no cracks of major damage and you can fix/replace the binding and source the missing parts it should be a nice guitar in the end. Best of luck!
BigKahune Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 . Nice find. . Making me pine for the Epi MB Century DeLuxe release. Whatz your plan on the stain - leave it, or strip/bleach/sand? .
Martin 1940D28 Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 A little elbow grease and patience and a few bucks, you'll have a winner.
L5Larry Posted July 9, 2016 Posted July 9, 2016 WOW...... neat guitar. That one is right up my alley. I'm ALMOST drooling..., OK I AM drooling. If you decide you don't want to tackle the project, I would be REAL interested in that guitar. I've been jones'n for a cutaway acoustic archtop, and that old Epi would be PERFECT!
BluesKing777 Posted July 10, 2016 Posted July 10, 2016 Cool, ZW! Melted guard? Looks a bit like bloodstains and Exhibit A... Hope that comes off easily with some Virtuoso. BluesKing777.
zombywoof Posted July 10, 2016 Author Posted July 10, 2016 Actually, that looks pretty nice, ZW. Is the construction like the L-7, with carved top and back, or is it press-molded ply? It has a carved top. The specs and the "experts" all say it has a carved back but I am not totally convinced.
zombywoof Posted July 10, 2016 Author Posted July 10, 2016 . Nice find. . Making me pine for the Epi MB Century DeLuxe release. Whatz your plan on the stain - leave it, or strip/bleach/sand? . I gather that the natural top versions of these guitars are not as easy to come by as the bursts. I got a small bit the nasty stuff cleaned off but the melting scratchplate took out the lacquer and stained the wood. I will probably just leave it as is for now and worry about it down the line. Who knows, I just might become attached to the Bloody Mary look. Even the binding (or what is left of it) had felt from the case stuck to it. I will order the tailpiece for the guitar next week and probably stop by Mass Street Music about tuners to see what they have as originals are pretty flippin' pricey and nobody is making repros of the Sealfast tuners.
OldCowboy Posted July 10, 2016 Posted July 10, 2016 All sounds good to me - should prove to be a nice instrument. I don't envy you the work, but that's only because I've become lazy (not to mention useless). lol
MissouriPicker Posted July 10, 2016 Posted July 10, 2016 I think that kind of a project is really cool, interesting, a learning process, a hobby, and quite likely something very rewarding. I likely don't have the skills to refurbish a guitar that is in pretty bad shape and for sure I don't have the patience.....Now you've got me thinking of those Epi arch tops we were talking about a couple weeks back........BTW, I'd be real interested in seeing/hearing this guitar when you're done with it.,
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