Build Thread: Fairbanks SJ Kalamazoo Gals
 

I've always wanted to make a foray into the vintage Gibson world. I recently made John Thomas's acquaintance and have been discussing his rather iconic 1943 Gibson Southerner Jumbo. I also read his great book, Kalamazoo Gals, about the women who were involved in making the "Banner Era" Gibsons from WWII. The story itself is quite intriguing as it appears many unsung female heroes were involved in the making of Banner Gibsons, which I've come to learn are prized for their responsiveness.

I've also had a chance to play a number of vintage Gibsons as well as a Fairbanks at Schoenberg - my local haunt for all things guitar. I was impressed by Dale's work as well as his reputation as a real guru in the art of recreating vintage Gibson guitars.

Since he is very familiar with John Thomas's SJ, having borrowed it for some months to study it, I asked him to simply build me the closest facsimile he can of that particular guitar. I believe for the most part, the Southerner Jumbo is simply a dressed up J-45 with some fancy parallelogram inlays.

This guitar will also feature a special "Kalamazoo Gal" treatment that is being offered in collaboration with John Thomas. The guitar will have a special banner inlay that reads "Only a Kalamazoo Gal Is Good Enough" (an homage to the banner slogan "Only a Gibson is Good Enough") as well as a label inside the guitar that is signed by one of the Kalamazoo Gals, Irene Stearns.

Specs:

Top - Red spruce
Back and Sides - Mahogany
Scale - Standard 24.75"
Nut spacing - 1 3/4"
Saddle spacing - 2 5/16"
Fret wire - EVO 55090 (I like it tall)
Fingerboard inlays - Parallelogram
Pickguard - Dark tortoise
Finish - Sunburst
Case - Hoffee

A special thanks for John Thomas for answering all my vintage Gibson questions!

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_001.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_002.jpg

Photos of the final guitar.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_073.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_074.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_075.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_076.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_077.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_078.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_079.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_080.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_081.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_082.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_083.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_084.jpg

Here's an example of the Kalamazoo Gals inlay and label.

https://themusicemporium.com/isotope...al-1333-16.jpg

https://themusicemporium.com/assets/...1-00f02947.jpg

Wow, congrats on a really cool build!!!! I love paying homage to history like this will.

You will adore this guitar!
Congratulations!

Sides being meticulously, lovingly, and oscillatingly drum sanded.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_003.jpg

Side bending jiggery.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_004.jpg

Fingers far away from this.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_005.jpg

I assume he's trying to extract some kind of government secrets out of the sides with this machine. I pity that poor mahogany.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_006.jpg

Juston, this is such a cool project. Congrats!

By the way, here's a video of JT playing his 1943 SJ along with a similarly-appointed rosewood SJ.

I love the sound of both.

Love Dale’s take on the great guitars of Kalamazoo.:up:

Wow, looking forward to following this build. Dale`s work is brilliant, I have one of his Roy Smeck guitars. I think it is the best guitar I have ever owned, and since I have had this, I have not had any of my other guitars out of the case. Is that a good or bad thing?:guitar:

So cool, looking forward to checking this out. I’m getting more in more interested in adding a vintage piece to my collection.

Juston,

So cool! Oh, and thanks for the kind words.

I'm really looking forward to following this build and, with your permission, sneaking up to Dale's shop to check it out.

I've no financial interest in these guitars. I just really like what Dale does, think he's THE builder to do this, and have asked that he put a bit of the proceeds toward a women's history non-profit of his choice.

Oh, and that banner? Made from a chunk of maple taken from the factory during WWII.

Hi again Juston.
Could you tell me what the differences are, between the original run of the Fairbanks Gals and yours please.
jt1 Loved reading about the project first time round, just revisiting again.
Cheers.

How cool is that? I'd love to have one of those - maybe someday!

There isn’t any difference. I believe there are 25 signed labels and Dale will make them until they’re used up. I believe the bridge plate also uses maple reclaimed from the old Kalamazoo factory.

Right on both counts.

Thanks for the kind words!

Can’t wait to see this come together. Enjoy the build!

That’s really cool

OK Thanks for the reply, that is brilliant. I had it in my mind, that there was an original batch and this one was a one off. Love the fact that once the labels are used up, then that is it. Look forward to the ongoing build.
Cheers.

I'm so fired up about this thread! Can't wait to see how it comes along.

I received, as a gift, a couple of scraps of maple that a local woodworker hobbyist had obtained from the factory during the WWII. I gave the larger of the scraps to Dale. It's bit enough to supply the wood for all 25 bridgeplates and banners.

This is a cool thread! I will be watching.

That is fantastic John, what a connection from then and now.:guitar::up:

Neck block and sides in the form.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_007.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_008.jpg

Thanks for the update.

He's just kerfing around.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_009.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_010.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/fairbanks/Fairbanks_SJ_011.jpg

I right behind you...
 

This is so exciting Juston.. Especially because I am right behind you with my build of another SJ Kalamazoo Gals.. Mine will be a 13 fret though, with all the other Kalamazoo treatment.. but you already know that..
:)

The cool thing will be the opportunity to compare to the real deal when JT comes to town with his '43. I don't know about that unlucky number 13 fret. Maybe you can get an inlay of a black cat under a ladder on the 13th fret?

I was thinking you could have the typical parallelogram inlay on the 13th fret but have it shattered to look like a broken mirror... :D

DUDE! Great idea.