I'd say that if you don't know how to fix it, don't start fixing with any insterment that has meaning to you. Find a cheep insterment (guitar even) that needs repairs, and rework it a few times. Then find a few more insterments to repair. The idea is that if you rui the first few insterments (you probably will), it is no big deal since they weren't worth the time you put into them anyway. Once you know what you are doing you can work on something that matters. Or just get professional reparis, much as I hate letting someone else do anything this is often the best way to go. (If we are talking about a Gibson Lore, don't consider anything but the best of the pros)