Hi folks,
I just purchased a C-80 classical guitar to go along with an MT-16 acoustic guitar ser #4090024, made in japan which I purchased new in about 1978-79 I think.
This poor guitar has had a hard life but it sounds better today than it did when I bought it....
1983 I left it leaning against an electric heater and it got so hot that it burnt through the finish on the back turning it white in a patch about 6" in diameter. It also softened the bridge which pulled apart and the actual front of the guitar bulged up around the bridge area. No doubt there were important pieces inside which were no longer attached properly. I didn't have the heart to throw it away. I took the strings off of it and stuck it in the basement in the corner with a 10 lb
barbell weight on it.
Then the junk accumulated and when we moved in 2004, I found it still sitting there with the weight on it.
It was perfectly flat and straight.
I put new strings on and it played great for a while until the the top started to bulge up again (6 mos.)
So I then removed the bridge and using some long clamps, glued up the loose bracing inside, remounted the bridge, and now it plays great.It has great sustain and a strong loud bass, the top notes are rich mellow sounding (probably because of the cedar top ,albeit only plywood). It has aged brutally , but it is happy now and is paying me back for not throwing it out 29 years ago, with may hours of great sound.
MT-16 accoustic guitar
Re: MT-16 accoustic guitar
I'm glad the sad tale of that MT- has a happy ending! I'd love to see some photos of the guitar, warts and all. 
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Barry
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Re: MT-16 accoustic guitar
Congrats on resurrecting this 'ole gal, and for having the courage to get in there and fix the bracing which is not generally for the faint of heart!
Everything you did, including the weight, is more or less the way to repair a guitar afflicted this way, although you would probably do it with a tad more finesse and do the bridge gluing right after flattening
I think a more modern guitar would have collapsed though, so it's a testament to both the materials and the build quality that you were able to even consider doing this at all.
Well done. Let's see her!
Everything you did, including the weight, is more or less the way to repair a guitar afflicted this way, although you would probably do it with a tad more finesse and do the bridge gluing right after flattening
I think a more modern guitar would have collapsed though, so it's a testament to both the materials and the build quality that you were able to even consider doing this at all.
Well done. Let's see her!
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
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notquitewright
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:42 pm
Re: MT-16 accoustic guitar
The MT- does not look half as battle-scarred as I would have expected
Thanks very much for sharing!
Thanks very much for sharing!
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)