1946ish L48

[cunningham26]

Hi,

totally new to the forum, as i just picked up my first Gibson. Got it off craigslist, it's what I believe to be a 1946 L48. the previous owner was a drummer who hung it on the wall with a shoelace and let it cook in the sun, and so the back is coming apart a tiny bit from the sides (and thus the binding is going with it). The tuners and bridge aren't original, and a p90 has been professionally installed. I'm going to have the same luthier that installed the pickup have a go at gluing the binding, hopefully it's not too bad.

 

my question is that i want to change the strings and clean up the fretboard, because its got green gunk all over it. but, before i take the current, terrible, rotting strings off, should i get the reissue kluson tuners?

 

here's a link to some pictures. I want to treat it right, and need some advice on what direction to go.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/andrew.l.cunningham/1946GibsonL48#

 

thanks!

[ksdaddy]

It looks like you have Grover Imperials on it now; at least that's what they appear to be in the photos. You will need to be mindful of the size of the shaft holes in the headstock. They may (or may not) have been enlarged to put the Grovers in. If so, you will need conversion bushings sold by Stewart MacDonald. This will allow a proper fit. Your repair person will know that anyway, just giving you a heads up.

 

My own opinion (worth exactly 2 cents) is that the Imperials look weird on it, but the practical side says the damage has already been done and unless you have a cosmetic preference for the original style Klusons then there's nothing to be gained by the expense and time of retrofitting them with repro Klusons... it's already had a P90 and wiring put in it so the originality ship sailed a long time ago.

[JimR56]

ksdaddy hits on the most important thing here... the guitar has been altered (especially having been routed for the pickup) to the extent that there's really no need to worry too much about selecting "correct" parts for it. The Imperials are very good tuners, so unless you dislike them for some reason, just go with those.

 

It would surprise me if the luthier who repairs the guitar for you wasn't willing to clean and oil the fingerboard for you while installing new strings and getting it set up for you.

 

Anyway, a cool old Gibson. Have fun with that!