ItsaBass
New member
Hi,
I got this mid-late '60's Gibson B25 when my dad died. It was his for as long as I can remember; he got it when it wasn't even that old. But these are very common, non-valuable, low end guitars (think the acoustic equivalent of a Les Paul or SG Special), and like many, the top has warped beyond the point that is worth having fixed. It also has a cracked head that was repaired probably 35 years ago.
However, it is a '60's vintage Gibson, and you can tell that it was fairly well made of pretty nice materials, and it has a nice amount of honest playing wear on it that just plain looks cool. It has a nice neck (I love the narrow '60's Gibson necks). Besides, it has a lot of sentimental value to me, having been one of my dad's two main acoustics the entire time I was growing up (and before). I can't bring myself to just get rid of it. But it's only possible use at the moment is slide playing, which I don't really spend much time doing. So the thing has sat since 2007, useless, taking up space.
It started bothering me recently. So I got the idea to convert it to a semi-hollow electric. Why the hell not try it? I've wanted a thick-bodied semi hollow for YEARS. Worst that happens is I end up with a sentimental wall hanger out of a guitar that I wasn't using anyhow.
I'm thinking I'll come in through the side, since looks aren't important, the sides are laminated (stronger than the solid back), and I don't want to deal with pulling the binding and the back off and reinstalling it. I'll install a mahogany (or maybe maple) block down the middle – not full width, except maybe at the ends. Maybe an inch or an inch and a half thick, and as wide as the sound hole plus a little extra. I'll notch that for the guitar's top braces, and glue the top down to the block to help flatten it out. I will then plane down the bridge so that you can still see its outer shape, but it has no function. On will go a semi-sunken wraparound tailpiece/bridge. I will cover the sound hole with a piece of lacquered Bakelite screwed into the maple block, and make a pick guard out of the same stuff. Insert two P90 soapbars, a three way, some pots and knobs (all of which I already have), and I could have a pretty cool little rhythm guitar...or good for anything that doesn't require upper fret access, really.
Here is a Web grab of a similar guitar:
Whaddayathink? I'm bored, I like projects, and I'm tired of this useless thing sitting here.
I got this mid-late '60's Gibson B25 when my dad died. It was his for as long as I can remember; he got it when it wasn't even that old. But these are very common, non-valuable, low end guitars (think the acoustic equivalent of a Les Paul or SG Special), and like many, the top has warped beyond the point that is worth having fixed. It also has a cracked head that was repaired probably 35 years ago.
However, it is a '60's vintage Gibson, and you can tell that it was fairly well made of pretty nice materials, and it has a nice amount of honest playing wear on it that just plain looks cool. It has a nice neck (I love the narrow '60's Gibson necks). Besides, it has a lot of sentimental value to me, having been one of my dad's two main acoustics the entire time I was growing up (and before). I can't bring myself to just get rid of it. But it's only possible use at the moment is slide playing, which I don't really spend much time doing. So the thing has sat since 2007, useless, taking up space.
It started bothering me recently. So I got the idea to convert it to a semi-hollow electric. Why the hell not try it? I've wanted a thick-bodied semi hollow for YEARS. Worst that happens is I end up with a sentimental wall hanger out of a guitar that I wasn't using anyhow.
I'm thinking I'll come in through the side, since looks aren't important, the sides are laminated (stronger than the solid back), and I don't want to deal with pulling the binding and the back off and reinstalling it. I'll install a mahogany (or maybe maple) block down the middle – not full width, except maybe at the ends. Maybe an inch or an inch and a half thick, and as wide as the sound hole plus a little extra. I'll notch that for the guitar's top braces, and glue the top down to the block to help flatten it out. I will then plane down the bridge so that you can still see its outer shape, but it has no function. On will go a semi-sunken wraparound tailpiece/bridge. I will cover the sound hole with a piece of lacquered Bakelite screwed into the maple block, and make a pick guard out of the same stuff. Insert two P90 soapbars, a three way, some pots and knobs (all of which I already have), and I could have a pretty cool little rhythm guitar...or good for anything that doesn't require upper fret access, really.
Here is a Web grab of a similar guitar:
Whaddayathink? I'm bored, I like projects, and I'm tired of this useless thing sitting here.
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