Simon Paja
Helena
My first guitar. Helena. Strings had bent the neck up so much that it was impossible to play anymore.
In the 70's I had installed a pickup to it and made of course some holes on the top. Covered with some metal plate.
Some heat and sharp tools to try to remove the fretboard.
It was not possible to remove it in one piece. There was some strange glued pins from fretboard to neck.
I made a cavity for the truss rod anf here's the new fretboard. I have filled the holes and I think I have to sand the top clean and refinish the burst on it.
Luckily the old fretboard was in such condition that I could use it to measure the scale.
Fretboard slot have been done. Old colours have been sanded away from top. A plywood top, birch I think. Under the bridge, inside the guitar, is a very thick piece of supporting wood.
Frets hammered to slots but the fretboard is not finished. And it is not glued yet. First some colour.
Getting closer to the original colour. I'm trying to hide the filled holes under the burst.
Almost done. Bone fore the saddle to be done and then the strings.
Playable again. The neck did not get as straight as I would have hoped but anyway I can use open chords easier than earlier. Action there at the nut is quite good.
