510 RSW Gibson J 50 As Bad As They Come
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Caleb really did some nice work on this old work horse Gibson Guitar. In fact, it was a near miracle. One of the worst warped tops I have seen in all my years doing this. Turned out great. Enjoy.
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Great job Caleb, it’s nice to see you both working together
Indeed he did!!! That guitar is probably mid to late sixties in origin. That is when they started using the "adjustable" saddle. Some had "ceramic" and some rosewood ( like my H Bird from'68) It was not a good idea. I had the bridge removed and a fixed bone saddle installed in the 1970s.Gibson at the time was recommending larger gauge strings, as I recall, and that may have contributed to the top pulling up.Certainly worth fixing as I suspect the top is very resonant after 50 plus years. The J50 was introduced , at the time, as a natural top with the 45 as sunburst. I gather there must have been some large discrepancies in grain pattern in their tops. Super job!
Wonderful to see you back in action, Caleb ... another one of the "good guys".
Just something about dried out 60+ yr old spruce that resonates better than new. Sweet overtones coming from that box!
Beautyful work ! Gosh, my
old 1953 J50 adj. Looked like this one when I bought it new.
I would love to see it as nice as the one you just finished.
It needs some love and care
It played almost every day since 1953. Wonderful mellow sound. Very professional work Caleb.
BRAVO !
I made a Bridge Dr to fix my vintage Yamaha 12 string and it worked a treat. The bulge was worse than the Gibson! It hasn’t moved a fraction since.
I'm a big fan,been watching along time.Always been the best no shortcuts.Al.friend
Hi, Caleb. I had a Takamine with that same bulge. I put a small container of water, with a folded washcloth, under the bulged area. I then sealed up the hole with packing tape. On top I placed a flat board, over some parchment paper, and on top of the board I placed a 20 lb weight.
This sit there for a week. The bulge was gone. I then removed the container, kept the hole open, and put back the board and weight for another week in a air conditioned [ low humidity ] area.
This was over a year ago, and the bulge hasn't returned. The guitar is a Takamine New Yorker, which is a very lovely instrument.
Keep up the good works, Caleb!
Can you elaborate on the container and folded up washcloth? I'm not quite clear on that part. Looking to do the same fix.
@@TempoDrift1480 OK, sure. Use a saucer or bowl that will fit into the sound hole. If not available, cut off the bottom of an aluminum drink can. Pour some water into that container, and place a sponge or rag into it. Then place the container into the sound hole, and slide it backwards toward the hump.
Cover the hole with packing tape, or Scotch type tape, that will make a air/water proof seal, Make sure there are no other exits for the moist air.
Put a flat board [2X4, etc.] across the bulge, and add about 20lbs of weight.
Let that rest for a week, at least. The bulge should relax, and flatten out. Now remove the tape and the container, and let that set for an additional week to dry out, assuming a dry climate or A/C environment. Keep the weight on.
Wood fibers can have a memory of sorts, but this method has worked pretty well for me. Good luck.
The old master to the kid ...that is alot of work.....you can do ti....have fun.
Wow that was one messed up guitar. Ive never seen one with the bridge area risen up like that. Its amazing what the two of you guys are able to do with these guitars, im constantly blown away.
I need someone besides me,
I heard 2 heads are better than one!
Good job Caleb, for having no fear to tackle an acoustic!
Good one Caleb. My old Epiphone 12 string had a bad bulge, but thankfully not that bad. Thanks for the content
Thanks Caleb I have a Kay guitar that I learned to play on. It has a very similar bulge. Jerry actually looked at it last fall in Mountain View. He actually recommended the same fix. Watching you do it is a big help on how to flatten my top. It has a very small bridge plate so I think the larger plate will help
Caleb I use a silver lead pencil on the rosewood and very dark woods it shows up way better.also when you are gluing with super glue the cracks or whatever I even use it around the dots and inlays when making a neck. if you use screw wax around the outside of the crack the superglue won’t bind to the the screw wax. And all you have todo is use a little naptha and wax cleans right up and on to next job.Keep it up young man you will become an excellent Luthier.
