56 Les paul that was restored to Original

mapleflame · 03-20-2007, 08:10 AM

Well here goes the Story, I couldn't sleep one night and happened to go online and look at GBAse. In the first page of the Gibson Les Pauls I read Burnt Les Paul From Freebasing Drug addict. I went huh, and then laughed my ass off. I clicked on the guitar which looked like a person who burnt them self while freebasing. The guitar was a 56 les paul that ACME music put up as a joke. I had been looking for some old wood at the time and I said what the hell, so I called them and asked if i could buy it. The guy said let me talk to the other owner and see if we want to sell it. Well they called the next day and said they had an offer for a 1000.00, so I said I'll take it for 1500.00 now. The guitars headstock was really charcoaled but the body was not touched. The electronics, backplates, ABR-1 Tailpiece, Magnets/Polepieces, and tuners minus the tips were the only thing that survived. The guitar arrived in two days and I opened the box up and said hummm who am I going to get to fix this. At the Time I was having ShamRay in Russian build a 59 replica, and a 54 Replica, I was not privy to all the guys in the US. Well before I got the guitar I had spoken to Dave Johnson about his inlays and got a few sets from him. I emailed him and he said excitely send that sucker up to me. Well I was having ShamRay build a neck and I was going to have it sent to Dave after if was roughed out. I sent a pic to Dave and he said it was all wrong. Well I then went on a mission to get all the right wood. I found 75 year old Brazillian Rosewood, and 50 year old Mahogony for the neck. I found a broken off 56 Special headstock to use the Holly veneer and Gibson Inlay to put on the face of the new headstock. We used the original trussrod. The guitar was originally a All Gold so that's what we put her back to. I found a 1930's original inlay material that perfectly matched a 52 that I have as well. Dave went to work building the neck and then the fingerboard. This process took about a year to build the neck, find parts, and then Paint/age the guitar. The guitar really is an incredible sounding P90 guitar. It has really hot pickups that rival just about any PAF guitar. AS they say it's all in the wood. The neck wood was from a very lightweight piece of Mahogony. The guitar weighs under 8.5.
Before shot

After

mapleflame · 03-20-2007, 08:17 AM

ptate · 03-20-2007, 12:55 PM

Nice................

I'll give you $2000 for it now it's sorted........

mapleflame · 03-20-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptate

Nice................

I'll give you $2000 for it now it's sorted........

and another 28k will just about do it doit do it.

cherrySunburst · 03-23-2007, 12:46 AM

wow, what a transformation! I bet you were delighted with the result....

How long ago did all this occur? I assume the finish checking etc was deliberate?

I've been involved in several projects (with other Gibsons, not LPs) and I don't normally bother relic-ing them

I'm usually clumsy enough that they relic themselves after a few rehearsals!

mapleflame · 03-23-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrySunburst

wow, what a transformation! I bet you were delighted with the result....

How long ago did all this occur? I assume the finish checking etc was deliberate?

I've been involved in several projects (with other Gibsons, not LPs) and I don't normally bother relic-ing them

I'm usually clumsy enough that they relic themselves after a few rehearsals!

Dave Johnson did all the Aging. I wouldn't look good for a 50 year old guitar to look new LOL.

captain tightpants · 03-24-2007, 08:05 AM

Now that's some amazing work. Glad these things can be saved when something like that happens to them.

FLICKOFLASH · 03-24-2007, 08:50 AM

That is amazing & thanks for sharing it. While I was at the gibson custom shop this past summer a guy had just picked up his 54 all goldtop renecked by gibson ,The guy was enlighted & I was trying to hold back my emotions . They basically took a vintage guitar that had a bowed neck & just put a new historic neck on it ,new nonBrazilian board with cheesy inlays & tried to buff some of the checking on the top. I was with my jaw hanging open ,,uhh what they do with the original neck & why didn't they use the old board & wondering how down the road he be explaining it's not a historic

FlyingFred · 03-26-2007, 11:40 PM

I have seen the person with this goldtop... I must say that although the guitar had been very well repaired, it had lost all of its interesting features.

It was not a 50s LP anymore, just a gold guitar. I was disappointed at the work, but understand that Gibson may not wish to do replicas, or imitate their old product. I would have personnaly chosen another path if I had been him.

HolyGrail · 03-29-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingFred

I have seen the person with this goldtop... I must say that although the guitar had been very well repaired, it had lost all of its interesting features.

