I don’t know much about this one. It’s really old and was in really bad shape when I got it. It came to me from a local Luthier who again was clearing out his “someday pile” … thanks Jeremy Hamm @hamm-tone guitars for another unique learning opportunity. If you read one of my other recent posts about the Suzuki, you’ll see my daughter learning the craft. This is another one she did most of the dirty work on. (Sidebar – if you’ve never heard of Hamm-Tone Guitars in Winnipeg Canada, you’re missing out on a whole world of magnificent one-of-a-kind, Luthier-built, guitars and mandolins).
Broken headstock, no nut, no saddle, body coming apart, loose braces, top cracks, etc…Not much holding the back on. Gotta start somewhere. Back came off without damage. Notice the strategically placed coffee mug, gratuitously advertising Soulman Guitars Canada. (If you want luthier grade guitars at Walmart prices, you simply must explore Soulman Guitars – no joke, I own them and I play them). All back braces were loose. Removed and now being re-glued. By the way …. I almost never splurge on the purchase of “special luthier tools”. If grandpa could build his whole house himself with a hand saw, a hammer and some nails (and live in it for 70 years) then I figured that many everyday tools can be easily adapted for luthier work (for repair work anyway). So-far-so-good. Repairing tail-block and slight top separation while the back sets up. Spruce cleats added wherever a top crack was through-and-through. Reassembly time. Aaaaannnnddd ….. wait. Making a bridge from a piece of old ebony (repurposed from an old archtop guitar bridge). Shaped, sized and now figuring out string spread. I don’t know nuthin bout mandolins, but looks kinda like it’s supposed to?!?Couple of the tuning pegs are a little bent, but these are original and hold tuning just fine, so I didn’t mess with them. Voila!
General Guitar Works 
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