How about my Gibson 1966 LG1?

[co2fish]

I got this LG1 a week ago, overall is pretty good condition for a over-half-century guitar. the finish is still very shine, the neck is okay, the action is okay, and the turner keys is okay too (seems) ....... but there are two things I got worried about them: the bridge and the bottom(a line of finish break off )

 

(Hope you guys can understand my english)

 

Let's take a look my LG1:

 

=========================THE GOOD SIDE OF MY LG1=========================

 

=========================THE DARK SIDE OF MY LG1==============================

[I thing the bridge probably cause my lg1's action going up, it bulges a little bit, but it still seems steady. should I do something?]

 

[a line of finish break off , I want to repaint it up , what kind of Lacquer should I used?]

[BigKahune]

Beautiful. But get that baby into a luthier for a bridge reset and a look see at that end crack.

[Buc McMaster]

Fine looking old Gibson! Yes, you should do something - get it to the guitar doctor as soon as possible. The bridge can be re-glued quite nicely. As bad as that looks it is repairable. If it's going to be awhile before you can get it fixed you might consider slacking the strings and playing another guitar for the time being. And if the action is good now, as you say, it will be even better after the bridge fix! The apparent crack at the tail probably looks worse than it is. There is a solid block of wood behind that joint. The good doctor can inspect and recommend a course of action for this as well.

 

Great looking guitar!

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

Beautiful. But get that baby into a luthier for a bridge reset and a look see at that end crack.

 

+1

 

Also, you might consider a set of light, or extra light gauge strings until you get it looked at. But I would do it soon.

[Jerry K]

Loosen the strings immediately and get the bridge re-glued by a luthier. If you wait it may let go explosively and pull up spruce wood from the top!

[fortyearspickn]

Hey Bkyln, The LG1 has a plastic bridge, unless it was replaced. They also sometimes had scrapwood for the bridge plate (inside underneath the bridge). Your luthier will want to replace the plastic for certain. Like Jerry said - loosen the strings. You don't want to rip off part of the spruce face still attached to the bridge. And use light strings. Better sound - I had a 64 LG1 and for fingerpickn, hammerin and blues - you might prefer lights also. Also, if it still has a drop in plastic saddle - consider bone (Bob Colossi website).G'luck. Say Hi to Appolo St. for me. Best 3 years of my life! Jim.

[Taylor Player]

Great looking LG1! I just got my 1964 LG1 a couple weeks ago. On mine the bridge had already been replaced with a wooden bridge. It is very common for the LG1's with plastic bridges to experience what your guitar is going through right now. Most people have had the plastic bridge replaced with wood. As others have said, get it to a luthier/tech that knows what they are doing and try and have them put on a new bridge. (Most can find a good wood replacement that looks just like your bridge.) I think my local guy here in MN charges about $100 for a bridge replacement. Well worth it since these little guitars keep going up in value. I looked at 3 before I purchased mine. They all ranged between $1900 and $3000. I got mine for considerably less and it was in better condition than all three I played at the local vintage shop that had them. I am planning on having a neck reset, new bone nut and new bone saddle installed in the near future. It will cost a few hundred bucks, but it will be worth it and I will have my blusey little guitar in good playable condition for the next 45 years!