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GALLERY: RS Guitarworks Rescues Rich Robinson’s ’63 ES-335

The step-by-step story of how RS Guitarworks rebuilt a hurricane-damaged ES-335.

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Rich Robinson onstage with his 1963 Gibson ES-335 at the 2008 Newport Folk Festival, pre-Hurricane Sandy.

We’ve all heard horror stories about instruments ruined by fires, floods, or other natural disasters, but sometimes these damaged goods do see a happy ending. When Hurricane Sandy handed lemons to Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson and his beloved Gibson ES-335 in 2012, he decided to make lemonade with RS Guitarworks and launch an intensive restoration project. These images document that amazing operation.