At the beginning… an insurmountable amount of work needed to be done. At the end… nothing left but to let her rip. UNBELIEVABLE. Truly I am flabbergasted. So happy that relic was salvaged.
Not only the restoration, but the camera shots and editing with a thorough explanation for each process. The amount of work he puts in to this channel is incredible.
I'm not even a Gibson enjoyer that much, but I'm a definite lover of luthiery, and this, Ted, is one of the most beautiful shows of craftsmanship I've seen, apart from all the other videos I've been watching for the last 4 years or so. I must say, you're a LEGEND!!!
Good God man, that has got to be one of the most extensive repair jobs I've ever seen! You turned what most would consider a lost cause into something practically indistinguishable from the better examples out there. Truly a testament to your immense skill as a luthier. Bravo, good sir!
Ted, a great restoration of a vintage 1959 Gibson LP Junior... you are indeed a masterful luthier. As a former Gibson salesperson from 50 years ago and consumate guitar collector and professional player with over 90 instruments I was impressed by your woodworking and restoration abilities. I have an original '56 LP that I've had since the 70's and many other Gibson's. By restoring this instrument you have returned it to service and 200 years from now it will probably still be making music due to your fine work. It was often said that a talented luthier could repair a Stradivari violin that was smashed to bits by carefully reconstructing the wood and design of it's maker and you have illustrated how that is possible with this relic from the dawn of rock and roll. 🎸
This is one of the coolest Ted videos i have seen in a bit. I dont really care if it's a '59 LP Junior or an '94 Epi LP Standard. Just witnessing the whole process is fantastic. I already know it's going to turn out great, but to see how much care and precision he has to put into it is inspiring!
Funny you mention a 94 Epi LP Standard.. Ive owned two, sequential serial numbers though I bought them years apart (very weird!) both made by Samick in “Heritage Cherry Burst”, and having now owned quite a few “real” Les Paul’s and Epis I would place those Samicks among the best I’ve ever played. I don’t know if there was magic in Korea that day or what but I lament selling them regularly.
@@Charlee_Murphee I was looking through eBay and came across one that looked just like mine, With the "S" serial number shown in a photo, so I went and looked and low and behold it was one number higher. So I bought it.
I enjoy this longform content. I don't know if you read much of the comments (I would imagine not), but if you do I want to thank you for giving me a well-needed diversion. My father unexpectedly passed away Thursday, and it was nice to have a reason to get away from the grief and drama for a while.
So sorry for your loss boydbc. My dear mother also passed away Thursday afternoon this week at age 100. The greatest gift she ever gave me was my first guitar, and the gift of music that no one will ever be able to take away from me. God bless and hang in there.
@@michaelwitkowski6003 Thank you for your kind words, and I am also sorry for your loss. I can't help but notice the similarity in our circumstances. My father gave me the gift of music as well, and that's a gift that I will cherish to the end of my days. God bless you, and may the gift of music always be there for you.
Hope both of you are doing well, I'm sorry to hear of both your losses. Music is truly a great gift! Hope you guys get some time to rest and get back stronger💪🏻🔥🙏🏻
Those holes near the bridge look a lot like the mounting holes for an old hagstrom vibrato, that big hole in the middle would be for the spring and those six holes would be the mounting holes!
What a massive project! It's wild that people have driven the prices of vintage Gibsons up so high that it's essentially impossible to damage one enough that it's not worth fixing. Grateful as ever to you, Ted, for sharing your work and your experience with us. I wish you and yours all the best through the holidays. Stay warm! Edit: I just made it to your outro screen! Excellent work! 12 points!
@GamingInfested same reason they buy bad anything. Often they are buying an idea rather than a material object. You will never convince the owner of a Harley Davidson knuckle head that it's a terrible motorcycle, but it is objectively outperformed in every single measure by basically anything else. New or old. Any niche has at least one or two identical examples.
This restoration is a triumph over previous, mishandling(s), outright butchery, and time. This is a wonderful project requiring an extensive knowledge base of historical detail on the maker and model. The mastery over the craft, tooling, and materials is inspiring. Ulimately, the cornerstones to this type of project comes down to technique and patience, which you seem to possess great resource for. There is no downside to what you've accomplished with this effort. Congratulations!
If you watch guitar work, check out NotaLuthier for something similar but very different. He's new, but entertaining, if you dig making something out of nothing, antiques, oddities and in a very unique presentation.
The result is simply mind blowing! You absolutely did the right thing bringing this vintage instrument back to life and to full glory! Merry Christmas Ted, go bless!
