O-Lugs??? Is it really you old buddy??? The best you can do with the scarf joint pearl issue is to use a stiff razor knife to undercut the pearl below the surface of the shell, but you will need to fill the resulting channel.It's pretty rare to remove pearl from old Ludwigs without the mahogany giving up a few chunks. The pearl was laminated to the shell in the same press with the plywood, so it's on there TIGHT! Even when you do, you need to sand it back to remove glue stains, because they will "pop" when a new finish is applied. Hence, I also recommend veneering. Typically, the mahogany under the finish is not always the best-looking stuff they could find. It didn't have to be.
I totally dis-agree. I would butt the knife up to a straight edge and cut straight down from the top. A carpenters razor knife will go through any wood cleanly. You must use a new blade and change it after a few scores. He will be able to peel off the thin strip down to the wrap and the wrap down to the wood. After feathering in the thickness the seam will hide the wrap, (If any)
The key is not to press down hard on the knife while scoreing it and not to dig in while removeing the strips !! A heat gun will soften the wrap and glue on the wrap strip or he can use a razor scrapper for glass from the outside edge inward.
I see nothing wrong with the wood that is shown so far !! Obviously can`t see the rest of the shell !!
Look at that edge,...How`s he gonna lift it, let alone taper the cut ?
If you look from the bearing edges, you can see where the lap ends,..do not pass that point.
