Swedish Guitars - Levin and Goya

[@andrewlong71]

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.)

[@vayabroder729]

Absolutely! The wood itself is very valuable!!

[@WryGrass100]

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]

I am kindred with your spirit of restoring vintage instruments from yesteryear that have been left for dead. Well done!

[@guarddog318]

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
.

[@TedSchoenling]

the sign of a good instrument is that it makes you want to play.

[@SlaughteredDecay]

Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden! 🇸🇪

[@1777DK]

Or Jötteborghi ... ;-)

[@mightyluv]

“We’ll honor the guitar’s lived experience” is the most respectful statement I’ve heard with regard to old instrument repair.

[@Nellil]

Greetings from Stockholm , Sweden 🇸🇪

[@gam1471]

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.

[@azbababooey]

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!

[@theshapeexists]

Bort bort bort!

[@ringsystemmusic]

I loved that bit!

[@theolderbrother]

As a Citizen of Gothenburg: Good pronounciation of Göteborg! :D

[@garrybraithwaite5807]

pronunciation not pronounciation

[@jameschristiansson3137]

@@garrybraithwaite5807 Sure, but his meaning was clear.

[@paulseano5100]

We musicians always pronounce foreign languages well as we learn music by ear. Hearing is our gift. Right Said Ted. Get it? Ha!

[@jameschristiansson3137]

@@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 !

[@stavrospapadimitriou7631]

@@jameschristiansson3137 How's your Swedish?

[@ei96byod]

Loove the Swedish chef reference! 😆🤣
He was a big hero of mine as a child. 👍
I'm Swedish by the way,

[@alexanderkupke920]

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)

[@kevc6115]

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. 😂😂😂

[@wellfuckyoumr]

The name Goya brings to mind cans of refried beans.

[@ScotClose]

Black beans.

[@matthewf1979]

Exactly what a flat top mandolin sounds like! 💨

[@gavinw5469]

Lol

[@jameschristiansson3137]

@@ScotClose Pigeon Peas / Gandules Verdes

[@arnoldmmbb]

Having a bad day but then a new video of my favorite guitar chanel... 😄

[@ichthanthrope]

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.

[@goodun2974]

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!

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Keith's a good man.

[@Arfshesaid457]

Thank you for kicking things off with a frenzied rendition of The Immigrant Song.

[@Tetsaraku]

Greetings from Finland, just a wee bit off to the east from Sweden. Your Swedish song was hilarious! :)

[@schoolhse]

That fancy label in the mandolin appears to say “ guaranteed for one year”. Greetings from Lund! 👍👍

[@BakerGlare]

Informative, soothing and laugh-out-loud fun. Great Sunday afternoon! Greetings from the rainy UK.

[@Adam-wl8wn]

I already know this'll be good. Cheers mate, and thanks for the longer length!

[@estebangarcia102]

For once in my life, I'd love to have a woman say this to me...

[@VovvenGromit]

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.

[@hrxy1]

Outstanding camerawork, outstanding workmanship. Not workpersonship. Ty

[@phialdictator6493]

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.

[@stevea3472]

I learned how to play with a goya nylon string and Gordon lightfoot music songbooks. That was in 1970.

[@ProtonJimmy]

As (yet another) swede, I thank you for keeping our guitars alive!

[@stevenleonard7219]

Your videos are always informative and interesting. Jerry Rosa mentioned that he watches your channel in his most recent shop talk video.

[@larryfischer1970]

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.

[@stevenleonard7219]

@@larryfischer1970 😎 Cool! Where are you geographically speaking? I’m in southern Saskatchewan. I wish we had access to the calibre of these two luthiers.

[@larryfischer1970]

I'm in central Kansas, 7 hrs west of Rosa String Works

[@martinfrog768]

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 ...

[@stu-j]

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.

[@68able2]

i think i’ve watched all of your videos. twice, needless to say this is my favorite luthier channel

[@paulseano5100]

Ted has his favorite yellow polka dot sheet as usual. Informative videos. A true craftsman and has prescience for the development of guitar repairs.