My $0.02 worth: An excellent repair/restoration that was certainly worth the effort. Always a joy to watch an honest craftsman doing amazing work, then taking the extra time to document the repairs done on a label inside the electronics cavity. Mr Woodford, you are an international treasure. Thank you for doing what you do, and being who you are: to paraphrase the fictional character Hannibal Lecter, “The world is a far better place with you in it, twoodford!”… Ok, that was probably more like my $2.98 worth.😎❤️
I think, as a woodworker, the journey of doing the thing is the reward itself. Whether someone else thinks it's worth restoring or not, isn't really a consideration. Great work!
@timothymallon it's way more valuable now than it ever was in my opinion. Even if it were not so badly modded in the past, the fact that Ted did such beautiful work on it, makes it far 6 my opinion
Couldn't agree more. Miles Davis soloing over "Mary Had A Little Lamb" would be worth it for both him and us. Rembrandt doodling on scrap paper, etc. I don't see how someone would complain about Ted wasting time or effort - it was amazing to watch him resurrect this poor guitar into something that people will enjoy for decades to come.
This is probably the most extensive repair I've seen you do. Great work! I love the little repair sticker so theres no question about the authenticity of this. It's a real 1959 Les Paul Jr with LOTS of work to get it back to playing capacity. It looks beautiful, your style choices for aging it back to a more representative wear level is why I keep coming back. You could get it "pack fresh" but then it loses the allure that comes with a 65yo piece.
Amazing! Absolutely incredible...as usual. Always very educational! Every time I watch a "twoodfrd" video I come away with a LOT more knowledge than when I started. Every video is "5 Stars" and "Top Shelf", in EVERY aspect of content, composition and execution!! Truly amazing. Thanks for all of your hard work. Many people don't realize how difficult and time consuming making top notch YT content can be. Yours are a "home run" every time!
I am very impressed by the technical craftsmanship you display. I am someone who tries to breathe new life into old amplifiers myself, and I have great respect for people who do this with other vintage products as well.
Enjoy watching the process. Always appreciate your work, neck breaks, and other repairs. This total restoration was a treat. Saving this guitar was totally worth it! The neck alone is a treasure, worth the effort.
Hey Ted, this is possibly one of the best video I’ve seen from you and I’ve seen them all trust me. I really like how passionate you are and how involved you are in making this a new gem
I love everything about this. From the brutal beginnings to the the restoration with all the thoughtful zigs and zags. Better than new and better than old in my view. Bravo maestro!!
Thank you for providing us with 52 minutes of totally watchable guitar wonderfulness. It's the best Christmas present you could give us. Yes, the "purists" might say you have wasted your time & effort, but from the wreck of a guitar that you started with, you have created an instrument that looks the part, is eminently playable, and has a true and meaningful connection with the golden era of Gibson guitar production. Thank you.
18 minutes in and this one is blowing my mind! I have watched everyone of his videos and I've never seen this before. It's like the most awesome movie!
Lovely restoration! Always a pleasure to hear all of your thoughts and knowledgable considerations on your choices to make along the way of these projects that you diligently work on! I would certainly trust you for working on any and all of my GTR's! Thanks for these enjoyable video's!!!😊💛💯👌👋✌👍🙏
Amazing!!! Firstly, to have the patience of Ghandi. Second, too have the skills / ability, to make it all come together! WHEW! LUV.tbe opportunity to play'er through an old Fender deluxe!!! Excellent video and can't wait for more like this. ✌🏼
What a fantastic restoration, Ted. I'm a huge LP Jr. fan and it's great to see this one land in the "saved" column. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2025. Keep on keepin' on.
An incredible adventure in restoration. Ted, this video is a pure compilation of all your restoration and repair skills! It has prompted me to make my first Patreon contribution ever. 0:19
Thank you, Ted, for this episode. What a great piece of work! I enjoyed this so much, and I consider you should be awarded the Luthier's VC for the sheer courage and dedication to the craft. It seemed insurmountable, but you did it, and it made my Christmas! Rich Alvey UK :))))
This was really wonderful you took the time to bring this back to life. Not a waste of time in the least and really a joy to see your craftsmanship!!! Superb.
I think you did a fantastic job restoring this rock machine. Anyone telling you it's not worth it doesn't understand the history and magic you can find in vintage guitars. I don't know what you will get for it, but I'm sure someone will want it. Hell, I want it. You may not get top dollar for your labor(or you might), but I'm sure whatever you eventually get for this guitar will be enough to make it worth your time. Only you can decide that. I could never do a project like this. I wouldn't make a dime. I'd be tempted to keep it. The first time, I cranked my little Fender amp up and blasted out Mississippi Queen it would be over. I love single pickup guitars. They make you play differently. Good luck, man. I hope whatever outcome you get with this one is positive for you. I appreciate the video and you showing how it all came together.