Another good one Caleb...
This was a perfect candidate for the Thompson belly reducer! I have no affiliation with it but know it works wonders on belly budge and warped bridge plates. It would have been much easier I think and less invasive. I bought the tool for about 150 bucks last year. With the number of bellied guitars y’all get it would pay itself off shortly. Cool project, love it!
I don't know about you guys
It needs to be replaced 😇when taken out,then you can heat the top with a regular pressing iron ,then with a new rosewood plate and very important a gluing plate awe therm ect ect 😇😇😇😇🙂
The Thompson works, but it is what I would call a brute-force remedy to a natural wood problem. If you're trying to get the best sound from a pile of wood, you have to make a bunch of concessions and you're in a constant negotiation with the wood as to what it wants to do. You can force it to do what you want, but you're only getting a structural fix, not an acoustic one.
The good thing about the Thompson BR is that it heats the glue between the bridge plate and top allowing the pieces to slide and flatten. Then after cooling the glue hardens again and it is more flat than before. The bulge will return but it will also with many other more destructive fixes. I’d rather use the Thompson a few times over my ownership of vintage guitar than other methods.
The Thompson doesn't work on the forward belly bridges. Magnets are on the wrong side. I found out the expensive way. Thanks Stemmac.
I just dropped my ‘64 J 50 off at Gibson with the very same problems. Thanks for the video!
Welcome to Martin Strings! They're all like that.
nice work Caleb...Stay safe
Another hump bites the dust! Nice job Caleb! And its always great to see you and Jerry backing each other up. 💕 And I hope you’re doing better now Caleb (health wise)
Never seen that with Gibson 50 and surprised it was in that shape and wonder if it was lack of care over the years or weather effected. Great work on restoring.
Well done. It is fun to watch the restoration of a guitar that was in such bad condition.
Gibson tops have a 28' radius built into them, they aren't meant to be dead flat.
True, but they shouldn't be bulged from from back to front either.
I recommend when working on people's guitars that you protect them right off the hop,,, clients generally don't like " new " damage that they themselves are not responsible for. Just a little tip.
Great Job! I thought that one may have needed a new top, but Jerry's method with the over sized bridge plate worked once again.
@@dscdrkel5546 I think they are right, he was loosening, I think. Once again though, I didn't notice him checking the relief before grabbing that file. I'm thinking that may have been done off camera, they did play with the straight edge a bit with that bulge. It did turn out real nice.
Nice. I expected to see the back come off of that one. The enlarged padauk bridge plate worked its magic once again!
If ever patience was a picture, there would be a big one of Caleb. Great job you two !
You do a very good job You saved another one.
Great job Kalib
Great job Caleb.
Excellent work Caleb!!
Clamp a damp cloth against the inside surface a few days to soften and give it some ductility and enable the inside surface to stretch and flatten. I do not believe it will stay flat unless the wood fibers are able to move into the correct position.
...so, you reckon the top will buckle again quite soon?
I enjoy watching all of them but the J-50 is of personal interest. Mine needs (and if I could still play would get) a new bridge and saddle. Now you have me primed to check the top close.
Mine was given to me in 1970, I regret letting it get banged up but still plays / sounds exceptionaly well,
Wow, that soundboard was stubborn wasn’t it? It really didn’t want to be flattened. Great job in persuading it. It definitely looked better when you were done. It’s always quite satisfying when you get a bridge off and replaced with minimal damage. I just did one of my own. I was prepared for carnage but was delighted when that didn’t happen. Nice video Caleb.
If you're not worried about the old bridge, you can really heat the tar out of them, then they usually come off pretty easy
@@MillsGuitars I was most concerned about ripping up the soundboard under the bridge and tearing up the finish around the bridge. A little of both happened - ever so slightly - but nothing that couldn’t be covered up and repaired. I’ve seen much worse results on some other TH-cam channels. The bridge itself I wasn’t bothered about as it had snapped at the saddle pocket. I think the saddle had been lose and a little too tall. That meant the strings just leavered it forward , put pressure on the front of the bridge and it split along the grain.
