Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no

CivoLee · 11-13-2011, 12:25 PM

OK, which Epiphone LP goldtopped model looks closest to a Gibson goldtop? Is it possible to make a glittersparkly Epiphone goldtop look like a shiny Gibson goldtop?

Oh, and a used Elitist would be nice, but unfortunately it's not in the current budget.

dcooper830 · 11-13-2011, 01:01 PM

Here's my Epi '56 Goldtop next to a real 1954 Gibson (not a re-issue).

Looks plenty close enough for me.

SJM · 11-13-2011, 03:02 PM

I like the metallic look myself but others have buffed a lot of it out with 0000 steel wool. Not all of Gibson GT's are the same either. You can see a big difference between my Epi 57 GT and Gibson JB Studio. The JB seems somewhat darker than Cooper's 54 GT, which is beautiful BTW. Maybe in 57 years the JB will lighten up some. Too bad I won't be here to see it, LOL.

GERRYGTR62 · 11-13-2011, 03:20 PM

my Elitist is kinda unusual, you just don't see this shade quite often

Dolebludger · 11-13-2011, 04:23 PM

It is difficult to get the color right by comparing digital pics. There's a bunch of different shades of gold shown here, but in "real life', they may all be the same or close.

In '62, I actually gigged with a real '56 Gibson LP GT -- the guitar the Epi is supposed to remind us of. Passed up a chance to buy it then for $60 because it was pretty beat up. But I recall it very well, and its gold color was very similar to my Epi GT -- absent the metallic of course.

And it may be heresy, but I say that the Epi (after some mods) plays circles around that real '56.

nbeersiii · 11-13-2011, 05:00 PM

All gold tops gibson or epiphone have the metalic flake or glitter sparkle as you call it. Both my GTs look great one is a little darker that the other but thats cool to me. I like the sparkle its one of ther reasons I love goldtops that and the way they make the top carve look.

Dolebludger · 11-13-2011, 05:24 PM

Do you mean that all NEWER GTs have the metallic sparkle? Because, as I recall, the real Gibson '56 I played long ago did not.

GERRYGTR62 · 11-13-2011, 07:26 PM

my Elitist GT isn't glitter, just a shade different, LOL!

nbeersiii · 11-13-2011, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Do you mean that all NEWER GTs have the metallic sparkle? Because, as I recall, the real Gibson '56 I played long ago did not.

Yes they have it. Its not huge flakes like the gold sparkle but it has the metallic flakes in the gold paint.

Bandit79 · 11-14-2011, 12:40 AM

The original goldtops from the 50's had a copper powder in the paint, iirc.

Now its a gold metallic paint.

I'd like to add, my goldtop has different shades of gold at different angles.

nbeersiii · 11-14-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit79

The original goldtops from the 50's had a copper powder in the paint, iirc.

Now its a gold metallic paint.

I'd like to add, my goldtop has different shades of gold at different angles.

Its what cause them to turn green over time and the old paint also would shrink thats what the edges of old goldtops look worn so bad. Its shrinkage.

Fuelish · 11-14-2011, 12:59 AM

Hmmm...I seem to recall "goldtops" that are black in color...go figure ...black gold, texas tea, whatever...

straybeat · 11-14-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERRYGTR62

my Elitist is kinda unusual, you just don't see this shade quite often

It looks like the Bonamassa Gold Studio.

the1jj · 11-14-2011, 03:17 PM

That elitist goldtop is very beautiful. And this is the glitter sparkle youre referring too, but its in a hot Arizona summer sun. Under normal lighting conditions, it just looks like yet another beautiful goldtop. The size and looseness of the flakes give it more of a subtle shimmer than a sparkle.

naturalblack · 11-15-2011, 01:42 PM

goldtops are really growing on me

Hack · 11-15-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalblack

goldtops are really growing on me

Lucky you! All I ever get is the odd hair out my ear or a mole.

SJM · 11-15-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack

Lucky you! All I ever get is the odd hair out my ear or a mole.

I know the feeling all too well. BTW, you forgot to mention nose!

TKOjams · 11-15-2011, 03:18 PM

I love my Epi GT, sparkle and all.

nbeersiii · 11-15-2011, 03:28 PM

I think most people have only seen pics of goldtops that didnt really show the sparkle well and when they finally see one on an epi they think WTF is up with the sparkle but its on them all folks.

naturalblack · 11-15-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack

Lucky you! All I ever get is the odd hair out my ear or a mole.

lol ive just been getting shoulder hairs lately

11-13-2011, 12:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
CivoLee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 521 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no OK, which Epiphone LP goldtopped model looks closest to a Gibson goldtop? Is it possible to make a glittersparkly Epiphone goldtop look like a shiny Gibson goldtop? Oh, and a used Elitist would be nice, but unfortunately it's not in the current budget.

