About James Koontz Expertise Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Amplifiers, Most anything Music related... Also most anything related to security, Fire and access control, as well as CCTV system.
Experience 20 years as a sound engineer, part time luthier, and general all around technical dude for many local bands. One of which was fairly large in the 80's and 90's with multiple recordings, and was the opening act for David Allen Coe, as well as got a nashville recording opportunity. The band disbanded before making it mainstream.
Organizations Loyal Order of the Moose, Boy Scouts,BMI
Publications Highlights for Children, Mystery Magazine,several online Publications, multiple cd's from various artists.
Education/Credentials I have 20 years experience, some electrical college experience. Studied Law, philosophy, and theology.
Awards and Honors well, too many to listm and none worth much more than a paperweight to hold down the ones that are on paper.
Question Hi,
My dad gave me his old 12 stringer which had been hanging out in the attic unbenownst to me!!. It’s a Gibson he bought in the 60’s or the early 70’s (he doesn’t remember), but I haven’t managed to clearly identify which model it is. The serial number on the back of the headstock is very faded but reads: 803091 (well, that’s all I can see, the eight I can barely make out) What’s strange though is that inside the body, there are no labels! On the butt of the neck, there’s a G stamped in, and on the top, next to the x bracing, another stamp that reads 4833 (33 I’m not 100% sure about, can only see the bottom part of the number which is in part covered by cloth tape) but no mention of model, make or year!!!
Here are some pics I made of it, with the image of the type of bracing used on the guitar and size (sent to guitaranswerman@jkoontz.com. BTW All the braces are tapered at the end.
Second question: the “floating bridge” broke. I don’t really know what to do because I think the guitar looks very nice and the body is in good condition (well, if you disregard the nicks and scratches…) I’m sure it will sound fine Any suggestions? Is it possible to get a replacement tail piece or should I get a “normal” bridge in? Any suggestions???
Thank you for your help
Answer ok, well, first let me say, I almost bought one similar to this, but the top went boom beause of humidity problems, so I ended up getting a Breedlove, I still loved that Gibbie's sound.. So, congrats on getting this one.. And let's get your terminology right, The part that broke is the "trapeze Tailpiece" the bridge is fine.. The bridge is the wood piece that is glued to the soundboard, and a floating bridge is simply a bridge that is help on by string tension, instead of glue.. yours is a fixed, compensated bridge, with a trapeze tailpiece.. Easy enough to get a replacement... And they aren't very expensive... Any music store locally would have one, as well as Ebay has a slew of them at any time for a small price..
