OWNER UPDATE: I have had these at home to play for the last couple of months. I have to say that Ted's work exceeded my expectations. Sure, the GG163 could have used a neck reset but it is now playable rather than in someone's fire pit. It is a beautiful sounding guitar and I love it for finger picking. It has a piano-style resonance to my ear. The T18 is a rough looking beast but WOW it is a champion when played with a pick! It's such a fun, energetic rhythm guitar. Both these guitars are imminently playable. And the mandolin, shame on all you naysayers! I am a total novice at mandolin but it makes me want to play and play and so I do! Now I know many people think that it's a waste of time and money to resurrect instruments like these but I emphatically disagree. They were all unplayable when I picked them up. They had been given up for dead by their owners. But the woods on these instruments is getting rarer by the year and the workmanship is pretty darn solid. Their voices are unique and worth preserving. Thank you, Ted, for the solid work. (And I do want the neck reset on the GG163...we'll talk.)
@vayabroder7292 жыл бұрын
Absolutely! The wood itself is very valuable!!
@WryGrass1002 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the owner update. Makes me think more like this would be helpful...or at the very least, interesting. For the Taylor approach, salvaging an old instrument or two probably rescues valuable trees growing in some protected forest.
@kevin_A613 Жыл бұрын
I am kindred with your spirit of restoring vintage instruments from yesteryear that have been left for dead. Well done!
@guarddog3186 ай бұрын
Don't ever let anyone tell you what you should save and what you shouldn't. ... especially since these days, most people are more soulless than those instruments .
@TedSchoenling2 ай бұрын
the sign of a good instrument is that it makes you want to play.
@mightyluv2 жыл бұрын
“We’ll honor the guitar’s lived experience” is the most respectful statement I’ve heard with regard to old instrument repair.
@wellfuckyoumr3 жыл бұрын
The name Goya brings to mind cans of refried beans.
@ScotClose3 жыл бұрын
Black beans.
@matthewf19793 жыл бұрын
Exactly what a flat top mandolin sounds like! 💨
@gavinw54693 жыл бұрын
Lol
@jameschristiansson31373 жыл бұрын
@@ScotClose Pigeon Peas / Gandules Verdes
@SlaughteredDecay3 жыл бұрын
Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden! 🇸🇪
@1777DK3 жыл бұрын
Or Jötteborghi ... ;-)
@azbababooey3 жыл бұрын
The Swedish Chef impersonation was hilarious! Glad to see that 70s guitar had the chest hair and the karate jeans. 😂 Your repairs are so relaxing, you’re like the Bob Ross of guitar repairs!
@theshapeexists2 жыл бұрын
Bort bort bort!
@ringsystemmusic Жыл бұрын
I loved that bit!
@Nellil3 жыл бұрын
Greetings from Stockholm , Sweden 🇸🇪
@theolderbrother3 жыл бұрын
As a Citizen of Gothenburg: Good pronounciation of Göteborg! :D
@garrybraithwaite58073 жыл бұрын
pronunciation not pronounciation
@jameschristiansson31373 жыл бұрын
@@garrybraithwaite5807 Sure, but his meaning was clear.
@paulseano51002 жыл бұрын
We musicians always pronounce foreign languages well as we learn music by ear. Hearing is our gift. Right Said Ted. Get it? Ha!
@jameschristiansson31372 жыл бұрын
@@paulseano5100 I hope that's true. I want to learn to sing a song by Łona - Rozmowa z cutem. And I don't know a word of Polish !
@stavrospapadimitriou76312 жыл бұрын
@@jameschristiansson3137 How's your Swedish?
@ichthanthrope Жыл бұрын
Many many years ago a luthier said my no-name mandolin wasn't worth repairing and offered to sell me a Goya he had instead. That Goya was the _easiest_ mandolin to play that I've ever touched, and served me well for a decade or two before it pulled itself apart. I still miss it.
