1969 Push Pull Project - Phase 1 - Layla

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 31 Oct 2019 8:01 am

Hello from Tennessee.

I have begun the very beginning stages of a complete tear down and restoration of a 1969 Emmons, serial number 1304 D. Guitar was in very good condition but did need to be stripped down as I demand high quality. I will be cataloging parts and removing Mica for the next few days while getting started. Here we go again!

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 31 Oct 2019 9:25 am

I would get SUCH A KICK, out of standing beside you while you’re doing that... You have NO Idea how much!!!

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 31 Oct 2019 9:44 am

Dale Rottacker wrote:I would get SUCH A KICK, out of standing beside you while you’re doing that... You have NO Idea how much!!!

I don't like people hearing me cuss LOL

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 31 Oct 2019 9:46 am

Mike Scaggs wrote:
Dale Rottacker wrote:I would get SUCH A KICK, out of standing beside you while you’re doing that... You have NO Idea how much!!!
I don't like people hearing me cuss LOL

The reason I always worked ALONE, AT NIGHT!!!

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 31 Oct 2019 9:47 am

Mike's beautiful end-results aside, I just take comfort and encouragement in the fact that his work area doesn't look too much different than mine. I am a big proponent of "The Pile System" of workbench organization

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 31 Oct 2019 10:09 am

Tommy Detamore wrote:Mike's beautiful end-results aside, I just take comfort and encouragement in the fact that his work area doesn't look too much different than mine. I am a big proponent of "The Pile System" of workbench organization

HAHA! I do start with a clean bench but it quickly fills up when I start ripping these apart

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 31 Oct 2019 4:42 pm

Mica and flocking off (finally). That is a lot of work but very worth it. Notice the wood pedal stop bar original to this 69.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 1 Nov 2019 8:52 pm

Getting big parts ready for polishing and cleaning small parts

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 2 Nov 2019 11:27 am

Is this going to be a lacquer guitar?

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 2 Nov 2019 12:15 pm

Oh yeah, I thought about Mica but exotic woods and lacquer are just too amazing to pass by.

Ron Funk · Post by **Ron Funk** » 2 Nov 2019 4:59 pm

Hi Mike -

In the 1st photo of your Nov 1st post, are those components bead blasted (or some other process) prior to heading off to polisher?

We all thank you for sharing the photos thru your great restoration projects.

Regards
Ron

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 2 Nov 2019 6:00 pm

Ron Funk wrote:Hi Mike -

In the 1st photo of your Nov 1st post, are those components bead blasted (or some other process) prior to heading off to polisher?

We all thank you for sharing the photos thru your great restoration projects.

Regards
Ron

Hi Ron,

Yes I use a glass bead blaster and a vibrating tumbler as well. Depending on what I'm after will decide which I use. I buff small parts myself with a very nice Baldor buffing machine. I use white compound as well. Those parts get pretty hot so you have to use gloves and in some cases pliers to hold the parts. I buff bell cranks by attaching them to an old cross shaft to hold em. I spin the swivels first, then take them off and do the bell crank. I always replace the set screw and use new snap rings too, just my way. It takes a long time to do them so I find if I do in in spurts it helps me keep my sanity LOL.

Thanks for checking it out. I hope it helps others with ideas etc...

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 3 Nov 2019 11:26 am

Small parts all done now with the cleaning and polishing. This is very time consuming but well worth the effort I think.

The big stuff should be back in a few weeks.

Next I will start on the body which depending on the wood availability I want could take a few months.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 4 Nov 2019 4:22 pm

Now this is a rare species! Plain Kotibe (ko-TEE-bay) is hard to find, but high figured Kotibe, like what we have below, is almost non-existent. What you'll find here is some of the finest fiddleback Kotibe veneer that has ever been sliced and she will be going on my latest Emmons project (Layla)

Tim Johnson · Post by **Tim Johnson** » 4 Nov 2019 5:19 pm

Thats gonna be killer.
Thanks for your help other day.

