https://www.sevenwards.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-01-17 https://www.sevenwards.com/home daily 1.0 2023-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535051243-3BIDO89M3R8Z8IAV95EQ/IMG_5160.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717540453521-QBNTUWMMWI3JFE6DDHZD/IMG_8062.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717540554429-JHF5F3QLPITAYFI7LLQF/IMG_7724.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535112235-C5IUW76V3E58WJ2VDAVC/IMG_6571.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535187805-ZN5W1466DMY2Y41V1BFF/IMG_6565.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535305615-WL04XY4KB3ULLV7RS7W4/IMG_6017.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535352186-VHIGBLZMNZID9G3XXCKH/IMG_4992.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535394445-I3CTUPTHSJYA6GPD8BCC/IMG_4859.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717540511575-S75CWIRONHMU1CB98KLP/IMG_8061.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535499069-4XDGUX37C4HILUC8N5W7/IMG_6068.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717540577114-GU5DWBNSD9L625CXG305/IMG_7728%2B2.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717540485697-KI9TYOC9WL41NH43AWEC/IMG_7927.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535531175-IO2D2BI17PU3I7C82JD0/IMG_6463.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535581202-FIP04VP38A1D2A1VDZD0/IMG_6379.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535640010-XU2SLW9JHIE9A3C0HECB/IMG_6869.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535730380-0C7S8T8GSJ2HOH12303A/IMG_6903.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1717535756289-UQ3UDFCQDW160LRYSAIO/IMG_6954.jpg Home https://www.sevenwards.com/about-us daily 0.75 2023-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/c8129e11-59cf-442b-81db-8ee5fc74f782/74A74AC8-1AA7-40D9-9614-F978D0345C1A.JPG https://www.sevenwards.com/gibsonj40 daily 0.75 2021-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/0bec81a9-c375-4ad7-8476-897cbc0ff9d9/IMG_2692+2.jpg 1977 Gibson J-40 The "before" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/3595598d-57d3-4f4a-b13a-05af47df4aba/IMG_2693.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Didn't get a great shot of the neck joint, but this was a tough one to take apart. The mortise & tenon are equal thickness from top to bottom -- not V-shaped like a normal dovetail. So the joint is tight no matter how deep the tenon is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/842a5d73-ff09-4dc8-872a-c8d4941216f8/IMG_2695.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 The infamous Gibson double-X brace. Loose in a lot of places and could've been salvaged, but new bracing altogether will improve the tone considerably. There's a reason this era of Gibsons aren't very sought after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/880ccb7b-ca95-4d72-b488-b58d8093138f/IMG_2697.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Monster of a bridge plate. 7mm thick -- probably two of them glued together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/589ed149-0838-4601-b4c1-9c6c2995c4c6/IMG_2698.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Bridge plate after removal. Yuck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/ed3eb72d-a1ee-4f55-a682-ffdd86760815/IMG_2700.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 There were sizable cracks all over, but this one was the worst. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/504abb71-8fb7-4e69-b468-cb239cba1079/IMG_2701.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 From the top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/e730490d-8906-43b9-92a1-4a4bdb4070d6/IMG_2703.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Gluing some cracks. Cleating will come later, but I want to make the top totally stable before getting deeper into sanding and cleaning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/5b4e5c27-6332-4984-8d5f-38e40c77b3fe/IMG_2704.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Didn't get a shot of it, but there was a gnarly side fracture that I'm gluing closed here, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/5abc5d1c-34ff-44e8-a9b3-cc4a8bf2c528/IMG_2706.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Side gouge after gluing closed. It looked 100x worse before this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/f7db2013-d53d-441e-b767-11fc49721e97/IMG_2707.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Another shot of the glued-closed side gouge. That was essentially a jagged hole before. Thankfully all wood was still attached, so I didn't need to graft in another piece of Mahogany. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/9e916e48-725f-43ff-94bf-dd83e3c6286f/IMG_2708.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Closing up more cracks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/b7d920d2-05b5-4097-b60d-2f868a237693/IMG_2759.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Gluing a couple of cracks that occurred while removing the back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7657352b-edd3-4b59-9b40-f83a7d710051/IMG_2705.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 The back braces. These were in good shape and didn't need to be replaced -- just re-glued. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/8f557e39-c94d-49ca-b104-5a931cea7174/IMG_2757.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 All cleaned up & sanded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/d67a081e-44e3-41e8-be4b-d0ca1c242fec/IMG_2758.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Drafting out my bracing plan. I based my plan on a photo of an old J-45's bracing pattern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/981c9624-fea7-4da4-83ad-40b19bd9533d/IMG_2712.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Sitka Spruce brace stock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/fe534618-5e4b-4f7b-8b6c-10d0dd37d0ac/IMG_2777.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Bracing cut to rough size, with the rough shaping penciled in before taking them to the bandsaw. