How can i get this?

[Ralph Fenix]

After seeing the Jon Donais ESP signature i just totally fell in love with it.
Then i thought: "Hey! it would be awesome to have this design thingy on a LP!"
so i made it on the LP creator and the ipicture i attached is what i ended up with

My question for you guitar-gurus out there would be how i could most easily and cheapishly get something like this? i presume that to actually order it from gibson as a custom would cost me a fortune, so that's out of the question:P
i have seen a studio premium plus that i would "only" have to add a black binding and do some mods to the hardware. and of course change the fingerboard.

Does anyone have any ideas on other ways to do this? i've got a serious GAS for this one:P

Thanks, and rock on!

[NateM]

You could take a BFG and then sand the stain off the top. Then all you would have to do is get the black hardware. That's probably the cheapest though you could do it with any Les Paul guitar if you really wanted.

Or you could build your own

-Nate

[Ralph Fenix]

Great idea thanks Nate how much do you think it would cost to change the fingerboard to an ebony one?
And are there any BFG's or LP's with alder bodies and top out there?

haha:P i like to think that i could build one from a kit if i wanted to, but i'm afraid i'll just burst my bubble if i try:P

[NateM]

I'm not sure how much it would cost to change out the fingerboard but it would probably be expensive. If it doesn't have to be a Gibson you could get an Epiphone. Some of those are made with Alder bodies I believe. You can find them with ebony fingerboards too so that might be the best course of action for you.

I don't think building a kit or even doing it from scratch would be so bad. Doing it well is another story

[Ralph Fenix]

Thanks again mate i'll check around to see if i can find something

[JBranch]

What about a LP Studio Plus Top? I think you can pick one up for a reasonable amount on the 'Bay. Then you'd just need a luthier to add the black binding and redo your fretboard in plain ebony. 'Course, it wouldn't be an alder body, but still, I think it might be relatively economical.

[Ralph Fenix]

hmm, i found a couple on the Bay, but with shipping and taxes to get it into Norway it would be a bit expensive:S i think i'll wait and see if one should happen to appear here so i wouldn't have to worry about fees and stuff:P but they absolutely seem like what i should start with if i were to get it modded like the one on the picture

[Ralph Fenix]

OMG! i just found the perfect guitar to mod into the one i posted earlier.
this one: Les Paul Traditional Pro

it has got the
1. ebony no-inlays fretboard
2. Flame maple top
3. Black binding

only one problem, it looks like it is a limited '09 run in japan... how could i manage to get my hands on one of these when i live in norway?
traveling to japan is not a option i'm afraid:P
and i can't seem so find a price on it either...
any suggestions?

[dspelman]

You might consider having Agile's Custom Shop do it for you. I think the only question mark would be the black binding (email your .jpg and ask the question of kurt@rondomusic.com). He only opens the custom shop about once every 3-4 months, and it will take about 3-4 months to get your guitar.

Another option (and again, the black binding is the only real question) is to contact Carvin (Carvin.com - Guitars, Amplifiers & Pro Audio for numbers, etc.). They have a WHOLE lot more available in amazing tops than Gibson does, and their standard fretboard is ebony, etc.

This is a spalt maple top that they did for one guy's DC-135 (he had a translucent burst added to the top that went from an amber to a reddish-honey).

[Ralph Fenix]

nice i'll look into it
how is the quality on the Agile and Carvin guitars?

[NateM]

I would say that my Carvin bolt+ is a good midline guitar. It's not a top of the line instrument but it's great for what it does. It is totally stock and would probably be improved greatly with better pickups.

-Nate