1930s Oahu 71K (Kay) Roundneck Conversion Jumbo Guitar (Other Shop Mod)

This is project three of the three guitars that nearly broke me. More info on that detail is on project one (click here).

This guitar, however, had a lot of work done to it previously. It arrived with an already-recarved neck with a truss rod installed, new board and frets on the neck, and a reglued/mucked-up original bridge. The old work was so-so, unfortunately, and like the car that would require too much cashola to bring back from the dead in a proper manner, I spent my time making it a good player rather than trying to make it perfect.

To this end, I reset the neck, filled and recut the saddle slot, leveled and dressed the frets, added side dots, and set it up. It's playing nicely.

The big caveat on this is that the truss rod does not adjust. I was warned about this -- that it was damaged, but I didn't believe it at the time. When I was handling the neck off the guitar (and on first string-up) it did seem to be doing its work correctly. Once I put it on the guitar, however, it seems the end is not secured well-enough at the heel and so adjusting it just spins the rod. It's thus acting as a simple "non-adjustable" rod. Oh well! To fix that would require a lot of hassle and we'll see if it needs to get done.

When strung with 10s (as it is now) the neck is straight and true and it plays like a champ. I tuned said 10s all the way up F-to-F standard and the neck did not budge, so I imagine 11s are fine. I wouldn't go to 12s anyway because of the extra-long 25 7/8" or so scale length and the ladder-bracing on the top. 12s at the scale are a lot of tension on ladder braces...!

It does have a good, woody, throaty sound to it that's very enjoyable.

The giant truss rod cover hides a poorly-cut truss rout, unfortunately, and it has a few old repairs to cracks in the top and the flattened-pyramid mod to the bridge is not the nicest alteration. The back of the neck must have been stained and then finished in poly because it's got a satin/grain-exposed feel and look to it. I buffed it up a lot and that certainly helped -- it feels "speed-necky" right now.

I don't know the fate of this guitar yet, but it may be up for sale.

This is one of three of this same model I worked-on for the owner.