Old Mansfield 1969-1970 electric guitar "Les Paul" - Worth fixing?

9677 Views 63 Replies 19 Participants Last post by zontar, Dec 13, 2019

JacquesP

Discussion Starter · Dec 7, 2019

So, my friends, I've just retrieved my old, and first, electric guitar which dates back 1969 or 1970 !!!
It is in seriously bad shape though ... my brother had salvaged it (or should I say "rescued") when my parents moved from the old house to their one. I'm sure my Mom, knowing that she never keeps "old" stuff, would have thrown it away.
This goes back to the mid-seventies --- Gosh, That is OLD news!!

Anyway, I plugged it in this morning and it DID produce some "sounds" (with strings that would be at least 30 years old).
There is a fair amount of rusty stuff on both pickups and the No. 3 and 4 strings do not produce any sound at all. I suppose they are partly fried! (the pickups, I meant).

I would like to keep the old guitar as a "souvenir" of my very first electric guitar but it would also be nice if it could be played.

The big question: Would it be worth it?

I'll post some pictures when I have more time.
BTW, this thing does show any model/serial anywhere ... any chance of finding out what those are, if any?

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greco

· #2 · Dec 7, 2019

Looking forward to the pics. Please consider taking quite a few (we love pics), including closeups of the tuners, nut, frets, pickups, controls and inside the control cavity.

Once the pics are posted, someone should be able to help you with information about the model, etc.

JacquesP said:
The big question: Would it be worth it?

I think it depends on how much you want to spend on the (possibly/probably) needed parts, how much extra time you have to devote to it and your expectations of the final results of restoring it.

I would enjoy doing something like this and have bought some inexpensive guitars from Kijiji and brought them "back to life". I have the luxury of time as I'm retired and have quite a few hand tools, a dedicated bench for guitar electronics, etc. I also have several friends that do this type of thing and can go over my questions with them.

EDIT: This might interest you...
I found a Mansfield Guitar ?!

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gtone

· #3 · Dec 7, 2019

IMHO, if it has a bolt-on neck, it's not a project worth doing. If it's a set neck and a good player, it may be worth it however. YMMV, given whatever sentimental value this guitar has for you...

JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 7, 2019

String instrument Guitar Acoustic-electric guitar Electric guitar Bass guitar

Answering to both of you Greco and Gtone:
Here are some pictures Looks pretty rough!!
... yes, it is a "bolt-on neck" !! Bad, right?
As I said, it would be nice if I could play it, and the fact that the pickups (at least one of them) seem fried at the 3rd and 4th strings ... could well be a shot in the dark.
I wonder if I can find some old/original/replacement stuff.

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JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 7, 2019

More pictures ...

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JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 7, 2019

greco said:
Looking forward to the pics. Please consider taking quite a few (we love pics), including closeups of the tuners, nut, frets, pickups, controls and inside the control cavity.

Once the pics are posted, someone should be able to help you with information about the model, etc.

I'll have more pictures ... for the control knobs and the insides.
Thanks for the replies!

Reactions: 1

Kerry Brown

· #7 · Dec 7, 2019

Just because the neck is bolt on doesn’t mean it is not worth fixing up. I have played some really nice bolt neck Les Pauls. You won’t get as much if you decide to sell it but if it plays well and it means something to you I’d restore it. Even if it needs new pickups and electronics you should be able to get the parts for under $150. Checkout guitarfetish.com. Cleaned up a bit and in working order if it’s a decent player it is worth at least $350 or so.

Reactions: 2

Guitar101

· #8 · Dec 7, 2019

If it was red, It might have been the one I bought my son way back then. He sold it when I wasn't looking. I do remember he had bought Fender Tele knobs for it at Steve's in TO. It was a big deal to go to Steve's in Toronto back then. If I had known he was going to sell it, I would have told him to put the original knobs back on it. The Fenders weren't cheap . . . Kid's. He's almost 50 now.

greco

· #9 · Dec 7, 2019

Your guitar is in much better condition than I imagined before seeing the pics.
VERY NICE!!

Have you done any kind of work on guitars in the past?

Can you solder?

JacquesP said:
... yes, it is a "bolt-on neck" !! Bad, right?

Many Teles and Strats have bolt-on necks. They don't seem to be all that bad.
Some people even like them.
(I'm ducking the flames...LOL)

JacquesP said:
As I said, it would be nice if I could play it, and the fact that the pickups (at least one of them) seem fried at the 3rd and 4th strings ... could well be a shot in the dark.

It is interesting that only 2 strings are not sounding. I'm thinking it might somehow just be the ancient strings and not the pickups that are to blame.

