Filling in/repairing HB route on vintage telecaster

[mds]

Hey guys,

I've got an old Tele that someone did a pretty ugly HB route on. I'd like to restore it to the original look, even though its covered by the pickguard. I'd like to hear some opinions and advice on how this should be done, and how good it can look. I'm going to have a professional do it, and would love some suggestions of guys in Los Angeles who can do this type of work.

The big questions for me are: Can it be filled and finished without messing up the original finish that on the guitar and will this adversely effect the tone or value of the guitar?

Thanks!

Mike

[Bob V]

The value boat has sailed if a collector is insisting on "all original" condition. A professionally repaired/restored guitar goes into the vintage "player" category. To do the cleanest job, you'd probably have to remove more wood to get clean, square edges to glue in a new patch (assuming you could find the appropriate ash or alder chunk to fill it in with), then route out the shape it was supposed to be, then touch up the unseen finish under the pickguard. All those steps run a risk of scratching or dinging the original finish in areas that you do see. I think you've got a big question trying to balance the cost of the repair against the improvement in value. If you're doing it because it was a sin to cut up the old guitar and you want to do it justice, then it's worth it to you. I'm not sure that there's going to be a tone difference unless you were talking about the bridge area or unless the route left a huge gaping chamber under the pickguard.

[mds]

I'm not really doing it to increase the value, though I think it would probably sell easier with the repair. I mostly just want it to be repaired for the sake of the instrument. Its a beautiful old tele that is a great guitar and its a shame the guy went after it with a chisel. I'm a player, not a collector, so I don't care too much. The good news is, I got it dirt freakin' cheap.

[Mike9]

Best you can do is clean it up with a template and router, glue in some new lumber and re-rout. OR you can just clean it up and forget about it it's not that big a deal - it's not going to improve the tone any. However - if it'll make you sleep better go for it.