@@mikemorrisonmusic probably closer to $2000 if I had someone else fix it. It looks like it was stored under a waterfall. Even has worm holes in the top.
One would hope, but I doubt too many luthiers out there do it quite as well as Ted. That fretboard repair was way above and beyond what most would bother with, but it was a beautiful job.
I can't believe how much work that old girl took to get her back to the party! I have a similar 1910-ish Washburn that thankfully came with a pin bridge. It just got its first neck reset, and is quite a pleasure to play now! My luthier was shocked that there was not a single crack in the Braz back or sides; we live in the desert and most of the examples he sees are held together with cleats and glue. There were a few little idiosyncrasies in her build, but nothing too egregious... May have to get her a new set of tuners at some point, but so far, so good. I was very lucky to have received her as part of a multiple guitar trade, and so have very little actual cash into her, besides the $500 in repairs including the neck reset. Mine measures 12 1/2" at the lower bout, so a size or two smaller than your example. Perhaps equivalent to a Martin size 1 or 2? I do love the big, forward sound of these old-wood ladder braced parlor guitars.
1:40 Yes, this was to simulate the popular "Tented" look which was all the rage back then. It was where they put the furnatur in a tent with strong Ammonia "#25" vapor, which would react with the tannins in the wood and darken it evenly. Ammonia #25 was also used to duplicate techical drawings making them a blue negative or blue on white...you know, the blueprints that were actually blue and taken from hand drawn origionals on sheets of vellum which alouwed the light to penitrate the top sheet so the second sheet could be exposed to ammonia25 and turnd blue..."blueprint" Yes, I'm a wood nerd ;) always have been.
I'm an old coot who was taught mechanical drawing with triangles, "T" square, and compass. I know ZERO about CAD/CAM. FWIW, we were taught to make a correct drawing on paper with pencils, erasers, etc. The paper/pencil drawing was traced (in "india" ink) onto a specially prepared, highly translucent, cloth whose hue was bluish. The original blueprint method's photosensitive material is paper treated with ferric ammonium citrate. After light exposure, the blue background/white lines and characters image was developed with ferricyanide. Later on, the "Ozalid" Process ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozalid_(trade_mark) ), which employs ammonia vapor, was developed.
@@eliduttman315 All of us younger folks who only work in CAD/CAM have a great deal of respect for you who did technical drawings by hand. In my college class where we learned CAD (SolidWorks), my professor (an old-timer from a national lab who was still sharp as could be) made us do every drawing by hand first, and then we could model it in 3D and produce the drawing with the computer. Even though I'd never do it that way in my professional work simply because the time required can't be justified, it taught all of us how to better visualize 3 dimensions from the 2D projected views, which turns out to be a very important skill when you are modeling things in 3D -- because it's all still produced from 2D sketches that get extruded/drafted/cut/etc. into solids.
Just watched an older one of your vids, where you talked about wanting an air brush. My Dad used to do models, he had done all ofcthe aircraft that flew off US carriers in WWII and had them on shelves in his office. Came in one Monday and his shelves had come off the wall. But he bought himself a Testors model paint airbrush. He was able to use it to realistically paint his1:32 models. An idea that is abit cheaper. 5:18
There is irony in a period manufacturer emulating a finish made popular by the Craftsman movement. One of the primary tenets was "truth in materials" meaning what a thing appears to be made of is exactly what it should be made of. Shrewd salesman never miss exploiting a trend.
Except for the bit where the tailpiece is garbage, and the newly carved and glued bridge will have to replaced by a new bridge, with additional underside pad. But we’re all here’s to enjoy the drama!
Yeah, that's true. It was late at night, and I've missed the ending 😂. Of course it went downhill from that, it wouldn't be one of Ted's videos without that😂😂😂
I've been watching you for a while now and have realised that you are THE luthier's luthier . I learn something from every one of your videos . Thanks , Peace ✌
I live 15 minutes from Lyon & Healy, they're still there. I have a 9 Rib Roundback, Improved Jupiter, Mandolin from them from late 1890 or 1900. I want to bring it there to see what they say.
I've played Shake It Off by Taylor Swift arranged by Roger Emerson on this Guitar:ua-cam.com/video/iAFU1VJSDgE/v-deo.html right before the next owner converted it into a Lefty Guitar.
I wonder if some of these older guitars were made for low tension gut strings ( nylon now) and get all bent and warped due to people putting steel on them. ??
