I bought a "gutted" Bakelite maybe 25 years ago. I've collected some parts (plates & tuning machines) over the years ... dropped in a few different horseshoe pickups that we made back in the old days ... but essentially, it has been sitting in the corner for years ...
It has metal fret markers and a "cutaway" neck ... first run of the B6s ... so I figured it would be a prime candidate to test a new pickup I developed ... so I made some knobs ... bought some pots and a cap ... and strung it up ...
"Indian Love Call" recorded on my iPhone at 5 am this morning ... I'm less shakey in the early morning ... so I get up real early to wind, solder and play before the kids get up
Are you planning to do anything about the crack going across the bottom of the guitar? The reason I ask is because I have a pre-war B6 with a similar crack but not as severe. I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to force some JB Weld into the crack to stabilize it or just let it be.
That crack is 360 degrees ... around the top, sides and bottom ... one continuous "line" which bisects the bridge/string through holes ...
My guess it that it was dropped and broke ... then glued back together ...
So far I've salvaged this B6, a Ricky SW6, a Ricky S100 and a ShoBud JB frypan with these units ... all were train wrecks that I bought ... I'm a sucker for abused and abandoned instruments
As repair medium you might consider resorcinol adhesive. It is not easy to find anymore but it is a phenol/formaldehyde and very similar to the resin used to make Bakelite.
I used to work for an epoxy formulator and have some experience with it as a repair medium. There are many formulations that will work most of the readily products are not ideal.
I’m mesmerized by by the clarity and separation and your playing in that sample. Truly among the most beautiful I’ve heard. I’ve replayed the part at about 1:05 an over and over because I can’t wrap my mind around that sustained slide in note ringing as the next passage starts. Really uncanny, as is your vibrato which never fails to floor me.
