Framptons '54 Custom found

[Wilko]

The three double whites could be worth something, but that ain't the Frampton Custom.

[Cookie-boy]

But it could be "a" Frampton Custom. Couldn't it????

[joeobrien]

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

Here are some good detail pictures for reference on a 1958 Custom:

1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom 58 Celebrity owned & Used Rock History RARE! | eBay

Fascinating thread.

This might be a lame question and a bit off-topic but if we say for example that this one on Ebay is genuine, is it still a good investment at $320,000? Would it be worth (say) $1 million in 10 years? Will vintage guitars continue to rise in value or have they peaked? I appreciate it's probably anyone's guess but given the rarity and "mojo" factor of vintage guitars they should just keep going up, no?

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by Cookie-boy

But it could be "a" Frampton Custom. Couldn't it????

After a little photo analysis/comparison, I now actually believe it is!

The smoking gun:


Note the reflective pattern of the center inlay (insert pic is of the LP in question) in the split-diamond. They're exactly the same, just at slightly different angles. The odds of two MOP inlays having the exact same patterns are extremely low! I think our mystery is solved?

Sorry, about the quality of the pic, but I kind of did a rush-job on it.

Here's a smaller version, just so it's a little less blury:

[Luckynumber3]

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

After a little photo analysis/comparison, I now actually believe it is!

The smoking gun:

Note the reflective pattern of the center inlay (insert pic is of the LP in question) in the split-diamond. They're exactly the same, just at slightly different angles. The odds of two MOP inlays having the exact same patterns are extremely high! I think our mystery is solved?

I am starting to wonder how many of you are secretly crime scene investigators, biologists, or other forms of people who can find differences in such small details...

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by Benwave

Well look again boys

Attachment 51722

I am the guy from the Dutch forum, how are you all doing ?
The Les Paul custom from Mariana was a 1957 and not a 1954.
Peter get the guitar around 1970 and at that time it was nothing more then a used secondhand Gibson. Mark Mariana thought it was from 1954, but in fact it was from 1957.
I personally emailed with mister Peter Frampton. My first question to him was . are you certain that the lost guitar was a 1954 Gibson ? Because we found a 1957 guitar. And he said yes i could be one from 1957.
In that time (1970) nobody bothered with dates.
If you look closely at the pictures from that time you can see that the last three inlays are different
Just as a 1957 one should be.

But wait a few weeks, and all will be clear

Hi, Ben.

If you take a look at the comparison pics I did in one of my previous posts, I would say that, that is pretty definitive proof that this guitar is indeed Peter Frampton's original Custom!

The inlays don't lie!

BTW, welcome to MLP, and I would like to apologize for any doubt on my part!

Originally Posted by Luckynumber3

I am starting to wonder how many of you are secretly crime scene investigators, biologists, or other forms of people who can find differences in such small details...

I wish! When it comes to guitars (especially LPs), I try to pay attention to EVERY little detail!

[rockstar232007]

Double post.

[Benwave]

Thanks Rockstar. The dates to meet PF has bin set. We also believe its the real deal.

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by Benwave

Thanks Rockstar. The dates to meet PF has bin set. We also believe its the real deal.

You're welcome! And, make sure to keep us posted!

BTW, the name's Dennis.

[spicky]

Hi Guys
Take a look at guitar headstock on the right still has fire marks to see and the trushcover is melted by heat. The guitar was in hardcase that had burd off and save the guitar. Guitar had the strep on it when the own for the last 30 years got it

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by spicky

Hi Guys
Take a look at guitar headstock on the right still has fire marks to see and the trushcover is melted by heat. The guitar was in hardcase that had burd off and save the guitar. Guitar had the strep on it when the own for the last 30 years got it

Hi spicky. I'm now pretty convinced that this IS Peter's long-lost Custom (refer to post #64), and I hope everything goes very well!

[spicky]

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

Hi spicky. I'm now pretty convinced that this IS Peter's long-lost Custom (refer to post #64), and I hope everything goes very well!

Its the Guitar and I will be soon with mR Peter. Thanks for Your help

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by spicky

Its the Guitar and I will be soon with mR Peter. Thanks for Your help

You're welcome!

Make sure to take LOTS of pics, and post them here (if possible?).

[spicky]

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

You're welcome!

Make sure to take LOTS of pics, and post them here (if possible?).

