Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 10:29 PM

Coming over from another thread in the LP forum.

I just picked this up - The neck seems to be bang on, but the fact that it doesn't match the body was a warning sign, and the finish was a little strange.. but the hardware looked right, as did the logo etc. and it plays/sounded so nice I had to pick it up.

but I got it home, got the pickups out and noticed there was some spotty black paint in the pickup cavities.. Also there's a number printed in the bridge cavity?

I know the middle pickup was added later, as was the phase switch, which gets me worried because who the hell routs out a real LP custom? But then again, who puts a real LP custom neck on a fake body?
The control cavity has a bit of black paint but isn't covered, but it doesn't have the metal mounting plate.. BUT the pot part numbers check out at 70028?

also the binding on the body looks legit. I just don't know anymore..

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 10:37 PM

oh yeah and and headstock back. The logo is pressed in lightly, with black kind of in it. Hard to see from the picture but there is a Made in USA pressed slightling into it

ed1996 · 02-06-2012, 10:43 PM

the shape of that burst looks a little strange

thexmadxtopxhatter · 02-06-2012, 10:44 PM

to my amateur eye it seems like a legit norlin era gibson. But believe me I could be completely wrong, just going off my gut feeling. But the headstock seems perfect and is aged beautifully. Its hard to replicate that authentic aging on the headstock and back of the body and the binding. Then again it could be an old fake but I believe its most likely real. Due to my lack of norlin knowledge don't take just my word for it. Heck I got tons of stuff to learn about norlins

thexmadxtopxhatter · 02-06-2012, 10:47 PM

wait your right.... that burst is off. Could be a refinish? I know the serial system sucked for during the norlin era too so theres not much to go off there. and is it just or do those fret markers appear misaligned? Now I'm having second thoughts...

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed1996

the shape of that burst looks a little strange

yeah that's my gut on it too - it's not a true teardrop, like rectangular at the top..

The aging on the headstock looks legit, the same cracking etc. and I didn't take a picture but the nut on the trussrod has the half-washer and looks legit

but.. since when would gibson ever have matched an unfinished neck with a walnut/mahogany body + weird tobacco-ish burst?

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 10:53 PM

the fret inlays could look to line up, although one or two of them aren't perfectly straight.. like 0.040" high or low on either side

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 11:12 PM

According to the blue book Walnut finish on a solid mahogany body was an option .. what are the chances someone did a reginish on the top?

Also I don't know if this helps my case at all, but on the bridge pickup cavity, it looks like there's a '9' printed?

Tyler Robertson · 02-06-2012, 11:17 PM

Also I have a CMM (really extreme measuring device) at my work I can use to measure dimensions/angles - maybe I should measure off the body and see if it checks out?

TKOjams · 02-06-2012, 11:17 PM

looks real to me.

jsadctnfn1 · 02-06-2012, 11:33 PM

It's real. Norlin's era guitars have all kinds of crazy stuff going on. That teardrop was probably done by someone learning how to spray.

Why the back of the neck is unfinished? I am pretty sure this was done by a previous owner.
(*also note the holes filled in on the headstock) The original Schaller tuners have been replaced.
This would explain why the serial #is filled in black. It was the originally finished.

BuzzHaze · 02-07-2012, 01:00 AM

Check around the 5:30 area. They will let anyone come in and spray a burst!!! haha.

How it´s Made Gibson - Some assembly requiered PART 2 - YouTube

sangandongo · 02-07-2012, 09:24 AM

That burst isn't just a little off... It's WAY off. That's bad. The tear drops don't square off like that.

That being said, I think the guitar is a Gibson, I just think that someone refined a Natural to burst. Take it to a black light and I bet you see a difference in luminosity between the black and the natural. There should be none.

Tyler Robertson · 02-07-2012, 09:36 AM

good idea, thanks!

atheos · 02-07-2012, 10:31 AM

looks real to me, I like it.

gtr-tek · 02-07-2012, 12:47 PM

I think the burst was sprayed later. The body and everything else look legit to me.

BigAl · 02-07-2012, 04:38 PM

Real but fairly heavily modded.

Tyler Robertson · 02-07-2012, 05:15 PM

yeah the price was decent considering, and she plays real well. I didn't expect to buy it to resell,

you're from toronto! play in any bands?

csplayer089 · 02-08-2012, 01:43 PM

I saw your post in the other thread. Got some more pics of this guitar? Aside from the odd teardrop shape...I like it..haha.

BigAl · 02-08-2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler Robertson

yeah the price was decent considering, and she plays real well. I didn't expect to buy it to resell,

you're from toronto! play in any bands?

Not at the moment, no. I'm joining a band with my drummer buddy next week hopefully though. They recently kicked out their old drummer for being a blowhard and they need another guitarist. I also might become the bass player for another band in the coming weeks.

