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1937 Gibson L-0 repaired.....


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My 1937 Gibson L-0 is back from my luthier with all loose braces glues, cracks glued, repairs made to various spots and because it looked like a mess - a full gloss black re-finish, pickguard and a wonderful new setup!

Just...wonderful to play, sounds....

I was looking at the Murphy L-00 but thought I would spend the money on this old one instead! Looks new(ish) and sounds old! The opposite of the Murphy Lab L-00!

zxn37qb.jpg

 

8dB29JH.jpg

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

 

Edited by BluesKing777
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Whoa!  Papa definitely got himself a brand-new bag.  If I recall you had been thinking about going with a refinish on that guitar for quite a while.  And there is certainly a value to making something right which once had gone wrong.   But I still kind of miss the old natural top L-0.  Always thought of it as a guitar which while never was should have been.

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Posted (edited)

Well, that was then and this is now......

Top could have had a thick clear coat, but after the bits were falling off and repaired, it wouldn't look so good. It was sounding too hollow, too much finish removed once.

Sounds and plays great now - more of a 'super custom' Gibson L-0 - it was never going to be a restoration as way too many people have done awful DIY jobs on it. Ruined it.

Ebony fretboard, bridge and Gotoh Kluson style tuners, fabulous setup and it is smoking!

Hard to put down! Best Gibson I have played. And it is MINE!!!!

 

BluesKing777.

 

Edited by BluesKing777
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My 1932 L1 has a transitional finish meaning the burst was hand rubbed but a final clear coat was sprayed over the guitar.  While the burst has held up well all that is left of the sprayed lacquer are a few specs mostly visible on the pickguard.

The real issue with a refinish on a old guitar is getting it not to stick out like a sore thumb.  I have only had it done once.  In my case it was a burst.  While the luthier I went with did not "relic" the finish, he did tell me that the lacquer and process he used would result in a guitar which displayed enough crazing and checking to make it look its age in about one year.  He lied.  It only took some 9 months.

Edited by zombywoof
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Posted (edited)

No, it sure did not happen overnight! The whole thing has been going on...and on...and on....

First, the 52 LG1 was repaired, braces, cracks, setup and a re-finish over the large crack......

Shall I re-finish the large crack repair only? The whole side? Both sides? The whole guitar?

Before photo:

mMm9CXi.jpg

 

So, only did the bout with the repair....don't really notice the black finish until........you notice it!

It was mentioned that the black will sink in to the wood over the years and I will probably scratch that area while playing and it will soon enough be...

But no! I don't generally scratch anything!

After photos:

weSlCCN.jpg

 

Long story short - the 37 L-0 was there forever!

After the repairs were done, we spoke a few times and I decided....Paint the whole thing! Burst was out of the question - the worst looking repairs were around the centre. The old pickguard fell into a hundred pieces when removed.

 

lqqB42o.jpg

 

 

BluesKing777.

 

P.S. I consigned 10 guitars for sale at a shop - sold 9! 

I have money I haven't spent yet!🙃

 

 

Edited by BluesKing777
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