The Les Paul Prototype

voices · 08-07-2010, 12:50 PM

J-Man123 · 08-07-2010, 12:51 PM

.....

EtriX · 08-07-2010, 12:59 PM

So the original had a florentine huh... no wonder I always liked those

snaredrum · 08-07-2010, 01:14 PM

that looks badass.

Drew224 · 08-07-2010, 02:52 PM

lol @ the jack plate switch ring. awesome maple and top carve.

JoBeans · 08-07-2010, 02:55 PM

You know this is a much more playable design than the first production model. I am curious as to what the decision process was that brought them from this to the completely unplayable wrap-under bridge design.

vintageJIM · 08-07-2010, 03:45 PM

with a maple top like that, you gotta wonder WHO THE HELL wanted it painted gold?

...................

captain tightpants · 08-07-2010, 03:58 PM

I don't know if it's this one or another one, but there is a shot of a prototype that Les actually owned and had modified WAY beyond recognition, right down to a Norlin Clownburst refin. I THINK it was a different guitar. He'd chiseled a recces to fit a Bigsby into the top.

If I recall, this one had been restored after having been modified as well.

jimi55lp · 08-07-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoBeans

You know this is a much more playable design than the first production model. I am curious as to what the decision process was that brought them from this to the completely unplayable wrap-under bridge design.

This guitar has dot fret markers. I believe this guitar was heavily modified from its original bridge configuration.

snaredrum · 08-07-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoBeans

You know this is a much more playable design than the first production model. I am curious as to what the decision process was that brought them from this to the completely unplayable wrap-under bridge design.

les paul designed the tailpiece, gibson got the neck angle wrong. he hated it and complained, thus the wrapover desinged by ted mccarty.

the tribute les pauls have the corrected neck angle and the trapeze as Les intended.

tonebone · 08-07-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintageJIM

with a maple top like that, you gotta wonder WHO THE HELL wanted it painted gold?

...................

. . . that woulda been Les.

rockstar232007 · 08-07-2010, 11:44 PM

.

zontar · 08-08-2010, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaredrum

les paul designed the tailpiece, gibson got the neck angle wrong. he hated it and complained, thus the wrapover desinged by ted mccarty.

the tribute les pauls have the corrected neck angle and the trapeze as Les intended.

Yup--and they look kind of cool.
But the prototype makes more sense--at least until the TOM

lpcustom69 · 08-08-2010, 02:16 AM

That's an awesome guitar, even with the industrial switchplate.

jimi55lp · 08-08-2010, 01:11 PM

I believe he installed dogeared covers to hide the humbucker routes that were made during its defacing.

planks · 08-18-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

I don't know if it's this one or another one, but there is a shot of a prototype that Les actually owned and had modified WAY beyond recognition, right down to a Norlin Clownburst refin. I THINK it was a different guitar. He'd chiseled a recces to fit a Bigsby into the top.

If I recall, this one had been restored after having been modified as well.

planks · 08-18-2010, 03:41 AM

planks · 08-18-2010, 04:37 AM

Les Paul and Mary Ford playing what also appears to be prototypes

planks · 08-18-2010, 04:39 AM

Les Paul with a few prototypes

SGMM · 08-19-2010, 07:17 AM

Wow....much coolness....LOVE those kinda old pics....thanx for sharing!!

Nils · 08-20-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by planks

Les Paul with a few prototypes

All with playable bridges! What made Gibson do the underwrap bridge?

jimi55lp · 08-20-2010, 12:40 PM

The trapeze was a mistaken design that took more than a year to correct. All the guitars in the photo with Lester were special orders custom made for him to his design.

07LPStandard · 08-20-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintageJIM

with a maple top like that, you gotta wonder WHO THE HELL wanted it painted gold?

...................

Ddn't they paint it gold to HIDE the fact that it had a maple top at all? I recall hearing that somewhere... Paul Reed Smith interviews perhaps?

mraajr · 08-20-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07LPStandard

Ddn't they paint it gold to HIDE the fact that it had a maple top at all? I recall hearing that somewhere... Paul Reed Smith interviews perhaps?

I believe this to be true as well. I think it was in fact Paul who mentioned this, maybe after hearing from Ted?

jimi55lp · 08-20-2010, 11:34 PM

The first prototype shown to Lester had a Gibson finish which looked like a light tan sunburst that I believe was called Cremola, and Lester asked if they would finish them like ES models in gold to look better with formal wear. I believe the guitar in the first photo of this thread was originally the tan color before being converted to the modern features, like altering the heal that was covered by the body extended over it.

jimi55lp · 08-20-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by planks

Les Paul and Mary Ford playing what also appears to be prototypes

This photo shows Lester playing a custom made GT that has a bound neck, while Mary is playing an unbound neck model and both have a none Gibson neck pup, and custom drilled caps with short tailpieces and bridges. This frame doesn't show enough of Lester's guitar to see it more closely matches the guitar in post #19 with the photo of him sitting in front of a brick wall with 3 custom GT's hanging on it. I don't believe any bound neck models were produced before the unbounds.

BWH · 08-21-2010, 12:06 PM

cool thread. I don't know what it is, but I love those odd LPs....

The baron of norsworthy · 08-22-2010, 12:39 PM

their were a few protos

Kezia · 08-22-2010, 12:45 PM

Great photos, guys!

Leumas · 08-22-2010, 03:14 PM

Wow, so the Les Paul design was finalized, and his contract secured right in my back yard, amazing! Go Stroudsburg!

