been restoring a hand drill built in 1912 recently, that's 108 years' worth of grime. in the past i've sanded guitars of a similar age and older to this SG and rediscovered different layers laid down by previous generations, each containing distinct odours.
"This is a player's-grade instrument, lots of dings and wear". Translation: it sounds good and is (or once was) fun to play and the owner has loved it to death. I'll take one of those over a pristine time-capsule specimen any day! PS, I can't ever see an SG without thinking, Zappa!
I used to hate SG's, until I actually played one for several minutes, years ago. I now own 7 of them. IMO, they are one of the easiest guitars to hold and play. And -- frets forever. Nice work. Thanks.
Indeed. I really like them for lead work, the strap position allows it to slide right over Angus style. Neck dive is mild compared to many basses, and the fix is a nice wide strap. Going back to Cali from TX this spring to rescue mine, a 24 fret 90s SG-1. 1H, too - that's my 'shred stick'.
@@kampfkustomer2343 Yep...but I'm still a Tele guy at heart. The Tele is the workhorse of guitars, and does so without glamour or pretension. It just works.
The way you disassembled that nut reminds me why I enjoy your content so much; many years ago I sent my Vintage P-bass to "the best guitar repairman in my country" for a new nut, but when I got it back after a few months, one of the walls of the nut channel was severely chipped off and it was left that way, and the new nut was shimmed on a strip of plastic, not glued either. I draw inspiration from people who are excellent at their handiwork and pay close attention to detail, and your videos fit the bill. Take care, Ted.
@@michaellupu2080 And yet Ted wonders why people keep contacting him about doing repairs. The world is full of neglectful, inconsistent and overall incompetent repair guys, everyone wants someone like Ted to handle their instrument
Loved the video! I could watch you doing a re-fret a thousand times, I promise we don’t get bored. Honestly I love every single one of your videos! Really well explained and interesting. Thank you for doing them! All the love❤️
Really enjoy the calm manner in which you approach your repairs. Right now there are a good deal of Carnival Barkers working the you tube guitar community in the States. Someone recently said " Canada must feel like they rented an apartment above a Meth Lab". Looking forward to your future Videos. Thank You.
I just use a good piece of hardwood like maple and run it over my jointer just before sticking the sand paper on it. Works great and it’s much cheaper than a fret leveling beam.
I bought an SG from 2004 with a neck repair that looked like the one you just fixed up. Doesn’t look good, but it stays in tune and was only $450. Still going strong! Excellent work as always!
Man that bridge pickup is surprisingly jangly. I really don't understand why 70s Gibsons get a bad rep other than just being "different" than the 50s-60s models
I have this model SG from the very early 70's (Gibsons numbering method is a bit vague around this time for dating your SG)...Anyhoo, my SG is this colour and even under the pick guard it is this colour...I don't think mine was ever cherry but looks exactly the same as this...I managed to get mine in a CashConverter shop in Kings Heath Birmingham UK in 1996 for £320...It was good deal even back then they were going for about £1000 in London...at the time I wouldn't have been able to get one otherwise...I had no money...So it's still with me today...and is a lovely guitar to play...
Though I am not an electric guitar man, I always love to watch your work on them and listening to your knowledge on the history of electric guitars and model differences. Who knows, I might step into one some day. Thank you.
So in tune with every guitar you get. Likely the best person to take any guitar to. I have not seen anyone better. Thank you for posting. Alberta Dave 🇨🇦😊🇨🇦
Love your videos! I have a mended ‘74 SG and still have my harmonica bridge. My SG is so light! (6lbs?) It has an ebony fretboard. Neck pickup butted right up against the neck. Small block inlay including the first fret. It came with a real psychedelic case. (Gibson Artist Series) It still plays AND SOUNDS great! Wish I could send a picture. And, btw, I am the guy that coined the term “whammybar” back in 69 NOT Lonnie Mack. Just sayin’. Big deal, huh?
Damn I miss working at a custom shop. I was on frets when I started and every now and again I had the pleasure of pulling frets and god I love that slow work!
If anyone ever questions what kind of funky changes Norlin made to the classics direct them to the SG-I. The neck sits well above the body, narrow nut, shallow headstock angle. It feels more like a Rickenbacker neck than a Gibson. It's been my go-to guitar for years.