Great video Caleb good job
Great job.... from junk to "jammin" thanks for the share
NICE job Caleb! Great to see you picking up all the knowledge from the Master.
Good job! If you use a thick board with a reverse warp solid wood not ply when you clamp the new bridge plate that will help suck the combination of warped top and braces down further flat and will help take the belly behind the bridge plate out as well.Also you can can contour the bottom of bridge in such a way to help the whole process along as well because the bridge is stiffer than the Bridge plate length wise and width wise and the thick reverse warp clamping board will help overcome the stiffness of the X braces next to the bridge plate..For Gibson's with the notorious double x brace that makes removal of plate next to impossible using this process but with a new plate on top of the old one just about the only way to suck top back down.
I bought a tool from StewMac that squeezes glue underneath the braces. It’s pretty pricey, both it works great; for what it’s worth.
Good job young man, you have come a long way. have a great week end
Great vid! Personally, I couldn't't tackle such a project but very interesting to see how it is done! Thx....
Learned a lot in this one. Thanks much. Thumbs up to crush a troll.
Top job Caleb 👍🇬🇧👍
This is just the video I needed to see. I have a beautiful looking and sounding Walden, all solid spruce and rosewood, which has developed a top bulge. I lowered the bridge saddle as much as possible but it's no longer playable above the 5th fret. Guitar is maybe 10 years old. I'm very sad about it. I dragged it all the way from New Mexico to Thailand. It's made in China but I'm thinking the humidity might have something to do with it. To repair it looks very difficult. Wish your shop was nearby! Walden is a brand by a former Taylor luthier.
Awesome job !!!
Glad to see your use of some protective masking tape in this bridge removal.
Yep - that Martin got butchered
@@stevedimebag I like theGibson better 🤣🤣
Good work Caleb. Sounds about as good as they can.
Nice work Caleb !
I’m repairing an old Gibson LG1, it was in such shape that warranted replacing the top, it was absolutely terrible, got the top off and saw that someone had previously attempted a repair and absolutely gommed up the inside.
It is so refreshing to see a young man, luthier and gentleman, dress in appropriate luthier-ware.
ok boomer
Great job!
Great job
The oversized bridge plate seamed to be the savior to this guitar it having finish on one side of the soundboard and none on the other and who knows how much moisture it sit in for years will definately cause cuping it will always cup back toward the no finish side ask me how i know i was in the piano and furniture refinishing business for 45 years strip the finish off one side of a grand piano top leave kt in a humid room over ight it will about ruin it i never striped one side only and never left any striped top boards in humidity over night
Great job Caleb !!!
Good work & Great video!!
BULGE FIGHTING .. needs to be on the next Tshirt.
Jerry´s is paid For though...
Good work Caleb!
This kid is awesome
Darn if he is this good now at his age how good will he become!
Good job! 👍💪
Very nice job guys. Enjoyed that process - I like Caleb's 'stop...think about it...get second opinion...come back and tackle it' approach :-)
Good job guys, but the guitar over the hummer 23:25.....I could not sleep after that :-)
Bowed belly never hurt anyone.
My J50 bridge plate was indeed plywood.
I got rid of a beautiful sunburst humming bird guitar, because of severe bridge lift. Never even considered having it fixed. 😞
I believe mine was warped even worse?
It became very difficult, & painful to play, & killed my finger tips, simply attempting to press hard enough for a clean chord.
It's in good hands with Caleb.
very very good keep it up
that was hard good job
Fine job on the guitar!!
nice work kid that's coming from a pro
The Battle of the Bulge! ;)
Another case of identity crisis, this Gibson wants to be an arch top!
NIce Now it is a flat top guitar!
nice job Caleb.
Awesome job dude 😂
Great job, very interesting to watch….
