2009 Goldtop Bavarian Makeover

[MrBluemick]

Yes, but can this difference really be told apart from the one made by setting the tailpiece from one height to another?

 

[Sct13]

cam type tail piece studs are available for a quick fix as well.

However, I would do the headstock....but thats just me...

 

[MrBluemick]

Of the many particular options that Florian proposed to me.
He told me that the longs studs for the tailpiece were the one were the most important tonewise.
The rest were more cosmethic.
So I went for that one.
The rest I can live without, but I can understand that correct vintage esthetic matters to some..
It's just that I am more focused on the effects and feel of vintage specs.

 

[MrBluemick]

"...working on the topcarve to get vintage contours, a deep dish and a nice recurve...."

 

[Fifty9]

Is the end of the tenon not straight? Am sure the neck is in perfectly but it seems the tenon itself is longer on one side (bottom in this pic) than the other (top)

 

[MrBluemick]

I see what you mean.
I think it is not straight indeed.
In one of the previous where you see the neck out of the guitar,
with all the glue, you can see that one side is a bit longer than the other..

 

[Fifty9]

its great to watch this taking shape. love these threads.

 

[MrBluemick]

"...vintage topcarve contours...."

 

[MrBluemick]

Old bushings removed, and correct length new ones installed.
According to Florian, these are the best sounding and most authentic bushings.
They are made by hand by another gifted German guy, named Hauke Friese..
They do look great indeed;-)

 

[MrBluemick]

I eventually made the decision to move the Headstock Gibson logo.
Florian has just started to work on that, by "carefully removing the black rubberish filler around the Gibson logo"

 

[Sct13]

cool!!!

 

[MrBluemick]

Another nice view of the vintage topcarve..

 

[flimz]

Awesome progress!

 

[MrBluemick]

It looks like the finish process is being prepared now.
Florian is sanding the guitar.
With little details like keeping or not the pickguard holes.
I am not using one at the moment but I might add a black one later on.
So the holes will stay;-)

 

[MrBluemick]

It appears that some of my earlier damages and scratches on the guitar,
as sanding won't erase them..
I don't want the guitar to be aged after the finish process.
I want to age it myself while playing.
Florian and I joked about these being the first of my personal aging marks on the new guitar to be;-)

The worst of all being the back:

 

[MrBluemick]

More of the back

And finally after extra & more extra-sanding, the back's dongs are gone, and the dark spot almost invisible!

 

[MrBluemick]

"...shaving off the shoulders a little and sanding the neck to a real smooth one..."

Apparently, the neck profile was quite accurate, and only needed a little material removal.
Just a little bit of the shoulders was removed...

 

[BigJim]

This guitar is begging to be a 'burst! Imagine the authenticity of the top!

Great stuff though! Supports my reasoning for only buying luthier made singlecuts!

 

[MrBluemick]

The Gibson logo is off, after a long long time spent to take it out carefully without damaging it..
A very meticulous job!

 

[MrBluemick]

"...logo relocated..."