Just fascinating and educational. I'm now more motivated to finish the restoration on a 1961 ES 335. Someone long ago made some shallow gouges in the back. Not really sure what to do about that, but now I'm motivated to try at it again. Thanks for the motivation. You're an artist, man.
It's all a school day for my Ted, I have an enquiring mind so I restore mostly acoustics but I do have a few electrics so watch how you approach then tackle the challenges is very inspiring so thanks 🙏 very much for taking the time to film & share these videos as I know it's a lot more time & hassle but it's very appreciated 🙏 Merry Christmas 🎄 👍
You are a master at restoration.... you see the potential and build upon it. The value in my opinion is worth way more because you fixed the manufactured flaws. Thats a solid piece of awesomeness.
Fabulous restoration Ted and a wonderful treat for Sunday evening. Absolutely worth all your incredible work ! Merry Christmas and very best wishes from London !! 😄
You did an absolutely phenomenal job. You have truly turned this guitar into a work of art. I hope you get what you put into this and much more. You have gained a new subscriber today, sir.
My first 3 pro guitars were a '59 Cherry jr, previously Peter Greens....but everyone who sold a Cherry said that. A TV which was like new in 1968, and a '59 Special i got from Steve Marriot, so I thoroughly enjoyed this highly skilled craftsmanship rebuild. Bloody excellent job.... thankyou 👍✌️🇬🇧
Wow. Thanks Ted, and all your supporters. I was surprised several years ago when I found out there was commercial grain filler. I just sand and knife in a slurry of sanding dust and a finish- nowadays always a quality water based clear coat. I think clear coats look better when open grain has sawdust in it. It's arguable, but I have my preference.
So glad I stumbled upon your channel! Subscribed within minutes as you've given me inspiration to continue with my epi SG, it's in a bad way with a terrible carved up neck joint but watching you carefully and successfully rebuild something in such bad shape has me itching to get back to it! Thank you!
Wow, I did not expect to hear an Eric Cameron reference. I was a fine arts major at the university of Calgary back in the early 2000s. Eric Cameron was one of my professors at the time. Despite being kind of an abstract modern art guy, he was by far the most insistent on developing technical drawing skills. Great teacher.
"Anyway, sometimes you just gotta do stuff" - here for the usual reasons but left with this. Truly a mantra to live by. Thanks Ted and Merry Christmas.
Now, THAT played hot Rock´N´Roll. It still will be a Gibson. Like with wooden sail boats: take a look at "Tally Ho" and you tell me. Mery Christmas, Ted!
Except, this guitar has a much higher percentage of original wood. That boat has virtually nothing original, except the outer shell of the capstan, and a couple pieces of wood used for decoration. Oh, and some keel lead
@@CaptainRon1913…You actually told me🤗 Yes, Captain, You´re certainly right. I didn´t expect anyone catching on to it but You´re on the nose. But she was built by the original plans, Leo was very attentive to that. Only a few creature comfort adjustments and minor upgrades but he wanted the boat to feel right. Ted is much alike. He KNOWS materials and tends to be pragmatic, he only upgrades where it makes sense. I´d love to get this "Ted Special Edition" because it will play and feel right. Merry Christmas, Captain!
I wish he was my Luthier. I want to completely restore my 1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman. It suffers from complete binding rot, it is a pre Baldwin guitar, meaning it was made in Brooklyn, NY. The dark brown finish has faded into a color it wasn’t born as. Gold hardware has suffered from the binding off gassing. Other than that it’s all original in the original case.
Travail magnifique... quelle patience et professionnalisme mais surtout l'amour du travail bien fait merci à vous ..la seule chose que je regrette est la couleur ...quoique... c'est tellement formidable qu'on s'y habitué!😅merci à vous
Hello Ted, I'm going to bet that the weird holes south of the combo bridge/tailpiece used to accommodate a Hagstrom tremolo system. Not the worst trem system on planet Earth, and thoroughly in keeping with the rest of the mods that poor Lester has endured in its life.
@@rickvalentine1041 Yes, the first guitar I owned was a Hagstrom Model II and it had that tremolo outfit on it. Cool guitar, but I ended up swapping it many years ago.
Incredible work, as ever. When Ted says something is daunting, you know that this is not a task to be undertaken by mere mortals! Best wishes to you and yours for the Festive Season, Sir.
I love watching your work. I was looking at this guitar at the beginning and thinking, that's one sad piece of abused wood. I didn't think you could bring it back. AMAZING transformation and it looks beautiful.
@@EricMiller630 I've gotten distracted a couple times and had to rewind to make sure I didn't miss a second of it. Now I know for sure I'm going to watch it again.
