1952 Les Paul 'conversion"

[sk6strng]

I am considering buying a 1952 Les Paul GOLDTOP that has had a neck-crack repaired but is in otherwise amazing condition. This is a real 45 year old guitar that I would be buying as a player and converting to a wrap-around (1954 style) guitar. (keeping the P-90's and original finish)
I would like advice and recommendations to someone who has lots of experience and can do a great job on the neck reset. (preferably with NO or minimal paint/laquer work.)
I am in the Los Angeles area.
Thanks in advance.
scott

 

[3Steps]

Dave Johnson in WA. AAA+

http://www.vintagerestorations.net/index.html

 

[FLICKOFLASH]

45 ??? you mean 55 year old guitar

Vintage Restorations

 

[sk6strng]

Duh...I skipped that class....

 

[dwagar]

hmm

isn't Roman in LA? email member RFR on here.

 

[Roman]

YUP,
We can help the boy out. I had a 53 GT that I did the same thing to.

Roman

 

[sk6strng]

THANKS TO DWAGAR FOR THIS REFERRAL.

HERE IS A LINK TO THE E-BAY LISTING WHERE I SAW THE GUITAR FOR SALE.

Gibson Les Paul Gold Top 1952 - eBay (item 260214026424 end time Feb-28-08 13:27:23 PST)

 

[sk6strng]

Next question... I am will be buying a wraparound tailpiece and studs from a 1954-55 Les Paul for this project right? Anybody have a source for this or am I trolling in the murky waters of my neighborhood vintage guitar-parts dealers?

THANKS

 

[BCRGreg]

Got em.

I'll hook you up.

 

[sk6strng]

Thanks!

B.T.W, Your site looks cool...couldn't get in though.

 

[sk6strng]

UPDATE:
The deal is done and the guitar is on the way.

(My kids dont really need college anyway.)

 

[BCRGreg]

I get in using Firefox and IE, what are you using?

 

[sk6strng]

Thank Greg..im In Your Inventory On My Windows Computer...thanks

 

[BCRGreg]

Well DON'T BREAK ANYTHING bumbling about in there!

717.73.9775

 

[mapleflame]

Why would you convert this guitar, other than the neck it's in phenominal shape.

 

[dwagar]

UPDATE:
The deal is done and the guitar is on the way.

(My kids dont really need college anyway.)

 

[dwagar]

Well DON'T BREAK ANYTHING bumbling about in there!

717.73.9775

or, try 717-730-9775

 

[sk6strng]

Hi Mapleflame. I respect your question.
Doing it to make a horribly designed guitar (which they later figured out) play properly that has no chance of ever being original due to the repair. This upgrade might launch it into legendary instrument status. I would never consider tearing apart an original unbroken one of these but Apparently Les Paul himself couldn't believe it when he saw the impossible neck angle and the fact that the strings had to be wrapped the wrong way under the tailpiece to make the guitar even sort of work. They now refer to these 52 and early 53's as 'prototypes'.
I ask you this...What if this is the most live and resonant mixture of woods and the best set of 1952 P90 pickups EVER made and it's all been sleeping in this unplayable guitar?
Been waiting for a candidate like this and I'll ask you...If not for the collectable value of these things why would everyone not do the changes to make a guitar play amazing?
The question is what's your focus and I guess I'm a player/collector and not the other way around. Here's an example.
I refused to make any changes to my bone-stock "fretless-wonder" 1956 Black Beauty Custom cause it was guitar-collector suicide. I could only afford this axe in 1992 ($2500. US dollars) because they were DOGS that no one wanted cause they play so BAD with 1-50 inch high frets.
Every time I went on stage or in the studio I left this one home and grabbed something else even though this axe SCREAMED, cause I bend notes and another guitar would just deliver way better.

Beautiful guitar but sold it to a 'collector' for $5000.00 cause I had no connection with it. Bad move for me since now they're worth 10 times that much.

A better choice for me is my super lightweight 69 Goldtop that already had patent number pu's and grovers when I got it. Gave me the freedom to have a beautiful re-fret done on it. Then I bought original tuners, bridge, tailpiece, switchtip, ring, control knobs, pickguard & bracket to get it as close to original as possible. If you follow the cost of vintage parts you know it was Top Ramen & tap water over here for that whole month.

I love that we in the community have huge respect for history and keep things original....but know what you want out of a guitar. All my vintage guitars come to me with an issue or 2....bigger frets, maybe a wrong pot and drilled out headstock that I've had to have someone fill to put original (crappy) tuners back on. I put them back as original as possible cause it's cool for me and reminds me of when I had better hair but I know me, and I only want guitars in my house that play incredible.
Sorry to pontificate.
What r your thoughts?