It would not have had that metal tailpiece, nor metal tuning rods if it was built for gut strings. Martin created the first steel-string acoustic guitar in 1843.
I love these old parlor guitars. I have an oldie no-name one, possibly built by a Martin employee, that needs so much work I'd have to mortgage my house.
I have several that Kingston luthier Gord Mylks repaired and several more that I'm hoping to get skilled enough ( by watching Ted) to repair myself. I consider them among my better guitars as they are rosewood back and sides and exquisitely made. They are more "single note" guitars, best used for extended runs and fills than for chording. Dylan's backing guitarist used one on his earlier albums to great effect and, of course, Canada's own Leon Redbone showed us all how to do it on an old Washburn.
Love the title of this edition. Your conclusions match the results on similar guitars I've met on the repair bench. I may use this as a reference for future ones that may be brought in. Well said!
I used to own a Ditson branded. Same guitar except fake Brazilian Rosewood back. Action was great and it sounded very nice imo. I put silk and steel strings on to reduce string tension. I remember looking for a Martin badge inside it when I heard about the Martin made Ditson and before I knew Brazilian was faux
Definitely needs more loving. If roasting maple makes the wood more brittle, how will the new roasted maple necks fare in the future. Will Gibson share the title of broken headstocks with Fender.
@@deaddoll1361 I'm not sure, no one has talked about it and it's a recent development. Couldn't the necks be compromised. Are roasted necks as strong as natural aged ones. This is something we need to know. How hard will it be to repair them.
I think it may also depend if it's the same process - I know that the current method of torrefaction they use on roasted maple necks is a little involved, whereas Ted's description of this fingerboard sounded like they just threw boards into an oven til they darkened.
@@heldmusic definitely more scientific today but when you think of the number of custom shop fenders going out with roasted maple necks it's a question that should be answered. These are expensive guitars. Initially they were roasted to age them to achieve similar comparisons to 50s,60s guitars. I remember that it was stated that the older guitars were superior. I only hope we are not making a mistake.
I am reminded of Your work Every time I return a guitar (that has been though some things) to a playable state. No surprise I Always find there is more to fix than I saw at 1st time looking it over. 1 issue can so easily become more than a few.
I would try to preserve the tailpiece look by redoing the bridge so that it's more akin to a classical tie bridge. You can still use the tailpiece, and run the strings through the tie block which maintains break angle over the saddle, reduces downward pressure on the soundboard, preserves some of the original look, character, and possibly sound.
Nobody in that factory could ever have imagined someone repairing this guitar in 2023. It was a well made instrument, but in the end a mass produced one as well. It's not a Stradivarius.
You talk about the brittle quality of roasted maple. It seems like that material is getting used frequently these days. Are they using a different method now or is brittleness still a problem?
The action was in 'if you can fret this, you're a true thespian' territory. As soon as you started on the tailpiece, I was thinking pin bridge. It would be lovely to see this brought into real playability.
Wow - those bass notes sound really nice deep and rich on it. Let us see the next work you do on that. Why do the bass notes sound so deep and low on that particular guitar ?
Wow ! Lots of work and odd/unique design. Please, please, please Ted - film your next work on this guitar. We want to see that work - even if you do a new fretboard !
I sure wish you would take my guitar, 45 year old Yairi that needs a neck reset, the guitar is like brand new except the neck angle. I think it sat under someone’s bed for 40 years. But I know your in Canada and don’t accept guitars from here 😢😢 love your work and just as much your history lessons !
Why not put a slightly radiused popsicle brace to re-introduce a even just a little bit of dome to the top, and therefore strength, allowing one to omit the tapered fingerboard extension shim?
I have the exact same guitar but it is definitely oak back and sides. Same issues with the bridge and tail piece and it sounds like crap. So please Ted do a follow up with a change over to a pin bridge. The finger board is unlikely "roasted" as we know it today. The new process involves vacuum ovens so a process that has been modified with newer technology. By the way for those interested torrified or "roasted" wood has no load bearing strength and doesn't take glue very well. If you cut into the new roasted wood it instantly releases the smell of soot.
Keep the bridge and put classical strings on it. Maybe silk snd steels? But modern acoustic strings may be too much for this guitar. Mind you, Ted could turn this thing into basically anything he wants. His skill level is on par with the violin guys.
Would it have been possible to fit a stiffer tailpiece (or stiffen this one) and add a brace under the bridge and keep it closer to the original look rather than fit the pin bridge? Really interesting to see the fingerboard patch and how easy you make it look.