Thanks for another great video. I wonder if the original “harmonica” bridge was a lower profile than the replacement ABR. This might explain why, along with the low neck angle, it’s difficult to obtain a low string action.
Did one of these in the 90's. Someone sanded away most of the fretboard in a failed attempt to compound radius it! I used a thicker fretboard and tall frets like you did. It turned out to be quite a player! All the guys at the shop played it when it was done and none of them ever noticed the board was thicker!
Those are mini humbuckers. Gibson used them for a while for lower end instruments. I don't know if they're the same as regular mini humbuckers, with plastic covers substituted. But, yeah, they sound fine. Unfortunately by this time, PAF style were becoming all the rage, and these became the garbage in the eyes of mojo seekers. Perhaps enough time has passed? Everything gets mojo with age.
I bought a 62’ Junior and a 2020 Jr-last year? Had to send both back. Yes-I love them...I really do. Sometimes it boils down to economics and/or a good luthier. . You worked wonders. I’ve played some amazing ones. I think you may have mistook “sweaty hands”, for bong water mishaps and Cheeto grease. I got excited when I thought you were going to spline it. Something about that repair restores my faith I mankind.
I have the same guitar, mine's brown also (except under the plate and in the cavity!) and for ten+ years I've struggled to date it other than '70-73. The info you gave on pickup position, height and neck angle makes me believe it's a 73 - no headstock break yet though! Thanks a lot and great video!
look on the pots code in the back cavity mate. ive had my 73 special since 1987 and for years i didnt know what year, but then the pot codes showed 73. combined with the mini hums and harmonica bridge... deffo a 73 all the best.
Birmingham, England: people around here used to use "crick" to refer to (mostly) the local canals. When I was a kid many references were made to throwing unwanted bicycles etc., into the crick. The canals have gone through a renewal program - there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice - and From the frequency with which I heard it I'd imagine tons of rusty metal were dragged out during it.
Repairs running in packs is kind of an interesting little chaos phenomenon that I’ve noticed, too. Certain things like cracked acoustic tops in winter or broken headstocks during the height of the gigging season are one thing. Of course that’s gonna happen. But every once in a while it’s like “Wait...three vintage thinline teles this month? What’s going on here?” I know it’s just chaos and “pattern recognition” for the most part...pareidolia as it were. It’s funny that it happens to other repair guys though.
I had one of these for about 15 years. It had an ABR bridge, not a harmonica bridge, so I suspect that's original. It was exactly that walnut color. If it was ever cherry, it faded very early in its life.
Had the same guitar. The cherry red was still visible under pick guard, pick up rings and poker chip. The rest was the same walnut colour. Great guitar.
As a Gibson player/owner for 50 years and used, abused, toured, gigged, recorded, I have NEVER broken a headstock, am I lucky? Even my '64 SG Special is break free. BTW, I really enjoy watching your content, seeing someone who really knows what they are doing and has an enthusiasm for it I find really rewarding. Thanks.
When I was younger I bought (or obtained from the trash) some beat up guitars and made them somewhat playable. Sometimes I wish I kept working on guitars if only as a hobby. I find your videos informative and soothing - something I need a lot of these days. -m
Nice straightforward job! Good results! I see you strung it up orthodox style not with the strings 'top wrapping' over the tailpiece. From a personal perspective, I think it looks daft when the strings are top wrapped and it makes the break angle over the bridge shallower which I also do not like
My SG makes for a great "slide guitar". The way it's designed, makes it easy to slide all the way to the body without my hand doing contortions to reach that last fret, and it still sounds clean. Cheers !
Every SG I have ever owned had neck issues and I sometimes felt that if you just looked at it wrong the headstock would drop off. Lol when they were repaired properly and only for short time they were a lot of fun. But too much trouble.
Interesting. I’ve got an undamaged 1972 SG with original bigsby which has faded in exactly the same way. I have the original harmonica bridge but I put an ABR on it because the original gives unstable tuning. Nice job Ted.
