retrorod

Those are some awesome shots, BK. Some rugged coastline that you have down there! I saw some folks 'beachcombing'.....Any 'siting's' of debris from the "missing" Malaysian jet-liner???? HhMmmmm? I had some 'debris' in my backyard. Not the jet-liner.....just an old refrigerator that we had thrown-out..... Breaking News, old boy!

No judgement, BK....From past vids, I have seen from you. you seem to be more of a 'sit-down' Blues Dude....as I tend to be.... (in my head) . Since it is such a new guitar, I thought you may be 'gigging it' with the strap-button installed....Just 'curiosity' and conversation..?? I can sort-of relate with the photo gear as the wife is a Nature Photographer. She has the 'entry-level' Canon Rebel(imagine that!) SLR and is always 'longing for' up-grade gear. Since she married me.... A 'damn' good thing that she is into 'wildlife'.....

Clean guitar.....! Did you apply the strap-button or have it installed professionally?

Hey Dan, I have heard of and seen Nighthawk, I am not sure of what the Landmark series is??? I could google but I don,t have a dog in the hunt. As far as sales venues, the Gibson Forum has a Trading Post section (not sure if there is a post limit but most likely there is) If you are trying to sell it ,my advice is to give more info and photos and do some google research on the year/model that you have! This is your first post asking about the value of a guitar that I have not seen and know little about... I did a completed sales search on EBAY and the term Nighthawk brought up 67 items. The guitars sold from around $699 to $1599.....Quite a spread.. I think that it is up to you to do your research and advertising campaign at the price that you are 'comfortable' with....The buyers market will let you know soon enough whether you are too high or 'just right' I only recommend EBAY if you are familiar with it and the costs. Otherwise a Craigslist ad could get it out there with some local and loco folks.... At any rate ....good photos are your friend when wanting appraissals or pricing info... I do like the Everglades and green is one of my Top Three colors.....2nd to orange

I am not up on my Moog circuitry.....Keep on googling until someone 'knowledgeable' weighs in.. I am sure its 'out there somewhere'...

Thanks for that tidbit of info, Hogeye. That sounds about right and par for the course. Don,t count your chickens type story. Hard to believe they were 'snaked' by PRS of all companies.

Good point...!!!! It seems to me that 75% of 60's Gibson electrics were "Groverised" back in the day! It was one hell of a marketing campaign that Grover had "back in the day".....almost "urban legend".......that you HAD to have Grovers to stay in tune. Thinking back......Poor nut slotting was most likely the "real issue"...caused by stoned do-it-yourselfers....

A large part of my opinion agrees with alias on this. I don,t feel that this guitar is of vintage/collector status anyway. I could go either way on the J-40. To me, it does not look worthy of too much cosmetic 'fussing'. The flaking finish on the sides and neck looks like a candidate for an overspray to stabilise. The top and back look pretty good. It would not be a crime to me if you wished to strip and finish the whole thing. I don,t think that is where I would put my energy and time however......MAYBE if I wanted to practice some skills. A poorly re-finished vintage guitar is always 'fair game' for a re-finish IMO Refinishing a vintage/collectable because its got some checking,scratches and dings makes no sense to me and would be a dissapointment

I agree! I was quite pleased with this guys work and the price and turn-around time was excellant! He is located in Vermont. I can give you contact info, if you ever need a re-placement bridge for one of your repairs.

...A couple more.... These were taken while still adjusting the pin holes for proper fit... I don,t have a picture of the final pin fit downloaded ....but with the bridge pad overlay there is virtually no string wraps showing and bending towards the saddle now...

Thought I might add some more pics, as I have finished this repair and there is another topic of similar nature on the Acoustic Section. http://i1306.photobu...zps6486b5c0.jpg As you can see, this is a 'sizeable' bridge pad and looks to me to be a real chore to remove. After seeing that the ball ends of the strings were sinking into the pad pretty badly, I opted to make and glue-in a bridge pad overlay of maple(I forgot to get a picture) It was a small rectangle with beveled edges and thinner than the 1/8" bridge pad. The ball ends sit proud of this overlay now and I am not concerned with 'rip-out'. I don,t think that the overlay effected tone, as the guitar is rather heavily built anyway! The following are some pics of the replacement bridge and saddle....