@ei96byod3 жыл бұрын
Loove the Swedish chef reference! 😆🤣 He was a big hero of mine as a child. 👍 I'm Swedish by the way,
@alexanderkupke9203 жыл бұрын
But as he mentioned fermented Fish, he maybe should not open a can of Surströmming in his shop, his customers might wonder when they get their guitars back... (I don´t think you should open that stuff indoors anyways)
@kevc61152 жыл бұрын
I was just taking a sip of tea and spat it out everywhere. The Swedish Chef was and is 1 of my favourite muppets. I do a very similar impression. 😂😂😂
@Tetsaraku3 жыл бұрын
Greetings from Finland, just a wee bit off to the east from Sweden. Your Swedish song was hilarious! :)
@schoolhse3 жыл бұрын
That fancy label in the mandolin appears to say “ guaranteed for one year”. Greetings from Lund! 👍👍
@Arfshesaid4573 жыл бұрын
Thank you for kicking things off with a frenzied rendition of The Immigrant Song.
@arnoldmmbb3 жыл бұрын
Having a bad day but then a new video of my favorite guitar chanel... 😄
@goodun29743 жыл бұрын
This is too funny. Just over a half hour ago I recommended your channel to Keith over at the 5 Watt World channel because of your recent repair of a Danelectro 12 string, and now here you are with a new video!
@jameschristiansson31373 жыл бұрын
Keith's a good man.
@Adam-wl8wn3 жыл бұрын
I already know this'll be good. Cheers mate, and thanks for the longer length!
@estebangarcia1023 жыл бұрын
For once in my life, I'd love to have a woman say this to me...
@BakerGlare3 жыл бұрын
Informative, soothing and laugh-out-loud fun. Great Sunday afternoon! Greetings from the rainy UK.
@VovvenGromit3 жыл бұрын
Loved this video! I recently started collecting Levin guitars, after coming across a 1954 model 22 (Bolero) by pure happenstance. Fell in love with the tone. It's been around, seen a few things and bears the marks to verify this. Dings, scratches, some top cracks and missing binding. But fully playable and sounds absolutely wonderful. The next one I came across was a 1956 model 120 in light sunburst. Beautiful shape, only had to repair a slightly sunken top. Strung it up with Thomastik Infeld KR116 rope core strings. It sings. Lastly, I found an "old guitar" advertised on Facebook marketplace. I knew instantly what it was...a Levin parlor guitar 1930s or 40s, by the looks of it. I hurried off to buy it and brought it home for more research. Turns out it was model 200C from 1929. Lovely little guitar, but in dire need of restoration. The back has split down the middle, and the neck needs resetting too. This one's my long term project. My goal is to find an early 70s Levin W36. Thanks for making a Levin video! Greetings from Sweden.
@gam14712 жыл бұрын
My first quality guitar was a Levin LT-18 dreadnought, sold in the UK as the 'Super Goliath' - maple back and sides, spruce top and and ebony fingerboard as per the video. The video guitar's cracked bridge design isn't as per the original. The original has a rectangular outline as I recall, with white pins and a black dot at the centre. I've owned many guitars since the Levin - for example, Martin, Gibson, and Guild. With hindsight the Levin's build quality and sound easily equalled that of the USA-built instruments. The best guitars made on this side of 'the pond' without question. I also owned a mandolin made by Levin - a beautiful simple blond version of the sunburst one featured in the video. I bought it with my first wage packet when I began work in 1968.
@stevea34723 жыл бұрын
I learned how to play with a goya nylon string and Gordon lightfoot music songbooks. That was in 1970.
@stevenleonard72193 жыл бұрын
Your videos are always informative and interesting. Jerry Rosa mentioned that he watches your channel in his most recent shop talk video.
@larryfischer19703 жыл бұрын
Steven Leonard ,I watch Ted and Jerry as well, I'm the guy that asked Jerry on his live shop talk if he watches Ted.
@stevenleonard72193 жыл бұрын
@@larryfischer1970 😎 Cool! Where are you geographically speaking? I’m in southern Saskatchewan. I wish we had access to the calibre of these two luthiers.
@larryfischer19703 жыл бұрын
I'm in central Kansas, 7 hrs west of Rosa String Works
@ProtonJimmy3 жыл бұрын
As (yet another) swede, I thank you for keeping our guitars alive!