That was an amazing amount of work, but you brought it back from the grave. It has a character to it through it's history that not too many instruments have, so it is special in it's own unique way despite the state it was in to begin with. Great job, Ted, and thank you for sharing the journey in restoring a piece of history.
You did a really cool thing here. Instead of tossing this in the garbage like some may, you've brought a classic back to life and it can live another life. Thank you so much for sharing this, and Merry Christmas!
"time to plug up the carnage", the absolute perfect quote for this video and project. I cannot believe the transformation from start to finish. The work of an absolute master! A beautiful job as always! Whoever buys / owns this guitar in the future has an absolute treasure that I hope they enjoy (and TAKE CARE of) for decades to come.
Knowing what a skilled luthier you are made me look at the beginning condition of this and know you could make it into something. The end result though, is absolutely stunning and if I were to see it somewhere, never having saw this video, I would never guess as to it's former derelict condition. Great job!
I couldn't place the actual vibrato but I knew it was one of those center arm attached Style. Hence the big hole in the middle of the little tiny mounting screws. I'm guessing that's where the plunge down of the mechanism went. I don't know the hagstrom vibrato you're talking about but that's what I could kind of see. Edit: adjust Googled it and you're exactly right right
Dunno bout everyone else but I enjoy these full restoration projects the most from ted
Me to
Sure but it must be such an unbelievable amount of work to both do it & make the video
Ted is the g.o.a.t , his channel should have 1 million subs in my honest opinion.
@@nov3c ..It is LOL
I wholeheartedly agree.
This proves that Ted is ready to be a paid television personality, hosting This Old Guitar, Sunday afternoons…on PBS.
At the beginning… an insurmountable amount of work needed to be done. At the end… nothing left but to let her rip. UNBELIEVABLE. Truly I am flabbergasted. So happy that relic was salvaged.
Yeah he has what i term " Real Scary skills"! That basically means that his talent is so unbelievable you
question what you have watched!🤣
Not only the restoration, but the camera shots and editing with a thorough explanation for each process. The amount of work he puts in to this channel is incredible.
Double whatever you were asking for this. Lots of high skilled work here.
I'm not even a Gibson enjoyer that much, but I'm a definite lover of luthiery, and this, Ted, is one of the most beautiful shows of craftsmanship I've seen, apart from all the other videos I've been watching for the last 4 years or so. I must say, you're a LEGEND!!!
52 minutes?! Thanks Ted! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I know!! almost an hour of pure, glorious wisdom and craftsmanship!! Woo Hoo!! And a Happy New Year to boot!
wow, I didn't realize, it seemed like twenty minutes!
After working with wood myself, I can really appreciate how sharp and properly set your tools are. That is an art in itself.
Good God man, that has got to be one of the most extensive repair jobs I've ever seen! You turned what most would consider a lost cause into something practically indistinguishable from the better examples out there. Truly a testament to your immense skill as a luthier. Bravo, good sir!
I'd hazard a guess the neck joint is significantly higher standard than a cabinet fresh 59 model even
Ted, a great restoration of a vintage 1959 Gibson LP Junior... you are indeed a masterful luthier. As a former Gibson salesperson from 50 years ago and consumate guitar collector and professional player with over 90 instruments I was impressed by your woodworking and restoration abilities. I have an original '56 LP that I've had since the 70's and many other Gibson's. By restoring this instrument you have returned it to service and 200 years from now it will probably still be making music due to your fine work. It was often said that a talented luthier could repair a Stradivari violin that was smashed to bits by carefully reconstructing the wood and design of it's maker and you have illustrated how that is possible with this relic from the dawn of rock and roll. 🎸
This is one of the coolest Ted videos i have seen in a bit. I dont really care if it's a '59 LP Junior or an '94 Epi LP Standard. Just witnessing the whole process is fantastic. I already know it's going to turn out great, but to see how much care and precision he has to put into it is inspiring!
Funny you mention a 94 Epi LP Standard.. Ive owned two, sequential serial numbers though I bought them years apart (very weird!) both made by Samick in “Heritage Cherry Burst”, and having now owned quite a few “real” Les Paul’s and Epis I would place those Samicks among the best I’ve ever played. I don’t know if there was magic in Korea that day or what but I lament selling them regularly.
Extremely crazy that you got sequential serial numbers years apart. 😳
@@Charlee_Murphee I was looking through eBay and came across one that looked just like mine, With the "S" serial number shown in a photo, so I went and looked and low and behold it was one number higher. So I bought it.
@ that’s wild man!
An amazing piece of craftmanship. Thank you for sharing the process with us.
