Ultimate Historics?

pinefd · 05-09-2008, 10:57 PM

Assuming for a moment you could put most, if not all, the most desirable features Gibson’s Custom Shop has ever offered into just one or two historic Les Pauls, what would those guitars be like? Now I’m not talking about features only found on vintage guitars, that we'll likely never see again on a stock Gibson guitar, I’m strictly referring to those offered by the Custom Shop and put into stock historics. How about these appointments:

Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard
Murphy painted
Murphy aged
Beautiful handpicked Eastern maple top
Handpicked lightweight mahogany
Great tone
A neck shaped using a vintage ’59 as the template
Full documentation for all the above

Here are two such guitars, back together once again:

Here's hoping my GAS pains are finally behind me (where they belong)!

decoy205 · 05-09-2008, 11:47 PM

Holy crap. Those are amazing!

pinefd · 05-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by decoy205

Holy crap. Those are amazing!

Thanks decoy!

stinger · 05-10-2008, 08:55 AM

Stunning guitars!

sapi · 05-10-2008, 09:25 AM

Beautiful and exquisite guitars there bro.
I think it's a pity Gibson won't go the extra mile to upgrade current Historics. I understand the no-no's re hot hide glue or BRW for example, but... steel studs, more accurate neck shape, plastics, truss rod? Wish they could make it happen for '09.
I chose the HM route.
Best,
jo

dwagar · 05-10-2008, 10:46 AM

They can't change the Truss Rod/ eliminate the condom without the switch to hide glue.

But, steel studs, neck shape, plastics, those should all be virtually no cost to change.

Mike60 · 05-10-2008, 10:53 AM

...I wish Gibson would do some of these things and perhaps in the future they will...

But since they haven't to this point,I have gone ahead and done a pair of R0's.

pinefd · 05-10-2008, 11:38 AM

Thanks for all the nice comments, guys! I feel truly lucky to have this unique pair of guitars (although I'm not sure my wife feels the same way!). Perhaps this is what Gibson has in store for the '09 50th anniversary LPs?!?

Frank

flameburst · 05-10-2008, 11:46 AM

'Sue' (the top one) is just a fantastic looking guitar! It's also the name of my partner too. Both are gorgeous...

swankmotee · 05-13-2008, 12:39 AM

I still pinch myself when I realize how divine providence led me to this plank because it's just a fantastic Sunburst Lester in every way. I've compared it to a couple of really great 50's bursts and it holds it's own perfectly. Yeah, it might make it just a bit better overall if I had HM do their thing to it but it's so right as is I think I'll just keep playin' the crap out of her! It's an 03'R9 brazillan w/ Wolfetone Marshallheads,pigtail rearend,RS kit, real 50's tophat knobs, and lots of natural playing wear and color fade. My camera sux at getting the correct patina but you get the idea.....(check out the avatar photo from when it was brand new!)

dwagar · 05-13-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swankmotee

it might make it just a bit better overall if I had HM do their thing to it but it's so right as is I think I'll just keep playin' the crap out of her! It's an 03'R9 brazillan

I wouldn't send it to HM. Just the sheer value of an '03R9 Braz IMO would say not to touch it.

irunnoft · 05-13-2008, 10:45 AM

What's the deal with hide glue? I know a banjo builder in Nashville that uses hide glue on his rims because that's the way the pre-war Gibsons were made.

pinefd · 05-13-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwagar

I wouldn't send it to HM. Just the sheer value of an '03R9 Braz IMO would say not to touch it.

I agree. That's a beautiful example of a very desirable guitar. On the other hand, you mention it has lots of play wear (which tends to decrease the value of a so-called collectible guitar), so at some point you could consider a refin, which if done right, can only help the value.

And when I first posted this thread, my intent was to point out that my two guitars above are very rare as far as stock LPs go. The great thing about having a HM (and others) out there, is that any of us can own our own "ultimate historic", with all the features of a vintage burst, all at a more reasonable cost than I had to shell out for mine...and mine will never have all the features of a vintage burst because I want to leave them stock.

Eggy · 05-13-2008, 12:29 PM

Hi Piney,
Had you heard about the new tax laws coming in regarding owning two of such guitars mentioned above?

I've done some research for you and apparently you can dodge the hefty tax by giving one of them to an Englishman.

I can PM you my shipping address if you need it.

As always I'm just trying to help out

dwagar · 05-13-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

And when I first posted this thread, my intent was to point out that my two guitars above are very rare as far as stock LPs go. The great thing about having a HM (and others) out there, is that any of us can own our own "ultimate historic", with all the features of a vintage burst, all at a more reasonable cost than I had to shell out for mine...and mine will never have all the features of a vintage burst because I want to leave them stock.

and the sheer value of yours will only keep rising. Outstanding guitars man.