So I’ve been going back and forth for ever about using oak to build guitars. I’ve heard everything from its ugly to it’s too hard on the tooling. I kinda agree with both. Especially the very hard on your tools thing. But if I’m just building a guitar for myself and not mass producing them for sale?? It’s also heavy. But I’ve been thinking about trying to make a neck for a solid body electric from oak. For a telecaster….maybe snappier? I don’t know?!? But it’s such a strong and very abundant species here in the northeast. Also with all of the reclaimed oak available from all kinds of building. I’m curious about the sound of it.
Put a bridge plate under the tail piece and affix it to that? Not original but it would look cool Edit: maybe put a couple thumb screws or something going into inserts in a reinforced bridge plate so it's easily removable
Don’t know who you apprenticed under but Good work. More conscientious than many luthiers out there. Always suspected the workmanship on these early guitars. You made a silk purse..etc ..kudos from California ! 👏🏽👏🏽
I think he also takes makes effort to show them as they are far less common, and especially so if it's vintage guitars. It's a nice effort, too. The left handed are often overlooked, or often have to order custom pieces as well as come up with interesting and innovative solutions to explore their passion. I believe it reinforces the feeling we all get when we watch these videos, that being you probably couldn't find a nicer, more fair minded, well rounded, and highly skilled person of you lived to be 163 years old.
If you wanted to maintain the look of it, how about putting a support under the bridge inside the body, and then somehow anchoring the tailpiece down flat to the face of the guitar? Tonally I doubt it'd be as good as a pin bridge, but the weird quirks of a guitar like this and the imperfections they impart on the sound can sometimes be part of the unique appeal.
"Intonation on these is always a bit optimistic."
Love it.
When you panned to the how the strings were wound on the tuners, I literally Laughed-Out-Loud.
I bet everyone watching had their own comment going through their head, I loved it when Ted just said, 'yep' as if replying to all of us.
@@MrDblStop that's about when I busted about laughing 🤣
I know he wouldn't say it but I was so waiting for a nice for fucks sake 😂
Crickets 😂
Me too. Laughed out loud at the sudden silence.
Quite in awe of that fingerboard extension repair that is explained like it's no big deal.... Considerable care and skill deployed there.
Who in the world would fix a fret board extension like that but you? Shows why you’re a master.
"Crush a little bit under tension over time". Thanks for the lyric, Ted.
Ah, but will Ted get a share of the royalties?
I just bought one of these for $30 yesterday at a local flea market. Very serendipitous that you identified and dated it for me today.
And now it’ll cost $500-700 to get into working order. 😂
@@mikemorrisonmusic probably closer to $2000 if I had someone else fix it. It looks like it was stored under a waterfall. Even has worm holes in the top.
Around 2:11 the [possibly] penciled initials "P.S." are visible on the back of the guitar. I'm guessing it once belonged to Preston Sturges?
Your videos are the best thing about the Internet.
Wow. Master woodworking skills would seem to be a prerequisite for doing quality repairs. Very nice.
One would hope, but I doubt too many luthiers out there do it quite as well as Ted. That fretboard repair was way above and beyond what most would bother with, but it was a beautiful job.
this truly is the best time of my week....thanks for sharing, Ted
That slight sitar to the sound at the end... I can hear Tom Waits loving that.
Of course we want to see the bridge conversion! And all the other things that make good repair work make us feel good!
I can't believe how much work that old girl took to get her back to the party! I have a similar 1910-ish Washburn that thankfully came with a pin bridge. It just got its first neck reset, and is quite a pleasure to play now! My luthier was shocked that there was not a single crack in the Braz back or sides; we live in the desert and most of the examples he sees are held together with cleats and glue. There were a few little idiosyncrasies in her build, but nothing too egregious... May have to get her a new set of tuners at some point, but so far, so good. I was very lucky to have received her as part of a multiple guitar trade, and so have very little actual cash into her, besides the $500 in repairs including the neck reset. Mine measures 12 1/2" at the lower bout, so a size or two smaller than your example. Perhaps equivalent to a Martin size 1 or 2? I do love the big, forward sound of these old-wood ladder braced parlor guitars.
quite the woodworking tour de force. bravo!
Nice old gal...
To be continued?
Thanks Ted for the craftsmanship!🎶🎶🎶
My favorite part of Sunday.