Are you Jimmy Carter.....

Yes Bob....thanks for the 'tutorial'...! Oh yes....and for 'stating the obvious'. Your comment seems to be directed at me? The OP is the one that bought one of these and is asking for advice on how to get the 'best' sound from it. I was simply trying to give him info! I don,t need any Left Coast attitude from a Gibson apologist..... let alone your consent on what I 'don,t have to buy'...! You can save THAT, for the Forum Members that may 'need' and 'appreciate it' Sorry! But your comment rubbed me wrong......and I mulled it over for a day! I am a huge Gibson Guitar fan, but don,t always agree with some of their 'production ideas' and marketing visions and I do vote with my dollars. You are a well-respected member of the Forum and 'most-likely' (by your responses and knowledge) close to the Gibson Corporate as a dealer or whatever? We all have our ideas and opinions about the various things 'Gibson'. Should I assume that you have never been dissapointed with a Gibson idea or product? Or choose not to 'voice it'?

Hey PRW, as Old and Wiley suggests....Google will be your friend when undertaking projects as this. For starters here is a link to a blender pot from StewMac.... http://www.stewmac.c...Blend_Pots.html StewMac carries most everything 'stringed instrument' related PLUS are very genorous with instructions, free tutorials, etc. Upon taking on a modification project like this, you really need to do your homework! There are scads of undersaddle transducers available as well as contact piezzos....some require a pre-amp to sound their best! That prompts me to ask what type of amplifier are you using with this guitar? On a 'related rant'..... WHY would Gibson put an end-pin jack and a P-100 in a re-issue J-160E?????? Answer: It wasn't a........ "True Vintage....Historical re-issue"......that would set ya' back a 'nuther thousand. Being a solid top, is it ladder-braced also....or X-braced. It should sound out pretty good acoustically if it is X-braced. Hell, Just put a K&K mini in it and call it a day! http://www.kksound.com/products/puremini.php

Good advice by BK777 also ! I don,t think you would need another jack to run an UST. The best scenario to me would be to make the tone control a (push-pull) blender pot. You could then select the P100 or the piezzo or dial-in a combination of both. Use the existing jack and tone control holes and no additional holes would be needed! What do think of that idea?

LG2, it is....only built by Gibson, quite a bit 'heavier' than the good old early ones.....should be a vast improvement though with a a bone nut and saddle...! We will see.

Just an update on the B25....This what I am ending up with at this time.... My linkhttp://i1306.photobu...zps308c84ac.jpg After removal of the bushings... My linkhttp://i1306.photobu...zps6713e51b.jpg A shot of the "aircraft carrier" landing deck size of a bridge plate that Gibson used at that time.....better than 1/8" thick also...Yikes!... My linkhttp://i1306.photobu...zpsa63abc66.jpg Could not resist a shot in the wonderfull North Carolina blue sky in February....She is like a naked lady ...ready to be saddled... OMG, I wax poetic.... My linkhttp://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s573/retrorod53/IMG_1429_zps33e4953e.jpg

I have decided to scrap the idea of replacing the existing bridge and am having a replacement made with a bone saddle. My decision was made when removing the screws from the adjustable saddle, the bass side screw sheared at the bushing. I have wrestled the bridge off and will next remove the bushings and plug the holes. Anyone have any helpfull advice/tips on the easiest and safest way to remove the bushings?? I am assuming that they will remove from the top and have some ideas on the best way to do that.....but I always like to gather info first. I was hoping that Travis (Music Zoo Repairs) would weigh in also. Will try to get some pics of the progress up soon. Rod

Looks awesome! Beautifull finish on that slab 'o' mahogany....