08-07-2010, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
voices Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,513 Thanks: 388 Thanked 176 Times in 33 Posts	The Les Paul Prototype

08-07-2010, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
J-Man123 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: On my computer...where else? Posts: 2,426 Thanks: 225 Thanked 92 Times in 16 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype ..... __________________ Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff. - Mariah Carey Long Live Rock!

08-07-2010, 12:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
EtriX Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The great lakes of Sweden Posts: 2,337 Thanks: 99 Thanked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype So the original had a florentine huh... no wonder I always liked those __________________ "No Mr. Page, it's not malignant. Seems you have a rabid fan attached to your left testicle". "No one can give 100%! Thats physically impossible!" - Daffy Duck Chasing AXE-Tone® since 2008 Southpaw City My Vintage V100 Refin - In Progress

08-07-2010, 01:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
snaredrum V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 16,357 Thanks: 155 Thanked 144 Times in 52 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype that looks badass. __________________ www.facebook.com/themadelinerust

08-07-2010, 02:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Drew224 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 14,390 Thanks: 771 Thanked 173 Times in 58 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype lol @ the jack plate switch ring. awesome maple and top carve.

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08-07-2010, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
JoBeans Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 496 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype You know this is a much more playable design than the first production model. I am curious as to what the decision process was that brought them from this to the completely unplayable wrap-under bridge design.

08-07-2010, 03:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
vintageJIM Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 5,873 Thanks: 29 Thanked 74 Times in 23 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype with a maple top like that, you gotta wonder WHO THE HELL wanted it painted gold? ...................

08-07-2010, 03:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
captain tightpants Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In the pit rubbing the lotion on it's skin. It doesn't like the hose. Posts: 12,300 Thanks: 184 Thanked 174 Times in 32 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype I don't know if it's this one or another one, but there is a shot of a prototype that Les actually owned and had modified WAY beyond recognition, right down to a Norlin Clownburst refin. I THINK it was a different guitar. He'd chiseled a recces to fit a Bigsby into the top. If I recall, this one had been restored after having been modified as well.

08-07-2010, 11:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
rockstar232007 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Born and raised in South Detroit... Posts: 8,438 Thanks: 232 Thanked 80 Times in 15 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype . __________________ "If LPs were women, Epis would be the gold-diggers; Most of them are beautiful, but just end up taking all of your money!" - Me (So, I quoted myself! Big whoop! Wanna fight about it?!)

08-08-2010, 02:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
lpcustom69 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SA, TX or Jomtien, Thailand Posts: 1,876 Thanks: 198 Thanked 59 Times in 20 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype That's an awesome guitar, even with the industrial switchplate.

08-08-2010, 01:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
jimi55lp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype I believe he installed dogeared covers to hide the humbucker routes that were made during its defacing.

08-18-2010, 03:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
planks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 14,799 Thanks: 1,111 Thanked 957 Times in 235 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype __________________ Gibson R8 VOS Light Iced Tea Burst 1/25 Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Olympic White Godin Session Custom MF HG Lightburst PRS Bernie Marsden Signature Vintage Sunburst Furch S22-SR Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Natural http://soundcloud.com/planks

08-18-2010, 04:37 AM	#18 (permalink)
planks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 14,799 Thanks: 1,111 Thanked 957 Times in 235 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype Les Paul and Mary Ford playing what also appears to be prototypes __________________ Gibson R8 VOS Light Iced Tea Burst 1/25 Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Olympic White Godin Session Custom MF HG Lightburst PRS Bernie Marsden Signature Vintage Sunburst Furch S22-SR Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Natural http://soundcloud.com/planks

08-18-2010, 04:39 AM	#19 (permalink)
planks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 14,799 Thanks: 1,111 Thanked 957 Times in 235 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype Les Paul with a few prototypes __________________ Gibson R8 VOS Light Iced Tea Burst 1/25 Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Olympic White Godin Session Custom MF HG Lightburst PRS Bernie Marsden Signature Vintage Sunburst Furch S22-SR Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Natural http://soundcloud.com/planks

08-19-2010, 07:17 AM	#20 (permalink)
SGMM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,490 Thanks: 2 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype Wow....much coolness....LOVE those kinda old pics....thanx for sharing!!

08-20-2010, 12:40 PM	#22 (permalink)
jimi55lp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype The trapeze was a mistaken design that took more than a year to correct. All the guitars in the photo with Lester were special orders custom made for him to his design.

08-20-2010, 11:34 PM	#25 (permalink)
jimi55lp Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype The first prototype shown to Lester had a Gibson finish which looked like a light tan sunburst that I believe was called Cremola, and Lester asked if they would finish them like ES models in gold to look better with formal wear. I believe the guitar in the first photo of this thread was originally the tan color before being converted to the modern features, like altering the heal that was covered by the body extended over it.

08-21-2010, 12:06 PM	#27 (permalink)
BWH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype cool thread. I don't know what it is, but I love those odd LPs....

08-22-2010, 12:39 PM	#28 (permalink)
The baron of norsworthy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 843 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype their were a few protos

08-22-2010, 12:45 PM	#29 (permalink)
Kezia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3,078 Thanks: 66 Thanked 187 Times in 45 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype Great photos, guys!

08-22-2010, 03:14 PM	#30 (permalink)
Leumas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 11,910 Thanks: 424 Thanked 335 Times in 57 Posts	Re: The Les Paul Prototype Wow, so the Les Paul design was finalized, and his contract secured right in my back yard, amazing! Go Stroudsburg! __________________ ~Leumas - clearly offended.~

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