1:40 Yes, this was to simulate the popular "Tented" look which was all the rage back then. It was where they put the furnatur in a tent with strong Ammonia "#25" vapor, which would react with the tannins in the wood and darken it evenly. Ammonia #25 was also used to duplicate techical drawings making them a blue negative or blue on white...you know, the blueprints that were actually blue and taken from hand drawn origionals on sheets of vellum which alouwed the light to penitrate the top sheet so the second sheet could be exposed to ammonia25 and turnd blue..."blueprint" Yes, I'm a wood nerd ;) always have been.
I'm an old coot who was taught mechanical drawing with triangles, "T" square, and compass. I know ZERO about CAD/CAM. FWIW, we were taught to make a correct drawing on paper with pencils, erasers, etc. The paper/pencil drawing was traced (in "india" ink) onto a specially prepared, highly translucent, cloth whose hue was bluish. The original blueprint method's photosensitive material is paper treated with ferric ammonium citrate. After light exposure, the blue background/white lines and characters image was developed with ferricyanide. Later on, the "Ozalid" Process ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozalid_(trade_mark) ), which employs ammonia vapor, was developed.
@@eliduttman315 All of us younger folks who only work in CAD/CAM have a great deal of respect for you who did technical drawings by hand. In my college class where we learned CAD (SolidWorks), my professor (an old-timer from a national lab who was still sharp as could be) made us do every drawing by hand first, and then we could model it in 3D and produce the drawing with the computer. Even though I'd never do it that way in my professional work simply because the time required can't be justified, it taught all of us how to better visualize 3 dimensions from the 2D projected views, which turns out to be a very important skill when you are modeling things in 3D -- because it's all still produced from 2D sketches that get extruded/drafted/cut/etc. into solids.
Great patience in the diagnostic work, taking time to get to know the instrument on a personal level
Enjoying the videos. Thanks.
you won't read this, but that zoom-in and hold shot of the string winds cracked me up! 🤣🤣🤣
Ha. Got an identical guitar on my bench for an X brace upgrade for steel strings! Mine is fake painted rosewood though.
Just watched an older one of your vids, where you talked about wanting an air brush. My Dad used to do models, he had done all ofcthe aircraft that flew off US carriers in WWII and had them on shelves in his office. Came in one Monday and his shelves had come off the wall. But he bought himself a Testors model paint airbrush. He was able to use it to realistically paint his1:32 models. An idea that is abit cheaper. 5:18
Loved your guitar playing at the end, even if it was a lil random it sounded fantastic! And you're an amazing luthier as always.
Thanks Ted. Great as always
One of the most fascinating videos yet, Ted. Simply wonderful viewing.
beautiful intro and info... love that herringbone
There is irony in a period manufacturer emulating a finish made popular by the Craftsman movement. One of the primary tenets was "truth in materials" meaning what a thing appears to be made of is exactly what it should be made of. Shrewd salesman never miss exploiting a trend.
Great craftsmanship, bringing that old guitar back to life.
The sound is actually rather nice, bass twang included.
Pear wood looks really nice. I will have to try it on some projects. Thanks.
One of my favorite repairs. Thanks for sharing, as always!
Thanks! Learned and laughed along
I’ve never known roasted maple was in use in guitar way back in the past. Always thought it’s recent.
I learned something new today. Thank you, Ted.
Good to see a repair went smooth and with no drama or additional unexpected work. As always thanks for Your videos!
Except for the bit where the tailpiece is garbage, and the newly carved and glued bridge will have to replaced by a new bridge, with additional underside pad. But we’re all here’s to enjoy the drama!
Yeah, that's true. It was late at night, and I've missed the ending 😂. Of course it went downhill from that, it wouldn't be one of Ted's videos without that😂😂😂
Thank you, once again, for a video of your skilled woodworking, and a peaceful end to my weekend.
You play better upside down than I play right-side up. 🙂
Spidey knows SO much. Optimistic visions can be dandy, yet perilous.
I've been watching you for a while now and have realised that you are THE luthier's luthier . I learn something from every one of your videos . Thanks , Peace ✌
I live 15 minutes from Lyon & Healy, they're still there. I have a 9 Rib Roundback, Improved Jupiter, Mandolin from them from late 1890 or 1900. I want to bring it there to see what they say.
I love showing my roommates your videos and the history just the amount of history that you put into your work is incredible
I've played Shake It Off by Taylor Swift arranged by Roger Emerson on this Guitar:ua-cam.com/video/iAFU1VJSDgE/v-deo.html right before the next owner converted it into a Lefty Guitar.
