Gibson J-40

[Ben-Had]

Well, I just picked up a '73 Gibson J-40 for $55 and I'm gonna tear it apart and convert it. The top has multiple cracks (about 20) around the edge, the binding has pretty much rotted off and it has that "double X" bracing pattern with a HUMUNGUS bridge plate. The headstock was broken off and re-glued.

So, I've got several things in mind to make it better. Any ideas from you guys?

[tippie53]

The old gibsons did have that home plate for the bridge but they still sounded pretty good. I think that was one of the things the separated them from Martin.
Also the gibson line did use a double X brace patten.
What do you want to get out of this ?
Start there and we can go to that route