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/59b4ccd9-3b49-4a5c-b30a-b2dc47b2b617/IMG_2780.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Testing out the fit before gluing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/e96dc0bd-9938-40ff-9d6f-e6bfe082d461/IMG_2782.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Gluing in the new X-brace. All braces below the soundhole are a 25' radius. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/f09bcc4a-2fc8-4fd6-ac6d-1f058850cbc8/IMG_2794.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Almost done with bracing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/f13730f2-3e03-4b08-ab6c-c36648d78ee4/IMG_2797.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Adding some cleats to support the many cracks in the top & sides. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/c5c828ff-1dcc-4db4-bfba-e65f81e5201a/IMG_2798.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Tuning and further shaping the bracing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/46bc692e-cbbb-4a59-99a1-6d7ad62cdbfc/IMG_2800.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Bracing and cleating done. Ready to move on to the rest of the guitar now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/e8b15e45-aac9-434c-a997-46a3643ff06d/IMG_2807.jpg 1977 Gibson J-40 Pause for a quick photoshoot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/5af2c766-513c-4fdd-bfb1-f6a4daba3684/IMG_2810.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Ready to radius the sides to match the radius of the back. By using a radius dish covered in sandpaper, I'm able to rotate the dish on top of the sides, which slowly conforms them to the radius and removes all the chalk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/42480f93-4ebf-44f5-9475-d63779254b33/IMG_2812.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Body is closed back up and ready for binding! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/160fbd24-0de0-4332-bd27-0f445327cdf1/IMG_2830.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Taping & clamping the binding. Unfortunately the original binding wasn't able to be re-used, so this received a fresh strip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/080495fa-a63f-4114-8608-51e1c304f3e5/IMG_2834.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Binding glued and scraped flush with the body. While going through the major surgery of removing & re-attaching the back, some finish blemishes are tough to avoid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/b8f0c565-f934-4395-afba-ba921117b22f/IMG_2835.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Shot of the binding from the side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/188cc461-8bb5-4bea-9c89-a85b587a0f08/IMG_2864.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Starting the neck reset. The goal is for a straightedge to lay flat across the frets and land right on top of the piece of wood. For that to happen, I'll need to remove material at the heel to change the angle of the neck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7aaf26c9-01c9-46ba-a454-fe0b37473bc8/IMG_2874.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Neck angle is done -- now to shim the joint so that it's a tight fit and holds for many, many years. I started with a 1mm Maple shim on both sides of the mortise, but by the end, the shim was drastically smaller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/38e22ba1-9bce-47f0-8e48-af24e789ae41/IMG_2876.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Slowly getting the fit right. I'm impatient, so I like to mark my progress on a piece of tape to have some feedback -- plus it helps me see how much progress I make compared to the amount of shim I remove. The last thing I want to do is to take too much shim off and have to start from the beginning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/af0f8528-cf3e-4547-a330-0c45467a1ffb/IMG_2877.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 All good now. There's a tiny, tiny bit left to go, which will close up nicely once the glue and clamps are added. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/d2d3fcff-6afb-46a1-b854-3a33cf30cb66/IMG_2878.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Gluing up the neck and fingerboard extension. The end is in sight! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/b85f47f2-e96d-41d0-85ad-2425f9473aa7/IMG_2892.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 The original bridge was fine, but I wanted to use a pin bridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7b273bb3-ecc4-460f-9668-542edc3e5f36/IMG_2893.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Gluing on the new bridge. I didn't get a shot of it, but I cleaned up the original footprint of the bridge on the top so that it mated well with the new bridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/b2cfd0d3-24d3-4f5f-841e-7d418aabeca2/IMG_2903.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Ready to be strung up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/42a81b98-9a0a-4659-a964-27d97c571afb/IMG_2904.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 Or.... nevermind. The wing of the headstock had come loose while installing the tuners & bushings. Didn't get a shot of it, but I slid some sandpaper in the gap and cleaned it up, then re-glued. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/22adb197-6c12-4b4d-9095-b47cdad5d4d1/IMG_2916.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 I really wanted to keep the original nut because it's cool and worn, but it's plastic. So a new nut it is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/e8f68196-aa68-422d-99bc-d7267e60dbb1/IMG_2918.jpeg 1977 Gibson J-40 New nut shaped & installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/cb680099-e9ab-4e9e-892b-ca6fee143103/7CA83F8A-13AB-43B8-A610-755667D858F5.JPG 1977 Gibson J-40 And we're done! