Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi

A friend of mine was asking me about a J45 Arch Back he had seen, he reckoned it was sixties Era.

Anyone know anything about the arch back bit ?

Many Thanks

Russell

Sorry a correction it is a J50 Arch Back, anyone know about these ?

Don't know about the arch back but some of the Gibson's from that period had plastic bridges.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

My brother had a J50 from the 60's, but I don't remember it having an arched back. Nor did my J45. (We were a Gibson family for a while.) Could the guitar in question be something like the Guilds that had the pressed arch back in some of their models? I just don't know if Gibson did that or not. But a buddy of mine (back in the early 70's) had a Guild with an "arched" back that was simply several laminations glued into an arched shape. It is stiff and stable enough to forego bracing.

Are you being asked to do one?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Hi Guys,
I had 2 J-45's
and they both did not have arched backs!!
Maybe the new models do??
Walter

HI Steve

Yes he wants me to make something similiar.

Just trying to work out whats involved.

Many Thanks

Russell

As Steve mentioned, Guild did a laminated arched back (on their less expensive mahogany dreds). Interestingly, they have a reputation for good sound--often better than some of their expensive models. They're quite heavy, though. If you want to make a custom arched back, you have two options: carve from solid wood, or press your own arched laminations. If you laminate, though, you'll still have to make two forms to press them (concave and convex), so it seems like carving would be the better choice for a one-off.

The Gibson Gospel (?) had an arched back - it was an early 90's model, well regarded. This was a laminate back.John B38654.5831828704

I forgot to mention - Eastman is doing carved back flat-tops now.

If you do laminate, and you have a vacuum clamping system, couldn't you get away with just a concave form?

[QUOTE=John B] If you do laminate, and you have a vacuum clamping system, couldn't you get away with just a concave form?[/QUOTE]

Yep, it could work. My low-tech mind betrays me again!

Er, on second thought, maybe a CONVEX form would work better with vacuum. CarltonM38654.592349537

[QUOTE=CarltonM]
Er, on second thought, maybe a CONVEX form would work better with vacuum. [/QUOTE]

That is correct--and quite clever.

You could make it a unique shape, Russell--one all your own.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com