Help me with a Gibson L-3 Repair

Hello all!

A customer brought me this Gibson L-3 acoustic today and I have a couple questions.

First what can you tell me about the original tailpiece. Like what was it made out of? Can I find a suitable replacement? There is only pieces of the original left. I also will need to make or find a bridge for it. There are some pics attached. I'm very excited to work on this wonderful instrument, but will need some guidance from more experienced techs. Any info will be much appreciated.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Frank Ford on December 14, 2011 at 6:00pm

The cross-bar on the original tailpiece was tortoise colored celluloid, like the pickguard. It has decomposed, and taken a bit of the wire support with it. Finding an original to replace it is likely to take a fair bit of effort and cash. I have one in the shop right now that's just about as dead as yours, and I plan to make a new celluloid piece by laminating thick pickguard material (when I get the time, that is). I have yet to decide what to use for a new wire support - maybe I can find some nickel silver rod from the knife making community. That way, I wouldn't have to go to the plating shop.

As to the bridge, the original was a solid ebony nonadjustable one, although a new ebony adjustable archtop bridge is likely to be a more desirable one for many players.