So I have this CE24 from the early 90s that I stole...err traded.... with AP515. It is such a great guitar with honestly earned wear and tear. One of the things that happened to it early in life was the addition of a MIDI pickup that left 3 holes in the body after it was removed.
This guitar is so alive and such an honest example I could not bring myself to do any major cosmetic repairs. I decided instead to plug the holes but in a totally reversible way with the option to reinstall a period correct MIDI if the notion ever hits me.
Here you can see two of the holes I filled with this method and one needing the fill. I used a combination of balsa wood and fingernail polish.
First I took a small piece of balsa and sanded it round and tried a couple of the wife's red finger nail polish to get it close. Again I am not going for perfect. At this point it just needs to be sort of round.
Since the balsa is so soft I can use the actual screw hole as a die to form the plug to the exact diameter.
Once it is to the correct diameter I paint it with the polish and wipe off the excess so it just colors the wood but does not build up any real thickness. I then cut the tip off with a slight taper to make it easy to press fit.
Now I use the universal press tool....to press it flush with the top. I use no glue or anything....just the friction fit of the balsa wood. By using the screw hole as a die it compresses the fibers and they expand to make a perfect fit.
While not perfect I think it hides the holes just enough but maintains the integrity of this honestly played and loved guitar.
Hopefully AP515 approves =)
Steve
This guitar is so alive and such an honest example I could not bring myself to do any major cosmetic repairs. I decided instead to plug the holes but in a totally reversible way with the option to reinstall a period correct MIDI if the notion ever hits me.
Here you can see two of the holes I filled with this method and one needing the fill. I used a combination of balsa wood and fingernail polish.
First I took a small piece of balsa and sanded it round and tried a couple of the wife's red finger nail polish to get it close. Again I am not going for perfect. At this point it just needs to be sort of round.
Since the balsa is so soft I can use the actual screw hole as a die to form the plug to the exact diameter.
Once it is to the correct diameter I paint it with the polish and wipe off the excess so it just colors the wood but does not build up any real thickness. I then cut the tip off with a slight taper to make it easy to press fit.
Now I use the universal press tool....to press it flush with the top. I use no glue or anything....just the friction fit of the balsa wood. By using the screw hole as a die it compresses the fibers and they expand to make a perfect fit.
While not perfect I think it hides the holes just enough but maintains the integrity of this honestly played and loved guitar.
Hopefully AP515 approves =)
Steve