Been watching Ted for years, never commented, my fav video ever, top class workmanship 👌
A labor of love. Taking a sad, and dejected old Gibby and restoring it to new life is a joy to see. Great work, and a great video! Thanks.
This is the best Christmas gift you could have given your RUclips audience! Awesome!
I want to say what a great repair this was!!! As a novice repairman I use your technique and attitude in my repairs. Thanks!!!
I enjoy this longform content. I don't know if you read much of the comments (I would imagine not), but if you do I want to thank you for giving me a well-needed diversion. My father unexpectedly passed away Thursday, and it was nice to have a reason to get away from the grief and drama for a while.
So sorry for your loss boydbc. My dear mother also passed away Thursday afternoon this week at age 100. The greatest gift she ever gave me was my first guitar, and the gift of music that no one will ever be able to take away from me. God bless and hang in there.
@@michaelwitkowski6003 Thank you for your kind words, and I am also sorry for your loss. I can't help but notice the similarity in our circumstances. My father gave me the gift of music as well, and that's a gift that I will cherish to the end of my days. God bless you, and may the gift of music always be there for you.
Hope both of you are doing well, I'm sorry to hear of both your losses. Music is truly a great gift! Hope you guys get some time to rest and get back stronger💪🏻🔥🙏🏻
Sorry for your loss, buddy, may you encounter the love and support you need 🙌🏻✨
Those holes near the bridge look a lot like the mounting holes for an old hagstrom vibrato, that big hole in the middle would be for the spring and those six holes would be the mounting holes!
What a massive project!
It's wild that people have driven the prices of vintage Gibsons up so high that it's essentially impossible to damage one enough that it's not worth fixing.
Grateful as ever to you, Ted, for sharing your work and your experience with us. I wish you and yours all the best through the holidays. Stay warm!
Edit:
I just made it to your outro screen! Excellent work! 12 points!
I will never understand why people like to buy bad guitars
@GamingInfested same reason they buy bad anything. Often they are buying an idea rather than a material object.
You will never convince the owner of a Harley Davidson knuckle head that it's a terrible motorcycle, but it is objectively outperformed in every single measure by basically anything else. New or old.
Any niche has at least one or two identical examples.
@@GamingInfested Gibsons aren't bad guitars. They're flawed and overpriced to hell, but still not bad
This restoration is a triumph over previous, mishandling(s), outright butchery, and time.
This is a wonderful project requiring an extensive knowledge base of historical detail on the maker and model.
The mastery over the craft, tooling, and materials is inspiring.
Ulimately, the cornerstones to this type of project comes down to technique and patience, which you seem to possess great resource for.
There is no downside to what you've accomplished with this effort. Congratulations!
Best luthier channel I have come across yet, thanks Ted, for all your time and effort put into producing this content, fantastic stuff.
If you watch guitar work, check out NotaLuthier for something similar but very different. He's new, but entertaining, if you dig making something out of nothing, antiques, oddities and in a very unique presentation.
Check out Doug Maccormack Guitar he has done some impressive restorations
The result is simply mind blowing! You absolutely did the right thing bringing this vintage instrument back to life and to full glory! Merry Christmas Ted, go bless!
My $0.02 worth: An excellent repair/restoration that was certainly worth the effort. Always a joy to watch an honest craftsman doing amazing work, then taking the extra time to document the repairs done on a label inside the electronics cavity. Mr Woodford, you are an international treasure. Thank you for doing what you do, and being who you are: to paraphrase the fictional character Hannibal Lecter, “The world is a far better place with you in it, twoodford!”…
Ok, that was probably more like my $2.98 worth.😎❤️
Best looking and sounding guitar ive ever heard sir 🙏🛠🫡🫡
I think, as a woodworker, the journey of doing the thing is the reward itself. Whether someone else thinks it's worth restoring or not, isn't really a consideration. Great work!
@timothymallon it's way more valuable now than it ever was in my opinion. Even if it were not so badly modded in the past, the fact that Ted did such beautiful work on it, makes it far 6 my opinion
Couldn't agree more. Miles Davis soloing over "Mary Had A Little Lamb" would be worth it for both him and us. Rembrandt doodling on scrap paper, etc. I don't see how someone would complain about Ted wasting time or effort - it was amazing to watch him resurrect this poor guitar into something that people will enjoy for decades to come.
Absolute genius, what a pleasure spending an hour watching my favourite guitar being restored.
Appreciate the longer video, Ted is 1st class
This is probably the most extensive repair I've seen you do. Great work! I love the little repair sticker so theres no question about the authenticity of this. It's a real 1959 Les Paul Jr with LOTS of work to get it back to playing capacity. It looks beautiful, your style choices for aging it back to a more representative wear level is why I keep coming back. You could get it "pack fresh" but then it loses the allure that comes with a 65yo piece.