Enjoy your vids. Fine work. I do have to take issue with your fret removal. I never have chipping. Use a heat lamp with small pieces of cardboard covered in aluminum foil set about 1/8” from the fret. Heat for say 30 seconds then use a set of old diamond brand end cutters flattened on the grinder. Just pinch the fret and that puts downward pressure on the wood at the slot. Never never raise the tool! Pinch all the way across....that’s it....never any wood chipped out. Your mileage may vary.
Great work to an old classic. You are 100% correct. The repair doesnt look "perfect" and the eye doesnt draw right to it, but it blends in well with the patina of the older finish. Really nice frets.
Over oiling is a serious issue... Is there a manual out there that says oil them every day? I see that once in awhile and you have to sit the owner down and let them know that once every 6 months is usually good... I'm guessing there are guitar stores that push polishes and cleaning products. Great looking repairs as usual. Thanks for bringing us along. -Greg
Good repair work. I actually think the placement of those pickups help this guitar's sound. I built a tele once that I moved both pickups toward the center of the body and was very happy with the results ...
Nice job.. I have a 1976 standard with harmonica bridge and really like it. I tend to stay away from the 72-74 oddball era where the bridge pickup is moved away from the bridge and sounds a bit muddy.. the neck was also pushed down in these years.. but they corrected this kid year 1974 I believe. norlin era SG don't get enough credit as they do play very well.. nice job!!
Everyone’s favorite luthier wordsmith...
His wordsmithing is my favorite part, aside his chisel carves. Those chisel carves are very satisfying.
👃🏾
50 years of funk in those fret slots, man... That's so disgustingly fascinating.
been restoring a hand drill built in 1912 recently, that's 108 years' worth of grime. in the past i've sanded guitars of a similar age and older to this SG and rediscovered different layers laid down by previous generations, each containing distinct odours.
The funk of 40,000 years!
Joe Walsh says it's just 49 years worth of funk, hence Funk 49.....😁
Keef Richards would have snorted it.
"This is a player's-grade instrument, lots of dings and wear". Translation: it sounds good and is (or once was) fun to play and the owner has loved it to death. I'll take one of those over a pristine time-capsule specimen any day! PS, I can't ever see an SG without thinking, Zappa!
Look at the Main Squeeze and Derek Trucks. They both rock SG guitars
Yessss!!!
I used to hate SG's, until I actually played one for several minutes, years ago. I now own 7 of them.
IMO, they are one of the easiest guitars to hold and play. And -- frets forever. Nice work. Thanks.
I play an sg bass and love it. Neck feels absolutely perfect
sgs are very comfortable despite the neck dive. i like me a good strat though
I love mine(but one is all I need lol) I prefer to hold on to the neck anyway dive or not
Indeed. I really like them for lead work, the strap position allows it to slide right over Angus style.
Neck dive is mild compared to many basses, and the fix is a nice wide strap.
Going back to Cali from TX this spring to rescue mine, a 24 fret 90s SG-1. 1H, too - that's my 'shred stick'.
@@kampfkustomer2343 Yep...but I'm still a Tele guy at heart. The Tele is the workhorse of guitars, and does so without glamour or pretension. It just works.
The way you disassembled that nut reminds me why I enjoy your content so much; many years ago I sent my Vintage P-bass to "the best guitar repairman in my country" for a new nut, but when I got it back after a few months, one of the walls of the nut channel was severely chipped off and it was left that way, and the new nut was shimmed on a strip of plastic, not glued either.
I draw inspiration from people who are excellent at their handiwork and pay close attention to detail, and your videos fit the bill.
Take care, Ted.
I believe it’s Ted
@@vajohnaldischarge You're absolutely right, thank you for bringing this to my attention.
@@michaellupu2080 And yet Ted wonders why people keep contacting him about doing repairs. The world is full of neglectful, inconsistent and overall incompetent repair guys, everyone wants someone like Ted to handle their instrument
@@ileutur6863 I couldn't agree more.
