Belly top

[brums]

Hi, everyone,
I've a question to experts Gibson owners,

How to determine the normal belly top on a guitar ?
which's normal belly value ?

I use .13/56 (EJ17) on my J45 recently, and I noticed that
the top had a pronunced belly near the bridge on the bass side of strings,

I worried and returned to .12/54 (EJ16)
I inspected into the sound hole (with a mirror)
but braces inside seem normally glued.

thanks to you and
excuse me for my bad language
I'm italian and Know english so and so

[brums]

Nobody can answer my question ?

[Matt Haugen]

I am sure someone can answer, but sometimes it takes a couple of days. I do not personally have an answer for you, but I just wanted to assure that someone knows and you most likely get an answer or 2 soon.

Matt

[brums]

Thanks for reassuring,.............Matt

[FRANK]

generally about 30 to 50 foot radius

[brums]

Thanks I will measure that and will tell you the result

[Jim Bancroft]

All quality built guitars will have belly. The cause, thin wood being pulled up by string tension. They have to be built light to sound good, I wouldn't worry about it, as long as everything inside is glued solid. A Gibson J-45 will handle mediums fine.

It's not always possible to see loose bracing by just looking inside a guitar. You can tap the top and listen for rattles, but that doesn't always work either. A sure way to check for loose bracing is, take a .004" feeler guage and try working it around all the interior bracing, if a brace is loose it will slide under it. You can use the same feeler guage to work glue under a brace, then clean off excess, and clamp.

Jim

[brums]

Thanks Jim, I will controlle with a feeler gauge,....
May I do it without strings mounted ?

[Jim Bancroft]

Yes, you have to take the strings off, cause you have to work in the soundhole.

Jim