Leonard McCoy

The J-185/180 is generally very balanced but can still have punchy, yet tight lows, especially if you are able to hit the bass strings harder to due higher string action. The fretboard didn't feel smooth probably because it needed, like so many new guitars, proper conditioning.

It's definitely a trauma crack that probably runs deeper than just finish level, possibly from an impact of sorts against the headstock. That you bought a guitar in that condition without noticing seems improbable. More probable is that the shock happened during transit or otherwise because the headstock wasn't secured enough. The guitar strings should definitely be taken off or at least unwound a bit so as not to make the crack worse through string tension. If you're lucky it's just a finish crack, but the left side of the neck doesn't look like it.

Here is a whole batch of photos showing off the guitar under normal lighting conditions: https://imgur.com/a/eiTeOdN

Astounding contribution!

I'd charge for a large general supplies store and look for similar buttons. For now, just use the unused phase button for either the tuner or anti-feedback function. Or try to find a donor Aura Pro on eBay or something. I fear you'll have to a get a little creative.

That might have been fixable. Probably the usual suspects like the electronics, tuner posts or even the output jack, the latter being more often the cause than not.

This is bad news. Since the cleaning product that got splotched on the guitar contains strong chemicals, chances are it reacted with the (fairly fragile) nitrocellulose lacquer finish of the guitar, aside from the damage the water might have caused softening the lacquer. If you can't rub the splotched spots out using moist breath, clean rags with naptha (lighter fluid) and/or Gibson's own various guitar polishes, there is little else you can do besides air-drying the guitar for the water splash damage. But even then, the softened lacquer may never be truly hard again. Post pictures of the damage if you can. Maybe there's more to recommend here.

I've done that. If you're replacing a like-for-like, it's an easy drop in. Otherwise, it's not.

It looks like a tiny nick in the binding.

Test the pickup resistance and the guitar's potentiometers more in-depth: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/how-to-test-guitar-pickups-with-a-multimeter. Make sure the circuit is correctly reassembled and that the pickups are indeed original and undamaged.

This might help:

With time on hand, the right tools and know-how, you can really do this yourself. But, even though it sounds simple enough, restoring metal parts is such a tedious job that it is best left to professionals in my opinion. Anyway, here is an example of a master at work:

For anyone wondering, this reimagination of Cat's guitar does not feature, despite having the period-correct bridge and neck, the shallow waist depth the original Gibson Everly was introduced with in 1962 (4.375") and which Cat's 1960's vintage original certainly shares. The dimensions of the new model are ca. 16.02" wide and 4.88" deep at the waist, which is standard J-185 or J-180 (reintroduced specs) fare.

It would be better to look into derusting the original screws. They can usually be brought up to a mirror shine again with a little bit of work.

Probably not, as there are no lefties being made. Limited to only 50 units globally, the guitar is actually a steal for the price. Its value will only skyrocket in price on the secondary market.

Cat was actually playing the prototype a while back:

I don't think you'll get spare parts easily or at all for this. It's probably more efficient to go repair the board itself, checking for continuity, etc. and replacing any missing or broken components.

A Tribute to One of the World's Greatest Singer-Songwriters "With his long dark hair and beard, slender frame, and black Gibson J-180 Cat Stevens stood as the embodiment of the 1970s singer-songwriter, a modern troubadour on a quest for spiritual enlightenment through music. And it was on his J-180 that he wrote and recorded many of his most beloved hits including "Wild World," "Peace Train," "Father and Son," and many more. "Bought in London’s famous Selmer's Music Shop in 1969, Cat was initially drawn to the J-180’s elegant style, however, its percussive quality soon became an essential component of the intimate sound of his seminal albums ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser And The Firecat.’ At the end of the 1970s, Cat sold all of his musical equipment, including his J-180, with the proceeds going to charity. However, in the decades since he has been reunited with the original guitar and acquired a vintage backup to tour with. "The Gibson Acoustic Custom Shop is proud to introduce the Cat Stevens J-180, which is based on the guitar that helped define his legend. It features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, mother of pearl moon and star headstock and graduated star fretboard inlays, and an interior label hand-signed by Yusuf / Cat Stevens. Limited to only 50 units globally, a Certificate of Authenticity and a selection of patches, pins, and stickers inspired by the iconic artwork of Cat Stevens are included, along with a Cat Stevens hardshell case." $7,499.00 Cat Stevens J-180 Collector's Edition Specifications Body Body Shape J-180 Body Material Maple Top Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce Back Maple Side Maple Bracing Traditional Hand Scalloped X-bracing Finish Nitrocellulose VOS Neck Material Mahogany Profile 60s Custom Scale Length 24.75" / 628.65mm Fingerboard Material Rosewood Fingerboard Radius 12" Number Of Frets 20 Frets Standard Small Crown Nut Material Bone Nut Width 1.73" / 43.815mm Inlays Graduated Mother of Pearl Stars Joint Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue Headstock inlay Gibson Logo and Moon and Star in Mother of Pearl Hardware Tuner Plating Nickel Bridge Belly Up Adjustable, Pinless Saddle Material Black TUSQ, Adjustable Tuning Machines Keystone Waffleback Pickguard Tortoise J-180 Double Moustache TrussRod Adjustable Truss Rod Cover Cat Stevens; Extra Black and White TRC Included in the Case Bridge Pins None Electronics Under Saddle Pickup LR Baggs M1 Soundhole Pickup Controls Volume Control on the Pickup Output Jack 1/4" Endpin Jack Preamp LR Baggs M1 Miscellaneous Strings Gauge .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 Case Cat Stevens Case Included Accessories Certificate of Authenticity and a selection of patches, pins, and stickers inspired by the iconic artwork of Cat Stevens

Yes, unfortunately the model and finish color are susceptible to that happening in that area around the neck-body joint.