I don't know anything about guitars. Is this one worth saving?

[Donny]

I picked it up at a fleemarket for $5 it's pretty rough and missing a string.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/Evilone318/guitar.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/Evilone318/guitarhead.jpg

[Wornears]

Uh, I know a little about guitars -- and that would be a big negatory NO, there buddy.

Unless you need a doorstop with character.

[theodoric]

Use it as a beach/campfire guitar. No worries about lowering its value if it gets knocked around a little bit.

[CortR]

Anyone remember El Kabong? This may have been his. Or simply assert it was, put it on Epay, and watch the bucks roll in.

[Jovinyl]

Would make a wall decoration.

[GibsonLesPaul]

Snow shoe for one legged man....?

[fotno]

I'm pretty sure that's a canoe paddle.

[Reel 2 Reel]

Dont listen to them!...All geetars are worth a look-see!...just a few questions...

1. How far are the strings from the neck?...

2. Is the top of the body sinking in?

3. Are there any cracks along any seams?

4. Is the neck breaking away from the body in any way?

if its not too beat up it can be gone through and brought back to life. I have done a few in my days. My best one so far is a 1957 Harmony Master archtop I picked up for $20



lookie here! (http://www.audiokarma.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2343&size=big&password=5f37148739ac110bce3b1212457628ba&sort=1&cat=2)


There is also a thread on another one I picked up on its way to the side of the road....it needed a little more work .....but for a beginner it works fine....

I would post a link to the thread It was featured in...but the old pictures are lost for all eternity! :sigh:

wait!...I might still have one of it ...


Hey!...whatdya know!....a before and after shot!.....

[Groovy]

Hey reel which is the before shot.......... :scratch2: just kidding pal looks like you did a great job on it. As for the guitar in question can,t really tell alot about the worth of a guitar until you feel it and play it. Your ears will tell you what it is worth...Find someone who plays and they will tell you . :rockon:

[Wornears]

I repeat. No. It is not worth saving.

There is a saying in racing. You can't turn a pig into a race horse. Of course, with enough money you can make a pig damn fast.

Your decision on how fast you want to go with this pig.

[outlawmws]

I'm with R2R on this, its a definite maybe.

Other than finish marring, what is its condition?

What is the brand? (I couldn't decipher the head markings)

Is the neck bowed? Hold down the lower wire string on the first and last frets, see if it's got a gap in the middle.

Is the neck solidly attached to the body? Neck separation while reparable, are not for amateurs)

Are the fret bars in decent shape, or are they worn?

If all or at least most of the answers are positive, I'd say it's worth a set of strings to see what it really sounds like.

Even with only 5 strings, tune what you have, and listen to the tone. does it buzz?

Knock on the body with your knuckles and see if it sounds solid, or are there ribs inside rattling.

BTW just because it is an unknown or even a cheaply bade guitar, (if in fact it is...) does not mean its trash. Lots of companies made sleeper guitars that played decently. Just because it isn't a big name means nothing.

Just like anything in audio, how does it sound to you?

(BTW those saying its junk, mind stating a reason? Substantiate your position.)

[Donny]

the name on the head looks like Marquis to me but tough to read so I'm not sure. I think as a noob I would be better off with a new cheapy guitar. It doesn't seem like it's worth the effort of trying to flip on epay. BTW it does have a gap in the middle. $5 not a big loss and that day I bought a pair of hpm 100's for $50 so it's all good.

[Jovinyl]

When I said a wall hanging, it was not a dig. Even if it is not a good guitar it can be turned into a nice wall decoration as is musical art work. I will get a picture of one a girlfriend did for me and it has no strings or a bridge on it but it looked nice on the wall, she did a collage on it, Seeming that yours has all the parts a job like Reel to Reel did on his would do it well till you found something better if you are looking to play and for six bucks you can do what you want. Find a blank spot on a wall hold it up there that might help.

[pjweeks]

Reel 2 Reel,
Man I dig those old Harmonys. My mom has an old one from the 50s--all solid wood and it sounds better than most of the guitars I've played even with ancient strings.

I once had a roommate who thought his old classical was junk because one of the strings was broken. $20 later it was mine :) I'm definitely going to get my money out of that guitar! There's nothing like a classical to make you feel invincible.

[clint e.]

what do you expect for 5 bucks?

clint.

[bentpencil]

Wanna know how to make that guitar worth a million bucks? Put new strings on it and give it to some little kid who can't afford one. Just be sure to write his name down somewhere. Ya never know.