@phialdictator64933 жыл бұрын
Those cloth ended strings are Plectrum 12-59s from Thomastik-Infeld in Austria. They also do a 13 to 61 and a 10 to 41! If you haven't tried a set I recommend you do.
@stu-j3 жыл бұрын
Your videos are definitely helping me convert a right handed takamine acoustic into a left handed guitar after my martin D15m was stolen last month. I'm removing the bridge and making a left handed one and making new bone nut and saddle and fixing up the dings and cracks. Should be ready next week for the first buskers night in over a year. Thank you sir for your videos they have helped so much.
@martinfrog7683 жыл бұрын
The Guitars both sound like early Martin Dreadnaught's which is a bonus ... While the Mandolin sounds like early Washburn or 20th century Lyon & Healy which are perfect for the "Old Timey" sound ... My opinion is they would make great studio instruments as those sounds are very appealing and sometimes hard to duplicate with modern versions ...
@harrisonandrew3 жыл бұрын
Hammer of the Gods, that was a good episode!
@hrxy13 жыл бұрын
Outstanding camerawork, outstanding workmanship. Not workpersonship. Ty
@paulseano51002 жыл бұрын
Ted has his favorite yellow polka dot sheet as usual. Informative videos. A true craftsman and has prescience for the development of guitar repairs.
@illyadass3 жыл бұрын
Wow finally i get some answers for my 75 year old Levin guitar that my great grandma had. Never knew anything about it
@DerangedTechnologist3 жыл бұрын
The mandolin makes me want to invent something (presuming someone hasn't already done it) that's more or less like an octopus tentacle, to facilitate working behind obstacles in tight places. // As always, this is truly splendid. Thanks!
@68able23 жыл бұрын
i think i’ve watched all of your videos. twice, needless to say this is my favorite luthier channel
@gcollective3 жыл бұрын
probes and prayers... that’s how i spend my weekend
@spiderprint3 жыл бұрын
It's pronounced "Leveen". Greetings from Sweden! :)
@abelallen87432 жыл бұрын
Randomly commenting on one of your videos, because none of them stand out to be better than any other... It's one of these things in life... common sense, experience, knowledge, it all adds up and i love how you humbly share that with us... I aspire to build guitars that last forever but you always remind me that you have to tweak, repair and get along with what you have... you are a real artisan in my book, i just hope you are well and keeping the same mindset... love you to bits, take care !
@tommycato63683 жыл бұрын
Warms my Swedish heart. So... I should find me someone with small hands to help me with my mandolins.
@henribackman19803 жыл бұрын
Greetings from the land of ice and snow and so forth 😅 👍
@mikedennis69793 жыл бұрын
I own a Goya guitar amp built around 1960. It appears to be built by Valco. Unique because it uses 6973 power tubes. Sounds pretty good.
@Shatterthewaves3 жыл бұрын
Been watching your channel for a while, first time commenting. Your knowledge and the "how it's done" approach is so interesting to watch. Thanks for everything !
@johnnieboi3 жыл бұрын
Always a pleasure watching your work...
@denverrandy71433 жыл бұрын
Love this channel👍
@SaxonSuccess3 жыл бұрын
Love the playing. I really like your channel, thank you for it!
@aniquinstark43473 жыл бұрын
That burst finish is gorgeous
@connyandersson28203 жыл бұрын
One more greeting from Sweden. Liked your Wasa knäckebröd munching.
@davidsims13293 жыл бұрын
All three sounded very nice thanks brother
@MrChristianBlackmon3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for posting this.
@ShannonFerguson3 жыл бұрын
Awesome. Your attention to details is a pleasure to watch.
@stevesmith65543 жыл бұрын
what a very pleasing sounding and very attractive set of instruments. Thank you again for your informative and professional videos.
@michaelrice5003 жыл бұрын
I grew up eating knäckebröd in Wisconsin and learned to play guitar on a Goya that my father bought used from a music store in - - - wait for it - - - SPAIN!
@ziggylayneable Жыл бұрын
I have a brain injury . I never check my email. You are an amazing guitar fixer.. add memory and I have watched every video you have made more than once. You are gifted
@DriftinDoug3 жыл бұрын
Probes & Prayers: I love it!
