Gibson Brazilian board conversion

[David Collins]

I have a customer inquiring about replacing his Indian rosewood board with Brazilian on a modern ES-335. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I'm just booked as far as I want to be with major rebuild and restoration projects, and am not interested in doing retrofits to modern instruments.

Does "Historic Makeovers" earn the general consensus here as the place to go for this, or are there other top candidates in your opinion. I'm figuring a place that specializes in this will also be set up to do it more efficiently, and for less that I would have to charge anyway.

[c_mac]

I'm doing my best to hold back my snide comment on a person who would do something like that. :tapedshut

[David Collins]

I know, I know - my personal feelings of the worthiness of such a project contribute to my lack of enthusiasm to take it in. But, if someone want's it done and there are shops who specialize in such offerings, I'm do my best to refer to a trustworthy source.

[pinefd]

Historic Makeovers will not do a Brazilian board package anymore all by itself. You can only get that done if you get a complete refin package done at the same time.

[lukeII]

I don't know about the consensus here but over at the Les Paul forum they certainly do, they appear to do great work and I've never read any negative feedback about them.

[Mr.Hanky]

I'll be right back, just have to jam an ice pick in my eye for a moment.

I sure do miss the LP forum.

[Tuco]

The replacement of the board is something about which you can debate all you like. However, of greater importance is the fact that once the board has been removed, the truss rod can be replaced with a vintage style rod sans truss rod sheath, and the board reglued using hide glue. The difference in sustain is considerable.

Yes, Dave Johnson of Historic Makeovers is one of the best at this kind of work. He is very conscientious and dedicated to getting the guitar sounding and looking its best.

Another luthier who has done Project X work in the past is Terry Mueller. I'm not sure if he's still taking on this kind of work.

[Mr.Hanky]

Oh Christ, this thread just went from bad to insane.

Need another ice pick.

[spikeRI]

yea why bother....................corksniffer in paradise

[fretnot]

People take their items, whether it be a car or house or guitar, and do things to them that make them "theirs." Whether it be a new exhaust system, new wheels, an updated kitchen or bathroom, a new fretboard and refinish, etc, it is irrelevant. What people do with their money to enjoy themselves is not for anyone else to judge, assuming it is legal and not harming others of course. I personally love the idea of taking something and making it uniquely yours, and if people don't like it or stick their nose up at it or call it "cork sniffing" than who cares.

[David Collins]

People take their items, whether it be a car or house or guitar, and do things to them that make them "theirs." Whether it be a new exhaust system, new wheels, an updated kitchen or bathroom, a new fretboard and refinish, etc, it is irrelevant. What people do with their money to enjoy themselves is not for anyone else to judge, assuming it is legal and not harming others of course. I personally love the idea of taking something and making it uniquely yours, and if people don't like it or stick their nose up at it or call it "cork sniffing" than who cares.

That was very well put.

[pinefd]

Believe it or not, there can be reasons for doing this fairly drastic mod beyond cosmetic or perceived improvements in sustain and/or tone. I bought the guitar, pictured below, about a little over a year ago. When the guitar arrived, and I opened up the case, it was love at first sight. And it played and sounded as good as it looked.

The next day, I brought it to my guitar tech for my usual approval period inspection, and he told me to return the guitar. He said although it played fine at the time, the truss rod had no more adjustment left to it, and I could be looking at problems down the road. I was heartbroken to say the least.

This was right around the time that people were starting to make a big deal over Historic Makeover's Package "D" BRW fingerboard swap, with vintage style inlays, vintage style truss rod replacement, and condom removal...all for a very reasonable price. I called Dave and Kim at HM (who I know pretty well) and told them of my dilemma. They were quite confident that they could perform the Package D, do some slight tweaking of the neck at the same time, and make the problem completely go away.

Meanwhile, I had contacted the person I bought the guitar from, and told him of the problem. He offered to refund me basically the cost to perform the Package D...so to me, it was a no brainer. I shipped the guitar off to HM the next day, and Dave performed his magic.

The guitar now ranks as one of...if not my favorite guitar in my collection (and I have a few).

Here she is:

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10152/HM_Package_D_2nd_Round_017_800_2.jpg

[RV52]

pinefd,
that is a great looking guitar. Congrats.

[Tuco]

How exactly does a truss rod sheath reduce sustain? I've talked to a few luthiers known around here who laugh about it having any effect, but actually do it in some guitars because that's what people want.

Was it the sheath, or was it the hide glue, or both? Whichever, the difference was considerable. I know it, because I play it. If it hadn't been an improvement, I would have sold the instrument and been able to recoup my investment. Is it now the equal of my 54/59 conversion? Nope, but I can take it places where I would be hesitant to take the vintage piece.

[c_mac]

What people do with their money to enjoy themselves is not for anyone else to judge

Sure it is.

[pinefd]

pinefd,
that is a great looking guitar. Congrats.

Thanks RV52!