Official Luthiers Forum!

A friend of mine has a '60's Gibson J-45. The top has collapsed just like the J-50 I have here but not as bad so I am just going to try and hydrate it. But the pickguard has fallen off. It is a very flexible material that was glued right onto the finish and the glue looks rubbery. Can someone tell me what is the best glue for these things.

Also, is it an acceptable "repair" to replace the that crappy adjustable bridge? Both of these guitars are stamped inside as follows "J-45 adj" and "J-50 adj". they both also need new bridge plates. The 45 looks almost like plywood but both are white so I will probable replace them with maple....unless advised otherwise.

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

Yes, it's not only acceptable but often preferred to replace the adjustable
bridges with standard slotted ones - one of those cases where function
certainly trumps originality.

As to the pickguard, clean off the old glue and stick it back on with a
contact adhesive. I use the 3M 467 laminating adhesive, but that stuff can
be hard to find. I've never used the more widely available 3M spray
adhesives, but I've heard many people do use it with good results.

And the bridge plate probably is plywood on that one. They switched to
that at some point in the 60's, and they do often fail. Quartered rock
maple is the way to go, and I prefer grain parallel with the top grain
rather than the more conventional perpendicular orientation. Get the
bridge and plate off at the same time, then when you install the new
bridge plate it allows a good deal of flexibility to flatten the top back out.
The glue the new bridge on last.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

AWESOME!!

Thanks David, I was really hoping you would chime in.

Shane

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Canada

Hey Shane!
I just had 2 of those babies in for work!
Same as yours -condition wise!

Be careful on the bridge plate-It may be the only well glued piece on the guitar!Tough to remove without F'n the top !

Check(the plate) carefully for a crack that runs along the bridge pin holes!
If there is one then it's not the plywood !I had one with plywood -one with maple-(GIBSON QUALITY CONTROL AT WORK )

You may want to epoxy a small Maple or rosewood plate with grain running 90% to the original(epoxy to fill any small indends !)It's impossible to make a great glue joint on a cracked bridge plate (from the outside)

As far as replacing the bridge goes ?

It will have to be done sooner or later!
It's a horrible design !
Those hugh nuts and inserts for the saddle adjustment just boogle the mind!
Making the guitar usable to a musician is WAY more important than the LEAVING AS MADE!

Can't be Vintage if it's firewood!



But -it's up to the owner of the guitar -make it playable or just collectable!

Mikey

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Mike Collins

Whoops!
yes the pickguard!
Scraping & sanding work best!
yOU CAN TRY NAPTHA!
But i do not think it's a solvent based glue!

It's probably a thick Hot Hide glue!

best of luck on it!
mc

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Mike Collins

Thanks Mikey!!

Hey I am off to send your package to Ed!

Merry Christmas to you and missus!

My friend!

Shane

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Canada