repair questions: '68 Gibson Country Western

This came in for repair, with problems especially around the bridge.

The bridge is lifting, is cracked, and may have been thinned. It also may have been inset slightly into the top. I'm aware that production methods and quality at Gibson at that time were erratic, and in decline. Can anyone say if bridges were commonly this thin, on their flattops at that date? The bridge also appears to taper in thickness from front to back.

The bridgeplate is peeling away from inside the top, at the front.

I think I will suggest to the owner that I replace the bridgeplate(as I don't think I can successfully reglue the curled maple plate in place), and replace the bridge with a exact repro(but with a fixed saddle)

It has the thin bracing(not 'double-x') and sounds good (probably will sound even better with bridge & plate repaired). 1-9/16"nut, not so nice. A 'last gasp' from Kalamazoo, before the deluge...

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smith bed sorscher gibson sj 007.JPG, 777 KB
smith bed sorscher gibson sj 012.JPG, 753 KB
smith bed sorscher gibson sj 004.JPG, 755 KB

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Permalink Reply by nathan clark on November 14, 2013 at 9:46am

I just measured an original bridge that I took off of a 1968 Gibson J-50. It's 17/64" thick on the neck side at the 6th string and ¼" at the 1st string. Looks just like the one in your photos.

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Permalink Reply by Hesh Breakstone on November 14, 2013 at 11:05am

Ya, looks original to me too, good thing we didn't step in it.... ;)

Hope all is well with you Dave.

This bridge could have been reglued in the past though, just the same, and if the person doing it, the reglue, removed finish to the perimeter and was a bit over zealous with the chisels that could account for the appearance of being inset into the top.

We frequently, with the customer consent of course, convert these old guitars to a conventional bone saddle with a plug and new slot. It removes a LOT of mass and likely will not hurt in terms of how much energy is required to drive this top.

Looks like a nice project, good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Richard on November 25, 2013 at 5:54pm

Thanks for your replies!

I have removed the bridge and bridgeplate. The plate is big, 2-3/8" wide. I am incline to replace it with a narrower one(not the one in the photo) that would be 1-3/4" wide(1/4" behind the bridge, and 1/8" in front).

Has anyone done such a replacement in this type/era Gibson, and comment on any change in tone?

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