Your technical explanations are just so fascinating and informative - Bravo to you
Loved the video! I could watch you doing a re-fret a thousand times, I promise we don’t get bored. Honestly I love every single one of your videos! Really well explained and interesting. Thank you for doing them! All the love❤️
twoodfrd: “Well hey there, gang”
Me: SLAMS that like button
YES
Oils seeping in between frets and end grain was great info. I would never have thought of that. 🍻
Really enjoy the calm manner in which you approach your repairs. Right now there are a good deal of Carnival Barkers working the you tube guitar community in the States. Someone recently said " Canada must feel like they rented an apartment above a Meth Lab". Looking forward to your future Videos. Thank You.
That Mark Agnesi diss lol
Yeah agnisi is a tool. Long ago I tried interviewing him for a college assignment and he told me he had better things to do.
Play authentic
Towards the end of his job at Norman's he started dissing Fender little more and hyping up Gibson.
@@chrisclines2880 That's terrible.
his vibe really creeps me out.
It’s therapeutic watching a master at his craft. You’ve transformed that guitar well done.
I could really watch luthier videos forever
also kind of a luthier myself
not gonna lie, i was going a little crazy without your videos
I think u speak on behalf of all of ‘the gang’ - I know I’ve been checking at least every 4 hour interval for the last week or so!
Indeed they do yield some healing properties to support mental health.
Maybe you should convince him to do streaming
I’ve been rewatching previous content.
This is seriously one of the few channels that has any grace. Always love whatever is uploaded!
I was hoping for “ Highway to Hell” Ted... great job
It makes me so happy to see you using a Stanley level as a fret leveling beam!! Mine works great.
I just use a good piece of hardwood like maple and run it over my jointer just before sticking the sand paper on it. Works great and it’s much cheaper than a fret leveling beam.
I love watching your videos before bed
I bought an SG from 2004 with a neck repair that looked like the one you just fixed up. Doesn’t look good, but it stays in tune and was only $450. Still going strong! Excellent work as always!
My favorite channel. Love watching a Master Luthier. So much zen in these vids.
No Dogs in Space shoutout! My favorite podcast!
Man that bridge pickup is surprisingly jangly. I really don't understand why 70s Gibsons get a bad rep other than just being "different" than the 50s-60s models
I have this model SG from the very early 70's (Gibsons numbering method is a bit vague around this time for dating your SG)...Anyhoo, my SG is this colour and even under the pick guard it is this colour...I don't think mine was ever cherry but looks exactly the same as this...I managed to get mine in a CashConverter shop in Kings Heath Birmingham UK in 1996 for £320...It was good deal even back then they were going for about £1000 in London...at the time I wouldn't have been able to get one otherwise...I had no money...So it's still with me today...and is a lovely guitar to play...
Though I am not an electric guitar man, I always love to watch your work on them and listening to your knowledge on the history of electric guitars and model differences. Who knows, I might step into one some day. Thank you.
So in tune with every guitar you get. Likely the best person to take any guitar to. I have not seen anyone better. Thank you for posting. Alberta Dave 🇨🇦😊🇨🇦
Great job per usual, those pickups sound great even with their goofy position!
Love your videos! I have a mended ‘74 SG and still have my harmonica bridge. My SG is so light! (6lbs?) It has an ebony fretboard. Neck pickup butted right up against the neck. Small block inlay including the first fret. It came with a real psychedelic case. (Gibson Artist Series) It still plays AND SOUNDS great! Wish I could send a picture. And, btw, I am the guy that coined the term “whammybar” back in 69 NOT Lonnie Mack. Just sayin’. Big deal, huh?
Wow! Man, you're making some of the best videos on the Tube. You crushed that finished job and you have great taste in podcasts.
Damn I miss working at a custom shop. I was on frets when I started and every now and again I had the pleasure of pulling frets and god I love that slow work!
If anyone ever questions what kind of funky changes Norlin made to the classics direct them to the SG-I. The neck sits well above the body, narrow nut, shallow headstock angle. It feels more like a Rickenbacker neck than a Gibson. It's been my go-to guitar for years.
Thanks for another great video. I wonder if the original “harmonica” bridge was a lower profile than the replacement ABR. This might explain why, along with the low neck angle, it’s difficult to obtain a low string action.
I could watch you work all day. That's a lovely sounding SG.
Had to stop jamming to watch, always enjoy!
Great job! A pleasure to watch!
