Collier D8 - worth fixing?

[Hay Joosten]

Hi Crew,

A friend pulled out a beautiful case from a dusty corner in his basement, and out came a guitar I was not familiar with at all.

It is a D8, tagged “Collier Custom”. Necks look similar to Emmons, their is a strange 3rd pickup in a partial position. Undercarriage is in poor shape. No pull rods or pedals, on one lever present.

All I found on the forum is that a Wade Collier built these out of Carterville, IL.

So... anyone that can give me more info on this guitar? Would it be worth fixing up? And who wpuld you recommend to do the job?

Turning to my trusted forumites.. thanks in advance!

[Stu Schulman]

Could you post a picture?

[Hay Joosten]

I do not have any pictures right now.. I will post them as soon as I can.

[Scott Duckworth]

At least it could be a good D8 console steel...

[Hay Joosten]

[Cartwright Thompson]

Don’t make eye contact...just walk away, life is too short.

[Karl Paulsen]

Wow,
Mine is not the voice of experience, but if my friend handed that to me, I'd thank him for the D8 console steel project. With those thin metal sides, it might not weigh too much once you strip out the undercarriage.

Hard to imagine it'd be worthwhile turning it back into a working PSG though.

[Scott Duckworth]

My thinking also. Cabbage out the under carriage, lock the fingers, put a couple good pickups in it, and make a DB console.

[Karl Paulsen]

Also, I'm curious about 2 things.

1) The third pickup, was any wood or board removed to get it in there? I'm really hoping not.

2) What's the audience facing side look like? I can't tell if I'm looking at a repair on the outer changer side corner.

[Russell Adkins]

I have worked on a few of junk guitars and on this steel i would for sure get it up and running and regarding its worth I would say it is a worth while project even if its not a big brand , just do it you ll be glad you did .

[Hay Joosten]

Thank you everyone for encouragement/caution!

Anyone know anything about this brand?

[Hay Joosten]

Also, I'm curious about 2 things.

1) The third pickup, was any wood or board removed to get it in there? I'm really hoping not.

2) What's the audience facing side look like? I can't tell if I'm looking at a repair on the outer changer side corner.

I will check next time I am down there.. does not look like anything was remover for the pickup, not sure about that possible repair..

[Hay Joosten]

Anytime else with insights on the brand? And encouragement/discouragement on the project?

[Bill Sinclair]

I think it would be prohibitively expensive to fab the missing parts and you'd probably find it wasn't worth it. I'd turn it into a D8 console, no pedals, and maybe take it a step further by getting rid of the stainless sheet metal surround. That thing looks like it would take your toes off in a heartbeat. You'd have to get creative with where to mount the controls though. Get rid of the six string pickup but at least give those distinctive diagonal pickups a try. They might sound great.

Love the case. That fabric on the outside looks similar to a late 50's, early 60's Supro amp.

[Richard Sinkler]

I'd really love to see where that angled rod goes.

I agree that it wouldn't be worth the expense. The idea of turning it into a D8 console is a good one.

[Don Drummer]

Reminds of some PSG anxiety dreams[/b]