Cort G Series Restoration

[Sonic Mountain]

While I'm watching paint dry on the scratch build I've found myself at a bit of a loose end. I've been thinking about picking up some cheapy gumtree/facebook disasters and cleaning them up to sell on and today the perfect candidate came up.

This is what I scored for $50.

It's a 2005 Cort 'G' series. I think its a G200 and looks like it was a pretty decent entry level guitar when it was new. Somebody has had a good go at it since then and it's pretty horrible to play. The finish has been wrecked. you can just see where the Cort decal used to be, I'll make up a replacement, no point faking it.

Specs (afaik)

It's a 22 fret maple neck with offset dots. 25.5 Scale length. Graphite nut

It's either an Agithis or Basswood body - it's pretty light and soft so probably basswood, they swapped that year.

Full Action II Vintage tremolo - 2 post like on my JM build.

Cort 'PowerSound Pickups'

The amp is just a littel SX practice jobby. It has a cash converters sticker on the back for $79 so I'm already ahead (lol)


Plans are to do a light bluish/grey metallic finish with satin neck and give it a really good clean up/setup.

The fret wear is pretty full on and the neck was very bowed. It had 13's or something on it. I've done a quick adjustment and it looks better, truss rod seems fine.

Any, will keep me busy for a bit. I think there is nice guitar in here somewhere.

Some pics:

[king casey]

Looks like an excellent project sonic.
Getting a subliminal message 'Life's pretty straight without Twisties'

cheers, Mark.

[Sonic Mountain]

Looks like an excellent project sonic.
Getting a subliminal message 'Life's pretty straight without Twisties'

cheers, Mark.

Lol. I don't want to reveal my power level, but those are snacks for D&D tonight

[Hardcoretroubadour]

Looks like fun, might have to keep my eyes out for some Gumtree specials for the kids to play around with

[king casey]

Looks like fun, might have to keep my eyes out for some Gumtree specials for the kids to play around with

My partner got me a no-named strat copy from the local fete for $50.
After it bit of setting up and a re-string, it is quite a decent player.
Thinking about putting a 'Trem-King' in it ...about 4 times what the guitar is worth.

cheers, Mark.

[wazkelly]

Good score. Absolute bargain for $50.

[Sonic Mountain]

Well yesterday I stripped it back. What a mess. There was a lot of damage to the curves and bevels. Looks like they used a scraper or something, then sealed it with what smelt like fibreglass resin. No pics of the process unfortunately as I was too busy cursing who ever attempted the last refinish. Anyway, got it back and did a fair bit of reshaping, its definitely basswood so at least its easy to work with.

First quick coat of primer/surfacer. As usual has highlighted a few dodgey areas,but that's fine cause it was the end of the can and pretty splattery. Fine for a guide coat.

[Sonic Mountain]

Things are moving very slowly in Sonic Mountain land due to life getting in the way. Have done a little more on this, at least its getting plenty of drying time. Managed to give the frets going over today. The wear was pretty bad so a lot of material needed to come off. I'm reasonably happy, but might give it a bit of a tidy up again after finishing.

This is after putting some posca across the frets and doing a very light level. You can clearly see the divots, it got a decent playing in it's heyday.



I thought this pic was better than it is.. anyway after using the radius block to get them level I go back over with the file until to two edges of the flat bit I've create just meet





Then back over with steel wool and polish using the dremel

Then a really good steam clean to get rid of all the finger gunk



Then some oil

[Hardcoretroubadour]

Looking really good, can't wait to see the body...

[blinddrew]

It's actually a really nice grain under there isn't it?