Did one of these in the 90's. Someone sanded away most of the fretboard in a failed attempt to compound radius it! I used a thicker fretboard and tall frets like you did. It turned out to be quite a player! All the guys at the shop played it when it was done and none of them ever noticed the board was thicker!
Love those late 60s SG Specials! The P90s have such a great sound. The neck on my '68 plays like a dream.Thanks for the video!
Those are mini humbuckers. Gibson used them for a while for lower end instruments. I don't know if they're the same as regular mini humbuckers, with plastic covers substituted. But, yeah, they sound fine. Unfortunately by this time, PAF style were becoming all the rage, and these became the garbage in the eyes of mojo seekers. Perhaps enough time has passed? Everything gets mojo with age.
@@SuperShecky If you read my comment again I was referring to the pre Norlin 60s SG Specials with P90s...
i love everything about your videos your attention to detail the explanation very knowledgeable overall
I bought a 62’ Junior and a 2020 Jr-last year? Had to send both back. Yes-I love them...I really do. Sometimes it boils down to economics and/or a good luthier. . You worked wonders. I’ve played some amazing ones. I think you may have mistook “sweaty hands”, for bong water mishaps and Cheeto grease. I got excited when I thought you were going to spline it. Something about that repair restores my faith I mankind.
I have the same guitar, mine's brown also (except under the plate and in the cavity!) and for ten+ years I've struggled to date it other than '70-73. The info you gave on pickup position, height and neck angle makes me believe it's a 73 - no headstock break yet though! Thanks a lot and great video!
look on the pots code in the back cavity mate. ive had my 73 special since 1987 and for years i didnt know what year, but then the pot codes showed 73. combined with the mini hums and harmonica bridge... deffo a 73 all the best.
Beautiful work, as usual! Sweet guitar too.
When I saw the neck, I thought it was still broken! In the end, happy ending, looks great, frets look good too! Fine job
Outstanding work
Great work, guy! This is such a beautiful guitar!
Masterful work as usual.
Awesome work as usual Ted!
Southwestern Pennsylvanian here, didn’t know anyone in Canada said crick instead of creek.
French here. Can't tell the difference between crick and creek XD
Birmingham, England: people around here used to use "crick" to refer to (mostly) the local canals. When I was a kid many references were made to throwing unwanted bicycles etc., into the crick. The canals have gone through a renewal program - there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice - and From the frequency with which I heard it I'd imagine tons of rusty metal were dragged out during it.
Always used to joke with my mom about how she pronounced "Crick" and "warsh your hands".
A lovely memory.
She was from rural Ontario near Prescott.
Rural Utah here - we got cricks here too :)
As a Michigander I've always held a crick to be a small creek.
First time viewer. Very nice work! And very enjoyable video. I'll be back for sure. Thanks.
Nice easy repairs that turned out well,
Repairs running in packs is kind of an interesting little chaos phenomenon that I’ve noticed, too. Certain things like cracked acoustic tops in winter or broken headstocks during the height of the gigging season are one thing. Of course that’s gonna happen. But every once in a while it’s like “Wait...three vintage thinline teles this month? What’s going on here?”
I know it’s just chaos and “pattern recognition” for the most part...pareidolia as it were. It’s funny that it happens to other repair guys though.
Former audio electronics repair tech here......same phenomena noted!
Wow, I want that SG bad. Especially with the jumbo frets. Sounds amazing.
Fantastic job as usual!!!
Another great video. Thank you so much!
I had one of these for about 15 years. It had an ABR bridge, not a harmonica bridge, so I suspect that's original. It was exactly that walnut color. If it was ever cherry, it faded very early in its life.
Glad you are back man.
Some more fine work, that SG sounds great.
Had the same guitar. The cherry red was still visible under pick guard, pick up rings and poker chip. The rest was the same walnut colour. Great guitar.
Your videos always a treat-and-a-half, and I'm more inspired to tackle some buzzing fret issues on my Seagull dreadnought.
I had this model back in the 70s and it was redder. Same pickups! I slapped a couple DiMarzzio humbuckers in it.
Best guitar Luthery and repair channel. 🙏
Don’t care how many 12 strings or fret jobs u get at once❤️ love the long vids
Love those inlays.
