Above: Restored 1968 Silvertone guitar. This was an eBay purchase for $20. The condition of the guitar was far from “wall hanger” grade and closer to that of firewood. However, every guitar, regardless of its condition, is a candidate for restoration; it just comes down to the time invested and whether it’s worth it to someone.

What captured my interest was the color, the intact and usable hardware, the mojo/patina, and of course, the painted-on pickguard. The restoration process took 35 hours , and now it’s as good as new—or, I would argue, better than new. These guitars typically weren’t well set up or playable straight from the factory, but with the right adjustments, they can be great.

This guitar received a new nut and saddle, a new fretboard, a carbon fiber reinforced neck, rebracing, a neck reset, and various structural repairs.

Below: Before and in process restoration