0:59 It's the guitar of Theseus.
Doctoral
cool
That's the answer to the highbrow question; for the lowbrow, let's say "Trigger's broom".
It appears that Gibson was his preferred axe for slaying minotaur 😂
Amazing! Absolutely incredible...as usual. Always very educational! Every time I watch a "twoodfrd" video I come away with a LOT more knowledge than when I started. Every video is "5 Stars" and "Top Shelf", in EVERY aspect of content, composition and execution!! Truly amazing. Thanks for all of your hard work. Many people don't realize how difficult and time consuming making top notch YT content can be. Yours are a "home run" every time!
Thank you for the Christmas present!!!
Merry Christmas!!!🎄
I am very impressed by the technical craftsmanship you display. I am someone who tries to breathe new life into old amplifiers myself, and I have great respect for people who do this with other vintage products as well.
Thanks Patreon supporters ❤
Enjoy watching the process. Always appreciate your work, neck breaks, and other repairs. This total restoration was a treat.
Saving this guitar was totally worth it! The neck alone is a treasure, worth the effort.
Hey Ted, this is possibly one of the best video I’ve seen from you and I’ve seen them all trust me. I really like how passionate you are and how involved you are in making this a new gem
I love everything about this. From the brutal beginnings to the the restoration with all the thoughtful zigs and zags. Better than new and better than old in my view. Bravo maestro!!
Great job sir! This video demonstrates why repairs like this are expensive. Sheer artistry.
Thank you for providing us with 52 minutes of totally watchable guitar wonderfulness. It's the best Christmas present you could give us.
Yes, the "purists" might say you have wasted your time & effort, but from the wreck of a guitar that you started with, you have created an instrument that looks the part, is eminently playable, and has a true and meaningful connection with the golden era of Gibson guitar production.
Thank you.
18 minutes in and this one is blowing my mind! I have watched everyone of his videos and I've never seen this before. It's like the most awesome movie!
Lovely restoration! Always a pleasure to hear all of your thoughts and knowledgable considerations on your choices to make along the way of these projects that you diligently work on! I would certainly trust you for working on any and all of my GTR's! Thanks for these enjoyable video's!!!😊💛💯👌👋✌👍🙏
Beautiful work and a wonderful result, you really brought it back from the brink. Bravo sir!
Amazing!!!
Firstly, to have the patience of Ghandi.
Second, too have the skills / ability, to make it all come together!
WHEW!
LUV.tbe opportunity to play'er through an old Fender deluxe!!!
Excellent video and can't wait for more like this. ✌🏼
What a fantastic restoration, Ted. I'm a huge LP Jr. fan and it's great to see this one land in the "saved" column. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2025. Keep on keepin' on.
An incredible adventure in restoration. Ted, this video is a pure compilation of all your restoration and repair skills! It has prompted me to make my first Patreon contribution ever. 0:19
52+ minutes of pure entertainment. Thank you. Merry Christmas to your and yours.
Thank you, Ted, for this episode. What a great piece of work! I enjoyed this so much, and I consider you should be awarded the Luthier's VC for the sheer courage and dedication to the craft. It seemed insurmountable, but you did it, and it made my Christmas! Rich Alvey UK :))))
This was really wonderful you took the time to bring this back to life. Not a waste of time in the least and really a joy to see your craftsmanship!!! Superb.
Your skill, expertise and patience never ceases to amaze me. Happy Christmas. 🎄🎸😊👍
I think you did a fantastic job restoring this rock machine. Anyone telling you it's not worth it doesn't understand the history and magic you can find in vintage guitars. I don't know what you will get for it, but I'm sure someone will want it. Hell, I want it. You may not get top dollar for your labor(or you might), but I'm sure whatever you eventually get for this guitar will be enough to make it worth your time. Only you can decide that. I could never do a project like this. I wouldn't make a dime. I'd be tempted to keep it. The first time, I cranked my little Fender amp up and blasted out Mississippi Queen it would be over. I love single pickup guitars. They make you play differently. Good luck, man. I hope whatever outcome you get with this one is positive for you. I appreciate the video and you showing how it all came together.
Just fascinating and educational. I'm now more motivated to finish the restoration on a 1961 ES 335. Someone long ago made some shallow gouges in the back. Not really sure what to do about that, but now I'm motivated to try at it again. Thanks for the motivation. You're an artist, man.
Wow, what a Christmas present for all of us! Thanks Ted and Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎅
Beautiful work, Ted. You are clearly doing both what you love what you are talented at. Truly beautifully done, remarkable. 💚
*Finally.* Ted drops a Sunday video. THANK you!!!
