Old Negra Project Update

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Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

Old Negra Project Update

Well, I purchased the old negra I have been looking at. It has a great sound but does need work and some TLC. New saddle and nut, tuners and possibly a refret as I get more experienced. It looks like the frets have been leveled and re-dressed several times. I had to shave the bridge a little and deepened the saddle slot as much as I dared to get the action down to about 3mm for now and will have to drill the tie block to a 12 hole configuration to get a decent break angle. Apparently 12 hole tie blocks were not that unusual years ago. I may replace the bridge with a thiner one down the road. This one is quite thick and high.

The pegholes have the standard 35mm separation so no replugging will be necessary, just reaming from 1/4" to 3/8" (10 mm).

The finish is nitrocellulose, as I expected it would be and in remarkably good shape, no crazing, etc, but it does have over 40 years of scratches and dings. I am not going to doing anything with the finish except perhaps a slight re-polish as it gives this old guitar the character it has earned over the years. There is no noted neck problems and the top is nice a level (no bowing in either direction).

The body cavity was absolutely filthy with dust, cobwebs etc and smelled like the inside of a cheap house of ill-reprute (or so I'm told that's how they smell).

I have cleaned it using the rice method and have it stuffed full of cedar shavings while I await parts.