This guitar arrived at the shop in mid-February 2024 with the high E string missing.
During the initial functional inspection, the electronics operated correctly in all five pickup selector positions. The selector switch was fully functional, although its action was noticeably softer than preferred and lacked the crisp, positive engagement expected from a new switch, making it easy to move unintentionally between positions.
The bridge saddles remained in a staggered configuration, indicating the guitar had previously received an intonation setup before it was retired from regular use. Very little dust or debris was present around the bridge saddles or string trees, suggesting the instrument had been stored in relatively clean conditions. The guitar arrived without a tremolo arm, preventing testing of tuning stability while using the vibrato system.
The body finish remains in very good overall condition for its age. It displays several small paint chips along the body edges along with the typical light scratches and playing marks expected on both the front and back of an instrument that has seen years of regular use. The wear is consistent with honest use rather than neglect.
The neck was straight with only a slight amount of forward relief. No fret buzz was present on the five remaining strings. The rosewood fingerboard displayed heavy playing wear through approximately the 14th fret, indicating the instrument saw extensive use during its playing life. The fingerboard was slightly dry and benefited from conditioning. The frets showed normal playing wear, with the most noticeable wear occurring within the first three frets.
The nut appears to have been replaced at some point in the guitar's history. This is suggested by the slight fit mismatch on the low E side and a small nick in the fingerboard consistent with removal of the original nut. Although the nut slots show significant wear from years of playing, no open-string fret buzz was present during testing.
The tuning machines operated smoothly, held tuning well during string bends, and felt solid with no excessive play. Once removed, they were found to be stamped "JY 4," indicating manufacture by Jin Ho. If original to the guitar, they have performed exceptionally well over the years.
With the guitar fully disassembled, it became clear that the instrument had been carefully cared for throughout much of its life. The neck pocket was solid and secure. Typical finish stress lines were present around the neck pocket, but there was no indication that these extended into the wood.
An interesting detail was found beneath the control knobs. The original protective plastic film from the factory pickguard was still trapped beneath the volume and tone knobs, indicating they had likely never been removed. The remaining plastic contained very little accumulated dirt, further supporting the conclusion that the guitar had been routinely cleaned during its years of use.
After removing the pickguard, a slight difference in finish color was visible between the exposed body and the area protected beneath the guard. The mild yellowing is consistent with normal age and indirect sunlight exposure rather than prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
The body is constructed of solid wood. The pickup and control cavities were unshielded but exceptionally clean for an instrument of this age.
The original ceramic pickups measured:
Neck: 5.6 kΩ
Middle: 5.5 kΩ
Bridge: 5.9 kΩ
The electronics consisted of a standard printed-circuit five-way selector switch, Alpha mini potentiometers, and a single capacitor shared by both tone controls.
Overall Assessment
This guitar presented as an extensively played but well-cared-for instrument. The wear found throughout the guitar is consistent with years of regular use rather than abuse or neglect. Structurally, the guitar arrived as an excellent candidate for restoration, requiring only routine maintenance and thoughtful upgrades to begin its next chapter.
