1965 GIBSON FIREBIRD RESTORATION PART THREE

When restoring vintage guitars, my approach is always to get the finishing as close to factory standard as possible and work then backwards, rather than skimping on the cutting and polishing. Perhaps that explains why I always feel apprehensive about starting the relic’ing process but, once things get underway, it’s usually something that I really enjoy. Part of the excitement of it is the unpredictability – it means you can never quite be certain how things will turn out.

I begin this process on the Firebird by refitting the pickguard to protect the body with the bridge still in place.