Alan Bidmade · Post by **Alan Bidmade** » 5 Nov 2019 10:25 am

I am in absolute awe of anyone who can figure out all the bars, cranks, screws and springs that make up a pedal steel guitar.
I have just gone through a set up of my Ben-Rom with Bent sending me text messages to help me get the guitar back to smooth playing. I am a no-no when it comes to tools and mechanics, but Bent got me through and the guitar plays as good as new!
But, if it was all in bits... I don't think so.
Respect to those who do this kind of work.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 5 Nov 2019 10:27 am

Alan Bidmade wrote:I am in absolute awe of anyone who can figure out all the bars, cranks, screws and springs that make up a pedal steel guitar.
I have just gone through a set up of my Ben-Rom with Bent sending me text messages to help me get the guitar back to smooth playing. I am a no-no when it comes to tools and mechanics, but Bent got me through and the guitar plays as good as new!
But, if it was all in bits... I don't think so.
Respect to those who do this kind of work.

Bent is a good guy and knows what he is doing. Glad to hear you were able to work through your setup

Mitchell Smithey · Post by **Mitchell Smithey** » 5 Nov 2019 11:42 am

Mike, I have never seen that wood before simply beautiful! You are killing me with those finishes.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 5 Nov 2019 11:43 am

Mitchell Smithey wrote:Mike, I have never seen that wood before simply beautiful! You are killing me with those finishes.

Smitty! hey man how are ya brother... That wood in that figure is really not found much of anywhere. I am excited about this one and looking forward to getting her further along. Say hey to Mr Kyle for me...

Mike

Mitchell Smithey · Post by **Mitchell Smithey** » 6 Nov 2019 6:59 am

Mike, the Brazilian herringbone guitar is the best looking Emmons on the planet can't wait to see this one.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 6 Nov 2019 10:43 am

Mitchell Smithey wrote:Mike, the Brazilian herringbone guitar is the best looking Emmons on the planet can't wait to see this one.

Buddy I really appreciate you saying that, thanks

Here's Rosalee with a few of her siblings

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 6 Nov 2019 3:54 pm

So this is the way I fix the all so common issue that plagues push pull Emmons guitars. The area right behind the changer is almost always cracked. You may not see it on Mica guitars as it's covered but once they come apart there it is, cracks and breaks. Lacquer guitar will show these cracks almost always. It happens to be the weakest area in the whole body.

My fix: I cut a 1/16' slot on my router table in the end (gotta be careful) Then, I epoxy a carbon fiber strip in there that I cut and glue using high quality epoxy. Once it dries, trim it off and re-drill the holes.

Now, this is a tough repair if not impossible with the guitar together so take that into consideration when doing this repair.

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 6 Nov 2019 5:17 pm

Mike Scaggs wrote:
Mitchell Smithey wrote:Mike, the Brazilian herringbone guitar is the best looking Emmons on the planet can't wait to see this one.
Buddy I really appreciate you saying that, thanks

Here's Rosalee with a few of her siblings

I love Rosalee, but the sunburst lacquer on the sibling gets my vote. Let me know if you ever decide to sell that one!

Best,
Chris

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 6 Nov 2019 5:30 pm

Chris Grigsby wrote:
Mike Scaggs wrote:
Mitchell Smithey wrote:Mike, the Brazilian herringbone guitar is the best looking Emmons on the planet can't wait to see this one.
Buddy I really appreciate you saying that, thanks

Here's Rosalee with a few of her siblings

I love Rosalee, but the sunburst lacquer on the sibling gets my vote. Let me know if you ever decide to sell that one!

Best,
Chris

All these guitar were sold to the same buyer. Much of the time these are sold before they are completed. Thank you for your very nice comment

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 18 Nov 2019 9:05 am

One half of the body veneer is glued and in place. The second Hal is in clamps now for the next 24 hours. Next step will be sanding and then trim.