SOLD: Electric Guitar Repair and Restoration Project: Photogenic LP Wine Red | Mark's Basses and

2019.11.30 Update: SOLD on Facebook Group Okinawa Musicians for US$80.

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I recently finished this electric guitar repair and restoration project. It's a Photogenic LP Electric Guitar with a Wine Red (WR) finish, white binding, chrome pickups and hardware, and vintage-style tuning keys. It's a pretty good looking electric. I rescued this particular electric guitar from the "junk" section at a local recycle (used) goods shop here in Okinawa, Japan.

There are lots of photos of this guitar below. Check them out!

Generally, Photogenic guitars and basses are marketed as an affordable guitar brand for entry-level guitarists / students. This particular guitar was made in China (MIC). This particular Photogenic electric guitar looks identical to the Photogenic Les Paul Standard Type LP-260 electric guitar that is currently listed on Amazon Japan for the price of ¥24,071 (about US$220) including shipping. However, the Wine Red color does not seen to be available at present. Here is a link to that guitar on Amazon Japan. And, according to the listing on Amazon Japan, here are the guitar's specifications (specs):

• Model Number: LP-260

• Number of Strings: 6

• Guitar Attribute: Les Paul type

• Body: Solid Wood

• Neck: Nato

• Fingerboard: Rosewood

• Pickups: 2 Humbucking

• Controls: 2 Volume / 2 Tone / 3 Way Toggle Switch

• Scale: 628mm / 22 frets

• Hardware: Chrome Plated

• Neck Joint: Set Neck

Regarding guitars made in China I have come to the realization that there many different guitar factories in China including Epiphone's very own guitar factory. Also, aren't Squire guitars made in China as well? It is true that there are low-end guitars and basses being made in China but, at the same time, it is a fact that there are lots of decent and even awesome guitars being made there in China. After all, some of those Chinese guitar factories have been in business for years and even decades, and their craftsmanship has only gotten better and better over the years. 

A tremendous amount working hours was spent repairing and restoring this Les Paul copy. I certainly tried to do my very best with the limited amount of resources and experience that I have. But, I am quite pleased with the results of my labor. Furthermore, I did learn some additional things that are involved in the repair and restoration of electric guitars.

Most of the work I put into this electric guitar was spent on the guitar nut slots (nut action; string height at the nut). I also spent a lot of time working on the frets (leveling, crowning, rounding edges, and polishing) for the frets were pretty worn and tarnished. Moreover, I gave the fretboard a lot of attention (cleaning, conditioning, etc.). I also had to spend some time working on some of the guitar's electronics (output jack and potentiometer replacements). 

Plus, when I found this guitar it was originally in a filthy condition. I did the best I possibly do to clean it up and polish. The Tune-o-matic-style bridge and tailpiece in particular both needed a lot of time and effort to become beautiful and shinny guitar hardware again. 

There are a few things that I certainly do like about this electric guitar. For instance, both of the humbucking pickups (the neck/front and the bridge/rear) produce nice tones. These humbuckers are labelled as Artec brand pickups, which are not high-end guitar pickups to say the least. However, I think they sound good especially for the price. Again, to be honest, these pickups aren't as good as the humbuckers on my Gibson Les Paul. However, for the price of this Photogenic LP-type Electric Guitar you certainly do get a couple of good sounding pickups; they are better than decent. 

Another element of this Les Paul copy is the wine red finish with the white binding. The color reminded me of that famous Gibson Les Paul that was owned by both Eric Clapton and George Harrison during the 1960s. 

I have always appreciated the look for the Les Paul electric guitar. The Les Paul is such an iconic image of the rock guitarist especially during the 1960s and 70s. 

A couple of things that I consider to be weaknesses in this particular guitar are the tuning key (tuners, tuning machines) and the scratches on the finish. 

I serious considered replacing the tuning machines with higher quality ones that would be able to keep the strings in tune (pitch) for a longer period of time. Additional, it appeared to me that have fallen at some time in the past for one of the tuners was slightly bent. However, after careful consideration I decided not to purchase replacement tuning keys after having carefully cleaned and oiled the tuning machines and their gears in addition to straightening the slightly bent tuning key. The tuners are working better now at keeping the guitar strings in tune for longer periods of time. 

The previous owner of this single cutaway electric guitar certainly played it because there was wear. Which is why there are scratches and some dings. And, after all, it is a used guitar. I did contemplate the possibility of striping the paint off and refinishing, which would have taken weeks to be done properly. Instead, I decided the most economical and practical choice was do my best to polish the finish and hand buff it. The end result isn't perfect, but it kept the resale price of this entry-level guitar at something more affordable. 

After all of that hard work I was finally able to put on a new set of electric guitar strings. I usually buy extra light gauge strings because they are most readily available and most affordable in my area, which is in Okinawa, Japan. And, as always, with a new set of strings I gave this guitar a setup: tune to pitch, adjust to truss rod for proper neck relief, adjust the bridge saddles for the lowest possible string action (height), adjust the string length for proper intonation (tuning at the 12 fret), check for fret buzz and adjust, and go through the same procedures over and over until the play-ability of the guitar is the best it could possibly be. In fact, it's always a good idea to allow the guitar to sit overnight or more and to check it again. That's what's involved in a guitar setup. It's very tedious and time-consuming work, but it is what's needed to make the guitar as playable as possible. 

I think most guitarists and bassists would agree that the first thing they take into consideration when buying a guitar or bass is how good it looks. Does the guitar's appearance catch their eye? 

The second consideration when buying a bass or guitar is the price. When the shopper looks at the price tag the shopper quickly decides whether he/she can afford that particular guitar or bass. 

If the shopper decides that the bass or guitar is within his or her price range the third thing the shopper considers is the guitar's play-ability. Does it feel good on their hands? Is it easy to play or not. How does the neck feel? Too thick? Too thin? Or just right?

The fourth consideration when buy a guitar or bass is the sound. First, the shopper should consider how the guitar sounds acoustically without plugging into an amplifier. This is the guitar's resonance; it's natural sound. Then the shopper should listen to the guitar or bass through a standard amp. How are the pickups? How are their tones? How's the sound? Do you like it?

All four of these things are equally important when buying a guitar or bass whether acoustic or electric. However, when buying guitars or basses online, the shopper is only able to make the first two considerations - the guitar's appearance and the guitar's price - but is unable to make the third and fourth considerations: play-ability and sound/tone. Therefore, I do not recommend buying a guitar or bass online. I believe it is important to put the guitar on your hands and feel. Try to play it and carefully listen to that guitar's sound/tone. 

Check out my blog about my 1993 Gibson USA Les Paul Studio electric guitar here!

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