Here's the before views:
375 Capri Restoration
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
375 Capri Restoration
It started with a disappointing arrival from an ebay auction. What had I gotten myself into?
Here's the before views:
Here's the before views:
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
Pretty ugly, huh?
Some more:
Dig those knobs!
Some more:
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
I think I'm gonna enjoy this thread! 
Keep the photos coming, Ron.
Keep the photos coming, Ron.
'59 425, '59 335, '60 335, '60 360, '60 335F, '60 345F, '64 RM 1999, '65 RM 1998, '65 360-12, '66 335, '67 450-12, '72 4001 '72 4001, '75 4000, '75 4000CS, '00 700S, '01 700C, '01 700S-12, '01 730S-FH, '06 660 DCM
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
Ah, but I see great potential! Where are the end result photos, Ron?
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Music is too important to be left to professionals.
Music is too important to be left to professionals.
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
nice flame on the neck and i love the square heel.Ron i cant wait for the after pics.Capri s fascinate me.I suppose if it wasnt for them there would be no 330.
Can you enlighten us on the what looks like wooden knobs? have you set them on fire?
Can you enlighten us on the what looks like wooden knobs? have you set them on fire?
Last edited by scotty on Sat May 09, 2009 7:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
After searching about for someone to tackle this job, I was alerted by a Kevin Kuney post on the forum to Larry Davis, who has done work for others here. I contacted Larry, showed him the photos, and he agreed to tackle the project. I caught him as he was just finishing up another project, and he was able to fit me in pronto. I sent him the guitar and he started work in January of this year. We had numerous consultations throughout the restoration process, with progress photos at every step as Larry explained to me exactly what he was doing and how he was doing it.
The result arrived yesterday. Color me floored!
The result arrived yesterday. Color me floored!
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
Absolutely stunning.
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
And more . . .
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
WOW, that FG is FG. 
B E A utiful.
B E A utiful.
Last edited by godber on Sat May 09, 2009 7:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
godber wrote:WOW, that FG is FG.
What he said.
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Music is too important to be left to professionals.
Music is too important to be left to professionals.
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
red dot in the neck binding FG all amazing work from Larry.Blown me away congrats thats gotta be the nicest geetar ive seen in a looooooong time.............
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
I do have the Kauffman arm, it just got in the way of the photos.
One of the decisions made was to outfit the guitar with "newer" hardware while being faithful to the vintage aspect of this 1959 instrument. Therefore, the following were replaced: p/u covers, tuners, VB. The fretboard was a mess so Larry totally redid it; though not period-correct, we decided on sparkle inlays because, well, just because! The neck was reset and Larry salvaged the original back wood for the body and rebound it. I was going for kind of a 58-ish Autumnglo look, and gave Larry some pics (graciously supplied by Graham and JWilli) of examples in a 58-style Autumnglo. The result is more Monte Brown to my eyes, though some may call it FG. Whatever one's name for the color, it's all good! The binding wasn't aged, so it looks like a new guitar -- just like they looked when freshly made in 1959 -- with the hi-contrast between the white binding and the dark body edges.
Larry was a pleasure to work with. It goes without saying that I highly recommend him. Apart from his obvious professional skills as a luthier, he is a gentleman, which made the process pleasant and engaging for me. Thanks Larry!
One of the decisions made was to outfit the guitar with "newer" hardware while being faithful to the vintage aspect of this 1959 instrument. Therefore, the following were replaced: p/u covers, tuners, VB. The fretboard was a mess so Larry totally redid it; though not period-correct, we decided on sparkle inlays because, well, just because! The neck was reset and Larry salvaged the original back wood for the body and rebound it. I was going for kind of a 58-ish Autumnglo look, and gave Larry some pics (graciously supplied by Graham and JWilli) of examples in a 58-style Autumnglo. The result is more Monte Brown to my eyes, though some may call it FG. Whatever one's name for the color, it's all good! The binding wasn't aged, so it looks like a new guitar -- just like they looked when freshly made in 1959 -- with the hi-contrast between the white binding and the dark body edges.
Larry was a pleasure to work with. It goes without saying that I highly recommend him. Apart from his obvious professional skills as a luthier, he is a gentleman, which made the process pleasant and engaging for me. Thanks Larry!
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
A1 stunning Ron, superb choices. How does it sound?
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
Wow. Talk about rising from the ashes...congrats Ron - that is just amazing.
LOVE the paint job
Slurp
LOVE the paint job
Slurp
"Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time"
Re: 375 Capri Restoration
Oh, yeah, it plays great! Sound is crisp, nice range of tones and the action is superb. It is a joy to play a nice old Capri and have the action low and buzz-less. This one is NOT staying in the case! I'm pretending it's 1959 and I just bought myself a new guitar!godber wrote:A1 stunning Ron, superb choices. How does it sound?
BTW, on the technical front, the finish is waterborne acrylic laquer.