And Merry Christmas!!
It's all a school day for my Ted, I have an enquiring mind so I restore mostly acoustics but I do have a few electrics so watch how you approach then tackle the challenges is very inspiring so thanks 🙏 very much for taking the time to film & share these videos as I know it's a lot more time & hassle but it's very appreciated 🙏 Merry Christmas 🎄 👍
Man that guitar is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Merry Christmas Ted, thanks for sharing what you do with all of us nerds. You’re one of the greats!
All guitars deserve to be saved. Thanks Ted and Merry Christmas!
You are a master at restoration.... you see the potential and build upon it. The value in my opinion is worth way more because you fixed the manufactured flaws. Thats a solid piece of awesomeness.
Fabulous restoration Ted and a wonderful treat for Sunday evening. Absolutely worth all your incredible work ! Merry Christmas and very best wishes from London !! 😄
You did an absolutely phenomenal job. You have truly turned this guitar into a work of art. I hope you get what you put into this and much more. You have gained a new subscriber today, sir.
Its a relief to see your bringing a relic back to a players grade instrument, true master.
My first 3 pro guitars were a '59 Cherry jr, previously Peter Greens....but everyone who sold a Cherry said that. A TV which was like new in 1968, and a '59 Special i got from Steve Marriot, so I thoroughly enjoyed this highly skilled craftsmanship rebuild. Bloody excellent job.... thankyou 👍✌️🇬🇧
It's beautiful to see mostly destroyed guitars brought back to life and made into a playable instruments again
Thank you for all that you do, Ted. Your videos are calming and wise, and I appreciate you sir.
All I can say is "WOW !!!" a great restoration. Thank you
Wow. Thanks Ted, and all your supporters. I was surprised several years ago when I found out there was commercial grain filler. I just sand and knife in a slurry of sanding dust and a finish- nowadays always a quality water based clear coat. I think clear coats look better when open grain has sawdust in it. It's arguable, but I have my preference.
Thanks for sharing this exceptional project. It came out quite well!
So glad I stumbled upon your channel! Subscribed within minutes as you've given me inspiration to continue with my epi SG, it's in a bad way with a terrible carved up neck joint but watching you carefully and successfully rebuild something in such bad shape has me itching to get back to it! Thank you!
Wow, I did not expect to hear an Eric Cameron reference. I was a fine arts major at the university of Calgary back in the early 2000s. Eric Cameron was one of my professors at the time. Despite being kind of an abstract modern art guy, he was by far the most insistent on developing technical drawing skills. Great teacher.
Gotta know the rules before you're skilled enough to break them!!
I love your videos and this one is one of the best. It demonstrates what is possible with knowledge and skill. Well done Ted.
"Anyway, sometimes you just gotta do stuff" - here for the usual reasons but left with this. Truly a mantra to live by.
Thanks Ted and Merry Christmas.
We heard what he said
I'd call that Canadian Zen of the first water.
@@CaptainRon1913, Unfortunately, the prior owner of this guitar also felt that he "just had to do stuff".....
@@CaptainRon1913 merry Christmas to you too champ
Outstanding work. Someone ended up when a fantastic instrument and story to go with. Thanks for sharing.
Now, THAT played hot Rock´N´Roll. It still will be a Gibson. Like with wooden sail boats: take a look at "Tally Ho" and you tell me. Mery Christmas, Ted!
Except, this guitar has a much higher percentage of original wood. That boat has virtually nothing original, except the outer shell of the capstan, and a couple pieces of wood used for decoration. Oh, and some keel lead
@@CaptainRon1913…You actually told me🤗 Yes, Captain, You´re certainly right.
I didn´t expect anyone catching on to it but You´re on the nose.
But she was built by the original plans, Leo was very attentive to that. Only a few creature comfort adjustments and minor upgrades but he wanted the boat to feel right. Ted is much alike. He KNOWS materials and tends to be pragmatic, he only upgrades where it makes sense.
I´d love to get this "Ted Special Edition" because it will play and feel right.
Merry Christmas, Captain!
@@CaptainRon1913 I believe the entire transom on Tally Ho is original as well.
Happy New year! What a fantastic rebirth! This was an amazing journey. Your skill is beyond words but. Impressive craftsmanship comes to mind.
Wow. I'm excited to see Ted bring this back to life. 😍
I wish he was my Luthier.
I want to completely restore my 1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.
It suffers from complete binding rot, it is a pre Baldwin guitar, meaning it was made in Brooklyn, NY.
The dark brown finish has faded into a color it wasn’t born as.