HOT-BRIT · 02-08-2012, 05:43 PM

A genuine 78 that has been moded

old mark · 02-09-2012, 06:56 AM

Looks to me like someone sanded the burst to that shape for unknown reasons...BUT, as stated, some Norlins are unusual and the thing is old. Who knows what happened to it. The inlays on the headstock look just right to me. I have owned 2 old Customs, a '68 and a '74, and it looks right, just unique...I bet it weighs 10 pounds.
I bet is sounds great, too.
Enjoy it, play it a lot, don't worry about it.

mark

HOT-BRIT · 02-09-2012, 03:07 PM

Has newer Gibson USA pickups

Tyler Robertson · 02-10-2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

Has newer Gibson USA pickups

Yep, I actually managed to find the guy who sold it to the guy I bought it from, and he believes they are '57 Classics

Quote:

I bet it weighs 10 pounds.

Yep I'd say right around there, 9-10. My bandmate was worried it was too light at first but his point of reference was a '77 coming in at 13 eeeeh

Quote:

I bet is sounds great, too.
Enjoy it, play it a lot, don't worry about it.

And that's the key - this guitar slays and plays like a dream - and after playing it at band practise twice this week I absolutely love it

HOT-BRIT · 02-10-2012, 03:28 PM

definitely not 57 Classics as they would have a different base plate if they were, take a resistance reading with a meter, then post the results and we will be able to identify them for you

Tyler Robertson · 02-11-2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

definitely not 57 Classics as they would have a different base plate if they were, take a resistance reading with a meter, then post the results and we will be able to identify them for you

ah bummer, shows how much I know.. I'll do that, thanks!

Satch0922 · 02-11-2012, 11:40 AM

Looks real. As someone said, there was a lot of wacky stuff going on back in the Norlin era not to mention people DO modify their guitars.

Hell look at this frankenstein I used to own......82 Les Paul SUMTHIN

BigAl · 02-11-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satch0922

Looks real. As someone said, there was a lot of wacky stuff going on back in the Norlin era not to mention people DO modify their guitars.

Hell look at this frankenstein I used to own......82 Les Paul SUMTHIN

That thing is badass!

Thumpalumpacus · 02-11-2012, 07:28 PM

Congrats on the band, Al.

BigAl · 02-11-2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

Congrats on the band, Al.

Thanks a lot man

.

02-06-2012, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Coming over from another thread in the LP forum. I just picked this up - The neck seems to be bang on, but the fact that it doesn't match the body was a warning sign, and the finish was a little strange.. but the hardware looked right, as did the logo etc. and it plays/sounded so nice I had to pick it up. but I got it home, got the pickups out and noticed there was some spotty black paint in the pickup cavities.. Also there's a number printed in the bridge cavity? I know the middle pickup was added later, as was the phase switch, which gets me worried because who the hell routs out a real LP custom? But then again, who puts a real LP custom neck on a fake body? The control cavity has a bit of black paint but isn't covered, but it doesn't have the metal mounting plate.. BUT the pot part numbers check out at 70028? also the binding on the body looks legit. I just don't know anymore.. __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-06-2012, 10:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom oh yeah and and headstock back. The logo is pressed in lightly, with black kind of in it. Hard to see from the picture but there is a Made in USA pressed slightling into it __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-06-2012, 10:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
thexmadxtopxhatter Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,387 Thanks: 9 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom to my amateur eye it seems like a legit norlin era gibson. But believe me I could be completely wrong, just going off my gut feeling. But the headstock seems perfect and is aged beautifully. Its hard to replicate that authentic aging on the headstock and back of the body and the binding. Then again it could be an old fake but I believe its most likely real. Due to my lack of norlin knowledge don't take just my word for it. Heck I got tons of stuff to learn about norlins

02-06-2012, 10:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
thexmadxtopxhatter Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,387 Thanks: 9 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom wait your right.... that burst is off. Could be a refinish? I know the serial system sucked for during the norlin era too so theres not much to go off there. and is it just or do those fret markers appear misaligned? Now I'm having second thoughts...

02-06-2012, 10:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom the fret inlays could look to line up, although one or two of them aren't perfectly straight.. like 0.040" high or low on either side __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

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02-06-2012, 11:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom According to the blue book Walnut finish on a solid mahogany body was an option .. what are the chances someone did a reginish on the top? Also I don't know if this helps my case at all, but on the bridge pickup cavity, it looks like there's a '9' printed? __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-06-2012, 11:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Also I have a CMM (really extreme measuring device) at my work I can use to measure dimensions/angles - maybe I should measure off the body and see if it checks out? __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-06-2012, 11:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
TKOjams Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 9,557 Thanks: 92 Thanked 177 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom looks real to me. __________________ Flametop Special Build - Carvetop Doublecut Build - '57 Custom BB Replica Build - '56-ish Flame Top Build - Boudreau Celia build - Lefty Walnut Les Paul Build

02-06-2012, 11:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
jsadctnfn1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 818 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom It's real. Norlin's era guitars have all kinds of crazy stuff going on. That teardrop was probably done by someone learning how to spray. Why the back of the neck is unfinished? I am pretty sure this was done by a previous owner. (*also note the holes filled in on the headstock) The original Schaller tuners have been replaced. This would explain why the serial #is filled in black. It was the originally finished.

