Original sunburst color

[GooCart]

You must excuse me, this might seem like a really silly question.
We all know what a '58-'60 'burst looks like now after 50 years but how did they look brand new?
I've seen some black and white original photos from the 50's and on those the sunburst color looks quite dark and accented with a high range of contrast, if you know how I mean.

I'm sure this have been discussed earlier but I don't seem to find any info about it.

[MesaBoogie]

Clownburst probably

[Sgt.Pepper]

I would reccommend asking Roman Rist or John Catto - They'll even know the original forumation, brand of laquer etc...

[snaredrum]

check out curly here...

YouTube - TOM WITTROCK | 1960 Gibson Les Paul Burst for $2000, Billy Gibbons

YouTube - TOM WITTROCK | 1960 Gibson Les Paul Burst for $2000, Billy Gibbons

[myspace.com/jessenoah]

I assumed it looks like the color on the new 50th anny LPs


but this looks good to me, lots of color still left
Burst Serial Log

[Danelectro]

[GooCart]

The last pic is what I thought '58-'58 would look like for some 50 years ago.
Were a late '60 that dark or where they bright cherry from start?

[dazzypig]

Have you checked out TBOB book? I believe there's a couple in there that are in 'next to new' condition (haven't got it to hand though and I'm lazy, so you'll have to check )

D

[GooCart]

I have TBOB but I think the colors in it are way out, it's a yellow haze over everything, it looks as unreal as CSI Miami, at least in my edition.

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by GooCart

I have TBOB but I think the colors in it are way out, it's a yellow haze over everything, it looks as unreal as CSI Miami, at least in my edition.

I agree the colors are off in that. The pic above is def. how a mint 58-early '60 would've looked. The Tom Wittrock video of the '60 burst is how the later "tomato soup" bursts look new.

[dretot]

goocart,
Timely thread for me. I'm about to refin my lp using aniline dyes and I'm also very interested in the correct color of the originals ('58-early '60).
Just so you know, when I saved this pic to my desktop, it says:
"1960 Les Paul MINT Marty Schiff"
It looks like an early '60 judging by the deep cherry color.

This is the exact color and wide gradation of cherry that I want to achieve.

Thanks Danelectro for this pic!

dre

[/QUOTE]

[Danelectro]

Here's another photo, complete with the factory tissue paper.

[dretot]

Originally Posted by Danelectro

Here's another photo, complete with the factory tissue paper.

Absolutely Infrickencredible!

thanks!
dre

[TyrackT71]

Originally Posted by Danelectro

Here's another photo, complete with the factory tissue paper.

WOW!! how much you think thats worth? lol $200K-$400K

[GooCart]

That's a real beauty.
The reason I started the thread is because I've just started my #1 replica build, a complete cnc cut '59. Tom Bartlett has been really helpful and shipped some really nice eastern maple, the cnc machine is on standby, all tool paths are created, we have done some test cuts and we're probably going to start the final cutting later this week.

I'm looking for a under the bed, mint condition look on it and Danelectro's pics was just what I was looking for.

[dazzypig]

Originally Posted by GooCart

it looks as unreal as CSI Miami

Yea, I hate that show too


I do know what you mean about the book though there is a slight haze to it.

[Mr Insane]

I was looking through the serial log...
Burst Serial Log
talk about wear!!!

[myspace.com/jessenoah]

too much!

[Texas07R8]

amazing burst, I'd be tickled to have the case and pickups!

[jammvintage]

That 1960 LP has very excellent color. It is an early one....pretty much a 59 with a 60 serial number. That's mine.... If I may ask, where did you get the pictures? I also see the picture of the 10 year old boy playing it on his bed with his father. I didn't know that I had ever posted that picture anywhere. This is probably the finest 60 LP you will ever see. Thanks

Marty

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by jammvintage

That 1960 LP has very excellent color. It is an early one....pretty much a 59 with a 60 serial number. That's mine.... If I may ask, where did you get the pictures? I also see the picture of the 10 year old boy playing it on his bed with his father. I didn't know that I had ever posted that picture anywhere. This is probably the finest 60 LP you will ever see. Thanks

Marty

That's your burst??? Welcome man. I've seen that picture floating around the net before here as well. What a phenomenal guitar. Would you mind sharing the story behind it? How is it soooooooo mint?

[jammvintage]

I used to have a couple of pictures of that guitar on my website, but never had the one with the original owner playing it posted. If you look further up the post, you will see the original owner playing it on his bed with his father when he was 10 years old. The dad took his son into a music store in Louisville on his 10th birthday and had him pick out a guitar. He was trying to decide between a black Custom and this guitar. Luckily, he picked this one. His story is that he played it for a while (less than a year) and then lost interest and didn't play it after that. When I went to buy the guitar, it was wrapped in the original tissue paper from the factory. It has ALL of the tags and booklets. Even a guitar pick pouch. He gave me a framed picture of him playing it when he was 10 and added the story under the picture. Keith Urban has used this one on some of his recordings.

[dretot]

Originally Posted by jammvintage

That 1960 LP has very excellent color. It is an early one....pretty much a 59 with a 60 serial number. That's mine.... If I may ask, where did you get the pictures? I also see the picture of the 10 year old boy playing it on his bed with his father. I didn't know that I had ever posted that picture anywhere. This is probably the finest 60 LP you will ever see. Thanks

Marty

Marty,
Nice of you to chime in. Absolutely beautiful '60 you have there. I used it a reference when I refined my '04 '60 historic. The cherry is so deep and rich.
Do you have any more pics or recordings you could share with us? Do you happen to know the track/tracks that Kieth used it on?

thank you,
dre

[Danelectro]

Originally Posted by jammvintage

That 1960 LP has very excellent color. It is an early one....pretty much a 59 with a 60 serial number. That's mine.... If I may ask, where did you get the pictures? I also see the picture of the 10 year old boy playing it on his bed with his father. I didn't know that I had ever posted that picture anywhere. This is probably the finest 60 LP you will ever see. Thanks

Marty

Marty: I posted the photo, but I don't recall where I got it from. My file date on the "tissue" photo is from 2004 and it seems to me that I saved that from a website when it was up for sale. Was this from before you owned it? I do seem to recall that I pulled the photo of the guitar on the stand from your website. That photo and the "boy with the burst" photos both have file dates of February 2007, so maybe the photo was on your website??? (I should take more notes )

Anyway, that's an absolutely beautiful 'burst. Probably one of the cleanest on the planet. Could we trouble you to post more photos of that gem?

- Dan

[decoy205]

Marty that's very cool! It's great when people preserve the things they treasure. Has it faded at all since you've owned it? And I second the vote for more pics! Cool about Keith urban too guy knows guitar tone!

[myspace.com/jessenoah]

I think tom nailed it

[snaredrum]

so what we're saying is clownburst is the true historical colour...

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by snaredrum

so what we're saying is clownburst is the true historical colour...

I dont think that's what is shown here. An original sunburst is much wider in gradation and deeper in red color then people are used to seeing because of fading. A clownburst was more like a Deep red burst finish with almost no gradation into the yellow center of the burst so its a more harsh line common on a lot of Norlin bursts.

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by myspace.com/jessenoah

I think tom nailed it

Wow! Is there a thread for this? amazing!

[myspace.com/jessenoah]

the latest family member!