It was not a 50s LP anymore, just a gold guitar. I was disappointed at the work, but understand that Gibson may not wish to do replicas, or imitate their old product. I would have personnaly chosen another path if I had been him.

Can you tell us more ? When and where did you see/play it ?
What didn't you like ? Please be specific .Thanks

FLICKOFLASH · 03-29-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

Can you tell us more ? When and where did you see/play it ?
What didn't you like ? Please be specific .Thanks

I showed it to him at the factory

he is referring to this :
While I was at the gibson custom shop this past summer a guy had just picked up his 54 all goldtop renecked by gibson ,The guy was enlighted & I was trying to hold back my emotions . They basically took a vintage guitar that had a bowed neck & just put a new historic neck on it ,new nonBrazilian board with cheesy inlays & tried to buff some of the checking on the top. I was with my jaw hanging open ,,uhh what they do with the original neck & why didn't they use the old board & wondering how down the road he be explaining it's not a historic

HolyGrail · 03-29-2007, 10:30 PM

aaah, So he confused this for Maple's !

FLICKOFLASH · 03-29-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

aaah, So he confused this for Maple's !

he was responding to what i just posted above his post we were together & seen the guitar I was talking about not MapleFlames

too many

in your Holygrail

HolyGrail · 03-29-2007, 11:17 PM

ok, so I confused the 2 !

I need to learn how to read .

GuitarGal · 03-30-2007, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapleflame

Well here goes the Story, I couldn't sleep one night and happened to go online and look at GBAse. In the first page of the Gibson Les Pauls I read Burnt Les Paul From Freebasing Drug addict. I went huh, and then laughed my ass off. I clicked on the guitar which looked like a person who burnt them self while freebasing. The guitar was a 56 les paul that ACME music put up as a joke. I had been looking for some old wood at the time and I said what the hell, so I called them and asked if i could buy it. The guy said let me talk to the other owner and see if we want to sell it. Well they called the next day and said they had an offer for a 1000.00, so I said I'll take it for 1500.00 now. The guitars headstock was really charcoaled but the body was not touched. The electronics, backplates, ABR-1 Tailpiece, Magnets/Polepieces, and tuners minus the tips were the only thing that survived. The guitar arrived in two days and I opened the box up and said hummm who am I going to get to fix this. At the Time I was having ShamRay in Russian build a 59 replica, and a 54 Replica, I was not privy to all the guys in the US. Well before I got the guitar I had spoken to Dave Johnson about his inlays and got a few sets from him. I emailed him and he said excitely send that sucker up to me. Well I was having ShamRay build a neck and I was going to have it sent to Dave after if was roughed out. I sent a pic to Dave and he said it was all wrong. Well I then went on a mission to get all the right wood. I found 75 year old Brazillian Rosewood, and 50 year old Mahogony for the neck. I found a broken off 56 Special headstock to use the Holly veneer and Gibson Inlay to put on the face of the new headstock. We used the original trussrod. The guitar was originally a All Gold so that's what we put her back to. I found a 1930's original inlay material that perfectly matched a 52 that I have as well. Dave went to work building the neck and then the fingerboard. This process took about a year to build the neck, find parts, and then Paint/age the guitar. The guitar really is an incredible sounding P90 guitar. It has really hot pickups that rival just about any PAF guitar. AS they say it's all in the wood. The neck wood was from a very lightweight piece of Mahogony. The guitar weighs under 8.5.
Before shot

After

WOW~ You did great job for restored it~ How come you offered to pay $1,500.00 instead of $1,000.00? Anyway, It looks beautiful!

BCRGreg · 04-02-2007, 08:42 AM

I have played that guitar, and I need it.

Hey, Steve, go grab me another Dr Pepper, willya?

(Steve wonders why the front door slams JUST as he gets in the kitchen.....)

mapleflame · 04-02-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

I have played that guitar, and I need it.

Hey, Steve, go grab me another Dr Pepper, willya?

(Steve wonders why the front door slams JUST as he gets in the kitchen.....)

Hey G what up. The toughest under 6 foot man on the east. You been fixin haven't ya. Hope you and your family are doing good bro.

mapleflame · 04-02-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarGal

WOW~ You did great job for restored it~ How come you offered to pay $1,500.00 instead of $1,000.00? Anyway, It looks beautiful!

Because if I did offer $1000.00 it would have went to another guy.

04-03-2007, 06:08 AM

Congrats! That's a great find and wonderful restoration!

