Original Gibson AJ back braces.How big were they?

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yiannis71	Original Gibson AJ back braces.How big were they?	Lead	[-]
(06/27/09 5:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I think tpbii or CW56 can help me by providing some internal pics of their original AJ's on this topic here.The reason is that i've recently got me on a trade a newer Gibson Advanced Jumbo Luthier's choice with Adirondack/Cocolobo.The guitar is very loud,but also very heavy too.I know that Cocolobo is the heaviest of the rosewoods but by looking inside of the guitar's body i saw that the back braces are HUGE,i've never seen such a big back braces.The overall instrument was built on the heavier side,so i was wondering if the newer AJ's only have such big back braces or the original ones had them also. I have here an original vintage Adi top Banner J-45 and a J.Walker J-35,both are very light guitars,and their back braces are slim compared to the AJ.Are there any structural differences regarding AJ's and J-45s? Thanks. Regards, Yiannis Last Edited By: yiannis71 06/27/09 6:14 PM. Edited 2 times.
Fred56		#1	[-]
(06/27/09 6:21 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Gibson notoriously used those 'railroad tie' back braces on many of their guitars, starting back in the latte '90s, and has been slowly phasing them out -- starting on their 'Historic re-issue' models -- over the past maybe 7 years or so. The claim was that the back brace size didn't affect tone or sound production, and maybe it didn't, but they were certainly bigger than those used by most builders. I'm seeing less and less of those big braces these days in newer Gibsons, but I think they do use them on their "modern classic" and certain other lines. The historics built these days, as well as their 'legends' and 'true vintage', I think, use the nice slender braces. Fred
Arnoldgtr		#2	[-]
(06/27/09 7:00 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The original AJ braces were big, but not quite as big as the ones I have seen on the reissues. The AJ was Gibson's answer to the D-28, so many of the features are similar. That includes the wider #3 and #4 back braces. However, even the original AJ back braces were a bit taller and chunkier than the ones found on Martins. John
PICKITLUTHER		#3	[-]
(06/27/09 7:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Yiannis since this topic came up I've got a question as well. I've got an 03 Original Jumbo reissue and though it's a fine sounding guitar, the two deepest back braces are huge as well. I don't think these need to be that big from a structural standpoint. Looking at these two braces, without measuring them I'd say they ar 5/8" wide and tall. I'd like to plane down the height of these, if for nothing else but to take a little weight off of the guitar. I'd like to get some knoweledgeable feedback if shaving them a bit would jeopardize the backs strength, or will alter the sound one way or another ? My 62 D18 has the back two braces wide as well but not nearly as tall. Frank.
littlewingsn		#4	[-]
(06/27/09 8:08 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The 3 and 4 braces on my 34 Radio Grande are very large.I an not sure , but I think they are similar to an AJ. I dont have a good picture of them, but here is Flip Scipios blueprint of a R.G. . You can see the "square " profile of them in the top side view.
CW56		#5	[-]
(06/28/09 3:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Calimera, Yiannis, here are some pictures out of the inside of a '36 AJ: Christian
FoolForWood		#6	[-]
(06/28/09 3:42 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	1936 AJ: Two Montana AJ's: BTW, Willi once posted a plan/drawing of an orignal AJ; i.e. the top and its bracing. He'll likely have the exact back brace dimensions, too. Henk
FoolForWood		#7	[-]
(06/28/09 3:43 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Christian, are you into telepathy? Henk
CW56		#8	[-]
(06/28/09 3:56 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	no, Henk, just a little faster Christian
BHguitars		#9	[-]
(06/28/09 3:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	BTW, Willi once posted a plan/drawing of an orignal AJ; i.e. the top and its bracing. He'll likely have the exact back brace dimensions, too. That's the one, it's Christian's AJ: 1936 AJ bracing plan There's no side cross section / profile shown but John explained the shape already. It's very Martin like although slightly bigger in size and shaped a bit more square / less rounded. But also the same braces as used for the other big body models of the period up to the '50s SJ-200. Willi
yiannis71		#10	[-]
(06/28/09 2:53 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thank you all for your replies,Christian,hope i get the chance one day to play your original AJ.Willi,thanks for the AJ bracing plan too. I'm not good at taking pictures,but at least i've tried and shot some for all of you too.The newer AJ,at least mine,with Cocolobo back and sides is a heavy guitar,one of the most heavy guitars i've ever came across,but the sound is very powerfull too,and this makes me believe that is a well made guitar. I see some similarities regarding the wooden sides reinforcement with the original AJ too. Here we are: At first,i hate this orange looking Gibson sticker inside.It looks very cheap,and it reminds me of some Chinese guitars(where the good taste?): Regards, Yiannis

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Original Gibson AJ back braces.How big were they?

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