Gold hardware has suffered from the binding off gassing.
Other than that it’s all original in the original case.
Travail magnifique... quelle patience et professionnalisme mais surtout l'amour du travail bien fait merci à vous ..la seule chose que je regrette est la couleur ...quoique... c'est tellement formidable qu'on s'y habitué!😅merci à vous
Hello Ted, I'm going to bet that the weird holes south of the combo bridge/tailpiece used to accommodate a Hagstrom tremolo system. Not the worst trem system on planet Earth, and thoroughly in keeping with the rest of the mods that poor Lester has endured in its life.
Never seen one so had to google it and I think you're right. Definitely seems to match the hole locations.
i was thinking the same as I had a Harmony Silhouette back in the seventies.
@@rickvalentine1041 Yes, the first guitar I owned was a Hagstrom Model II and it had that tremolo outfit on it. Cool guitar, but I ended up swapping it many years ago.
One of the best videos ever in a long line of brilliant Ted content. Thank you soooooo much.
Incredible work, as ever. When Ted says something is daunting, you know that this is not a task to be undertaken by mere mortals! Best wishes to you and yours for the Festive Season, Sir.
@DunsysGuitarWorld this is exactly what I said to myself I would never, ever attempt something like that
Brilliant job well worth doing and obviously easy to resell. Really enjoy watching you bring life back to instruments. Thanks
Feature length ted, ahh Christmas has come early. Thanks Ted, have a happy Christmas and a great 2025.
as an aspiring luthier this is unbelievably impressive! He just makes it look so effortless man well done!
"Oooh, is that a Gibson?"
"No, it's a guitar that Ted made, with 3 remaining Gibson molecules."
A homeopathic Gibson remedy.
@@lexluthier8290 I'd buy a guitar with that description over a Gibson any day!!
@@JiveDadson 😄👍
@@frankwebster9110 🤣Ditto!
Id say that makes it a hell of a Guitar
I love watching your work. I was looking at this guitar at the beginning and thinking, that's one sad piece of abused wood. I didn't think you could bring it back. AMAZING transformation and it looks beautiful.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the video! This is just fantastic work!!
@@EricMiller630 I've gotten distracted a couple times and had to rewind to make sure I didn't miss a second of it. Now I know for sure I'm going to watch it again.
This was an absolute pleasure to watch Ted. Thank you so much for documenting your process. So grateful for all of your work.
Hell yes! Thanks Ted, and merry christmas!!!
Wonderful.
Many thanks from the UK.
I fully enjoyed this, you brightened my day.
That was an amazing amount of work, but you brought it back from the grave. It has a character to it through it's history that not too many instruments have, so it is special in it's own unique way despite the state it was in to begin with. Great job, Ted, and thank you for sharing the journey in restoring a piece of history.
I wonder how many hours of work went into this project.
You did a really cool thing here. Instead of tossing this in the garbage like some may, you've brought a classic back to life and it can live another life. Thank you so much for sharing this, and Merry Christmas!
Your craftsmanship is the best story
Incredible work!! I have enjoyed watching you work for a couple years now and I am always impressed.
My absolute FAVORITE kind of video from this channel.
"time to plug up the carnage", the absolute perfect quote for this video and project. I cannot believe the transformation from start to finish. The work of an absolute master! A beautiful job as always! Whoever buys / owns this guitar in the future has an absolute treasure that I hope they enjoy (and TAKE CARE of) for decades to come.
You are an artist Ted. Really fantastic restoration
Knowing what a skilled luthier you are made me look at the beginning condition of this and know you could make it into something. The end result though, is absolutely stunning and if I were to see it somewhere, never having saw this video, I would never guess as to it's former derelict condition. Great job!
One the absolute best videos you've done in my opinion. That thing was roached!!
@TeleCaster66 that is actually the perfect description of what it was initially. Roached!!
I learned so much from this and will now watch all of you're stuff thanks and happy Christmas
Титанічна робота !!!
Варта кожної секунди перегляду цього відео
Супер лайк!!!!
Yes, well stated.
Even after seeing all of the progress videos, it was still fun to see this video. Happy holidays!
The filled holes come from a Hagström "Tremar" vibrato unit for sure.
I couldn't place the actual vibrato but I knew it was one of those center arm attached Style. Hence the big hole in the middle of the little tiny mounting screws. I'm guessing that's where the plunge down of the mechanism went. I don't know the hagstrom vibrato you're talking about but that's what I could kind of see.
Edit: adjust Googled it and you're exactly right right
I was suspecting a Burns vibrato before reading this comment...
Thank you for all your excellent repair videos! I learn so much from your repair work! Happy Holidays 👍😉