New owner of an L1 (?) that needs some work

[SimonR]

Hello all,

 

I've found my way here because I've just been given what I hope I've correctly identified as a 1930 Gibson L1.

 

The guitar was given to a school friend of my grandmother's when he was 15, back in the early to mid 1940's and it was second hand then.

 

It's a beautiful old thing but will need some work to make it playable as it's currently devoid of strings and appears to have been modified and copiously varnished during its lifetime.

 

The key things I've noticed that are modified are the bridge/saddle, some metalwork inside the guitar's body at the neck joint and perhaps worst of all, I think some if not all the bracing under the top has been replaced at some time during its 84 years as a guitar.

 

I guess I'd like to sound you guys out about the best way to get it back in tip-top condition again, and perhaps find the right person to do it for me.

 

I've taken some basic pictures and uploaded them here:

 

http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Wonkey_Donkey/library/Guitars/Gibson%20L1?sort=3&page=1

 

Obviously and help, advice or general comment is greatly appreciated.

 

PS this guitar joins three other Gibson products in my collection:

 

1996 ES335 dot in flamed Sunburst

1992 Epiphobe Orville EO-02

1971 Epiphobe Emperor in Sunburst.

 

Hopefully it's in good company!

[SimonR]

Meant to add - I'm in Cambridge, England.