 

[Roman]

Hi Mapleflame. I respect your question.
Doing it to make a horribly designed guitar (which they later figured out) play properly that has no chance of ever being original due to the repair. This upgrade might launch it into legendary instrument status. I would never consider tearing apart an original unbroken one of these but Apparently Les Paul himself couldn't believe it when he saw the impossible neck angle and the fact that the strings had to be wrapped the wrong way under the tailpiece to make the guitar even sort of work. They now refer to these 52 and early 53's as 'prototypes'.
I ask you this...What if this is the most live and resonant mixture of woods and the best set of 1952 P90 pickups EVER made and it's all been sleeping in this unplayable guitar?
Been waiting for a candidate like this and I'll ask you...If not for the collectable value of these things why would everyone not do the changes to make a guitar play amazing?
The question is what's your focus and I guess I'm a player/collector and not the other way around. Here's an example.
I refused to make any changes to my bone-stock "fretless-wonder" 1956 Black Beauty Custom cause it was guitar-collector suicide. I could only afford this axe in 1992 ($2500. US dollars) because they were DOGS that no one wanted cause they play so BAD with 1-50 inch high frets.
Every time I went on stage or in the studio I left this one home and grabbed something else even though this axe SCREAMED, cause I bend notes and another guitar would just deliver way better.

Beautiful guitar but sold it to a 'collector' for $5000.00 cause I had no connection with it. Bad move for me since now they're worth 10 times that much.

A better choice for me is my super lightweight 69 Goldtop that already had patent number pu's and grovers when I got it. Gave me the freedom to have a beautiful re-fret done on it. Then I bought original tuners, bridge, tailpiece, switchtip, ring, control knobs, pickguard & bracket to get it as close to original as possible. If you follow the cost of vintage parts you know it was Top Ramen & tap water over here for that whole month.

I love that we in the community have huge respect for history and keep things original....but know what you want out of a guitar. All my vintage guitars come to me with an issue or 2....bigger frets, maybe a wrong pot and drilled out headstock that I've had to have someone fill to put original (crappy) tuners back on. I put them back as original as possible cause it's cool for me and reminds me of when I had better hair but I know me, and I only want guitars in my house that play incredible.
Sorry to pontificate.
What r your thoughts?

Well Said.

The one guitar I truly regret selling was my broken headstock/ reset neck 53 goldtop. Why? What it lacked in collector value it made up for in sound and playability.

Roman

 

[61LPSG]

Hi Mapleflame. I respect your question.
Doing it to make a horribly designed guitar (which they later figured out) play properly that has no chance of ever being original due to the repair. This upgrade might launch it into legendary instrument status. I would never consider tearing apart an original unbroken one of these but Apparently Les Paul himself couldn't believe it when he saw the impossible neck angle and the fact that the strings had to be wrapped the wrong way under the tailpiece to make the guitar even sort of work. They now refer to these 52 and early 53's as 'prototypes'.
I ask you this...What if this is the most live and resonant mixture of woods and the best set of 1952 P90 pickups EVER made and it's all been sleeping in this unplayable guitar?
Been waiting for a candidate like this and I'll ask you...If not for the collectable value of these things why would everyone not do the changes to make a guitar play amazing?
The question is what's your focus and I guess I'm a player/collector and not the other way around. Here's an example.
I refused to make any changes to my bone-stock "fretless-wonder" 1956 Black Beauty Custom cause it was guitar-collector suicide. I could only afford this axe in 1992 ($2500. US dollars) because they were DOGS that no one wanted cause they play so BAD with 1-50 inch high frets.
Every time I went on stage or in the studio I left this one home and grabbed something else even though this axe SCREAMED, cause I bend notes and another guitar would just deliver way better.

Beautiful guitar but sold it to a 'collector' for $5000.00 cause I had no connection with it. Bad move for me since now they're worth 10 times that much.

A better choice for me is my super lightweight 69 Goldtop that already had patent number pu's and grovers when I got it. Gave me the freedom to have a beautiful re-fret done on it. Then I bought original tuners, bridge, tailpiece, switchtip, ring, control knobs, pickguard & bracket to get it as close to original as possible. If you follow the cost of vintage parts you know it was Top Ramen & tap water over here for that whole month.

I love that we in the community have huge respect for history and keep things original....but know what you want out of a guitar. All my vintage guitars come to me with an issue or 2....bigger frets, maybe a wrong pot and drilled out headstock that I've had to have someone fill to put original (crappy) tuners back on. I put them back as original as possible cause it's cool for me and reminds me of when I had better hair but I know me, and I only want guitars in my house that play incredible.
Sorry to pontificate.
What r your thoughts?

I totally respect your balz sk6strng... GO FOR IT!