50's J45 repair advice - FRETS.NET2024-03-28T23:22:43Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/50-s-j45-repair-advice?feed=yes&xn_auth=noGlad to hear things are going…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-09:2177249:Comment:1253332014-01-09T18:57:13.242ZPaul Breenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulBreen
<p>Glad to hear things are going so well for you on this project. I think that the only redeeming attribute of the U-F glue is that when it gives out, parts can be readily disassembled without damage.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The best sounding guitar I ever had my hands on was a banner head stock J45. I was ready to trade off my first born child to acquire it but it was a family heirloom. No one in the family played the guitar but they, understandably, would not part with it for it's sentimental value.…</p>
<p>Glad to hear things are going so well for you on this project. I think that the only redeeming attribute of the U-F glue is that when it gives out, parts can be readily disassembled without damage.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The best sounding guitar I ever had my hands on was a banner head stock J45. I was ready to trade off my first born child to acquire it but it was a family heirloom. No one in the family played the guitar but they, understandably, would not part with it for it's sentimental value. I predict that you will end up with a great sounding instrument, have fun with it!</p> Thank you for all of the resp…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-09:2177249:Comment:1252492014-01-09T17:32:07.205ZRandy Kinghttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RandyKing
<p>Thank you for all of the responses. Great to know what the heck that glue is! </p>
<p>By end of day I should have the top bracing fixed. I'll have to order a soundboard cutoff from LMI for the back, and some tuner buttons to replace the crumbled ones... but i think that will be about it. Excited to play this guitar, even though I haven't been thrilled with the last few j45's that have passed through my hands. They were newer and of the adjustable bridge variety.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you for all of the responses. Great to know what the heck that glue is! </p>
<p>By end of day I should have the top bracing fixed. I'll have to order a soundboard cutoff from LMI for the back, and some tuner buttons to replace the crumbled ones... but i think that will be about it. Excited to play this guitar, even though I haven't been thrilled with the last few j45's that have passed through my hands. They were newer and of the adjustable bridge variety.</p>
<p></p> Hello, Dave.
The sides are s…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-08:2177249:Comment:1252402014-01-08T16:42:05.463ZRandy Kinghttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RandyKing
<p>Hello, Dave. </p>
<p>The sides are solid. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Every brace that isn't already falling off has been extremely easy to remove... an offset knife slides right under and this glue just crumbles. Everything has come off cleanly with little to no damage.</p>
<p>Hello, Dave. </p>
<p>The sides are solid. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Every brace that isn't already falling off has been extremely easy to remove... an offset knife slides right under and this glue just crumbles. Everything has come off cleanly with little to no damage.</p> Randy, are the sides solid or…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-08:2177249:Comment:1251672014-01-08T01:48:32.576ZDave Richardhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard
Randy, are the sides solid or laminated?<br />
<br />
Nice project.<br />
<br />
Dave
Randy, are the sides solid or laminated?<br />
<br />
Nice project.<br />
<br />
Dave Looks like a pretty nice guit…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-08:2177249:Comment:1251642014-01-08T00:37:33.827Zonewenthttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/onewent
<p>Looks like a pretty nice guitar when it's back together, early 50s J-45s are really great sounding. </p>
<p>Retrorod nailed the date re the letter code, Gibson actually went backwards from Z in those years.</p>
<p>And one other note, notice the spray on the X braces and lateral brace right at the sound hole. I find that to be very common on Gibsons of this era. I had a '52 with the same spray on the braces and many 'experts' on vintage instruments claimed 'overspray'. But I almost expect…</p>
<p>Looks like a pretty nice guitar when it's back together, early 50s J-45s are really great sounding. </p>
<p>Retrorod nailed the date re the letter code, Gibson actually went backwards from Z in those years.</p>
<p>And one other note, notice the spray on the X braces and lateral brace right at the sound hole. I find that to be very common on Gibsons of this era. I had a '52 with the same spray on the braces and many 'experts' on vintage instruments claimed 'overspray'. But I almost expect to see this.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Good luck with the repairs! Tom</p> Hey Randy, as a Gibson nut, I…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-07:2177249:Comment:1251602014-01-07T20:53:53.232ZRETRORODhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RETROROD
<p>Hey Randy, as a Gibson nut, I can tell you that the letter Y before the FON# on the neck block means that it is a 1953 production.</p>
<p>Good luck with the project!</p>
<p>Rod</p>
<p>Hey Randy, as a Gibson nut, I can tell you that the letter Y before the FON# on the neck block means that it is a 1953 production.</p>
<p>Good luck with the project!</p>
<p>Rod</p> well... there it is. came off…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-07:2177249:Comment:1253192014-01-07T20:11:50.902ZRandy Kinghttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RandyKing
<p>well... there it is. came off pretty easily. </p>
<p></p>
<p>What a wreck the inside of the box is! It appears as if the kerfing had been glued using a different glue than the bracing.</p>
<p>well... there it is. came off pretty easily. </p>
<p></p>
<p>What a wreck the inside of the box is! It appears as if the kerfing had been glued using a different glue than the bracing.</p> one moretag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-07:2177249:Comment:1251582014-01-07T19:04:26.425ZRandy Kinghttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RandyKing
<p>one more</p>
<p>one more</p> Here are the pictures. It doe…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-07:2177249:Comment:1250482014-01-07T19:01:12.241ZRandy Kinghttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RandyKing
<p>Here are the pictures. It does appear to be the yellow, crumbly, bubbly glue. I can tell you that it is very brittle.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The back may well come off in a couple pieces as its badly cracked right down the middle. The top is actually in good shape.</p>
<p>Here are the pictures. It does appear to be the yellow, crumbly, bubbly glue. I can tell you that it is very brittle.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The back may well come off in a couple pieces as its badly cracked right down the middle. The top is actually in good shape.</p> Here is a picture of some Red…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-01-07:2177249:Comment:1252262014-01-07T17:51:50.301ZPaul Breenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulBreen
<p>Here is a picture of some Red U-F in a 61 Kalamazoo Epiphone FT30 Caballero. The back came off real easy without damage to any kerfed lining.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745456?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745456?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> This is a shot of some Yellow U-F in a 54 Gibson J160e.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745345?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745345?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> I think it's hit or miss as to what glue you'll…</p>
<p>Here is a picture of some Red U-F in a 61 Kalamazoo Epiphone FT30 Caballero. The back came off real easy without damage to any kerfed lining.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745456?profile=original"><img width="721" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745456?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"/></a>This is a shot of some Yellow U-F in a 54 Gibson J160e.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745345?profile=original"><img width="721" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167745345?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"/></a>I think it's hit or miss as to what glue you'll find in Gibson made acoustics from the 50's through the 70's and it may not be all one type used in the same instrument. I started a discussion here on the topic in 2010, I didn't know what it was at the time. Paul Hostetter chimed in on the discussion and enlightened me.</p>
<p><a href="http://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/1954-gibson-j160e-mystery-glue?id=2177249%3ATopic%3A25900&page=1#comments" target="_blank">http://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/1954-gibson-j160e-mystery-glue?id=2177249%3ATopic%3A25900&page=1#comments</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Once apart, the glue can be cleaned off easily by scarping or sanding, water, solvent or heat won't touch it.</p>