Saying that a Gibson is supposed to be flat across the top is inaccurate. I'm sure that one is excessive but they are not flat. It's my understanding they have a 12 foot radius built into them. If I place a straight edge along the back of the bridge I get about 0.100" at either end of the ruler at the edges of the guitar. Trying to make them flat such as you are is not the right thing to do
BTW, my brand new Yamaha has a slight radius to it very similar to my 33 yo Gibson. I hear Martins are built dead flat but not Gibson
I've got a 1966 J 50 with the same problem.
Great bullge fighting, now you points with tassels on your bandana !!
Trust me. That’s not as bad as they get. If you could only see the one I’m restoring, ha ha.
I feel like I'm watching a re-run. 🤔
Nice and woody sounding Gibson, as they should be
My Gibson1964 LG-01 bridge is coming up and now has a small gap. My Luthier did a set up and said the bridge isn't going anywhere and no need to replace it. There is no warpage of the front sound board. Does it still need to be fixed to prevent future warpage?
Nice one! They are famous for loose braces. I have a ‘47; just like Bob Dylan’s and it sounds like a cannon.
These guitars are also supposed to have a belly behind the bridge.
Well just about all acoustic guitars get a little belly over time from the string tension. Also some have a slight radius even though they are considered a flat top.
@@jthonn Exactly but on the Gibson flat top book, Dan Erlewine says these J-45s and ‘50’s are designed with a belly behind the bridge.
@@vayabroder729 I find that interesting, I wonder why.
@@jthonn Actually, Selmer type Gypsy Jazz guitars were also designed with a belly on the top and on the back. They sound amazing.
@@vayabroder729 Gibson did some crazy things to guitars. Trying new ideas can improve things sometimes and cause disasters in others. Example is like the plastic bridges that bolt to the top. The adjustable ones I don't think was a bad idea, but did not turn out so great either.
JLD Bridge Truss System (JLD Bridge Doctor)
maybe i missed them but it looks like he scratched the crap out of the top near the bridge, you could see his sloppy knife work by stabbing all the way past the bridge....he young but man...slow down ..edit.. ugh that must me a training guitar, no way this guy is allowed to touch real customers stuff to practice on...bad stuff all the way from start to finish
Do better
I suppose they package the strings like that to make it easier to see which one is which. Still kinda surprising when working with them, though.
Battle of the Bulge
Way to go 💪👏🙏
That was great -- you sure had your work cut out for you on that one.
Caleb the toreadore (bulgefighter) :-) Nice job
Looks like The Neck is over set .... Wouldn’t that cause too much torque on the top and make it belly?
I want Caleb to work on my guitars…..you need to post how to get in touch…!
1. Moisturize the interior of the guitar body through the soundhole for 12 hours with a humidifier 2. Clamp it up, and then run the output from a hairdryer on medium for 36 hours into the soundhole. 3. remove clamps and that's the best possible result you'll get without replacing the bridgeplate and possibly some of the braces. The wood is going to do what it wants to do.
Caleb City!!
I had a J-50 from '64. Those adjustable saddles were a pain in the you know what. I didn't have to monkey with the saddle all that much and I'm sure the people that bought it off me found the action at 12 was a bit high. I don't recall that drastic of a bulge on the south side of the bridge, as the bracing was intact. Amazing after all the places I had taken that old girl from '65 till around 2001 or so. I was forced to sell it to Elderly during the W Bush era due the the economic situation in my state. Repubs were in their hayday, but not so much us working stiffs. 1875 bucks helped a bit, but didn't last very long. I still miss my old Gibson J -50. It was a might fine instrument.
Why dont you over stress it so when the strings go on and try to stress it in the other way it will then pull straight
Another apparently hopeless case. You’re learning from a master! I like how you sound more positive after you flattened the bridge area.
Does the bulge go from flat to Scruggs ? You even pronounced "D'Addario" properly ! Good work, Caleb.
on video it looks like there is a crack in the top right at the edge of the pick guard
I had a 66 lg0 that was worse than this one. I ended up giving it to a friend.
Have you ever used a bridge doctor?
👍🏼