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Well, there comes a time when it's just the right thing to do to do work for free. My in-laws have some good friends who's father passed away this past year. He was a flat-picker in a little town bluegrass band near Calgary, Alberta. Well, the night he died, his basement flooded and soaked nearly everything in there, including his Seagul 12 string. Now, I know that this guitar has very little actual value to it, especially when it was submerged for 10-12 hours. But this guitar has real sentimental value to the family (especially the grandson, who is getting married this summer), so my Father-in-law and I are going to repair it.

Here are the pics.













Lots of work, should be fun.

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Rod that is mighty nice of you and your father-in-law. Lots of work but it doesn't look insurmountable. I have a Seagull folk guitar that I keep at our summer place in Canada. I love that little guitar. Looking forward to pic's of the rebuild.

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Wow the maple looks very good and pretty much unstained for having been through the wringer. good job separating the back. I can't believe Seagull does a three piece x brace. All separations look clean. makes the repair easy. Well Rod I will let you get after it.

You're right Rod. Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's got to do... I'm sure those people will greatly appreciate your effort. On another positive note, that guitar will probably sound a lot better with a little 'hot-Roding' (pardon the pun!). Alain Desforges38788.4887384259

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

My first piece of advice is to take off the old X brace and toss it - now I see why almost all Seagulls after a couple years start to deform - the X has no strength to it at all using a butt joint. Make a new X, use the same dimensions, but finger joint the crossing, and put a reinforcing cap across the X arm that is cut. It will be WAY better.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

It gives you the chance to improve upon things, that's for sure. I'd re-brace the top with all new, really nice bracewood. Make the X-brace the way it's supposed to be. You can make yourself a smaller bridge plate as well, and considering that it is a 12 string I'd make a "musser brace" too. This would allow a smaller bridge plate, while helping keep the top flat. A little extra mass won't hurt a 12 string, either.
For the buck, Seagulls are actually pretty darn nice guitars. But I have my doubts that this one would have lasted for many years- but after you re-do it, it probably will.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

That will be a very fine and noble project to enjoy Rod, i'm proud to be your friend Man! I'm also sure that this guitar, will sound twice better since it's under your care! Way to go bud!

Doesn't look too terrible- all the parts are there. I'd say take it all apart and
glue it back together. It'll probably turn out better than new.
Kudos to you for taking it on.
-C

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That does look like a fun project Rod. And an excellent family-building project. Enjoy, looking foward to the "after" pics!

Thanks guys for the encouragement. I agree, I don't think it will be too difficult of a repair. I just need to convince my father-in-law to pull the top bracing and bridge plate (more like bridge plater if you ask me) and do it right.

I think he'll go for it.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I'm with Mark, excellent opportunity to replace and rework! The X-brace looks horrible. Just tell the Father-in-law what the experts at the OLF suggested!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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