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1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10137&t=54630
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Author:  Debo4746 [ Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:  1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry

Enclosed is my 1962 gibson sg. I plan on attacking the reconstruction myself as gibson custom shop will be wayyyyy to expensive. As the photos show, previous owners drilled holes into the horns and back neck into the neck pocket for stability. I was planning on using small wooden dowels as replacements to keep the stability as early SG neck pockets are notoriously weak. Any advise or plan of attack? Thank you!!!


https://ibb.co/S6j4WPW
https://ibb.co/s9TwM23
https://ibb.co/JHhqqXk
https://ibb.co/0MhFSZ1


https://ibb.co/YLWPfRW
https://ibb.co/S6j4WPW
https://ibb.co/0VxLsmk

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Dec 16, 2021 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry

Holy crap. That poor thing has been swiss-cheesed and frankensteined to death.

I'm thinking all new wood is in order to mate the neck and body, and it's not going to be easy at all. Let me study on it a bit, because this repair will not be for the faint of heart nor the beginner. This is expert level stuff.

Author:  Ol'burns [ Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry

Woof
Chris is very much on the money in stating this is an expert level repair job...also, Gibson Custom Shop wouldn't be much use for this...a professional repair person is the only way to go but since you're set on considering it yourself...

That heel (or lack there of) is useless. I think we're looking at a Les Paul Special...since it's pretty eukered, I'd say you have some option since it's not a pristine example by any stretch of the imagination.
For the repair, Normally the last thing I ever consider or encourage is removal of original wood but this is a big mess already so...I would graft a new piece of wood onto the neck, losing that pseudo heel that is there. I'd leave a long tenon and since it is mangled, I'd likely route back on the top of the instrument a channel for the tenon that runs all the way back to the second pickup location. Maybe leave 1/4" of meat in the body of the instrument to glue to.
For the cover up, you could consider a later 60's SG "Large Guard" or leave the route as a bathtub and convert it into a custom (3 p/u)...or just make it look pretty and try your best to color match...

The diagram should help with what I'm thinking. Note that much more original wood remains (the wings) then seen in the diagram...

Attachment:
PXL_20211217_123919725_2.jpg


Doc

Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri Dec 17, 2021 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry

Jake - the links to your photos have become non-working.... Can you repost on a photo hosting site like IMGUR?

Author:  Lou Thier [ Fri Mar 11, 2022 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1962 gibson sg neck pocket reconstruction inquiry

Chris Pile wrote:
Holy crap. That poor thing has been swiss-cheesed and frankensteined to death.

I'm thinking all new wood is in order to mate the neck and body, and it's not going to be easy at all. Let me study on it a bit, because this repair will not be for the faint of heart nor the beginner. This is expert level stuff.



you nailed it there! one thing you could do is make dang sure the neck joint is 100% stable. maybe do what ol'burns said BUT its never going to look asthetically pleasing so i would suggest when all is said and done refinish it black or another stock opaque color. if you did this you could carve the neck/heal exactly like the original AND it would look stock.
Its a shame that it happened in the 1st place but hey s**t happens. good luck!!

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