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/8d1c145f-8729-42eb-99c2-4d9c8f735263/759A2545-CCEC-47CE-9149-8A5962AF05EF.JPG 1977 Gibson J-40 https://www.sevenwards.com/work daily 0.75 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/1431f9de-cea5-49ed-9a7a-e3ac49abe0bd/IMG_5160+2.jpg Work 1962 Gibson J-50 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/3fa758b0-8286-4c22-a0c9-7c633c740ff5/85C65DAB-BF48-49A1-A955-E9FD486E4B93.jpg Work 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 X-Brace Conversion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/0a1b634e-fca8-4d4d-86c6-91d2bb68d86e/7CA83F8A-13AB-43B8-A610-755667D858F5.JPG Work 1977 Gibson J-40 X-Brace Conversion https://www.sevenwards.com/silvertone620 daily 0.75 2022-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/8cd96018-721e-43d9-8b60-ead7c967a49a/IMG_3848.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Already in great shape before any work was done -- just a couple small holes from a past pickup installation, a couple sections of loose binding, and a healthy amount of finish checking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/0c5c01fd-2976-47a3-b7ef-89b1ed380c3a/IMG_3849.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Neck was pulled cleanly, but took a lot of patience. The joint wasn't very tight, but the glue did not want to let go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/25849d8f-e4cd-4967-9d54-f4df0f699e44/IMG_3857.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 The original top bracing (solid Spruce top) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/446f380b-4a32-49df-8f85-c7e18ed6d895/IMG_3859.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 And the original back bracing. The back & sides on this one are Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany laminate, and you can see a few small sections where the inner Mahogany layer was delaminating a bit. These will be patched with some Honduran Mahogany. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/991824bc-82d8-467b-8ab3-3ca9ff2d2332/IMG_3905.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Filling the holes that were made during the past pickup installation. These will be touched up with a like-colored lacquer later on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/9f5583a1-a39f-4f3f-b9ac-d9e994dd847b/IMG_3968.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Upper bout braces installed, and test-fitting the X-brace and bridgeplate. The bracing for this was based on a vintage Gibson J-200. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/29533317-bf20-43e2-aa3d-84f3208e4044/IMG_3959.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Meticulous adherence to the centerline by some Silvertone factory worker 60+ years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/42a98a4b-09de-4d96-9d61-d5302e3144cc/IMG_4011.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 All top braces installed, but not yet voiced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/f4fac32f-0f42-4ac7-a465-a5395dbb7e04/IMG_4002.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Another shot of the pre-voiced bracing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/59e5e571-66a9-4cb1-b95b-0b97b5f72646/IMG_4087.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Top & back bracing done -- ready to close the box! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7ad60617-5913-42c2-af80-796a61dbdac5/IMG_4148.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Box closed, and back binding installed and scraped flush. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/63c06d6e-317a-40b3-afd9-333870aa06c0/IMG_4151.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Dovetail all cleaned up and ready for a neck reset. Surprisingly, the neck angle on this was already almost perfect. The dovetail required quite a bit of shimming though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/9d4a9341-d6c7-46a4-b796-9a3502b2ea21/IMG_4155.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 Neck reset glued and clamped! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/5897854d-5cb6-49f5-8aa2-844438733481/IMG_4165.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 A new straight bridge was made from Indian Rosewood. Here is the first string-up after gluing, before working on the saddle, nut, and fret dressing (didn't get a photo of the refret). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/e24cab54-3f78-4241-991c-a11d45949048/IMG_4188.JPG 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 And here we are, essentially all finished up! Now just to compensate the saddle and oil the bridge & fingerboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7f8f56cd-c3d9-4316-87c4-0edcf27caf59/85C65DAB-BF48-49A1-A955-E9FD486E4B93.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 All done! Plays beautifully AND looks good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/faee74ae-388d-4b2a-8097-6ed3df724ca7/0ABEB604-87E0-48B8-B59E-E0B46FDAF9BD.jpg 1958/1959 Silvertone 620 A shot of the back + the new Gotoh tuners. https://www.sevenwards.com/xbraceconversions daily 0.75 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/b68dd1da-c985-43f9-b51c-1103d80ebd20/IMG_6571.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/94d597d9-d950-45f7-8505-2d222fe89f8b/IMG_4859.jpg https://www.sevenwards.com/gibsonj50 daily 0.75 2022-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/ae9473c7-7a46-411b-957b-505600b65379/IMG_4901.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 Pre-repair. Glam shots are always necessary for guitars like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/05530037-915a-432d-892e-f6a34e462ce7/IMG_4900.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/304938d3-e3c1-452b-82c4-5cd17dcf2066/IMG_4906.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Initial diagnosis on bracing issues. Once I got this far, I decided the best call was to pop off the back and make the necessary repairs that way. Thank goodness the client okayed it -- what's pictured here ended up only being a fraction of what the interior needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/9d151df6-0100-44d6-8dbb-c13029910c27/IMG_4919.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 It ain't easy bein' this fret cheesy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/51d99339-daa4-451d-9395-a89538a95f90/IMG_4934.