09/19/2022
Sometimes when a big project instrument goes out the door, I go through a brief version of Empty Nest Syndrome (not that there’s not a lot more to be doing, so maybe not the perfect analogy…). That happened with this one.
The body had been traumatized by water damage, and the owner did his part to make it stable. There was a budget, and “make it playable” was my job. Neck re-set, level existing fingerboard, re-bind, re-fret, including the usual new nut and saddle retrofit.
An entirely new fingerboard and straightening of the existing neck, which would have involved installing a new layer of material after leveling the old neck-to-fingerboard surface, could have been an option but the price was out of budget. An entirely new neck would have also been a choice, but, same story.
The repairs done did not compromise the original neck (only the fingerboard, though functionally, obviously an improvement), so if it ever gets done differently in the future, it’s all good to go with mostly original elements. This is the earliest serial number El Trovador I’ve ever seen or have seen documented.
Fare thee well, El T. I’m so thrilled that you will be played again and are in the hands of the person who knew to save you.