Stowburst · 05-13-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

Assuming for a moment you could put most, if not all, the most desirable features Gibson’s Custom Shop has ever offered into just one or two historic Les Pauls, what would those guitars be like?

YOURS! WOW they look great man, I'll take the bottom one please

jkinnison90 · 05-13-2008, 08:50 PM

Nice man. I love how that guitar looks.

swankmotee · 05-13-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

I agree. That's a beautiful example of a very desirable guitar. On the other hand, you mention it has lots of play wear (which tends to decrease the value of a so-called collectible guitar), so at some point you could consider a refin, which if done right, can only help the value.

And when I first posted this thread, my intent was to point out that my two guitars above are very rare as far as stock LPs go. The great thing about having a HM (and others) out there, is that any of us can own our own "ultimate historic", with all the features of a vintage burst, all at a more reasonable cost than I had to shell out for mine...and mine will never have all the features of a vintage burst because I want to leave them stock.

Yeah, and I was just waxin' nostalgic there for a moment so I apologise for railroadin' the thread there piney! Your guits are gorgeous as usual since you have quite the incredible collection that most of us poor sacs could only dream of! I bought my 03' for one reason only.............. to play and I will relic it by my own hand and give it the HM look for a whole lot less!HA! I might put some inlays in her someday but for now a plank this special deserves to be spanked for the fans because to me it was meant to be played!

pinefd · 05-13-2008, 10:02 PM

Thanks again, guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggy

Hi Piney,
Had you heard about the new tax laws coming in regarding owning two of such guitars mentioned above?

I've done some research for you and apparently you can dodge the hefty tax by giving one of them to an Englishman.

I can PM you my shipping address if you need it.

As always I'm just trying to help out

Holy shit! I had no idea!

I appreciate the offer to help!

Quote:

Originally Posted by swankmotee

Yeah, and I was just waxin' nostalgic there for a moment so I apologise for railroadin' the thread there piney! Your guits are gorgeous as usual since you have quite the incredible collection that most of us poor sacs could only dream of! I bought my 03' for one reason only.............. to play and I will relic it by my own hand and give it the HM look for a whole lot less!HA! I might put some inlays in her someday but for now a plank this special deserves to be spanked for the fans because to me it was meant to be played!

No railroadin' apologies necessary. There's always more room in any thread for pics of another beautiful LP...especially a braz. And glad to hear that you're enjoying playing that thing. I'm so darned busy doing other things, that I barely have the time to play mine...but I do enjoy what little time we spend together!

tonebone · 05-14-2008, 07:17 AM

youse guys are KILLIN' ME HERE. thanks for fuelin' my dreams...

Tone Hunter 81 · 05-15-2008, 04:39 PM

killer gits!

05hummer · 05-15-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

Assuming for a moment you could put most, if not all, the most desirable features Gibson’s Custom Shop has ever offered into just one or two historic Les Pauls, what would those guitars be like? Now I’m not talking about features only found on vintage guitars, that we'll likely never see again on a stock Gibson guitar, I’m strictly referring to those offered by the Custom Shop and put into stock historics. How about these appointments:

Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard
Murphy painted
Murphy aged
Beautiful handpicked Eastern maple top
Handpicked lightweight mahogany
Great tone
A neck shaped using a vintage ’59 as the template
Full documentation for all the above

Here are two such guitars, back together once again:

Here's hoping my GAS pains are finally behind me (where they belong)!

Those guitars are just beautiful....

pinefd · 05-15-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonebone

youse guys are KILLIN' ME HERE. thanks for fuelin' my dreams...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tone Hunter 81

killer gits!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05hummer

Those guitars are just beautiful....

Thanks once again for all the nice comments, guys! I really appreciate it!

blueheeler · 05-17-2008, 11:56 AM

I think i posted this on the other forum,and i have to ask again-where do you find these magnificent tops?

pinefd · 05-17-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueheeler

I think i posted this on the other forum,and i have to ask again-where do you find these magnificent tops?

Thanks, Mark!

I have to say, it's getting harder and harder to find the real nice ones. More and more people are looking for the nice ones, and not giving them up once they get hold of them. I keep a close eye on Ebay, for sure. Sometimes there will be one with crappy photography, that you suspect might be a real sleeper. I've gotten a couple that way. Being friendly with some of the better dealers helps too. Sometimes, if they know what you're looking for, they can keep an eye out for you, and notify you before the general public. Also, I've found that some of the nice ones have actually found me. People will sometimes contact me directly when they have a nice one to sell, because they know I can't resist a pretty face!

