scriv58 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Circa 1953 gibson southern jumbo 20 years in a shed somewhere in canada, rescued and repaired (neck reset, bridge reglue, brace glue, refret, new tuners- the usual suspects) just received it friday plays like a dream super comfy neck not as full as my 46 sj neck but just right. Since i am an unrepentant lefty all i did was file the first two nut slots to allow for thicker 5th and 6th strings flipped the saddle and that's it. There a couple of small cracks to repair but i had them checked by my luthier terry whipple this morning, he said they are safe for now but he will glue them when he has more time. Only thing is that shiny greven pickguard, would like to have seen the old one (however roached it may have been). Terry also said the top is definitely red spruce, which matters not to me at all, but ok, cool. No other plans but play it all the frickin' time! Here are pics and the soundclip, which as i say: a picture is worth a 1000 words, but a soundclip is worth a 1000 pictures... https://soundcloud.com/scriv58/53-sj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Dang. That thing is nearly old as me........and got almost as much finish stripped off! Nice rescue! Sounds good to boot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 You're gonna need some scratch repair on that lower bout. Almost didn't know it was your playing without your signature bluesman sound at the end. Fine country blues pickin' by you, as always . . . Sure, you could have the guitar re-braced for a lefty, but I doubt there would be as much improvement as 60+ years of aged woods and cured glues. How did you come across it? A classified, or just cleaning out the barn? That guitar is happy to make sounds once again. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Wow! That's a warrior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Road Warrior, and the road won. Seriously funky, and some serious first-position fretboard wear. Is there an FON in there somewhere? Judging from your other photos, you seem to have a soft spot for rode-hard SJ's. That's not a bad thing to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 The bracing is symmetrical i would think since it's 50's. Besutiful sound and congrats !! JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 The bracing is symmetrical i would think since it's 50's. JC Interesting, Juan Carlos, thx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 I also have a '53 Southern Jumbo, an Alberta-raised farm guitar. Mine's not been through the baler, like yours looks to have been though: Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 The bracing is symmetrical i would think since it's 50's. Besutiful sound and congrats !! JC JC, what do you mean by symmetrical bracing? I've never seen what I would call symmetrical bracing on a J-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 JC, what do you mean by symmetrical bracing? I've never seen what I would call symmetrical bracing on a J-45. Very good question - look forward to X-ray this, , , , and to hear the guit of course. On goes the cans, NOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 No other plans but play it all the frickin' time! Who can blame you - the old SJ sounds fantastic. It has everything one could desire from a seriously vintage slope. Dryness, smoke, dust plus that timbre only time can provide. No matter what kind of pattern we find inside, the turn around hasn't harmed the slightest. Plenty of bass-authority, present, but not dominant mids and trebs all clear and defined without bein' brittle or tinny. One can hear how at ease the box is. Bet the cracked lacquer plays in here. The look is beyond words. So anti it becomes pro. And the whole non-thing almost screams in silence from the 'headstock-coal'. Listen to that E-downstrum at 2:02 - says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalex Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 That's really cool looking and it sounds great also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 "symmetrical" maybe is not the best word .I meant straight braced which is considered "symmentrical" for a lefty . JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george wooden Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 What a fantastic find, I'm glad you gave it a new breath of life, It sounds remarkable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theflyingturtle Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 That is one old-timey sounding and looking guitar! It almost made it back into being a tree again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 That is by far the most beat up Gibson I have ever seen! Verrrry cooool! QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Looks like it survived a flood - with dignity & a unique beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Very, very cool example of my favorite Gibson model. Quick question, shouldn't the angle of the saddle be reversed? I.E. shouldn't the low E contact point be further rear than the high E contact point? As it's not on your guitar, I would have expected intonation issues. Regardless, big score and best of luck with her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Very, very cool example of my favorite Gibson model. Quick question, shouldn't the angle of the saddle be reversed? I.E. shouldn't the low E contact point be further rear than the high E contact point? As it's not on your guitar, I would have expected intonation issues. Regardless, big score and best of luck with her! Maybe he's willing to tolerate that in the short run to avoid modifying the bridge for lefty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 That guitar is one in a million. Unbelievable mojo ! Congrats ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Congrats on a great find and rescue. Sounds really sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Would have commented sooner, but have been at a loss for words. 20 years through all seasons in a shed - I've seen one or two that went through just one Michigan winter in a car trunk and didn't hold up that well! It was just waitin' for ya, man😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Paul Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Nice rescue, sounds great. 60 seconds with some 50 grit sandpaper would do wonders for that pickguard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Thanks for the looks and listens- i bought the guitar from Reverb. If i keep it, i will have the saddle slot re-angled, in answer to the other question. It may be going to a new home, so i'm not doing any mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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