Finally! An Affordable Custom Made 'Burst

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Are you really from Joliet?

Jake, is that you?

[b-squared]

Maybe...but Jake knows how to spell Illinois.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

There's a big difference between fakes and copies, a big difference!
My Tokais don't pretend to be something they're not.

There's no bigger scope for me about this, sorry. They advertise their own product with pictures of fake Gibsons produced by the factory they're working with. A company that is in any way affiliated with the production of fakes will never see my money.

And no, no hard feelings.

I know what you are saying BUT the way I sort of see it is this company is NOT selling these as legit Gibson guitars and thus scamming people. They are being forthright and telling everyone they are Korean made, right? So to me, they are replica's made to replicate the look of a Gibson but they let the buyer know they are not since they openly state they are Korean made (it is illegal for sure...but that is another topic).

Whether or not our MIJ model's say Gibson on them, they are total rip offs and built and sound every bit as good too! They are built to the exact detail (i.e. buying and dismantling a 59 Les Paul to completely replicate it) and some even say "Les Paul" on the headstock so I really do not see THAT much a difference honestly. If the Les Paul guitar was never built we would not even be here discussing these copies and replicas so for that I cannot be upset of peeved at these Korean made copies as I would just be a total walking contradiction in my own eyes.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by tonebone

Have a good one at work, buddy.

By the way, have you checked yahoo japan lately?

But you better get out the door before you look.

Oh shit...what is it? PM me!!

[UITA]

Maybe it's the 120.

[NSCS]

Pictures are gone.

As far as our in-house vs Korean work, NSCS was setup solely for the Korean guitars, and our other fully Canadian handmade guitars are not associated with NSCS at all. So anything on that site was made in the Korean facility, with varying amounts of skilled Canadian finish work, depending on the customer's wishes (ie wallet). So everything is made in Korea, and it's the customers choice of wood, hardware, pickups and finishing work that determine the cost. So the overall quality of any guitar rests with the customer.

For example, here's a lower end LP 'copy' (if I understand the forum's definitions correctly). This is the Volkswagen.

Mahogany body.jpg

African mahogany 3 piece body, with a 1 piece laminate overtop.

mahogany neck.jpg

African mahogany neck, 3 piece (headstock/neck/heel block).

tigerflame maple.jpg

Solid non-figured maple top, with a flamed laminate overtop.

IMG_1080.jpg

Citadel is our house brand, the inlay is a birds eye view of the walls of the Halifax Citadel. This guitar has binding over the frets.

IMG_1148.jpg

Nitro finish being applied, you can see the solid non-figured maple cap in the bridge pickup route.

[NSCS]

IMG_1081.jpg

And here is the finished shell that's sent to us in Canada. The frets and neck binding are left rough, fretwork and beveling of the fret end binding is done here, to the customer's spec.




Now here is an example of a higher end guitar that is beign built right now, very similar to LoveLPs. I won't say Porsche, but maybe... Audi?

IMG_3313red.jpg

Eastern Canadian solid bookmatched maple top, interesting flame and grain pattern.

IMG_3318red.jpg

No laminates on this one!

IMG_3315red.jpg

One piece Honduran mahogany back, this is the same piece of wood LoveLPs was made from.

IMG_3317red.jpg

One piece Honduran mahogany, 17deg headstock, standard length tenon neck.

And its off to for finish today.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by UITA

Maybe it's the 120.

Haha yeah...already on that one! Beat up tho! Head and tail is in rough shape but man...so nice!

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by NSCS

Now here is an example of a higher end guitar that is beign built right now, very similar to LoveLPs. I won't say Porsche, but maybe... Audi?

Hey...I would take an R8 over a 911 ANY day. I love my A4...on my second one!

Originally Posted by NSCS

One piece Honduran mahogany, 17deg headstock, standard length tenon neck.

And its off to for finish today.

So they are essentially like the 70's Greco tenons? Are they doweled as well? I do not see any tongue n the cavity so that is why I asked. Also, why is the Citadel headstock finish so rough and spotted or do you buff those out? Cheers

[LoveLPs]

b-squared asked about my guitars. In addition to the guitar that started this thread here's what I have -

Gibsons

I don't know how many people here like Norlins, but I think some are great (and they're the most vintage LPs I've been able to afford so far). All my Gibsons are dated via serial number (which, as you know, is not always accurate) and pot codes. I have the following:

- 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom, Cherry Sunburst: In good shape (no checking) with an unblemished top but some finish loss in belt buckle area. It is completely original except for Schaller tuning machines that must have been installed the day the original owner got the guitar. They look ancient but work great. The guitar came with its original case, which is in good condition.

1971 was the first year Gibson offered the Custom in Cherry Sunburst. Gibson has confirmed that they only shipped 94 Cherry Sunburst Customs in
'71.

Mine has a "2" on the back of the headstock, which means it is a "Second." The only flaw my tech or I have been able to find is a little separation between the middle and bass side pieces of the three-piece top in one area.

- 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom, Black: This guitar is 99.99% original. My tech thinks a few screws and the jack plate are not original. The top is in very good shape (no checking) and surprisingly shiny and unclouded. Some paint on the back is missing in the belt buckle area. It came with the original rectangular case in decent condition.

- 1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom, Cherry Sunburst: This guitar was missing a few original parts when I bought it, including the bridge, pickguard and switch washer, all of which I've replaced with original Gibson early-70's parts. This guitar was drilled for a mini-toggle, but it had been removed and the hole filled before I got the guitar. The top is nice and beautifully checked. It even sports a little flame near the knobs. The back is somewhat beaten up. This guitar has the best T-Top pickups I've every heard. Very strong and clear. It did not come with the original case.

