billdraper Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Says in registry 'restored'. That explains the lower price I think. I wonder what was done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Nice one piece mahogany back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Says in registry 'restored'. That explains the lower price I think. I wonder what was done? There doesn't seem to be any cracks, so maybe something inside the box, lose braces or a new bridge plate. Of course the fretboard might have received a treat - sanding, new frets. Congrats on this proud oldie - Which ones from the current herd are now goin' to be sold ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I have a Martin D-16 Adirondack, an Eastman E10D,and a Recording King RO-10. So...I should flip em out and get back some bucks to help defray the costs. At the registry site previously mentioned, I discovered pics taken by the previous owner included a dated shipping doc! http://www.j-35.com/j-35-registry/EG-3674DRLinton.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Good pictures. I'm mystified by the interior. Looks as if there is a third (scarred) tone bar* just behind the bridge plate where there would normally be 2. Then again I don't know the 35 pattern. And that vintage note is something - *I now understand this was quite common - Aha. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 That guitar is so beautiful and simple it makes my heart ache. Whatever they did to "restore" it, the guitar looks great. What a find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Beautiful! Have you checked the interior to see how many tone bars and whether or not they are scalloped? I have seen some "restorations" and I wouldn't call this restored from the pictures. It looks like it has had a neck reset (good saddle height!) and the back refinished and probably a little overspray on the top. Maybe a refret too? I still wouldn't call that a restoration though (and that is certainly a good thing). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Don't think the "G" stands for Gibson. There were a number of second letters used after the E in 1939. For many folks the only way to go with with a guitar is that is no longer 100% original. As you said that is what makes them affordable. They have no collectors value so become purely a player's guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 A lot of the J-35s have that style FON on the back of the headstock. The blonde one on the provide site has it too. I kept seeing that pop up every once in a while when researching J-35s. Seems like maybe a quarter of the ones I see have that FON on the headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted September 8, 2012 Author Share Posted September 8, 2012 Just adding a little sound here! used an effect to boost volume, but all reverb is natural and open tuning helps that I think. Having Fun!! http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/srplayer.php?type=hipriv&trackid=58748 Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57classic Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Congrats on the new guitar Bill. Sounds spectacular. Great woody tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 6, 2012 Author Share Posted October 6, 2012 Zombywoof said: For many folks the only way to go with with a guitar is that is no longer 100% original. As you said that is what makes them affordable. They have no collectors value so become purely a player's guitar. That is so true. The price suggested a "players" guitar, and it does play great. But I took a closer look at the guitar and realized...it doesn't have the inlay buttons on the bridge. So then I noticed that a lot of old gibsons, when you see pictures of the bracing, have a small nut and bolt on the bridge and bridge plate. So...two things...it doesn't have the original bridge or the nut and bolts! Then I got to investigating more and now curious to know wether the bridgeplate has also been replaced...which I believe is an even more serious replacement. So I took some pictures that I will show you now. What do you think? Is the bridgeplate original. Course there is no real way to tell, but whats your guess? Here is a couple of pictures of another J-35 in original condition to start(much cleaner then mine!) And now two of my guitar: Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotTheSilver Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I am by no means an expert on vintage guitars, but from your pics I would guess that the bridge plate is original but the bridge is a replacement. Maybe ask the dealer you bought it from for his opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Lots of wear on that bridgeplate, especially on the bass side. I would guess it's original. This might be a time to have a luthier look at it and see if it needs to be stabilized. The bridge may be a replacement, since the bridgeplate shows the holes and washer indents from the original bridge machine screws, but the bridge itself shows no bolt holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Yes the dealer sold on consignment, and said he'd talk to the previous owner who he said may have owned the guitar for 10 years or so. But it does look like it could be the original bridgeplate doesn't it ...there is the old screw holes present...I read that saving the old bridgeplate is a good thing to do causing less trauma to the guitar etc. Thanks. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Lots of wear on that bridgeplate, especially on the bass side. I would guess it's original. This might be a time to have a luthier look at it and see if it needs to be stabilized. The bridge may be a replacement, since the bridgeplate shows the holes and washer indents from the original bridge machine screws, but the bridge itself shows no bolt holes. Yes good idea.I'd like to have a complete assessment done and see what needs doing. It plays so nicely and the wood looks real good and the guitar is very light. I wouldn't want it to rip up by weak or poorly done bridge/bridgeplate repair. thanks. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Here is a sound sample just for interest sake. http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/srplayer.php?type=hipriv&trackid=58810 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Here is a sound sample just for interest sake. http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/srplayer.php?type=hipriv&trackid=58810 'Sounds like you're already connecting pretty well with it. Best wishes while you and the J-35 are passing some time together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
527 Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 It's important to ask the questions about originality and how it could affect the price before you buy. The dealer and consignor probably have a very good idea what work has been done. It's a big risk to find out problems later on such an expensive guitar. Take more pictures of the inside and get a blacklight to inspect the finish if you are concerned. The oversprayed or refinished areas should look purple under blacklight, and the original finish will be a dull green. We can say that your guitar originally had a bridge with bolts and pearl dots, from the holes in the bridge plate. So the current bridge is a replacement, and done recently juding by the whiteness under the bridge bolt washers. The bridge plate appears to be original. The pin holes in it are also a little big from use. I would have a luthier plug the holes with maple dust and hide glue, and then ream them. That's a pretty conservative way to keep your bridge plate intact and doing its job. If the remaining braces are thight, and the neck angle and intonation are correct, it shouldn't need much else. Let's see some more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 'Sounds like you're already connecting pretty well with it. Best wishes while you and the J-35 are passing some time together. Thanks! Yes I'm addicted to the sound of it now...ready to put some money into it as well to preserve it for another 70 years. If it were lost or stolen I'd cry...and look for another! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 It's important to ask the questions about originality and how it could affect the price before you buy. The dealer and consignor probably have a very good idea what work has been done. It's a big risk to find out problems later on such an expensive guitar. Take more pictures of the inside and get a blacklight to inspect the finish if you are concerned. The oversprayed or refinished areas should look purple under blacklight, and the original finish will be a dull green. We can say that your guitar originally had a bridge with bolts and pearl dots, from the holes in the bridge plate. So the current bridge is a replacement, and done recently juding by the whiteness under the bridge bolt washers. The bridge plate appears to be original. The pin holes in it are also a little big from use. I would have a luthier plug the holes with maple dust and hide glue, and then ream them. That's a pretty conservative way to keep your bridge plate intact and doing its job. If the remaining braces are thight, and the neck angle and intonation are correct, it shouldn't need much else. Let's see some more pictures. Thanks for your good eyes on this. I think its had a neck set. Its intonation is good I think. It plays well and sounds good. Thanks for the tip on the bridgeplate strenthening...I saw that sawdust/hideglue on a vintage forum as well. I'll take it into a good luthier for a complete once over. More pics to follow to keep things interesting and instructive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 More pics: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
527 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 That's a hot guitar. You got the unscalloped three tonebar version. You're very close to the best dreadnought Gibson ever made with that. From what I can see in the pictures, the work in getting the neck back on wasn't terribly clean, usually a bit of finish magic in the joint will make it impossible to tell if the neck was ever off. Not a big deal but a sign of less than expert work. Is the action ok? It does look a little high. I really don't think it needs any more work beyond the bridge plate from what you've shown if the action is alright. You might consider calling Mark at Folkway Music in Guelph if it does need significant work. He is an expert on this period of Gibson guitars and one of the best repairmen available. He could probably put a replica bridge on there if you wanted to take it that far. But the basic glue/dust work on the bridge plate could probably be trusted to someone local if you are very clear with them about what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdraper Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Thanks! I was just reading about Folkways and am very happy to be aware of such a valuable resource in the vintage world. Many thanks. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Action looks rather high on that last pic there... perhaps just the angle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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