GuitarGal · 04-07-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapleflame

Because if I did offer $1000.00 it would have went to another guy.

ahh duh me..what was I thinking?

you got good point here~

lp junior freak · 04-10-2007, 11:15 AM

congrats man that looks wonderful enjoy

FLICKOFLASH · 07-14-2008, 12:08 AM

Any new projects ?

shotgunlew · 07-14-2008, 12:24 AM

OMG that is one of the koolest refins ive ever seen

chris

jkinnison90 · 07-14-2008, 01:38 AM

Very nice.

blueheeler · 07-14-2008, 08:33 AM

It looks FANTASTIC!!!

dwagar · 07-14-2008, 09:19 AM

I saw this guitar on Gbase. I thought, who on earth would even attempt fixing this?

Mapleflame, you are the king of resurrecting Les Pauls.

mdr40z · 07-14-2008, 11:31 AM

sweet, just reinforces 'it's not over til we say it's over'

kgp1 · 07-14-2008, 03:25 PM

Great looking guitar and a great story. Thanks for posting.

mapleflame · 07-17-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwagar

I saw this guitar on Gbase. I thought, who on earth would even attempt fixing this?

Mapleflame, you are the king of resurrecting Les Pauls.

Thank you for your kind words. Yeah it was fate, and I have gigged the guitar for a couple of years now. Justlove the tone and feel of her.

mapleflame · 07-17-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

Any new projects ?

I do, waiting for a couple of trucks. 62-63 Gibson ES330 routed for PAt No pickups and a 62 SG Body. Also I just got at a yard sale a month ago two AC30/6 Vox Chassis, and at an auction a 51 Deluxe amp with out the tweed though. You will have to help me find some material for that. The normal horizontal tweed is for the later models. I will post some pics when my life gets back after all the Athletes go to camp. The 52-53 that I got from WIldwood should be done from Phil at PhilToneMusic. Refretted/Pleked and other odds and ends.

The 62 SG Body

03-20-2007, 08:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
mapleflame V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Burke Va. Posts: 2,454 Thanks: 0 Thanked 107 Times in 26 Posts	56 Les paul that was restored to Original Well here goes the Story, I couldn't sleep one night and happened to go online and look at GBAse. In the first page of the Gibson Les Pauls I read Burnt Les Paul From Freebasing Drug addict. I went huh, and then laughed my ass off. I clicked on the guitar which looked like a person who burnt them self while freebasing. The guitar was a 56 les paul that ACME music put up as a joke. I had been looking for some old wood at the time and I said what the hell, so I called them and asked if i could buy it. The guy said let me talk to the other owner and see if we want to sell it. Well they called the next day and said they had an offer for a 1000.00, so I said I'll take it for 1500.00 now. The guitars headstock was really charcoaled but the body was not touched. The electronics, backplates, ABR-1 Tailpiece, Magnets/Polepieces, and tuners minus the tips were the only thing that survived. The guitar arrived in two days and I opened the box up and said hummm who am I going to get to fix this. At the Time I was having ShamRay in Russian build a 59 replica, and a 54 Replica, I was not privy to all the guys in the US. Well before I got the guitar I had spoken to Dave Johnson about his inlays and got a few sets from him. I emailed him and he said excitely send that sucker up to me. Well I was having ShamRay build a neck and I was going to have it sent to Dave after if was roughed out. I sent a pic to Dave and he said it was all wrong. Well I then went on a mission to get all the right wood. I found 75 year old Brazillian Rosewood, and 50 year old Mahogony for the neck. I found a broken off 56 Special headstock to use the Holly veneer and Gibson Inlay to put on the face of the new headstock. We used the original trussrod. The guitar was originally a All Gold so that's what we put her back to. I found a 1930's original inlay material that perfectly matched a 52 that I have as well. Dave went to work building the neck and then the fingerboard. This process took about a year to build the neck, find parts, and then Paint/age the guitar. The guitar really is an incredible sounding P90 guitar. It has really hot pickups that rival just about any PAF guitar. AS they say it's all in the wood. The neck wood was from a very lightweight piece of Mahogony. The guitar weighs under 8.5. Before shot After __________________ No thank you to Burst I'll Bronze instead. I just love the green left on my arm in the morning. It Looks Like Victory. Last edited by mapleflame; 03-20-2007 at 08:15 AM.

03-20-2007, 08:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
mapleflame V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Burke Va. Posts: 2,454 Thanks: 0 Thanked 107 Times in 26 Posts	__________________ No thank you to Burst I'll Bronze instead. I just love the green left on my arm in the morning. It Looks Like Victory.

