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…

This is a rare classic American parlor guitar from the 1960s. It is made of maple plywood with a solid poplar neck. There are few signs of it being played, and it likely spent most of its life as a closet guitar. I believe it was never properly set up at the factory. It needed…

Yes, it’s another unknown parlor guitar from early America, my personal favorite to repair and play. This guitar was unplayable when it arrived. The heel was broken, the soundboard was cracked in three places, and the fretboard was unsalvageable – to list its biggest issues. I was interested in the project because it was made…

Over the summer, I have been working on this great old no-name parlor guitar. , I was excited to work on this guitar because it is made out of primarily domestic wood. I understand that many early American guitars were made out of what I call “wood of opportunity” meaning whatever was available. The top…