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 Post subject: Gibson built Washburn's
PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:33 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:06 am
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First name: DG
Last Name: SR
Country: Canada
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
This are quite a rare finding - the circa 1938/39 Washburn Model 5249 Solo Deluxe built in Kalamazoo by Gibson. And here we can compare 2!
The 5249 was at the time, Washburn's top-of-the-line offering and although these two only differ in Serial # by 15 digits; construction wise they are apples and oranges.
The instrument on the left unfortunately had the top thinned excessively and refinished (and due to the former, I'll likely re-top it) as well as an inaccurate reproduction bridge. It is the younger of the two. Probably most noticable internally is the double-x bracing (which is missing one of the lower braces)
The instrument on the right is in an original state with only required work done to it (neck reset, a very light over spray on the top in one localized area). It features a much more common standard X bracing with 2 tone bars and finger braces.

DocImage


Last edited by Ol'burns on Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.


These users thanked the author Ol'burns for the post: gxs (Mon May 03, 2021 7:16 pm)
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:21 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
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First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Way cool.

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These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: Ol'burns (Thu Apr 15, 2021 1:01 pm)
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:42 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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That is a rare find, very cool and thanks for posting this.

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These users thanked the author Hesh for the post: Ol'burns (Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:14 am)
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PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2021 7:24 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:58 pm
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Location: usa
First name: george
Last Name: s
Country: usa
Focus: Repair
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Super nice, I am hoping to stumble across one of those in need of repair myself someday. I have '30's Radio Tone which was the same as the Regal version of the 5249/5257. The braces look like Martin style X-bracing. It is my favorite player. I'm curious to know how different those two sound. I think Gibson may have given the Double X a bad name, but I heard an old Recording King that was Double X and it sounded great. I have heard of people taking part of the lower X out to get the top to move more, maybe it was done intentionally (It doesn't seem like a great idea).

Thanks for the post.
GS

quote="Ol'burns"]This are quite a rare finding - the circa 1938/39 Washburn Model 5249 Solo Deluxe built in Kalamazoo by Gibson. And here we can compare 2!
The 5249 was at the time, Washburn's top-of-the-line offering and although these two only differ in Serial # by 15 digits; construction wise they are apples and oranges.
The instrument on the left unfortunately had the top thinned excessively and refinished (and due to the former, I'll likely re-top it) as well as an inaccurate reproduction bridge. It is the younger of the two. Probably most noticeable internally is the double-x bracing (which is missing one of the lower braces)
The instrument on the right is in an original state with only required work done to it (neck reset, a very light over spray on the top in one localized area). It features a much more common standard X bracing with 2 tone bars and finger braces.

DocImage[/quote]


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