@lewisgeyer14403 жыл бұрын
Another great video, thank you.
@TheGuitologist3 жыл бұрын
I have 2 Levin made Goyas. They have strange neck joints. Both of mine need work and have been projects for a long time. I would have thought removing the back on that mandolin would have made much easier work.
@vayabroder7292 жыл бұрын
Brad; there’s photos of Django Reinhardt playing a Levin archtop. Very cool and streamlined. Look it up.
@kylevandeusen3 жыл бұрын
Great history lesson. Fantastic work. Awesomely entertaining. Like always!
@Pete1390SDR3 жыл бұрын
...and this week, the Swedish Chef and a guitar with chest hair :) Hilarious! Nice job Ted
@Brandon-so9fp3 жыл бұрын
I like the way it feels and plays, the voice sings to me and takes me to a different world. That's is a priceless guitar duck the name.
@PulverizerA3 жыл бұрын
@ 21:21 I lol @ the Muppet Show Swedish Chef bit.
@ianc49013 жыл бұрын
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to notice that !
@ScottyBrockway3 жыл бұрын
I laughed my ass off at that!
@genethemachine71693 жыл бұрын
Had to pause the video for a bit til I could catch my breath
@damnperrys13 жыл бұрын
Way to go! The return of the Swedish Chef is priceless! Thank you so much for sharing!
@andyshriner54433 жыл бұрын
If anyone here knows of Nick Drake, he is pictured playing a Levin in some photos.
@TortugaUruguaya3 жыл бұрын
Love your videos, greetings from Uruguay 🤠🇺🇾
@jfrorn3 жыл бұрын
Always such wonderful, watchable videos... :)
@michaelshipman11713 жыл бұрын
As ever, interesting , entertaining and instructional, good stuff. Thank you.
@guitarsofold1003 жыл бұрын
Your knowledge and history of our beloved instrument of choice is worth the price of entry..(as they say) Plus precision work ...This channel is a Win Win!!!
@rabbithowls713 жыл бұрын
Julie Andrews played a Goya in the sound of music, just a fun fact. I have a Goya G-10 and G-13, both mid 60’s. Great guitars!
@dodgechargerfan3 жыл бұрын
“Stretch-fit Karate Pants” is my new band name.
@GuttlinGuitars2 жыл бұрын
Best guitar repair channel I've come across by far. Thx
@spaert3 жыл бұрын
May I just express gratitude for your ability to accurately tune these instruments? I'm cursed/blessed with perfect pitch (but not the talent to go with it), and the number of guitar repair channels that finish with slightly off tune playing.......*shudder* Thank you for going the extra mile with everything, and especially the tuning/playing. My nerves greatly thank you.
@okayestguitar663 жыл бұрын
Quite a treasure trove of info on older instruments and their repair. Even goes so far as to not edit out mistakes that he later corrects, the bridge shape in this video, this is very much appreciated by me. Excellent work, good sir, and entertaining as well. I'm sure the owner is quite eased (I know that I would be!).
@deegee80103 жыл бұрын
21.23 introducing Swedish chef from the muppets show. Yay
@bubbaw12343 жыл бұрын
your jokes make me chuckle in most of your videos, but this one had me rolling! :)
@philam19733 жыл бұрын
Thanks for playing. I watched in the hope that I could heard how they sound. Hope I get a chance to play one someday.
@danhansson4093 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ted, Been waiting for this.
@dickranmarsupial49113 жыл бұрын
Hugely enjoyable video. The Wasa knäckebröd and singing was a highlight (of my life really). ; )
@rickjohns6893 жыл бұрын
I have that same Goya, and still have the original bridge with the individual saddles. It was my Mom's guitar, I am in the process of re-fretting it.
@TedSchoenling2 ай бұрын
always mesmerizing. I always appreciate the skills of a craftsman, this is like watching my granddad who retired and then worked to become a master wood worker to close out his life. Half the time I think, oh so that is how that is done.. maybe I can try that.. the other half is no you can't.. or if you do try it on some guitar you don't care about....