It could be a pipe dream, but I think these guitars (even in less than pristine condition) may be worth something when they hit 50 years old or so. I'm viewing them as a long-term investment.

Other

- 1980 Tokai Reborn Old, Sunburst: It appears to be all original. It is in beautiful shape, with only a couple of very minor dings. It's the best-preserved 30-year-old guitar I've ever seen. It did not come with the original case. Instead it came in one of the now-discontinued Gibson reissue Lifton cases, which I was very happy to get.

- 70's (?) Univox "Gimme" Les Paul Copy: I replaced the pickups with a Gibson 500T and a hot DiMarzio neck pickup (not sure if the pickups the guitar came with were original or not, but I doubt the are). This is a phenomenal playing guitar. I've gigged with it several times.

I'm on the road, so I can't take photos right now. I may have a few in my computer, which I'll post if I can find them. Otherwise I post some shots when I get back.

Is this too much information fot this forum?

[LoveLPs]

Withdrawn

[jimmypage14]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Maybe...but Jake knows how to spell Illinois.

Sorry I didnt realize that it was wrong and no my name isnt jake.

[NSCS]

Originally Posted by Udonitron

So they are essentially like the 70's Greco tenons? Are they doweled as well? I do not see any tongue n the cavity so that is why I asked. Also, why is the Citadel headstock finish so rough and spotted or do you buff those out? Cheers

The tenon on that guitar goes to the end of the fretboard/front of the pickup cavity, no dowels. On LoveLPs guitar, it goes all the way to the back of the pickup cavity. Its just a matter of customer preference.

The Citadel headstock isn't finished in that photo. Here it is on the finished guitar.

head.jpg

[snaredrum]

i like the look of the citadel guitars, to be honest. as long as there's no lawsuit BS then fair play to all involved

[snaredrum]

Originally Posted by NSCS

Now here is an example of a higher end guitar that is beign built right now, very similar to LoveLPs. I won't say Porsche, but maybe... Audi?

Attachment 17818

E

now how much would that finished guitar go for? i love the top.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by snaredrum

now how much would that finished guitar go for? i love the top.

Yeah I too would like to know as well. I would gladly support a Canadian company and the province of my birth That model looks damn nice! What do you normally use for pups, bridge, saddle, tuners, etc?

[diceman]

Citadel stuff looks good!

I think that MIK will be the equivalent of MIJ in terms of status before too long here. MIC is stepping in to fill that traditionally MIK quality craftsmanship, while the MIK stuff keeps improving.

I think you've got a very cool thing going.

[NSCS]

Thanks for the comments. I Like our Citadel script and logo a lot, but I don't force it on people. We've done girlfriends names, band names and logos, osprey diving for fish... lots of weird things. But it's always cool when people choose to support the Citadel name.

The whole MIJ, MIK, MIC thing is solely based on production guitars. You could have a talented craftsman working in a small facility, and it wouldn't matter which way their eyes were slanted. And with skilled people here in Canada doing the important luthiery work, it matters even less.

We don't usually use any particular hardware or pickups, we just source whatever the customer likes. If they're not sure, I suggest to them to use quality Korean made parts, and they can upgrade it if they find it lacking.

Cost wise for a guitar with those spec woods, including the full meal deal Canadian treatment, would be around $1300 with Korean parts (metric or std). Any upgrades are done at cost. So say you wanted SD pickups, Grovers and a Gotoh B&T, you'd be looking at around $1600 by the time your done.

[dspelman]

NSCS -- turn on your PM availability, will you?

[River]

Originally Posted by dspelman

NSCS -- turn on your PM availability, will you?

That takes 50 posts, I believe.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by dspelman

NSCS -- turn on your PM availability, will you?

Yup, River is right. You can't receive or send PMs until you have 50 posts.

[NSCS]

I don't know what the rules are here for businesses, so I don't wanna step on toes.

But I've enabled the "Send Email to NSCS" function.

[LoveLPs]

b-squared asked about my other guitars. Here are my Gibsons - '71 Custom;
'72 Custom; '73 Custom:
Guitars 004.jpg

Guitars 003.jpg

Guitars 002.jpg

I'm having trouble getting a truly representative photo of the Reborn Old, but I'll keep working on it.

[LoveLPs]

Here's the Reborn Old. Photos are much darker than the guitar really is. It's really a teaburst with a beautiful gold color in the middle.
Reborn Old 1.jpg

Reborn Old 2.jpg

Reborn Old 3.jpg

I should have pointed out that the pickups in the Reborn Old now are "double whites" although they are not really white, more very creme-colored.

[River]

Originally Posted by NSCS

I don't know what the rules are here for businesses, so I don't wanna step on toes.

But I've enabled the "Send Email to NSCS" function.

The MyLesPaul Rules - Please Read
EVERYONE Please Read :New Rules !!!

[tonebone]

Ya know, there is a "Buy, Sell, Trade" corner to MLPF.

And in that corner, there is a "Business Classifieds" section.

Don't ya think you really should post this kind of stuff there? The title of this thread sounds like a late night infomercial, for crying out loud.

And if you contribute to the operation of MLPF, you will be looked upon with a very favorable light.

[Saiko]

I might check out doing a custom order from them after I finish my Warmoth LP.

[NSCS]

Does this thread really belong in the classifieds? LoveLPs started it to show off his new guitar, and albeit maybe he was a bit overzealous, I don't think it's much different than anyone else in this forum showing their new guitars. I wouldn't have known about this forum at all if he hadn't contacted me when he thought I should step in and answer questions that he didn't know the answer to. Then I posted some pictures of guitars being built when there were questions about what we do in-house vs offshore. There is nothing in this thread that is for sale.
However, if the moderators feel this should be moved, or deleted, or I should pay the fee to become a Premium Member, then I have no problem with that.