02-07-2012, 09:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
sangandongo V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,530 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom That burst isn't just a little off... It's WAY off. That's bad. The tear drops don't square off like that. That being said, I think the guitar is a Gibson, I just think that someone refined a Natural to burst. Take it to a black light and I bet you see a difference in luminosity between the black and the natural. There should be none. __________________ j.k '55 Gib LP Jr, '60 Gib LP Special, '63 Gib MM, '64 FB III, '65 Epi Oly, '71 LP DLX, '74 LP Sig '44 Epi Zenith, '53 Epi Zenith, '62 Fender Jag, '77 Ric 480

02-07-2012, 09:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom good idea, thanks! __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-07-2012, 10:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
atheos Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana. USA Posts: 841 Thanks: 24 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom looks real to me, I like it. __________________ 1955 Les Paul Custom - Ebony 1976 Les Paul Custom - Wine Red 1996 Les Paul Standard - Ebony 1965 Melody Maker other assorted wood

02-07-2012, 12:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
gtr-tek Fumble Fingers Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Somewhere in Tornado Alley Posts: 1,961 Thanks: 42 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom I think the burst was sprayed later. The body and everything else look legit to me. __________________ Les is more!

02-07-2012, 04:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
BigAl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 125 Thanked 71 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Real but fairly heavily modded.

02-08-2012, 01:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
csplayer089 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,230 Thanks: 65 Thanked 75 Times in 39 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom I saw your post in the other thread. Got some more pics of this guitar? Aside from the odd teardrop shape...I like it..haha. __________________ Schecter Hellraiser Special Solo-6, EMG 81, 85 Schecter Hellraiser Special C-7, EMG 81-7, 707 Ibanez RG5EX1 w/DiMarzio D-Activator bridge & The Breed neck, DiMarzio Air Norton S middle Agile AL-2000 w/DiMarzio Steve's Special & DiMarzio Air Norton, Gotoh hardware Blackheart BH5H w/Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 and JJ EL84 tubes Blackheart BH412ST Straight 4x12 Mesa Boogie Throttle Box AMT Legend D2 "Diezel" Dunlop Original Crybaby Digitech DigiDelay MXR Noise Clamp

02-07-2012, 05:15 PM	#18 (permalink)
Tyler Robertson Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom yeah the price was decent considering, and she plays real well. I didn't expect to buy it to resell, you're from toronto! play in any bands? __________________ '78 Gibson LP Custom '77 Gibson Marauder Custom '90s Gibson LP Gem Amethyst '76 Greco LP Custom '77 Univox LP Junior '77 Marshall JMP, '64 Bassman, '74 Twin, '60s Garnet Rebel / Garnet Pro

02-08-2012, 05:43 PM	#21 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 18,941 Thanks: 69 Thanked 280 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom A genuine 78 that has been moded

02-09-2012, 06:56 AM	#22 (permalink)
old mark Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: over here...no, no, a little to the left.... Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 1 Thanked 110 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Looks to me like someone sanded the burst to that shape for unknown reasons...BUT, as stated, some Norlins are unusual and the thing is old. Who knows what happened to it. The inlays on the headstock look just right to me. I have owned 2 old Customs, a '68 and a '74, and it looks right, just unique...I bet it weighs 10 pounds. I bet is sounds great, too. Enjoy it, play it a lot, don't worry about it. mark __________________ "There are a million ways to play guitar." Les Paul WWKRD - What Would Keith Richards Do - my guiding motto in life, which explains a lot... Another far left gun owning veteran.

02-09-2012, 03:07 PM	#23 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 18,941 Thanks: 69 Thanked 280 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Has newer Gibson USA pickups

02-10-2012, 03:28 PM	#25 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 18,941 Thanks: 69 Thanked 280 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom definitely not 57 Classics as they would have a different base plate if they were, take a resistance reading with a meter, then post the results and we will be able to identify them for you

02-11-2012, 11:40 AM	#27 (permalink)
Satch0922 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 8 Thanked 44 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Looks real. As someone said, there was a lot of wacky stuff going on back in the Norlin era not to mention people DO modify their guitars. Hell look at this frankenstein I used to own......82 Les Paul SUMTHIN BigAl likes this. __________________

02-11-2012, 07:28 PM	#29 (permalink)
Thumpalumpacus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ass-deep in alligators, tryin' to drain the swamp. Posts: 54,322 Thanks: 1,207 Thanked 688 Times in 80 Posts	Re: Fake? Or real modded '78 LP Custom Congrats on the band, Al. BigAl likes this. __________________ _____________________________________________ My Soundcloud

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