long time SC-2 owner

[hawkjeff]

I have had my G&L SC-2 since I was a kid. I bought it new from my guitar teacher. I'm just recently learning about what a gem of a guitar this is. Part of my problem has been that my guitar has always had a couple of really serious playing problems that I never had fixed. First, a bad head nut caused my high-E string to never stay in place. Then a couple of bad spots on the neck's finish have caused it to be nearly unplayable. It has sat in its case for many years and only now, after recently buying myself another vintage instrument, have I been finding myself sort of fascinated by it again.

I am hoping that somewhere around these forums I find a bit about how to get some quality work done on this that won't hurt its value but will help its quality as an instrument.

[Fumble fingers]

my local dealer has a great tech/luthier department and knows old and new G&L's very well ..... a lot of these tech's aren't familiar with G&L and that can be a problem ...... hopefully someone here can recommend a good tech close to where you live

[Craig]

I have had my G&L SC-2 since I was a kid. I bought it new from my guitar teacher. I'm just recently learning about what a gem of a guitar this is. Part of my problem has been that my guitar has always had a couple of really serious playing problems that I never had fixed. First, a bad head nut caused my high-E string to never stay in place. Then a couple of bad spots on the neck's finish have caused it to be nearly unplayable. It has sat in its case for many years and only now, after recently buying myself another vintage instrument, have I been finding myself sort of fascinated by it again.

I am hoping that somewhere around these forums I find a bit about how to get some quality work done on this that won't hurt its value but will help its quality as an instrument.

Welcome Jeff!

Please do post some photos of your SC-2, showing the neck finish issues. One of our members, Fred Finisher, was an employee in the finishing department
from 1978 (CLF Research/Music Man/G&L) until Dec. 1985. Fred has helped others with finishing questions, so I'm sure that if he sees your post and photos,
he will reply.

In case you have not seen the Welcome! Read This First, please do read it as it will help in navigation of our site.

[hawkjeff]

you guys have already proven to be a great community. I'm excited to see if I can bring this guitar to life after all these years. you'll see the main problem in these photos. there are a few additional problems on the back of the neck that are similar and create rough spots, but nothing this bad. the concern, of course, being that these always got in the way of the playability of the guitar. (the other killer has been the head nut where the high E never sat properly, constantly popped out, and broke often.)

you can see a few photos here as I could not figure out how to add them to the message itself.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8wlmqpnlruu5 ... Q1B0avdHUa

[KenC]

I thought I had posted a reply earlier today, but for some reason I don't see it here. Anyway, welcome to G&LDP! I am a big fan of the early SC and SB series instruments. I put in some time on my '82 SC-1 after work today, and will probably give the SC-3 in my avatar some playing tonight.

I'm not an expert on finishes, but the photos make me think a big drop of solvent ended up on the neck somehow. If that's the case, a competent finisher should be able to smooth it out and make it close to new again. Hopefully Fred will see this thread and comment. He has given me advice before on handling damage to early G&L finishes.

Ken

[fianoman]

I would think a competent tech should be able to fix you up pretty easily. Not sure what is up with the nut. Could be the angle of the photo but IMO it needs to be replaced. Looks like a beginner cut it...

Welcome!

[JagInTheBag]

That blem looks like a cigarette burn. Needs a new nut.

[hawkjeff]

thanks, all. I think I found a great luthier in portland who seems experienced with these guitars, though that may not even matter. he has gotten some great recommendations from some musician friends in town and is supposedly a real gem with vintage instruments. I do think a new finish and a new nut will make this feel like a new guitar.

you guys have been a real help and a bit of an inspiration to get my guitar finally working the way it always could have or should have been. this site makes me more excited than ever to be able to play this thing right.