[@GuttlinGuitars]

Best guitar repair channel I've come across by far. Thx

[@harrisonandrew]

Hammer of the Gods, that was a good episode!

[@illyadass]

Wow finally i get some answers for my 75 year old Levin guitar that my great grandma had. Never knew anything about it

[@ziggylayneable]

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

[@DerangedTechnologist]

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!

[@connyandersson2820]

One more greeting from Sweden. Liked your Wasa knäckebröd munching.

[@abelallen8743]

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 !

[@TheGuitologist]

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.

[@vayabroder729]

Brad; there’s photos of Django Reinhardt playing a Levin archtop. Very cool and streamlined. Look it up.

[@mikedennis6979]

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.

[@spaert]

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.

[@spiderprint]

It's pronounced "Leveen". Greetings from Sweden! :)

[@rickjohns689]

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.

[@michaelrice500]

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!

[@andyshriner5443]

If anyone here knows of Nick Drake, he is pictured playing a Levin in some photos.

[@gcollective]

probes and prayers... that’s how i spend my weekend

[@guitarsofold100]

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!!!

[@rabbithowls71]

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!

[@slacker42uk]

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!

[@TedSchoenling]

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....

[@hermanadam1]

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.

[@susanroycroft89]

Thanks for the very interesting background, regards from Don in NZ

[@johnnieboi]

Always a pleasure watching your work...

[@kevinsnyder4425]

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 !

[@DavidRavenMoon]

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.

[@midnightmix2692]

I have a levin steel string acoustic. Sounds really good and the action is crazy low. Very nice to play on! Greetings from Gothenburg!

[@tommycato6368]

Warms my Swedish heart. So... I should find me someone with small hands to help me with my mandolins.

[@Shatterthewaves]

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 !

[@SillyMoustache]

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.

[@Brandon-so9fp]

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.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Great job on the song. Also loved the fermented fish reference. .. worst stomach ache I ever had.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Great video, my Dad has a Levin which he has had for 40 plus years. Fantastic sound. Only needs a bridge replacement!

[@dodgechargerfan]

“Stretch-fit Karate Pants” is my new band name.

[@Pete1390SDR]

...and this week, the Swedish Chef and a guitar with chest hair :) Hilarious! Nice job Ted

[@henribackman1980]

Greetings from the land of ice and snow and so forth 😅 👍

[@mercse]

Just a tip regarding shrinkage of tops and backs. Re-humidify the instrument for about 10 days. The wood will absorb a lot of moisture and expand. I've fixed a lot of instruments this way without having to resort to cutting back bracing, etc.

[@okayestguitar66]

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!).

[@damnperrys1]

Way to go! The return of the Swedish Chef is priceless! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@patriottothecore6215]

That mandolin work was real gynaecologist stuff. You could make new bridge reinforcement plates out of those crackers.

[@deegee8010]

21.23 introducing Swedish chef from the muppets show. Yay

[@onusgumboot5565]

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.

[@normanstanley1]

I have a `63 Levin, all original, that I bought about 30 years ago from a woman that was 100 years old. It has aged beautifully. I have it set-up for playing slide with .13`s and a slightly high action, but not too high that I can`t use it normally if I feel like it. Really good guitar, they were probably as good as it got here in the UK in the 50`s/60`s when Martins and Gibsons were not available.

[@TortugaUruguaya]

Love your videos, greetings from Uruguay 🤠🇺🇾

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Most amusing and relaxing guitar repair channel on UA-cam! :)

[@Hafragrautur1]

Greetings from Iceland 🇮🇸
I come from the actual land of ice and snow where the hot springs flow. Think you have us confused with Sweden :P

[@bullfidde]

Yup i think sweden is the land of ice and snow where the beer and vodka flow :-D

[@alexanderkupke920]

@@bullfidde Isn´t that Finland?

[@clementtrimouille3465]

silk clothed like bass strings if you want, but mostly, like German strings ! they're probably Thomastik or Pyramid

[@andrewlong71]

Thomastik Plectrum AC112 strings. Love them, despite the cost.

[@stevesmith6554]

what a very pleasing sounding and very attractive set of instruments. Thank you again for your informative and professional videos.