I like this guitar!
Channeling Michael Hedges there at the end. Very nice.
I wonder if some of these older guitars were made for low tension gut strings ( nylon now) and get all bent and warped due to people putting steel on them. ??
There’s no doubt about it.
It would not have had that metal tailpiece, nor metal tuning rods if it was built for gut strings. Martin created the first steel-string acoustic guitar in 1843.
awesome episode.
I love these old parlor guitars. I have an oldie no-name one, possibly built by a Martin employee, that needs so much work I'd have to mortgage my house.
I have several that Kingston luthier Gord Mylks repaired and several more that I'm hoping to get skilled enough ( by watching Ted) to repair myself. I consider them among my better guitars as they are rosewood back and sides and exquisitely made. They are more "single note" guitars, best used for extended runs and fills than for chording. Dylan's backing guitarist used one on his earlier albums to great effect and, of course, Canada's own Leon Redbone showed us all how to do it on an old Washburn.
I know Ted doesn't look at comments anymore but: we'd definitely love to see you do that conversation to a pin bridge!
Love the title of this edition. Your conclusions match the results on similar guitars I've met on the repair bench. I may use this as a reference for future ones that may be brought in. Well said!
Best gang ever…
Excellent work as always, Ted
I used to own a Ditson branded. Same guitar except fake Brazilian Rosewood back. Action was great and it sounded very nice imo. I put silk and steel strings on to reduce string tension. I remember looking for a Martin badge inside it when I heard about the Martin made Ditson and before I knew Brazilian was faux
I married a folky and my wife is a huge fan of the "Chicago guitar." I feel your pain.
Definitely needs more loving. If roasting maple makes the wood more brittle, how will the new roasted maple necks fare in the future. Will Gibson share the title of broken headstocks with Fender.
Didn't he say he wasn't a fan of using it for fingerboards? Necks are much thicker, well, a Gibson may be the exception.
@@deaddoll1361 I'm not sure, no one has talked about it and it's a recent development. Couldn't the necks be compromised. Are roasted necks as strong as natural aged ones. This is something we need to know. How hard will it be to repair them.
I think it may also depend if it's the same process - I know that the current method of torrefaction they use on roasted maple necks is a little involved, whereas Ted's description of this fingerboard sounded like they just threw boards into an oven til they darkened.
@@heldmusic definitely more scientific today but when you think of the number of custom shop fenders going out with roasted maple necks it's a question that should be answered. These are expensive guitars. Initially they were roasted to age them to achieve similar comparisons to 50s,60s guitars. I remember that it was stated that the older guitars were superior. I only hope we are not making a mistake.
I am reminded of Your work Every time I return a guitar (that has been though some things) to a playable state. No surprise I Always find there is more to fix than I saw at 1st time looking it over. 1 issue can so easily become more than a few.
I would try to preserve the tailpiece look by redoing the bridge so that it's more akin to a classical tie bridge. You can still use the tailpiece, and run the strings through the tie block which maintains break angle over the saddle, reduces downward pressure on the soundboard, preserves some of the original look, character, and possibly sound.
POLISHING POLISHING POLISHING
Wow! Just wow!
I've never seen a neck reset before.
Sometimes you cant polish a turd!nice reset you make it look so easy!Cheers!
Those Tuners look like the open-faced real when I was teaching my son to fish when he was 5 years old
Yep... laughed out loud
Came here to say exactly this 😂
That fingerboard extension reinforcement is amazing
Superb video Ted, please film the next stage it`s soooo interesting .
Thanks for posting 👍
When man has cut down every last tree, like the English did with their oaks, even this hastily made instrument will become a priceless museum relic.
5:38 yeah the less said about that, the better 🤣🤣
Nobody in that factory could ever have imagined someone repairing this guitar in 2023. It was a well made instrument, but in the end a mass produced one as well. It's not a Stradivarius.
On the back, when under the light and at just the right angle, you can see the initials "RS".
You talk about the brittle quality of roasted maple. It seems like that material is getting used frequently these days. Are they using a different method now or is brittleness still a problem?
Still brittle. It has been cooked to maple-sugar-glass :)
The action was in 'if you can fret this, you're a true thespian' territory.
As soon as you started on the tailpiece, I was thinking pin bridge.
It would be lovely to see this brought into real playability.
nice upside down plyin at the end, thanks for your excellent videos
Wow - those bass notes sound really nice deep and rich on it. Let us see the next work you do on that. Why do the bass notes sound so deep and low on that particular guitar ?
