My friend's Norlin LP Deluxe

[roknfnrol]

It sounds great and plays great. We think it is from the early 70s. Looks like it has a 6 piece top. What's up with the rings around on the mini humbuckers? I wonder if it came from the factory like that? He paid about $600 for it!!

 

[Cheddar Slim]

Those are "Goof" rings. Gibson used to put them on the Deluxes for that "full humbucker" cosmetic appearance. Original Goofs are not that common on most Deluxe's I've seen. If they are factory installed - then that would be '69 to early '70's.

Nice score. Sheesh, I never guit steals like that on LP's.

 

[roknfnrol]

Nice score. Sheesh, I never guit steals like that on LP's.

He got it about 10 years ago though. So do you think full sized humbuckers could be installed with no modification? Just curious, he does not have any intention of doing that.

 

[Cheddar Slim]

Still a great deal.

I don't think so - the goofs just cover up the routes for the mini's. I think they were purely cosmetic, but I've read that some of the routes were not finished off well and the goofs cover up that roughness.

Please don't let him route it just to put in full-size humbuckers.

 

[dwagar]

wow, I think that's a beautiful top.

No, humbuckers won't fit. If he doesn't like the minis, P90s should fit. And he can always swap back to keep it stock.

Check the pot codes to get the exact year. If the neck is mahogany, it's '74 or older.

 

[John Vasco]

Tell your mate to consider the following:

1. Norlins are going up in price steadily.
2. LP Deluxes wth goof rings are more scarce than other LP Deluxes, simply because there were not that many fitted with them, ergo, their value, I believe, will be proportionally greater.
3. If it's all-original, don't modify it at all. It's a great instrument, as is.

One thing that may need to be looked at: has the bridge been turned around in order to accommodate accurate intonation? If so, it may need a tech to set it up properly (i.e. correct truss rod adjustment), so that the bridge sits correctly once more.

Hope this helps.

 

[scoobyzjr]

Still a great deal.

I don't think so - the goofs just cover up the routes for the mini's. I think they were purely cosmetic, but I've read that some of the routes were not finished off well and the goofs cover up that roughness.

Please don't let him route it just to put in full-size humbuckers.

Why not rout it for full size hums? If I had an LP with the mini's, I would certainly consider routing for full size humbuckers. Is that like taboo?

 

[John Vasco]

Why not rout it for full size hums? If I had an LP with the mini's, I would certainly consider routing for full size humbuckers. Is that like taboo?

If it is all-original, I would leave it alone. But that's just my view. And that baby has a six-piece top!

 

[dynabite]

Is that like taboo?

 

[Grand Pappy]

Any one can do whatever they want to their guitar, But....
IMHO routing an LP Deluxe for full size HB's is blasphemy!
P-90's, or a good set of Mini HB's are what make the Deluxe model unique in the world of LP's. I paid $300 for my 76 Deluxe in 84, but I've put in about $700 in mods and upgrades since then. When I had my Deluxe refretted 2 years ago the luthier offered me $1700 for it, prior to refret. I declined his offer. I will keep my LP Deluxe for as long as I live. She's like family!

 

[roknfnrol]

Tell your mate to consider the following:

1. Norlins are going up in price steadily.
2. LP Deluxes wth goof rings are more scarce than other LP Deluxes, simply because there were not that many fitted with them, ergo, their value, I believe, will be proportionally greater.
3. If it's all-original, don't modify it at all. It's a great instrument, as is.

One thing that may need to be looked at: has the bridge been turned around in order to accommodate accurate intonation? If so, it may need a tech to set it up properly (i.e. correct truss rod adjustment), so that the bridge sits correctly once more.

Hope this helps.

Turned around? Is it backwards? I thought the intonation screws face the pickups.

 

[Cheddar Slim]

Why not rout it for full size hums? If I had an LP with the mini's, I would certainly consider routing for full size humbuckers. Is that like taboo?

It is to me. I'm not a cork-sniffer, but I stop at routing and adding holes for switches to a stock instrument. Deluxes are rare - even more so with goof rings. It's more of a historical "preservation" thing to me.

 

[scoobyzjr]

That is one of the reasons I don't think I could own one. The look of the mini-buckers would drive me nuts - no real reason to not like them, just appearance. I would be too tempted to mess with it!

 

[John Vasco]

Turned around? Is it backwards? I thought the intonation screws face the pickups.

This is, I believe, the correct way they should be facing (on my '76 lefty Deluxe):

 

[Grand Pappy]

IMHO - Goof rings are Fugly!!!

 

[Cheddar Slim]

That is one of the reasons I don't think I could own one. The look of the mini-buckers would drive me nuts - no real reason to not like them, just appearance. I would be too tempted to mess with it!

The good news for you is there's plenty of Standards with full size hum's out there. Really good prices right now, too.

To clarify, I also agree with a post above - if it's your guitar then who am I to say. I just have a personal "cringe" everytime I see pickup and Kahler routes. Oh, and mini-switches, etc.

 

[dwagar]

This is, I believe, the correct way they should be facing (on my '76 lefty Deluxe):

His is correct I believe for an ABR1, yours is correct for a Nashville (at least I think that's correct - I don't actually own a guitar with a Nashville bridge). Mine (ABR1) face the pickups too, as do Historics (ie ABR1 guitars).

 

[yllsacky]

tell you friend that you asked here and they all said it was fake and that you have to destroy it but then you take it from him

 

[John Vasco]

His is correct I believe for an ABR1, yours is correct for a Nashville (at least I think that's correct - I don't actually own a guitar with a Nashville bridge). Mine (ABR1) face the pickups too, as do Historics (ie ABR1 guitars).

Good point, well picked up.
(And this is my 1,000th post!)

 

[dwagar]

this is my 1,000th post!