Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video we'll repair and set up an all-original 1931 Gibson L-1 Acoustic Guitar, which sounds VERY nice...if only it would intonate! In fact, the intonation was so bad when this guitar was found, it was unusable in the recording studio, which is where it is intended to be used. The good news is it has no cracks or major damage of any kind. The original bar frets, nut, and saddle are even still present! I forgot to weigh this guitar on camera, but according to my digital fish scale, it weighs 2.93 lbs! Weight relief is one of the keys to having a really lively acoustic. They just don't build acoustics this light anymore. The top on this thing was tap tuned by a MASTER luthier.
More information on early Gibson flat-tops: guitarhq.com/gibson6.html
0:00 Robert Johnson's Guitar Won't Stay In TUNE!
3:14 1929 Gibson A-Style Mandolin
5:04 1931 Gibson L-1 Specs
10:10 How to Use a Vintage CONN STROBOTUNER
15:58 Fixing the Intonation on an Acoustic Guitar
31:80 How to Ramp the Bridge on an Acoustic Guitar
35:16 Why You DO NOT Use Tape on a Vintage Acoustic Guitar
36:17 Restringing with D'Addario Coated Strings 80/20 Bronze .010-.047 amzn.to/4r9WFiI
36:43 Inside an X-Braced 1930s Gibson L-1
38:34 Final Thoughts
39:08 Playing the Completed Guitar
*SHOW YOUR SUPPORT*
1: Become a Member on Locals: theguitologist.locals.com
2: Donate via Paypal: paypal.me/guitologist?locale.x=en_US
3: Buy Merch: bit.ly/GuitologistMerch
4: Send in Viewer Mail. (Contact Me for details at electrictoothsyndrome@gmail.com)
5: Purchase an ad! (Rate sheets available upon request at email above.)
6: Buy something from a sponsor and tell them I sent you.
7: Stand in the middle of the street naked screaming "LONG LIVE THE GUITOLOGIST!" Then when the cops arrive, tell them about my channel.
8: SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIXOLOGIST CHANNEL: youtube.com/@fixologist1
♠RECOMMENDED BOOKS
-RCA TUBE MANUAL amzn.to/2GOBVqS
-Designing Tube Preamps for Guitar and Bass: amzn.to/2DK5tmt
-DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE AMPLIFIERS: amzn.to/2HSNMne
#guitar #repair #gibson
In this video we'll repair and set up an all-original 1931 Gibson L-1 Acoustic Guitar, which sounds VERY nice...if only it would intonate! In fact, the intonation was so bad when this guitar was found, it was unusable in the recording studio, which is where it is intended to be used. The good news is it has no cracks or major damage of any kind. The original bar frets, nut, and saddle are even still present! I forgot to weigh this guitar on camera, but according to my digital fish scale, it weighs 2.93 lbs! Weight relief is one of the keys to having a really lively acoustic. They just don't build acoustics this light anymore. The top on this thing was tap tuned by a MASTER luthier.
More information on early Gibson flat-tops: guitarhq.com/gibson6.html
0:00 Robert Johnson's Guitar Won't Stay In TUNE!
3:14 1929 Gibson A-Style Mandolin
5:04 1931 Gibson L-1 Specs
10:10 How to Use a Vintage CONN STROBOTUNER
15:58 Fixing the Intonation on an Acoustic Guitar
31:80 How to Ramp the Bridge on an Acoustic Guitar
35:16 Why You DO NOT Use Tape on a Vintage Acoustic Guitar
36:17 Restringing with D'Addario Coated Strings 80/20 Bronze .010-.047 amzn.to/4r9WFiI
36:43 Inside an X-Braced 1930s Gibson L-1
38:34 Final Thoughts
39:08 Playing the Completed Guitar
*SHOW YOUR SUPPORT*
1: Become a Member on Locals: theguitologist.locals.com
2: Donate via Paypal: paypal.me/guitologist?locale.x=en_US
3: Buy Merch: bit.ly/GuitologistMerch
4: Send in Viewer Mail. (Contact Me for details at electrictoothsyndrome@gmail.com)
5: Purchase an ad! (Rate sheets available upon request at email above.)
6: Buy something from a sponsor and tell them I sent you.
7: Stand in the middle of the street naked screaming "LONG LIVE THE GUITOLOGIST!" Then when the cops arrive, tell them about my channel.
8: SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIXOLOGIST CHANNEL: youtube.com/@fixologist1
♠RECOMMENDED BOOKS
-RCA TUBE MANUAL amzn.to/2GOBVqS
-Designing Tube Preamps for Guitar and Bass: amzn.to/2DK5tmt
-DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE AMPLIFIERS: amzn.to/2HSNMne
#guitar #repair #gibson
