Recommendations for someone who can fix up a gibson 1968 j45

[bench]

Hi all,
Hope this is the right place for this question...
I've bought my uncle's 1968 Gibson j45 off him to 'keep it in the family.' Thing is,it sounds and plays pretty bad and I think someone who knew what they were doing could really bring out the best in it. I have a feeling replacing the rather horrid adjustable bridge might be a good idea...and I am not looking to resell but to play it.

Anyone recommend any Gurus in this department? I am based in the w.midlands in case that helps.

Be nice to get it singing again!

Even though it looks like a j50 (i.e. blonde j45) it does say j45 inside. 

Thanks!
Ben

[Michael Messer]

Hi Bench

That is a beautiful looking guitar. I love J45s, great guitars.

My luthiers of choice for this job would be Dave King at Dave King Acoustics near Newbury, Ralph Bown near York, or Bill Puplett in Harrow. All three are master luthiers and while I am sure there are many other great luthiers around, these are my recommendations. Others on the forum might have other recommendations which may well be excellent. Just be careful, because take it to the wrong person and your J45 will be ruined.

Shine On
Michael

[bench]

Fantastic-thanks Michael. I'll try those guys and see what they think.

[Andymccann]

Great guitar. I’d be interested to hear you expand a little on how it plays and sounds pretty bad?
Don’t be to hasty in trashing off the adj saddle. That’s only a small bit of what makes n brakes the tone of these guitars.

[bench]

Yes, I agree and that's why i want to take it to an expert. It is very quiet with no real treble at all. The action for sure needs tweaking but I think it is more than that...the one redeeming feature is the bass which has a lovely thunk - oh and it smells fantastic! Also needs a set of new machine heads. Lots of little things but I want someone who really knows their stuff to give it a once over and advise...

[Andymccann]

Agree 100% take to someone who knows. If you’re missing trebles fit a ceramic saddle. That’s sure to bring treble in waves...
I think the practicality of the adj saddle outweighs the possibility of subjectively better tone of fixed bone. Also with fixed bone there’s the slim chance you could wash away some of that signature Gibson thunk
Good luck with it 👍

[bench]

Thanks for the advice! I do like being able to raise the action for slide and then lower it again really easy- makes a lot of sense. We'll see...I'll call Michael's contacts and see what they think.
Cheers,
Ben

[robbie]

interesting regarding the adjustable bridge on the gibson ,as this months guitarist mag mentions the fact, that they indeed were fitted over a period of time to help intonation and height adjustment, but it compromised the sound quality to some extent.

regards

[biscuit]

I had a 1968 Hummingbird (same adjustable bridge) that sounded dull, because the bridge had begun to peel away from the top and the bridge plate was damaged.

Seems to be a common problem with these bridges: www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Bridges/HumBirdBr/hbirdbr1.html

You can easily check with a feeler gauge.

Nice guitar, what is the nut width? I eventually sold my Gibson as I could not adjust to that narrow neck (1 9/16 at the nut ). 

[bench]

That's a really interesting link...a lot of hardware in that bridge! Can't measure the nut width right now on mine, but yes it is narrower that something I'd usually go for. Still - it'll get plenty of use if I can get it to sound and play better.
Cheers,
Ben

[Deleted]

Try chickenbone john too. W Mids based.
TT

[alexkirtley]

I'm a repairer in Whitley Bay, I've done work to my own '68 J-50 which might interest you, It involved making a rosewood insert for the adjustable bridge, which gives it a fixed saddle and improved sound but can be reverted to how it was originally at any point

[bench]

Thanks Alex...I already made some calls and you're a way away from where I live...but we will see what happens! Cheers, Ben

[ezra1]

I had a 68 Square Shouldered Southern Jumbo until recently.
She had a very fast neck much like a late 60s Les Paul.
They went to that neck sometime in 65.
68 is regarded as the last good year for those guitars.
In 69 Gibson wanted less warranty work and started making the braces thicker.
This caused the tops to not vibrate as well and it hurt the sound of the guitars.
We had to replace my adjustable bridge and bridge plate. The bridge started lifting and my luthier found a previous bridge repair and the previous guy used epoxy....bad bad idea.
My guy managed to get that crap out of there with out destroying my guitar.
He went back with a rosewood bridge and replaced plate.
She sounds stunning.
My cousins grown son who is an accomplished finger picker cut off a finger in an accident and they reattached the finger.He had been trying to learn how to play left handed after the accident and was struggling with it.
He was able to make a bar chord on my guitar.
I sold it to his Mom as a Christmas gift for him.
It seemed like a decent thing to do.
1968 Gibson Acoustic J-45 ,J-50 , Southern Jumbo's and Country & Western's are nice guitars.

[obrienp]

I think Graphtec do a tusq replacement for the combined mettle parts and saddle for Gibson adjustable bridges that doesn’t involve alterations. I noticed it when browsing their product line for a replacement saddle for my much younger J45 with an under saddle pickup. It was a few years back mind, so I don’t know if it is still made. Could be a cheap first step before considering any radical alterations.

Gibson recently released some 60s tribute (or some such name) J45s with the same style adjustable saddle. I don’t know if they sound any better, or worse than your original. However, there must be some spares kicking around for those.