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 This was the gnarliest section of the guitar. Failed upper transverse brace + shrinking pickguard did quite a number on the upper bout. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/8828412b-e844-4b92-b65f-3f1f81fa6613/IMG_4935.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Someone clearly has already worked on these braces. Maybe the repairs were solid at the time, but they certainly weren't now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/4c9488d7-c5a7-4146-a37b-4054d93062fd/IMG_4936.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 Oof. That ain't right. The upper transverse brace is too small, broken, barely holding on, and more glue than wood at this point. Popsicle brace needs to be re-glued, but it's in decent shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/ad6536b0-8157-41db-984e-22f8d92928cb/IMG_4939.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Starting to clean up the upper bout. I'd also removed the pickguard and cleaned up the old glue living in the massive crack at this point, so things we're already coming together much better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/ccdc6f1f-9d99-489e-8aa5-00e97350a2d8/IMG_4973.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 The neck block had come loose from the top -- mostly on the treble side of the crack, but also a little bit on the bass side. Here, I'm re-gluing it all back in place. I'll deal with the crack itself later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/0fbde42d-3e27-4083-b79f-2eaf191a946d/IMG_4937.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 The back. The three upper braces were loose for well over half of their length, so I ended up removing completely and re-gluing. They all came off cleanly, but strangely the lowest brace was totally solid. Those cleats also have to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/13ff6840-d38e-4347-bced-4b8773eb4ff2/IMG_4949.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 A little further clean up. At this point, I'd decided to reglue the entirety of the top braces since there were so many loose sections and I was not confident that anything but starting from scratch would last the long haul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/4f83902d-c8c1-4220-8b70-dd93e7a1d88b/IMG_4995.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 The height of the X-brace, and in my opinion, probably the culprit behind the mess of loose bracing. There's no one-size-fits-all for bracing, but I just didn't feel good about putting this back in the guitar (plus the X was broken in a couple sections). I chatted with the client and we decided to install a new X brace, which I shaped nearly identical to the original -- only increasing the height to about 14.5mm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/81668bfd-daf8-404b-afa3-766688b91a69/IMG_5067.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 The top all ready to go. I ended up replacing the X, UTB, and bridge plate (original was warped and had a crack running across all the pin holes). I also cleaned up the slathers of glue running along the cracks and installed some cleats for assurance they won't open back up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/cc993cb3-44a4-44a1-b0dd-d53c70767c35/IMG_5072.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 Pre & post. The horrible crack in the upper bout is in great shape now. In addition to the new, larger UTB and re-glue of the popsicle brace, I added a splint to fill the crack and a cleat between the UTB and popsicle brace. The crack is now totally flush and is not going to open back up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/0575e43b-e093-4790-b69c-6b6566a0d1cb/IMG_5073.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 Pre & post. Didn't have to replace any bracing, but I did replace the existing cleats and added some new ones. The upper-most cleat is a little larger than the others because it's spanning two smaller cracks very close to each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/7a321a9d-4123-444a-bc9f-e489092825ee/IMG_5071.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Last thing before closing the box is to reinforce a couple sections of the sides near the tail block. The one on the left was for impact damage -- the one on the right was for an input jack that I was asked to remove, but the hole is still there for a future jack installation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/4d9b278e-502b-4c28-8a8f-b6256e04e3ed/IMG_5080.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 Body is closed back up and frets are installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/d4f17060-36a5-4204-b5eb-201110fc3470/IMG_5087.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Prepping the bridge footprint. The Spruce plugs were to fill the large holes from the famous Gibson adjustable bridge -- I had done this prior to gluing the bridge plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/2fd1322b-d8cd-4b7d-ba80-f2e1e8e759b7/IMG_5086.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Original vs. new bridge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/d46ef031-b7f0-4017-b9d5-065d93c1ef7e/IMG_5096.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 New bridge installed and ready for strings. The clamp you see on the left is for adding another cleat in a fragile, peninsula-like section of the extremely worn soundhole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/672f4f73-546e-4f05-9a90-01dceacf0fbc/IMG_5100.JPG 1962 Gibson J-50 Intonating the new saddle. The neck is right on the edge of needing a reset but the client wanted to wait for the time being. Thankfully we were able to get it to a comfortable action without sacrificing too much with the string break angles. I added some ramps in the string slots to help increase the angle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6031ab95847e1312f533c071/9a5e0bf1-256e-458e-a163-e2398ecc2031/IMG_5160+2.jpg 1962 Gibson J-50 All packed up and ready to go home. https://www.sevenwards.com/conversionsfaq daily 0.75 2023-01-17 https://www.sevenwards.com/store daily 0.75 2023-12-28