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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Replace broken back brace Gibson LG-1

Hello, This is my first discussion as I am new to this group. I am starting a restoration project on a 1957 Gibson LG-1. The first job on it that I want to tackle is to replace a broken back brace. It appears to be broken in half right on the center line (see pic one before the brace was removed). I have removed it and am gluing in back together (pic 2), just to get it strong enough to use as a template for fabricating a replacement…

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Private member
Hi John, welcome to the Looth Group. Yes, Doug Proper's radius-sanding tool is wonderful - he should have invented it 50 years ago, and that really annoys me. However it is one of the most "why din't…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Warped top, acoustic guitar

Hey. I have this hand made Spanish heel acoustic for repair, I’m doing a wedge under the fretboard to change the angle. It have a warp in the top ( also really weird brace ). My tendency is to leave it as it is, and work my way around it. Then I thought maybe someone here had any success reversing it or making it better.

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Private member
Thank for the advice. I’m not going to take the brace out. It is a really weird double brace and it definitely not enough, meanwhile I have managed to reduce the warp with a fixture I made and moisture…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Brace Brace

Hey friends, just wanted to share a thingy I made and have been finding very useful for a couple years now. Ive intended to remake it prettier ( former helper did the file work), but this one works fine and I'm busy. I call it the Brace Brace. It hugs a length of the loose brace, and puts nice pressure across the brace, but most importantly on the scalloped end against the kerfing. I loosen one side of the other, then tighten it in…

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Ian Davlin
Really cool !
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Gibson SJ brace

Hello everyone, just received a southern jumbo acoustic, and found out there is a bug gap on the x brace as picture. Does it happened from the factory? And how could I do if I want to make it good? Thanks!

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Private member
I don't have a catalog of examples, but it seems that I've seen more drastic Gibson x-brace failures when the braces aren't fit well together. I have a 60's hummingbird in right now where the one side…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Gibson ES175 Bracing Issues...

Hey Looth Group, A customer brought me a Gibson 2015 59' Reissue ES175. In addition to the normal setup/maintenance that needs to be taken care of, the customer complained about an issue with the bracing. The three pictures below are what he was referring to. There's obviously a break in the wood and appears to be some separation in the glue joint. This is located right underneath the edge of the bridge on the bass side.

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Ian Davlin
Current market value of Gibson guitars being in a bubble not withstanding, one of the things that the top I removed had going for it was that the top was glued on with cascamite and came off super eas…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Strange(?) bellying on Martin 000-15 SM

Just realized that I posted this on the main feed earlier and should have posted it here. Apologies for my poor posting skills. Will go and delete the original now.... Hello all, I’m new around here and excited to continue lurking and learning, taking in all the great content and the knowledge of all you experienced looths. I am more familiar with building than repairing, but I am interested in learning all I can about both. I’m happy to…

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Private member
Yeah, I don't know. I would start by calling Customer Service. They will either direct you to a warranty operation for verification or if they let you send the pics, they might just issue a Return Aut…
Private member DiscussionSELL! SELL! SELL!

L-00 and J-45 Body and Side Bender Templates

I have some acoustic building templates for anyone that's interested. I bought these from Allied Lutherie before I got into CNC work. Now that I'm drawing my own stuff I don't really use these at all. Maybe someone would find them useful? Includes: 1 - L-00 template for outside form (1/2" mdf) 1 - L-00 template for side bending form (1/2" mdf) 1- L-00 body profile template (1/8" polycarbonate) 1 - J-45 template for outside form 1 - J-45 temp…

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Private member
did you sell your templates?
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Do-everything Vacuum pump?

Anyone have a suggestion for a do everything vacuum pump? I'd like something that could laminate sides, brace tops, laminate double tops, etc etc. I know @member@member has a cool cheap one. I'm not sure if that's powerful enough to do all building tasks? If it is, that's cool.

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Private member
Thanks for that and sorry for the delayed response! What sort of pump would I be searching for for a used industrial pump? I see a lot of used medical ones but they are in the 1cfm range, I'd ideally…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Wow, what a hole!

Long story short, Mom's sitting next to her guitar and POW, the bridge pops off taking part of the top with it. Now I'm trying to figure out how to fix it and I would like your feedback on my plan below. The hole is roughly the same size as the bridge. The top is a 3-layer laminate. The bridge, top, and bridge plate all came out as a single unit. The glue on the braces behind the bridge has failed, so the top will need to be re-glued…

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Ian Davlin
Man, I would seriously consider retoping this. Im not sure I've seen anything quite that bonkers.
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Gluing Martin Alternative X Aluminum top back on???

I have one of those aluminum topped Martin Alternative X guitars in my shop where the top has broken free from the linings and braces. Does anyone have any idea what would be the best glue to use for this situation? Thanks!

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Private member
Wow, integrated braces in a single piece aluminum top. That is intreguing. How does ot sound? Was the top domed? Have you ever done any guitar analysis on it? if not, check out Giuliano´s videos here…
Private member DiscussionDesign and Testing

Tips for measuring and drawing plans?

Hi dear luthiers, I want to build a copy of a vintage Gibson acoustic. Therefore I need to draw a good plan. Do you have good tips of how to measure the guitar, especially the interieur like braces or the back+side thickness? Do you have a certain schedule, that you follow? For the position of the braces I will use magnets. But the height, thickness and profile, how do you adress this? Thanks a lot in advance!

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Private member
Thanks a lot fir the links :-)
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Busted acoustasonic strat

Anyone got any good tips for regluing a brace in an acoustasonic strat? I can get in there with a magnet and little violin clamp, but can't get effective pressure all the way down with those. Does someone make small scissor jacks? The gap between the top and back is 1.25 inches, so I can't fit even our cut-down normal one. I'd like something a little more elegant than wedging short sticks between the brace and back, but will use th…

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Private member
Here it is clamped up.
Private member DiscussionNeck Reset Database

Martin D-2832 Shenandoah 1983

This is a 1983 Martin Shenandoah D-2832. From what I've found, this joint continues to be used on similar models until at least 1987, after which I don't know. It has a single bolt accessed inside the body behind a wood cover. The face of the heel is inset a mm or two and is glued fully at the face of the body joint. Drill holes under the 14th fret right at the joint to loosen the glue.The neck is removed laterally rather than vertically…

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Private member
Hey Jay i was looking for a Shenanadoah neck reset and found yours .Ive been trying to pull this neck today ive done lots of resets before but this one is a Bear! i still cant get it to release it seem…