Buc McMaster

These guards appear to be among the best out there in the aftermarket. Expensive? Reckon so, but what of quality is cheap? MV Custom

Indeed this is a common issue with Gibson guards. Easily corrected though. Get some of this 3M adhesive from Stewart Mac. A hair drier on low heat will warm the guard enough to soften the glue and allow for easy removal. Don't overheat the top.......just warm it a bit and work the guard up slowly. Clean the guitar and the guard with lighter fluid. Apply the new adhesive sheet to the guard and then to the guitar, being careful with placement because it will freaking STICK. I've done this on three different Hummingbirds and it's worked perfectly each time.

Guitars are not golf clubs........each is an individual, often as different as night and day. It's on you for not removing the second guitar from the case and doing a thorough inspection before laying down your money. And then, after discovering cosmetic issues, you put the guitar away for three years before deciding it's time to bring them to the attention of the dealer and Gibson. It's you for not attending to your concerns immediately.........how could you expect a dealer or manufacturer be accountable for cosmetics after three years? That's just wrong thinking. Who told you an "X" on the headstock indicates a reject? That's nonsense. I have seen many factory seconds with a "2" stamped in the headstock just below the serial number and those are shipped and sold by dealers at reduced prices. Seconds generally have some cosmetic issue that most would be hard pressed to find. I'm all for calling a spade a spade when that is in fact the case, but from the story you have told here this is all on you and attempting to shift blame to Gibson is.....well......bullshit.

Yep.......these are the Grover 135 series. Bottom screw hole does align with the single screw of the rotomatics, upper screw would just be cosmetics since the post is bolted in place.

Not certain which model Rotos are there now but Stew Mac has all of them with accurate dimensional drawings to find the drop-in replacement. It will almost certainly be another model of Grover.............the 135 Series will likely do it without any mods and will considerably lighten the headstock. G'luck!

As your #2 indicates, sanding the bottom could expose the ends of the bridge slot. All of the cut-thru saddles I've encountered have been glued in, other wise they could slide in the bridge slot. Given these circumstances, the best solution is sanding the top of the saddle, not a job for the uninitiated. Delicate work to keep the sandpaper off the bridge and to maintain the radius. Be careful. And yes, 3-13 is light........very nice.

I had forgotten you did this one, Rob............I am flattered, sir. Thank you.

.........I could do this kind of thing for hours on end. The J-35 is long gone.....and Jinder is sporting the Sunrise pickup these days.......time marches on......

Bubblegum.

Here in the USA, as we enjoy ourselves this weekend, let us remember those that laid down their lives that we might do so.

Don't be so sure you'll need to replace the saddle. I've removed the element from many an under-saddle pickup system and not had to get a new saddle. If removal does cause significant action issues I'd try the Colosi saddle shims before anything else.

Yes sir............bracing is left-handed as well.

Ah but the split parallelogram inlays are correct for a factory built left handed instrument, slanted in the correct direction. Looks like a true southpaw to me........a southpaw player.

I for one think they are quite fine looking, not being done in a slap-dash manner but with care. Text says one is a 1958 and the other 1962. I like them but not $50K worth!

Speaking from personal experience, if you don't have your health you've got little in this world. Glad to hear you're hanging tough, gritting your teeth and enjoying the good days. Wishing you the best in this trial by fire, Jinder, and hoping the sun returns to your sky soon.

Smudge schmudge...........it's a guitar, play it. As for strings Martin Retros sound like a good fit for you..........nickel wrapped for corrosion resistance and an old school thumpy tone.

Very good capo. I'm sure you have many different capo makes in your quiver...............do a "tone test", the Heritage vs. the others. I have found a distinct difference: the Heritage retains much of the tonal resonance that others seem to attenuate.

Not an uncommon occurrence with Gibson..........maybe it as something to do with the gassing of a nitro finish. Mine did the same many moons ago. Get some of THIS STUFF from StewMAc, remove the guard, clean the guitar and underside of the guard with lighter fluid, apply the new adhesive sheet and stick it back on the guitar. Sounds tedious......perhaps it is, but the reattached guard never lifted again. Clean well, grasshopper, as this is much of the secret. Now there are many suggestions and methods for removing the pick guard, most of which I am sure a valid. More lighter fluid, dental floss, etc. I've removed several over the years with just the application of a little heat from a blow drier and a steady, gentle lifting pressure as the adhesive softens, working from one end of the guard. Never had any issue at all and the thing is off in a couple minutes............no biggy.

Well thanks, fellas! We're good here, no trouble. A mandatory evacuation order was issued Tuesday morning but, after considering things for a time, I decided to stay on the island........which became a ghost town. I'll admit staying was a gamble as the early forecast tracks had a bullseye on us..........I imagine some would even say it was foolish. Perhaps. As it turned out we got a bit of wind and very little rain. As Sal sang it, a simple twist of fate. Thanks for your good wishes!

A Bigsby can be cantankerous if not setup right........and they never were meant for Van Halen style gymnastics. (The secret with a Bigsby on a Gretsch: use the Rocking Bar bridge.) Having been through dozens of electric guitars in the years I played out, the Gretsch 6120 was the one for me. Lightweight with a warm, clean tone, short scale.......perfect. Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, SGs......all fine instruments, but the 6120 was IT for me.

For those that don't know the tune............... Those Who Wait This is beyond my imagination.

Bravo! Well done, Sal! Dig the harmonies you do here and the ukulele + guitar is a great combination for this tune. 🖖 nanu nanu!

Yeah, Murph, I know................kinda took it as a compliment actually. Beach is to open on Monday but with restrictions: 6am to 9am only, no beach chairs or umbrellas, social distancing applies, $500 misdemeanor fine for violations. So, not time for busking yet but I will be able to hit the beachfront early to fish!

Broke out the watercolors and scratched this out...............can't imagine what's on my mind.........

And that's why it's on the headstock........I can put it right up in my face! The tunes in red are originals, as if I didn't know which was which already 🙄 This is not a "do-'em-in-this-order" kind of list, rather tunes I can play and sing well enough to do as the mood strikes or the situation seems to call for. I run them all regularly here at home so as not to lose touch with any of them.............if they're on the list they are ready to go.