[@mackes8839]

a pure eucalyptus oil is excellent for cleaning glue and doesn't affect finish. I use it all the time

[@BruceNielsen-pc6zl]

Good job they look and sound fantastic, you are also a excellent muscian Cheers.

[@christerwestlund7571]

Greetings from 🇳🇴

[@ShannonFerguson]

Awesome. Your attention to details is a pleasure to watch.

[@larrythecomputerguy]

Had a lovely little Goya "Folk guitar" in the 60's, then traded up to a Gibson SJN.

[@ClintonAllenAnderson]

Wasa dark is an excellent humus divery system! Have some almost every day 😁

[@persbackman3535]

Swedish. I like that. Best Regards from Stocholm

[@GuitarJeff]

Dang it. Was not expecting the swedish chef. What is bad about that is it is what is sing at the top of my lungs when time for my Labrador and I to play. Well here I am in bed watching. My lab starting to dose off beside me and all of a sudden GAME ON

[@PulverizerA]

@ 21:21 I lol @ the Muppet Show Swedish Chef bit.

[@ianc4901]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one to notice that !

[@ScottyBrockway]

I laughed my ass off at that!

[@genethemachine7169]

Had to pause the video for a bit til I could catch my breath

[@kennogawa6638]

The voice on old guitars are richer sounding. I think the quality and grain of the wood makes a difference compared to new guitars. The last played guitar sounded phenomenal.

[@michaelshipman1171]

As ever, interesting , entertaining and instructional, good stuff. Thank you.

[@marccarter1350]

Nick Drake played a Levin Goliath. We can agree he obtained a wonderful few tunes out of his! Everyone thinks he played a Guild M-20, which was just used as a prop on Brighter Lyter. Levin's now obtain a decent amount. Agree with the Hoffner refferance. They look similar.

[@aniquinstark4347]

That burst finish is gorgeous

[@kylevandeusen]

Great history lesson. Fantastic work. Awesomely entertaining. Like always!

[@jessegrant8666]

Probes and prayers that is what this glorious life is to help us learn 😊

[@dalleenpente]

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.

[@jamesdiehl8690]

I had a guitar teacher in the 70s that had two Goyas. The were different body woods, but the necks were alike. Both nylon strings, classical style and wonderful to play. I believe he bought them new, but don't remember for sure. I tried to buy one from him but didn't have enough money.

[@Plataani]

The land of ice and snow actually refers to Finland, made by Stratovarius. Finnish power metal band. For your information if ever need be. Great vid as always 😋

[@muffntheB]

are you saying you never heard of led zepplin?

[@Hafragrautur1]

Immigrant Song is actually about their tour in Iceland 1970 which inspired Plant to write the lyrics

[@Plataani]

Well, darn. I'm familiar with Immigrant Song but never actually listened to lyrics too keenly so missed that. My bad. Just associated to Stratovarius straightly. Oops..

[@INDYOSKARS]

@@Hafragrautur1 Finally someone corrects these foreigners, lol.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Amber Shellac and Ebony Blank. My favorite C&W drag duo.

[@mhaight]

Please don't ever leave youtube.

[@josephkemler6166]

American songwriter in Sweden I have a few stories about these guitars

[@frankcoffey]

Love the sound of that mandolin. I know what you mean about quality differences in a run of guitars. I bought a Fender acoustic in the 90s and they had 9 of the same model but only one sounded good. The rest were tight and went thud but one sounded clear and open with very pleasant tone and lots of sustain. I bought that one.

[@DriftinDoug]

Probes & Prayers: I love it!

[@jfrorn]

Always such wonderful, watchable videos... :)

[@alansturgess1324]

The first 12 string I ever bought was a blonde Levin12. It was a real brute to play but had a great sound. That was back in the mid-to-late 60's.

[@sarcletti]

These tuners at 26:50 are Gotoh. Quality is not bad at all ... have many of them on my Japanese Guitars, still doing a good job after 45 years. Finding replacemet for these 70ties Gotohs bocomes expensive. Still tryin keep everything original.

[@SaxonSuccess]

Love the playing. I really like your channel, thank you for it!