JacquesP said:
I wonder if I can find some old/original/replacement stuff.

Personally, I wouldn't even try. I would work with what you have for now.

More questions:

How do the tuners look?
Have the plastic knobs on the tuners deteriorated? Do they turn smoothly?
How is the fret wear?...especially on the first 5 frets or so.

@laristotle is a friend of mine that has done a lot of of this type of "restoration" work with a variety of guitars. I'm sure that he (and hopefully many other forum members) will comment and make suggestions.

Sorry about all the questions. As you can tell, I like these projects and the challenges they present.

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KapnKrunch

· #10 · Dec 7, 2019

I am looking for a 24-3/4" neck for a project. If playable please do not discard without contacting me.

Steadfastly

· #11 · Dec 7, 2019

Yes, I would fix it. There is not likely much more than the pickups or electrics that need repairing. Having your first guitar is always desirable.

JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 7, 2019

I'll reply to all of you in a short while .. in the meantime, here are more pictures of the knobs, switch and the "insides" ...
Picture 1 and 2: the knobs and the "insides" ...

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2

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1SweetRide

· #13 · Dec 7, 2019

Tap on the slugs with a metal object to see if it’s the pickup or the strings.

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1SweetRide

· #14 · Dec 7, 2019

Aren’t Mansfields made by Ibanez?

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JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 7, 2019

Pictures 3 and 4 : the switch and the "insides" ...

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JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 7, 2019

and, finally, the upper neck and its tuners/plastic knobs ... yes, they are showing some (lots?) of deterioration and they are indeed a little hard to turn with the strings on, but moving freely with no strings.

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laristotle

· #17 · Dec 7, 2019

Mansfield guitar brand started by the Peate Family who had a music store on Mansfield Street in Montreal since 1899. In the late 60s early 70s they had these good quality but low-cost guitars made in Japan to almost identical standards as the big name brands here in America. Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez factory) produced these guitars.

Start with a fresh set of strings and see how it feels.
Even as a wall hanger, it's cool to still have your first guitar.

Reactions: 1

JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 7, 2019

Kerry Brown said:
Just because the neck is bolt on doesn’t mean it is not worth fixing up. I have played some really nice bolt neck Les Pauls. You won’t get as much if you decide to sell it but if it plays well and it means something to you I’d restore it. Even if it needs new pickups and electronics you should be able to get the parts for under $150. Checkout guitarfetish.com. Cleaned up a bit and in working order if it’s a decent player it is worth at least $350 or so.

I did check that site: gosh! Loads of stuff there!
If I were to send an email for info, it does specify that :

"What Parts Fit My Guitar?
Sorry we cannot tell specifically what fits your guitar based on manufacturer, model name or serial #. Most manufacturers made and still make MANY, MANY versions of the same model with slight changes in hardware. We include measured drawings for almost all of our products, and a good hands-on measurement of what you have will be the first step to replacing parts. Many parts DO FIT, but need very slight adjustment to fit well." (quoted from the Guitarfish.com site)

greco

· #19 · Dec 7, 2019 (Edited)

1SweetRide said:
Tap on the slugs with a metal object to see if it’s the pickup or the strings.

You beat me to it.

The results of the testing will be interesting as only one pickup is "symptomatic" and this assumedly a bar magnet.

Mysteries are so much fun.

JacquesP

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 7, 2019

greco said:
Your guitar is in much better condition than I imagined before seeing the pics.
VERY NICE!!

Have you done any kind of work on guitars in the past?

Can you solder? Never tried !!

Many Teles and Strats have bolt-on necks. They don't seem to be all that bad.
Some people even like them.
(I'm ducking the flames...LOL)

It is interesting that only 2 strings are not sounding. I'm thinking it might somehow just be the ancient strings and not the pickups that are to blame.

Personally, I wouldn't even try. I would work with what you have for now.

More questions:

How do the tuners look? They are showing some degree of deterioration (see pictures) and they turn smoothly with NO strings but hars as hell with them on.
Have the plastic knobs on the tuners deteriorated? Do they turn smoothly?
How is the fret wear?...especially on the first 5 frets or so. I would say at least 50% OK .. playable with not much "buzz".

@laristotle is a friend of mine that has done a lot of of this type of "restoration" work with a variety of guitars. I'm sure that he (and hopefully many other forum members) will comment and make suggestions.

Sorry about all the questions. As you can tell, I like these projects and the challenges they present.

I've replied to some of your lines with a bold/italic lettering added to them.
Comments and questions well appreciated, thanks!!

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