Ive owned two of these, still have one. Cool guitars.
I cannot imagine how booked up you are with your level of care ... I would drive my guitars from the East Coast of Canada to you if need be !!
That axe sounds sooo good!
Great work again Ted
Over the years Gibson has painted the SGs all kinds of candy colors but isn't this the color we really want.
excellent work .
Just, wow! It seems impossible and yet he shows how it is done.
I live in London, ON and I hope to one day to get some work done by you, great stuff
As a Gibson player/owner for 50 years and used, abused, toured, gigged, recorded, I have NEVER broken a headstock, am I lucky? Even my '64 SG Special is break free. BTW, I really enjoy watching your content, seeing someone who really knows what they are doing and has an enthusiasm for it I find really rewarding. Thanks.
Me too. Gibsons don't break, people break them.
you are a mighty god of guitar repair
What a find this channel is very nice to Relax too
You are like a surgeon with this things. 😎😎
When I was younger I bought (or obtained from the trash) some beat up guitars and made them somewhat playable. Sometimes I wish I kept working on guitars if only as a hobby.
I find your videos informative and soothing - something I need a lot of these days.
-m
Great job man!
Wow great work! That is an excellent players grade guitar
Great work.
Such a pretty guitar.
Nice straightforward job! Good results! I see you strung it up orthodox style not with the strings 'top wrapping' over the tailpiece. From a personal perspective, I think it looks daft when the strings are top wrapped and it makes the break angle over the bridge shallower which I also do not like
Nice work!
Awesome video thanks for sharing. Stay well and safe my friend.
My SG makes for a great "slide guitar". The way it's designed, makes it easy to slide all the way to the body without my hand doing contortions to reach that last fret, and it still sounds clean. Cheers !
I think this would have originally had P-90's. Too bad it still doesn't. Great job as usual.
Originally had the minihumbuckers you see...
So good T.
Every SG I have ever owned had neck issues and I sometimes felt that if you just looked at it wrong the headstock would drop off. Lol when they were repaired properly and only for short time they were a lot of fun. But too much trouble.
I love your channel
Great video!
That sg sounds great. Very chimey.
Interesting. I’ve got an undamaged 1972 SG with original bigsby which has faded in exactly the same way. I have the original harmonica bridge but I put an ABR on it because the original gives unstable tuning. Nice job Ted.
Enjoy your vids. Fine work. I do have to take issue with your fret removal. I never have chipping. Use a heat lamp with small pieces of cardboard covered in aluminum foil set about 1/8” from the fret. Heat for say 30 seconds then use a set of old diamond brand end cutters flattened on the grinder. Just pinch the fret and that puts downward pressure on the wood at the slot. Never never raise the tool! Pinch all the way across....that’s it....never any wood chipped out. Your mileage may vary.
Great job!
Great work to an old classic. You are 100% correct. The repair doesnt look "perfect" and the eye doesnt draw right to it, but it blends in well with the patina of the older finish. Really nice frets.
Good job !
Great point abt overusing fretboard oils and the negative effects it can cause. If the frets r glued that’s much less of an issues but.
63 is old,we had a mahogany one, felt like it weighed maybe 3 pounds,i knew nothing of them,an traded for an i banez flying v...
very nice.. and nice playing
Over oiling is a serious issue... Is there a manual out there that says oil them every day? I see that once in awhile and you have to sit the owner down and let them know that once every 6 months is usually good... I'm guessing there are guitar stores that push polishes and cleaning products. Great looking repairs as usual. Thanks for bringing us along. -Greg
Good repair
work. I actually think the placement of those pickups help this guitar's sound. I built a tele once that I moved both pickups toward the center of the body and was very happy with the results ...
I think it does good things for the bridge pickup. The minibuckers can be a bit strident to my ear. This one was kind of smoothed out.
I usually listen to Bob and Tom podcast on the radio.
Nice job.. I have a 1976 standard with harmonica bridge and really like it. I tend to stay away from the 72-74 oddball era where the bridge pickup is moved away from the bridge and sounds a bit muddy.. the neck was also pushed down in these years.. but they corrected this kid year 1974 I believe. norlin era SG don't get enough credit as they do play very well.. nice job!!