Gibson B25
Grace Da Maren
Found behind a vintage stuff store, this dear little guitar waited to be loved. A kind person saw it and knew a friend who would love it. The friend held onto it until she scrounged together some money to get it repaired. I was lucky she chose me to love it. This is its repair story.
Deeply sunken, this guitar's top was missing support from dry bracing that had long since fallen away. Several segments of brace couldn't hold the top up any longer, and let go. One finger brace was entirely missing - lost to time. There were props under the soundboard on either side of the soundhole, used to keep the sinking top from sinking further. Unfortunately, what they also did was create cracks above them where the top refused the support. There were two cracks on the top and on the back that needed to be reinforced.
You see the plastic bridge. I know you do. I know you're hoping I replaced it. I did not. There was nothing wrong with the bridge or the adjustable saddle, at this time. I gave it some love, and made sure it was prepared for the life ahead of it.
The pickguard was missing from the guitar when it was brought in. The article was stripped away long ago, but the tanlines remained to tell us exactly what used to be there. I reached out to my friends in The Looth Group, and Trevor Healy, of Healy Guitars, said he had a pickguard template that would fit perfectly. He mailed me a cardboard copy of the template, and when we confirmed it was a perfect fit, he made one out of the material of my client's choosing, and produced this beautifully fitting replacement. Such a dream. Thanks, Trev!
I had to give the frets a polish to make them gleam brightly! The nut was in fine shape, after a little bit of a spit-polish!
Things have been great with the guitar from what I can tell! It still sounds amazing and I'm so happy with all the repairs you've done to it! Thanks a bunch!
It's okay to give up on a guitar if it's not within your means to repair. Lucky is the person who finds it and can make a home for it! Music will heal hearts. Spread the love.
Do you have a guitar that could benefit from some love and elbow grease? Reach out to me. I love that shit!
December 2023