11-13-2011, 01:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
dcooper830 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,543 Thanks: 23 Thanked 50 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no Here's my Epi '56 Goldtop next to a real 1954 Gibson (not a re-issue). Looks plenty close enough for me. Bandit79, QuicksilverSS, Malikon and 3 others like this. __________________ Videos of me playing guitar

11-13-2011, 03:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
SJM Weekend Minstrel Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 4,032 Thanks: 52 Thanked 42 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no I like the metallic look myself but others have buffed a lot of it out with 0000 steel wool. Not all of Gibson GT's are the same either. You can see a big difference between my Epi 57 GT and Gibson JB Studio. The JB seems somewhat darker than Cooper's 54 GT, which is beautiful BTW. Maybe in 57 years the JB will lighten up some. Too bad I won't be here to see it, LOL. __________________ ______________________________ Steve-M '52 Martin D-28 '70 Fender Telecaster '78 Ibanez Pro MDL 2671/S-AV '02 Epiphone LP Elite Standard VSB '07 Epiphone LP Elitist Standard + Top FCB '10 Epiphone LP Trad Pro Ebony '10 Epiphone LP 57 Gold Top(Upgraded version) '10 Epiphone LP Standard Plain Top HB '12 Epiphone LP Tribute Plus 60's FCB '12 Epiphone LP Ace Budokan '11 Gibson LP JB Studio '12 Gibson Traditional LP Plus Iced Tea A few Amps too.

11-13-2011, 04:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dolebludger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 3,846 Thanks: 11 Thanked 21 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no It is difficult to get the color right by comparing digital pics. There's a bunch of different shades of gold shown here, but in "real life', they may all be the same or close. In '62, I actually gigged with a real '56 Gibson LP GT -- the guitar the Epi is supposed to remind us of. Passed up a chance to buy it then for $60 because it was pretty beat up. But I recall it very well, and its gold color was very similar to my Epi GT -- absent the metallic of course. And it may be heresy, but I say that the Epi (after some mods) plays circles around that real '56. __________________ '62 Gibson LP SG Standard '09 Epi Goldtop LP P 90 Two Carvins Custom Strat Electra Strat type Hondo Longhorn Durango Guitar Works "Contender" (ask me about this one!) Sterling SUB AX3 (ask me about this one too) PRS SE "Orianthi" Genz Benz El Diablo 60 TS. Bugera V22

11-13-2011, 05:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
nbeersiii Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: spartanburg sc Posts: 5,907 Thanks: 68 Thanked 194 Times in 55 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no All gold tops gibson or epiphone have the metalic flake or glitter sparkle as you call it. Both my GTs look great one is a little darker that the other but thats cool to me. I like the sparkle its one of ther reasons I love goldtops that and the way they make the top carve look. GuitarToneFreak likes this.

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11-13-2011, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dolebludger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 3,846 Thanks: 11 Thanked 21 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no Do you mean that all NEWER GTs have the metallic sparkle? Because, as I recall, the real Gibson '56 I played long ago did not. __________________ '62 Gibson LP SG Standard '09 Epi Goldtop LP P 90 Two Carvins Custom Strat Electra Strat type Hondo Longhorn Durango Guitar Works "Contender" (ask me about this one!) Sterling SUB AX3 (ask me about this one too) PRS SE "Orianthi" Genz Benz El Diablo 60 TS. Bugera V22

11-13-2011, 07:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
GERRYGTR62 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 2,735 Thanks: 9 Thanked 26 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no my Elitist GT isn't glitter, just a shade different, LOL! __________________ Gibson Les Paul Classic Custom Kramer SM-1 Jackson Kelly KEXMG Blackstar HT40 combo Blackstar HTV112 cabinet Fender Mustang I *Assorted Digitech, Boss, ISP, Dunlop, Korg+BBE pedals

11-14-2011, 03:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
the1jj Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 179 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no That elitist goldtop is very beautiful. And this is the glitter sparkle youre referring too, but its in a hot Arizona summer sun. Under normal lighting conditions, it just looks like yet another beautiful goldtop. The size and looseness of the flakes give it more of a subtle shimmer than a sparkle. GERRYGTR62 likes this. __________________ '10 Epiphone 57 Goldtop: Sheptone Javelinas '11 Epiphone Dot Pelham Blue '08 Fender MIM Strat HSS Fender Mustang I

11-15-2011, 01:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
naturalblack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,876 Thanks: 35 Thanked 46 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no goldtops are really growing on me

11-15-2011, 03:18 PM	#18 (permalink)
TKOjams Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 9,557 Thanks: 92 Thanked 177 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no I love my Epi GT, sparkle and all. SJM and Toxicpizza72 like this. __________________ Flametop Special Build - Carvetop Doublecut Build - '57 Custom BB Replica Build - '56-ish Flame Top Build - Boudreau Celia build - Lefty Walnut Les Paul Build

11-15-2011, 03:28 PM	#19 (permalink)
nbeersiii Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: spartanburg sc Posts: 5,907 Thanks: 68 Thanked 194 Times in 55 Posts	Re: Goldtops, yes; glitterspakle, no I think most people have only seen pics of goldtops that didnt really show the sparkle well and when they finally see one on an epi they think WTF is up with the sparkle but its on them all folks.

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