Best vintage refin for a Les Paul Conversion project???

[beaushit]

Howdy friends,
Ive recently purchased a 52 Les Paul off of ebay.It has been refinnished some time ago in tobacco sunburst .The neck doesnt seem to need resetting. The action is perfect and its got a baseball bat neck to die for.Its got some little screw holes around the P-90s which gives me the green light for routing and putting some old PAFs in. It also has some goofy wood strips between the tuners and the headstock that Im hoping to have removed ,holes filled and orig type tuners put back on.
Can a three seem top look cool if done properly . (Faded cherry sunburst/plain top). How about retopping in flamey maple. Anyone have any experiance with that. It seems irreverant to remove wood that has been there for 56 years.
Dave Johnson seems to be quite booked up.His website looks unbelievable .Is there anyone else out there for restoration/refinnishing.
Any suggestions would be great.
Best,
Beaushit

[Mike60]

I would wait and have DJ do it...

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by beaushit

Howdy , Ive got a 52 Les Paul that I'd like to do a vintage sunburst (plaintop)
Refin on(Slightly aged). It has a bad refin job on it now. Dave Johnson seems to be quite booked. Is there anyone else out there .
Any suggestions would be great.
Best,
Beaushit

I've heard this gentleman does fine work !!! Are you opposed to shipping it to Europe or Canada ???

GM VINTAGE RESTORATIONS - The finest vintage guitar restorations, paint jobs, and related servivces

GM VINTAGE RESTORATIONS - The finest vintage guitar restorations, paint jobs, and related servivces

[jimi55lp]

It looks like the headstock has dowels showing under the wood strips, was that a repair and do they show on the front? It looks like it may have had mine humbuckers installed at some point since the routs don't look larger. I'd go Goldtop, dowel the extra pup screw holes and see how she feels as a 55'/56'. I'm parcial to P90's and 55's since I also am a 55' model! If your parcial to PAF's, make that routing and make it a GT 57'/58'. I don't believe the maple change will affect the sound as much as if you were making any mahogany changes since maple with age is easier to find, but I still think its a big project to take on that you may not be satisfied with after completion. GOLDTOP!

[beaushit]

I do have a great all orig 54 goldtop which is why I was thinking faded plaintop sunburst on this one.I just dont know how much Im going to like the three seem thing no matter how nice the finish come out. I think I agree that I might not be happy with a flame retop at the end of the day. The photo's Ive seen of retopped 52/59 conversions (except for Dave Johnson"s work....) seem to end up looking like new Guitar's which I really dont want. 57 PAF Goldtop might be the answer here.
GM Restorations looks like a possibility. Thanks MVP Clown for that one !

[Lefty Elmo]

Gord refinished my friend's converision recently, and it looks fantastic.

[gerry]

Originally Posted by beaushit

I do have a great all orig 54 goldtop which is why I was thinking faded plaintop sunburst on this one.I just dont know how much Im going to like the three seem thing no matter how nice the finish come out. I think I agree that I might not be happy with a flame retop at the end of the day. The photo's Ive seen of retopped 52/59 conversions (except for Dave Johnson"s work....) seem to end up looking like new Guitar's which I really dont want. 57 PAF Goldtop might be the answer here.
GM Restorations looks like a possibility. Thanks MVP Clown for that one !

if you have an all original 54 goldtop you will not be happy with a compromise. if you want a burst conversion then you need a centerseam which has a balanced figure. i have an original 55 custom and bought a 52 with a centerseamed nicely figured top. the plan is the same, pafs and a burst finish. the top of your les paul is symetrical, but i think you want a burst look. a retop is not an option for you. (i can read that out of your mind ;-)). sell the guitar to someone who likes off centerseams, there are many folks who liked the recently discussed 3 top natural les paul.
look for a centerseam les paul. i will wait for dave johnson even if it takes 2 years. another option would be a nice goldtop. you could go for a paf goldtop, than it would be a different guitar than your 54.
gerry

[shotgunlew]

Id keep it just like it is...

[Big John]

Originally Posted by gerry

...a retop is not an option for you...

Maybe yes, maybe no. Re-tops on vintage stuff occur more in Dave's shop than you might think.

[mobprop667]

i for one would leave it alone and play the hell out of it. old wood, a lot of mojo, i am sure it probably sounds sweet.

[beaushit]

Its off to Gord Miller's shop tomorrow. Im probably going with a 57 Gold top conv.
Gord was very nice and informative on the phone. The turn around time of around four month's is very doable.I'll post photo's when I get it back.
PS anyone have a vintage nickel stop tail piece for sale ????????

[mapleflame]

Originally Posted by beaushit

Its off to Gord Miller's shop tomorrow. Im probably going with a 57 Gold top conv.
Gord was very nice and informative on the phone. The turn around time of around four month's is very doable.I'll post photo's when I get it back.
PS anyone have a vintage nickel stop tail piece for sale ????????

Don't hold your breath on that timeline. Not going to happen.

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by mapleflame

Don't hold your breath on that timeline. Not going to happen.

In comparison to some others out there , I've heard Gord has a better turnaround time ....

[mapleflame]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

In comparison to some others out there , I've heard Gord has a better turnaround time ....

I have a couple of friends that have had their guitars their since last year. I would go with who's hot at the moment no matter how long it takes. If you are going Gold there is only one place to go.

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by mapleflame

I have a couple of friends that have had their guitars their since last year. I would go with who's hot at the moment no matter how long it takes. If you are going Gold there is only one place to go.

I'm very impatient ..But when it comes to the instrument you love ... Your on the $$$$

[Big John]

Originally Posted by beaushit

...Im probably going with a 57 Gold top conv...

Did you see this thread? The guitar goes from mediocre '54 refin to an amazing '59 conversion. Getting a veneer top, if done right, would look cool on your old Lester.

aging FYI: Gord uses a knife blade for his weather checking (like Murphy)

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by mapleflame

... If you are going Gold there is only one place to go.

[patrick ginnaty]

RS Guitarworks does AMAZING work. If you can't wait for Dave Johnson, give Roy at RS a call. TOP notch.

[beaushit]

Thanks for all the much appreciated input fellers ! I didnt know that Gord used a blade but Im not really bothered either way. The work pictured on his website looks great so Ive rolled the dice . I did pick up another 52 this week with a lovely center seem thats in a holding pattern to go to DJ's so Im pretty well covered and in this crazy game for the long hall....or... ive officially lost my cottin pickin marbles and have gone totally Les Paul bonkers.... joined a forum....... god help me... As far as the checking blade goes. I do have a Tom Murphy finished 64 Firebird in Pelham Blue that looks absolutely amazing...Its fooled a number of my vintage expert pals .Totally authentic looking. Murphy aint no slouch by a long shot and a real nice dude to boot!