View Full Version : Restoring old Gibson
Jim M.
Mar-26-2004, 10:58am
If you had an older Gibson that needed some restoration, what luthier would you take it to?
onlyagibsonisgoodenuff
Mar-26-2004, 11:45am
As i understand it, Weber mandolins does vintage restoration. Who better to work on your Gibson than the people who built them (Bruce Weber)?
jjboone101
Mar-26-2004, 11:51am
Don't the boys at Gibson do repair/restoration work as well?
Jim Roberts
Mar-26-2004, 11:59am
I'd suggest Leo Posch (Mandolin Cafe luthier of choice) just outside of Lawrence, Kansas. #Folks have sent him Martin guitars in pieces and he restores them to darn near perfection. #I know of a player who sends all of his instruments, including his Nugget, from a thousand miles away to Leo for tune-ups, repairs, etc. #He's very #reasonably priced and very honest.
I haven't seen his work, but I'll bet Ken Cartwright would be a good choice, too. #He seems to know his stuff.
Cheers.
JMUSIC
Mar-26-2004, 12:10pm
I just saw an A-1 that Randy Wood had restored after it had been wet somewhere in it's life, very nice job. Also Pete Langdell (Rigel) does excellent restoration work. John S.
grsnovi
Mar-26-2004, 12:13pm
Define: "...some restoration..."
Is the instrument currently in playable condition? or do you have a pile of wood?
Are the top/back/sides and neck "intact"?
Is it simply missing some inlays? Suffering from binding "rot"?
What vintage and style instrument?
Eugene
Mar-26-2004, 12:18pm
My favorite restoration luthier is Tom Crandall with Umanov Guitars (http://www.umanovguitars.com) in NYC. #Tom sat on ASIA's repairman mega-panel with Frank Ford at their last convention. #Tom has restored Loars, many other pre-war Gibsons, several one-of-a-kind or extremely rare Martin mandolins, and pretty much everything else that has strings. #The most notable thing about Tom's work is that it is artfully minimal to maintain functionality and structural integrity, and it is nearly invisible. #The most serious issue with his work is that repairs sanctioned through Umanov's shop favor pricey in the upper percentiles. #If you go this route, please say "Howdy" for me.
Jim M.
Mar-26-2004, 2:19pm
Thanks everyone for the responses. I've talked to Frank Ford about it and he's going to take a look at it for me, which saves me the worry of shipping. The mando is an F2 with some non-original parts and a checkered finish but it is quite playable and sounds good.
Jim- Frank is one of the best (if not THE best) in the world- you're in great hands with him!