Restoration Music

05/26/2026

The Gibson J-185 "small jumbo" (oxymoron?) was a scaled down J-200 -- think Emmy Lou Harris -- offered by Gibson from 1952 to 1959. Its a great model. a large volume body with more balanced sound than a dreadnought but plenty of kick. A rare and pricey model as a vintage guitar, I was motivated by two friends who have vintage models to make this reproduction, using theirs to make the copy. This one is currently my favorite guitar to play.

It has a Curly Maple body and neck with a European Spruce top. The bracing pattern is mid-1940's Gibson -- tall but very light bracing. The "disappearing pyramid" inlay pattern was discovered by Dale Whitehead who also built one of these alongside this one in my shop.

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

A couple of interesting vintage guitars came into the shop for restoration this week. A c. 1840 Scmidt and Maul and a 1930's Gibson L-00

Louis Schmidt traveled on the boat with C.F. Martin in 1833. He lived with Martin and worked with him until Martin moved to Pennsylvania in 1838. At that time Schmidt joined with Maul and continued to build Martin-style guitars in New York. The guitar is in its original coffin case.

The Gibson L-00 was purchased for $50.00 at an estate sale. It has been well played and slightly abused but should turn out to be a fine example with some careful repair. All original with NO Loose braces that I can detect. That's unusual for a fallow Gibson of that age. The bridge plate is cracked and will need some serious service and the top has a bow at the bridge. It needs a major cleaning as well.