03-23-2007, 12:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
cherrySunburst Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	gold wow, what a transformation! I bet you were delighted with the result.... How long ago did all this occur? I assume the finish checking etc was deliberate? I've been involved in several projects (with other Gibsons, not LPs) and I don't normally bother relic-ing them I'm usually clumsy enough that they relic themselves after a few rehearsals!

03-26-2007, 11:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
FlyingFred Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	54 at the Summer Jam I have seen the person with this goldtop... I must say that although the guitar had been very well repaired, it had lost all of its interesting features. It was not a 50s LP anymore, just a gold guitar. I was disappointed at the work, but understand that Gibson may not wish to do replicas, or imitate their old product. I would have personnaly chosen another path if I had been him.

04-02-2007, 08:42 AM	#16 (permalink)
BCRGreg V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lemoyne, PA Posts: 11,795 Thanks: 320 Thanked 2,075 Times in 272 Posts	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original I have played that guitar, and I need it. Hey, Steve, go grab me another Dr Pepper, willya? (Steve wonders why the front door slams JUST as he gets in the kitchen.....) __________________ Cool guitars, extreme repairs and brutal honesty. www.bcrmusic.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/BCR-M...76454402425822

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03-20-2007, 12:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
ptate V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts: 3,620 Thanks: 122 Thanked 256 Times in 72 Posts	Nice................ I'll give you $2000 for it now it's sorted........

03-24-2007, 08:05 AM	#7 (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	Now that's some amazing work. Glad these things can be saved when something like that happens to them.

03-24-2007, 08:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
FLICKOFLASH V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hagerstown,MD USA Posts: 24,433 Thanks: 945 Thanked 2,142 Times in 619 Posts	That is amazing & thanks for sharing it. While I was at the gibson custom shop this past summer a guy had just picked up his 54 all goldtop renecked by gibson ,The guy was enlighted & I was trying to hold back my emotions . They basically took a vintage guitar that had a bowed neck & just put a new historic neck on it ,new nonBrazilian board with cheesy inlays & tried to buff some of the checking on the top. I was with my jaw hanging open ,,uhh what they do with the original neck & why didn't they use the old board & wondering how down the road he be explaining it's not a historic

03-29-2007, 10:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
HolyGrail V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Beach to the Desert . Posts: 1,113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	aaah, So he confused this for Maple's !

03-29-2007, 11:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
HolyGrail V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Beach to the Desert . Posts: 1,113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	ok, so I confused the 2 ! I need to learn how to read .

04-03-2007, 06:08 AM	#19 (permalink)
WBPickups Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original Congrats! That's a great find and wonderful restoration!

04-10-2007, 11:15 AM	#21 (permalink)
lp junior freak V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: none of ur beeswax Posts: 527 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original congrats man that looks wonderful enjoy __________________ nahum 1:7 the lord is good a stronghold in the day of trouble

07-14-2008, 12:08 AM	#22 (permalink)
FLICKOFLASH V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hagerstown,MD USA Posts: 24,433 Thanks: 945 Thanked 2,142 Times in 619 Posts	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original Any new projects ? __________________ FLICKOFLASH...!!! ® https://www.facebook.com/pages/FLICKOFLASH/112374901404

07-14-2008, 12:24 AM	#23 (permalink)
shotgunlew V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 51 Thanked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original OMG that is one of the koolest refins ive ever seen chris __________________ 60% of the time...it works every time.... Gun Control = Using Both Hands!! Everyone Please Pray for Sgt Jeffery Crones and the rest of the boys in iraq! Get some boys! Chris "The Gunhand" Of the MLP Pirates Crew 1986 Les Paul Jr (Cherry red Singlecut ) 1994 MIJ fender Telecaster 52 reissue 1984 JCM 800 1x12 50 watt combo Behringer 4x12 cab (Bugera speakers)

07-14-2008, 01:38 AM	#24 (permalink)
jkinnison90 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nelsonville, Ohio Posts: 1,379 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original Very nice. __________________ 2003 Epiphone Les Paul Standard - Heritage Cherry Sunburst

07-14-2008, 08:33 AM	#25 (permalink)
blueheeler Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane,Australia Posts: 225 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original It looks FANTASTIC!!!

07-14-2008, 11:31 AM	#27 (permalink)
mdr40z Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 594 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original sweet, just reinforces 'it's not over til we say it's over'

07-14-2008, 03:25 PM	#28 (permalink)
kgp1 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 56 Les paul that was restored to Original Great looking guitar and a great story. Thanks for posting.

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