I have a lot of pics. What you see is from 2 years ago. when I first saw the guitar and had been posted by my friend in Holland. You will see more after it goes to Peter which will be shortley

Thanks

[TKOjams]

[Benwave]

Originally Posted by TKOjams

The space is bigger on the orignal picture look on the first page of this topic
Lay that picture next to the enlargement of the picture with Peter

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by TKOjams

I thought about that as well, but if you look at the close-up pic on the firs page, you'll notice that the overlay is severly charred, and looks to have shrank a bit.

The center inlay in the split-diamond is pretty much the final nail in the coffin. As I said, "the inlays don't lie".

Here's the same pic rotated, and edited in gray-scale:



They only look slightly different, because they are at slightly different angles.

[LPPILOT]

My vintage LP's would perish falling off a 6 inch guitar stand, how does his survive a plane crash

[Leumas]

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

The center inlay in the split-diamond is pretty much the final nail in the coffin. As I said, "the inlays don't lie".

.

Before you get definitive, please explain what the deal is with the inlay at the 17th fret. I view Frampton's as being canted. It looks like it is slighty counterclockwise. This seems consistent in all three of the old pics, yet does not appear in the "new" pics.

[mapleflame]

Inlays on the headstock are not the same.

[LPPILOT]

The is one thing I would do to decide had it been in a plane crash ?

SMELL IT ..... the burnt plastics and toxins get absorbed into the wood, and I suspect a good sniffer might detect this easily.

[Midnight Blues]

Originally Posted by Lowdown

It could very well be Frampton's Custom…but it ain't the Custom.

If anything did survive that fire,which burned at 1800 degrees Farenheit maximum,that guitar pictured is probably one of his backups.

I'm sure this reared it's head a few months back didn't it?

I agree Ld. I've seen photos of him with similar, but different, LPs from that era, especially bearing a white PG, but not all white pups, although it seems like I've seen a photo like that somewhere?

Originally Posted by weirdotis

Frets look much wider than what's on the Frampton LP also.

I also agree with you werdotis. Frampton has always said it's a '54 (as far as I can remember anyway?) and '54s were the original "Black Beauty Fretless Wonders". The frets are much smaller. I have a '72 Limited Edition of the '54 (alledgedly made with leftover '54 parts) with the same frets.

I'm not saying that it's not his, but it's more likely as Ld say, a backup. I hope it is it for his sake!

[allbusinessjoe]

Another point to consider is how this guitar supposedly survived a plane crash and looks like it does. It is in better shape than some guitars after they are shipped by UPS where the plane doesn't crash!

[J.T.]

Nibs...?

[SKATTERBRANE]

Originally Posted by joeobrien

Fascinating thread.

This might be a lame question and a bit off-topic but if we say for example that this one on Ebay is genuine, is it still a good investment at $320,000? Would it be worth (say) $1 million in 10 years? Will vintage guitars continue to rise in value or have they peaked? I appreciate it's probably anyone's guess but given the rarity and "mojo" factor of vintage guitars they should just keep going up, no?

I can't think of any Custom being worth $320,000. That price is more inline with a 1959 Burst...a NICE one with great color and flame. Yes, we may see another peak, but the last one was around 2007.

[OldGuy]

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

But in any event, 1957 Customs have the same sized last three inlays.

Correct!

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by mapleflame

Inlays on the headstock are not the same.

Trust me, they are. When I get the time, I'll make/post a better pic that is more clear.

As for the inlays, it is possible that if it was in a fire, especially from a plane crash, that the inlays/fretboard may have become severly distorted.

After all of the comparisons I've done, if that's not THE guitar, I'll be really surprised!

[teame1]

I don't know you guys, cut them some slack.
If it is Framptom's custom we are indebted to the finders.
If not, it's a great story............way more entertaining than most closet 59 burst discovered posts.
Guys, if you could get a picture of yourselves handing it to Peter, please post it here.
Thanks T

[OldGuy]

Originally Posted by Benwave

If you look closely at the pictures from that time you can see that the last three inlays are different
Just as a 1957 one should be.

No, Benwave, it's just the opposite: on a 1957 Custom, the last three inlays are basically the same size. The last inlay in your pic is considerably smaller than the others. That's not a 1957, in my view.

[OldGuy]

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

As for the inlays, it is possible that if it was in a fire, especially from a plane crash, that the inlays/fretboard may have become severly distorted.

That doesn't seem probable, rockstar. The pic doesn't show any damage to speak of around the last three inlays.

It may be Frampton's burned guitar, but it's not a 1957 (or earlier), in my view.