OffsetGuitars.com

Well i've arrived in Germany and have happily reunited with most of my old guitars.

I was a bit worried about the early 70s Tele Custom, as i really didn't know if the woodworms were still in it when i sent it here, but it looks the same (no new damage) and there's no new sawdust in the case or coming out of it. So it's safe to assume the damage is old and the fuckers outta there...
Still, i know a guy who works in radiology, and he offered to have it x-ray/scanned, so there will be cool pics soon.

original NGD thread here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=85029

Anyway, it's very badly damaged and fragile in some spots, and i'm sure it wouldn't survive a single gig

So i plan on filling the baddest spots with some sorta wood filler, where the worms only left a thin layer of paint and nothing more. I'd need something injectable and not too dark-colored. There's a paste called Holzkitt here, apparently it's just wood dust and glue... might give it a shot.

But before i go out and spend money, does anyone here any other advice?
I'll try to post better pics of the damage ASAP.

Thanks!

Pat.

Are you sure they're not Toneworms? If they are, don't fill the holes!!!!

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:Are you sure they're not Toneworms? If they are, don't fill the holes!!!!

If they are Toneworms do breeding an and sell them!

A thin super glue or epoxy might be a good choice for filling in the damage without creating more trouble in the process - maybe something like this:

http://www.jbweld.com/products/wood-res ... -epoxy-kit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd worry that a putty wouldn't penetrate too deeply, and might require a bunch of sanding.

There used to be an injectable rot fixer in the Marine (boat) world. This is what I see on the market today:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/boatlife- ... 20_001_009

also just saw this further in the search:

http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/mai ... d-hardener

ken

maybe more likely to be carpenter ants.

http://www.leupitz.com/img/pest_img/car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... nts_03.jpg

http://www.whitworthpestsolutions.com/b ... Damage.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One fix might involve something called Durham's Water Putty. You mix it with water and it will pour into an area, so you might be able to get it to go down into the holes. Maybe injecting it with a syringe? Online it says that it is made with gypsum, so it's likely to be pretty dense. It is sandable and gives a smooth surface. I have no idea how it might alter the sound of the instrument.

Can't wait to see that x-ray pic !!!
I know, not helping here...

wow thanks guys!

jthomas wrote:maybe more likely to be carpenter ants.

http://www.leupitz.com/img/pest_img/car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... nts_03.jpg

http://www.whitworthpestsolutions.com/b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... Damage.jpg

One fix might involve something called Durham's Water Putty. You mix it with water and it will pour into an area, so you might be able to get it to go down into the holes. Maybe injecting it with a syringe? Online it says that it is made with gypsum, so it's likely to be pretty dense. It is sandable and gives a smooth surface. I have no idea how it might alter the sound of the instrument.

Durham's water putty is good stuff - it cures chemically, (It is like a cross between wood putty and plaster) so it will cure even if it is put on really thick and not exposed to air. It is very dense stuff. ...but then so is 1970's Fender ash.

...what I'd do if I were in your shoes is take some scrap ash wood or something close, drill a bunch of holes in your chunk of scrap, and then try out a few different Miracle Goops and see which one does the job the best. The winning Miracle Goop gets to advance to the Telecaster Round.

If you test things out on a piece of scrap, you can always cut up the scrap after your test to see which product penetrates into the holes best. ...and you don't risk wrecking the Tele with a product that doesn't work.

haven't made it to the store yet, but here's some good pics.
most of the heavy damage is on the lower body, but there's also some holes in the neck and so on. but the most urgent stuff is the neck pocket, for sure!












it's getting fragile down there. old pics in the NGD thread.



ok stay tuned.

i'll be in Cologne over the weekend, but on monday i should be able to start filling some of those holes.

Unbelievable...never seen anything like that

It's like the termites decided to turn your guitar into a Thinline all by themselves.

I actually find those pictures a bit unsettling, creepy even. Like something still might crawl out of those body holes one day.

i'd squirt that fukker full of epoxy, sand it flat, refinish it (or not), and play the dog shit out of it.

Naw, rock that fucker as is.

(Sorry, Pat, but turnabout's fair play. )