Greg Brandt / Maker of Guitars's Comments

Howdy, Greg.  I note your comments and suggestions when you pop in on topics and wonder if you'd lend me a little advice.  My beautiful sounding '36 Gibson L0 will be needing a neckset down the road, but is still real playable.  Problem is I believe the former owner didn't respect the intolerance to heavy strings these super light tops have, and at some stage the top began to be pulled down in.  Well, it seems like a 'rough in' carpenter cut across the top portion of the Xbrace and glued in a freekin' 2x4 (kidding) across just below the soundhole.  I'd like to pull that and restore the original bracing pattern.  Could you hazard a guess as to whether the redone support would be adequate to keep the top level.  Amazing that the thing still sounds so sharp and rich.  I think it could even be better.  Big thanks for your input.  Dave G.