Frank

05-09-2008, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Ultimate Historics? Assuming for a moment you could put most, if not all, the most desirable features Gibson’s Custom Shop has ever offered into just one or two historic Les Pauls, what would those guitars be like? Now I’m not talking about features only found on vintage guitars, that we'll likely never see again on a stock Gibson guitar, I’m strictly referring to those offered by the Custom Shop and put into stock historics. How about these appointments: Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard Murphy painted Murphy aged Beautiful handpicked Eastern maple top Handpicked lightweight mahogany Great tone A neck shaped using a vintage ’59 as the template Full documentation for all the above Here are two such guitars, back together once again: Here's hoping my GAS pains are finally behind me (where they belong)! __________________ Check out my website at: www.lesstallguitars.com And check out some of my personal gear at: Historic Les Paul Database

05-09-2008, 11:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
decoy205 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 1,543 Thanks: 16 Thanked 14 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Holy crap. Those are amazing! __________________ click below to for details: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/back...ntry-info.html http://www.myspace.com/meteorsound http://www.bcrmusic.com/index.htm http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=872850

05-10-2008, 08:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
stinger Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hartford, Wi Posts: 900 Thanks: 10 Thanked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Stunning guitars! __________________ Steve Lets put the "Les Paul" back in "MyLesPaul"

05-10-2008, 09:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
sapi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Malta, somewhere in the mid of the Med Sea. Beyond that, everywhere & nowhere. Posts: 348 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Beautiful and exquisite guitars there bro. I think it's a pity Gibson won't go the extra mile to upgrade current Historics. I understand the no-no's re hot hide glue or BRW for example, but... steel studs, more accurate neck shape, plastics, truss rod? Wish they could make it happen for '09. I chose the HM route. Best, jo __________________ Shanti, Jo www.tribalimusic.com

05-10-2008, 10:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
dwagar V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 2,480 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? They can't change the Truss Rod/ eliminate the condom without the switch to hide glue. But, steel studs, neck shape, plastics, those should all be virtually no cost to change. __________________ ------------ Don my favorite toys (one wants to be a '59, the other is a '59):

Today
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05-10-2008, 10:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mike60 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: reflectorland,Canada Posts: 2,726 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? ...I wish Gibson would do some of these things and perhaps in the future they will... But since they haven't to this point,I have gone ahead and done a pair of R0's.

05-10-2008, 11:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Thanks for all the nice comments, guys! I feel truly lucky to have this unique pair of guitars (although I'm not sure my wife feels the same way!). Perhaps this is what Gibson has in store for the '09 50th anniversary LPs?!? Frank __________________ Check out my website at: www.lesstallguitars.com And check out some of my personal gear at: Historic Les Paul Database

05-10-2008, 11:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
flameburst Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The World & Elsewhere Posts: 183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? 'Sue' (the top one) is just a fantastic looking guitar! It's also the name of my partner too. Both are gorgeous... __________________ flameburst

05-13-2008, 12:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
swankmotee Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NashVegas, Tn Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? I still pinch myself when I realize how divine providence led me to this plank because it's just a fantastic Sunburst Lester in every way. I've compared it to a couple of really great 50's bursts and it holds it's own perfectly. Yeah, it might make it just a bit better overall if I had HM do their thing to it but it's so right as is I think I'll just keep playin' the crap out of her! It's an 03'R9 brazillan w/ Wolfetone Marshallheads,pigtail rearend,RS kit, real 50's tophat knobs, and lots of natural playing wear and color fade. My camera sux at getting the correct patina but you get the idea.....(check out the avatar photo from when it was brand new!)

05-13-2008, 10:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
irunnoft Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 512 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? What's the deal with hide glue? I know a banjo builder in Nashville that uses hide glue on his rims because that's the way the pre-war Gibsons were made. __________________ 67-07 greens 67-07 HOT VTP 67-07 VTP

05-13-2008, 12:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
Eggy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cumbria UK Posts: 439 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Hi Piney, Had you heard about the new tax laws coming in regarding owning two of such guitars mentioned above? I've done some research for you and apparently you can dodge the hefty tax by giving one of them to an Englishman. I can PM you my shipping address if you need it. As always I'm just trying to help out __________________ My videos - http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=Eggy777

05-13-2008, 08:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
jkinnison90 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nelsonville, Ohio Posts: 1,377 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? Nice man. I love how that guitar looks. __________________ 2003 Epiphone Les Paul Standard - Heritage Cherry Sunburst

05-14-2008, 07:17 AM	#20 (permalink)
tonebone Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast Posts: 462 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? youse guys are KILLIN' ME HERE. thanks for fuelin' my dreams...

05-15-2008, 04:39 PM	#21 (permalink)
Tone Hunter 81 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, CA/Northeast, TN Posts: 82 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? killer gits!

05-17-2008, 11:56 AM	#24 (permalink)
blueheeler Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane,Australia Posts: 180 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ultimate Historics? I think i posted this on the other forum,and i have to ask again-where do you find these magnificent tops?