Possible Future Projects; West Virginia Guitars, by Scott Mills
I had my 'return-to-duty' meeting with the braintrust at work yesterday morning... mostly hashing out what, exactly my short balance of time in that establishment might be best spent doing. I did them the biggest favor I could by cashing-out the maximum amount of paid leave that payroll allows in a calendar year, which got me down to a more manageable three weeks to take this year. To manage what's left, and what I accrue, starting January 1st, I'll be at work about three weeks of each month until Dec. 1st of '24. So the point was, every day needs to be well-spent on something and not wasted.
Afterward, I stopped by Fret Mill to drop off a fiddle and guitar, both that had been easy setup and restringing jobs. Minor seam separation on the fiddle. Some fretwork on the guitar.
While there, I went upstairs to take another look at those Scott Mills guitars. All three are major projects, but I think well worth doing. The soundboxes themselves are structurally sound, not a single crack anywhere in them. One has a chunk missing from underneath the bridge footprint. Two are missing their necks, and I see why... as well as these are built, the neck joint is weak, and completely inaccessible after assembled. The only one with a neck needs a reset, which is basically impossible, given the construction. The good; the bodies are beautiful walnut, with Appalachian red spruce tops. All the binding and purfling, even the pickguards are wood. The finish is a nice thin nitrocellulose lacquer, aged, but not checked to pieces. They are really something to see. All three are hand signed and dated in 1983.
If I take these on (free or very cheap) they'll get new necks, set in a routed mortise, and bolted in. I have two of Scott Mills' necks to go by here, and I think approximating his original design in retrofit is entirely do-able. I just don't have time now.
Here's a couple pictures of the trio.