@swampy15843 жыл бұрын
My sunday relaxation time👍👍
@slacker42uk Жыл бұрын
I find Ted an inspiration. Absolutely love his work, his knowledge and his sense of humour that would crack even the driest spruce top. Brilliant!
@kevinsnyder44253 жыл бұрын
Great video! Love your patience with these instruments. Always liked Goya guitars ever since the Sound of Music came out ... I heard their sales went up after the movie ! I found a Goya folk guitar a few years ago & paid 8.50 for it . Still needs lots of work. Someone beat up on it badly ,and it has long cracks on the sides,back & top,but still plays very well ! 1967 vintage. Thanks Ted !
@terryjohinke5182 жыл бұрын
Once again modest yt a good job Ted. Love your work.
@ejtakach3 жыл бұрын
So much information!
@dalleenpente3 жыл бұрын
I love your imitation of the most hilarious caracter in Sesame Street.Your video show that you have so much skills, it’s so interesting to look at an artist patiently explain his work.
@danielsaturnino57153 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the evening entertainement video.
@beytone3 жыл бұрын
Great work!
@midnightmix26923 жыл бұрын
I have a levin steel string acoustic. Sounds really good and the action is crazy low. Very nice to play on! Greetings from Gothenburg!
@PaisleyPatchouli2 жыл бұрын
Most amusing and relaxing guitar repair channel on KZfaq! :)
@stevesstrings52433 жыл бұрын
Great stuff!
@RAkers-tu1ey Жыл бұрын
Great job on the song. Also loved the fermented fish reference. .. worst stomach ache I ever had.
@iansings7428 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the lesson...
@christerwestlund75713 жыл бұрын
Greetings from 🇳🇴
@patriottothecore62153 жыл бұрын
That mandolin work was real gynaecologist stuff. You could make new bridge reinforcement plates out of those crackers.
@andrefelixstudio28332 жыл бұрын
Great video, my Dad has a Levin which he has had for 40 plus years. Fantastic sound. Only needs a bridge replacement!
@susanroycroft892 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the very interesting background, regards from Don in NZ
@lautarogarabentos74883 жыл бұрын
Very interesting video, thanks
@hermanadam13 жыл бұрын
The nut slot in that original galalit nut was often made with such kind of roughly cut slots in the factory. The neck on that 163 should have a (wich they went back to after the bolt on attachment, the very earlier ones have a german neck attachemant, like a violin) dove tail that normaly comes loose very easy so no worry if you would need to reset the neck.
@boogierandy75473 жыл бұрын
great job(s)!
@popplace43 жыл бұрын
Your subtle humor is really hilarious. Wasa and a nice fermented fish, yum!
@onusgumboot5565 Жыл бұрын
I have a guitar just like that last one. The one that used to have the individual string bridge saddles. It has a traditional dovetail joint on the neck. I know because I did my first neck reset on it. It worked out fairly well for a first try.
@geronimox19713 жыл бұрын
Keep up the good work!
@jessegrant86663 жыл бұрын
Probes and prayers that is what this glorious life is to help us learn 😊
@SillyMoustache3 жыл бұрын
Hi Ted, I'm in the UK and took up guitar in he mid '60s. Levin were VERY highly rated back then when it was virtually impossible to get Martins or Gibsons. There are a lot of Levin dreads (Goliaths) still around - their neck joints seem to have lasted better than many Martins. The business between Martin and Levin was very sad and Martin were the bad guys - the story is that they recruited Levin to build Martins in Sweden for the European market, then, for some reason went further and bought out the company without understanding the labour laws there. They tried to get the staff to work under the far less attractive US rules, which was unacceptable and illegal, and so threatened to fire them - which they agreed to as under Swedish law they had all sorts of redundancy and pension rights which cost Martin sorely (Lack of due diligence!) Levin were fine instruments and the loss of that company probably hurt the European market more than the USA.
@DavidRavenMoon3 жыл бұрын
Those black nylon tuners are the original Gotoh (Gotoh Gut) tuners from the late 70s! I had a set on a Sekova Les Paul Custom copy. They work fine but had a habit of cracking, which mine did.