This guitar belonged to my grandfather and has been in an attic for at least twenty years. It's not in good shape. According to this website, it seems to be a 1931 Epiphone Beverly and has a serial number 5251. It has three long cracks running the length of the top, one at each soundhole and one in the middle. The neck also appears to be cracked, at least a little. And the pickguard's broken and I need to glue the one tuning peg and replace the strings.
But even with the three remaining strings, I tuned it up and it sounds fantastic! So I was wondering if anyone here has an opinion whether it would be a bad idea to play it without getting it properly repaired? I would just fix the tuning peg and get new strings. I am certainly not a serious musician and would only be playing for my own enjoyment. I can't afford a repair, so I figure if it's otherwise just going to sit around then I might as well play it. It's not likely to explode into a million pieces just from ordinary playing, right? After all, it's already withstood twenty years of New England winters and summers in an uninsulated attic.
I would appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Thanks!
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