Likely it's still in D standard tuning.
It's a shame it the tail piece had to go...Always liked the look of tail pieces, but as always "Form follows function".
Numbers on the end of the neck dovetail 409, could that be April 1909 ?
Wow ! Lots of work and odd/unique design. Please, please, please Ted - film your next work on this guitar. We want to see that work - even if you do a new fretboard !
I thank you for the history lesson
I sure wish you would take my guitar, 45 year old Yairi that needs a neck reset, the guitar is like brand new except the neck angle. I think it sat under someone’s bed for 40 years. But I know your in Canada and don’t accept guitars from here 😢😢 love your work and just as much your history lessons !
weirdly long tailpiece right up to the saddle for what is a small guitar.. wonder why it isn’t shorter 🤪
Why not put a slightly radiused popsicle brace to re-introduce a even just a little bit of dome to the top, and therefore strength, allowing one to omit the tapered fingerboard extension shim?
I do need to make a shooting board. Handy.
I have the exact same guitar but it is definitely oak back and sides. Same issues with the bridge and tail piece and it sounds like crap. So please Ted do a follow up with a change over to a pin bridge. The finger board is unlikely "roasted" as we know it today. The new process involves vacuum ovens so a process that has been modified with newer technology. By the way for those interested torrified or "roasted" wood has no load bearing strength and doesn't take glue very well. If you cut into the new roasted wood it instantly releases the smell of soot.
Pear wood bridges are the bomb.
Keep the bridge and put classical strings on it. Maybe silk snd steels? But modern acoustic strings may be too much for this guitar. Mind you, Ted could turn this thing into basically anything he wants. His skill level is on par with the violin guys.
Would it have been possible to fit a stiffer tailpiece (or stiffen this one) and add a brace under the bridge and keep it closer to the original look rather than fit the pin bridge? Really interesting to see the fingerboard patch and how easy you make it look.
I caught a glimpse of the action while you were talking about its history, and I almost fell off of my chair...
Love the title!
Im a couple frets shy of north - but your instructions are a nice way to wile
Always entertaining ----
So I’ve been going back and forth for ever about using oak to build guitars. I’ve heard everything from its ugly to it’s too hard on the tooling. I kinda agree with both. Especially the very hard on your tools thing. But if I’m just building a guitar for myself and not mass producing them for sale?? It’s also heavy. But I’ve been thinking about trying to make a neck for a solid body electric from oak. For a telecaster….maybe snappier? I don’t know?!? But it’s such a strong and very abundant species here in the northeast. Also with all of the reclaimed oak available from all kinds of building. I’m curious about the sound of it.
You can't hide your Lyon eyes.
Almost “sexual” Healying ...
There seems to be a higher than average incidence of left-handed guitarists in Canada!
Put a bridge plate under the tail piece and affix it to that? Not original but it would look cool
Edit: maybe put a couple thumb screws or something going into inserts in a reinforced bridge plate so it's easily removable
Don’t know who you apprenticed under but Good work. More conscientious than many luthiers out there. Always suspected the workmanship on these early guitars. You made a silk purse..etc ..kudos from California ! 👏🏽👏🏽
Polishing singular? It needs to be three times, with a forth one as a bonus. Thats what usually gets me out of bed in the morning :(
I like onry noise guitars 😊
Can you do an Everly Brothers style pinless bridge?
It sounded better than I expected, I kinda like it.
Could it be that the metal tailpiece is bent? Could it be bent in such a way as to bring down the string ends?
probably too thin
He certainly works on a LOT of left handed guitars
I think he also takes makes effort to show them as they are far less common, and especially so if it's vintage guitars. It's a nice effort, too. The left handed are often overlooked, or often have to order custom pieces as well as come up with interesting and innovative solutions to explore their passion. I believe it reinforces the feeling we all get when we watch these videos, that being you probably couldn't find a nicer, more fair minded, well rounded, and highly skilled person of you lived to be 163 years old.
If you wanted to maintain the look of it, how about putting a support under the bridge inside the body, and then somehow anchoring the tailpiece down flat to the face of the guitar? Tonally I doubt it'd be as good as a pin bridge, but the weird quirks of a guitar like this and the imperfections they impart on the sound can sometimes be part of the unique appeal.
"Sometimes you get the bear and, sometimes the bear gets you".
I just bought a Stella that has a similar tail piece. Did Stella use this same tail. It has a crack on the top which I will have repaired.