is this a 1956 Lester?

Dolebludger · Jul 30, 2025

To get additional intonation space on the bridge, a Gotoh bridge could be installed — probably a drop in job. I don’t think authenticity is important on this guitar.

jaik · Jul 30, 2025

Dolebludger said:
To get additional intonation space on the bridge, a Gotoh bridge could be installed — probably a drop in job. I don’t think authenticity is important on this guitar.

If this is a 1956 ABR Les Paul as all here seem to agree, why would an ABR not intonate ?

jaik · Jul 30, 2025

Jimmi said:
All it needs is a custom made pickguard to hide the Bridge pickup placement, maybe a better finish and whatever 50s replacement parts it is otherwise missing. It is still a 50s ABR LP. No collector grade but a great player and worth a decent amount of money in todays market

that’s what I’m sayin
It sounds great as is but I may look for pots and pickups and a bridge at least

LPTDMSV · Jul 30, 2025

jaik said:
If this is a 1956 ABR Les Paul as all here seem to agree, why would an ABR not intonate ?

Could be several reasons - I don’t know about ‘56 but at various other times Gibson haven’t been great at putting bridges in the right position!

Or it could have been adjusted by someone who squeezed down hard on the fretted note when trying to do the intonation, that can throw the adjustment way out … lots of possibilities.

Personally I wouldn’t worry about it. Fit a nice replica ABR and re-do the setup from scratch. Worst case scenario is you have to drill new post holes and plug the old ones, no big deal compared to routing for humbuckers!

eric ernest · Jul 30, 2025

Jimmi said:
All it needs is a custom made pickguard to hide the Bridge pickup placement,

I would suggest the better move would be to put the pickup in the correct spot and patch it....why? Because if he doesn't do it the next guy will. LOL!

eric ernest · Jul 30, 2025

I see no reason to leave the bridge where it is. They were placed where they were because of the very heavy strings that were used at the time. Repositioning a bridge may be heresy to some, but I welcome it.

Years from no one will care.....except for museum curators.

VictorB · Jul 30, 2025

eric ernest said:
I would suggest the better move would be to put the pickup in the correct spot and patch it....why? Because if he doesn't do it the next guy will. LOL!

I thought the same thing!

dwagar · Jul 30, 2025

eric ernest said:
I see absolutely no evidence of a re-neck.

? I don't know why I thought I read it was a reneck. I'll go park my brain in the corner.

strayedstrater · Jul 30, 2025

Convert it to a wraptail and paint it oxblood? Bridge pickup is in about the right place for that.

pinefd · Jul 30, 2025

Jimmi said:
All it needs is a custom made pickguard to hide the Bridge pickup placement, maybe a better finish and whatever 50s replacement parts it is otherwise missing. It is still a 50s ABR LP. No collector grade but a great player and worth a decent amount of money in todays market

Hey, Jimmi, do us a favor and show us some token pics of your abominations. Just because we're gluttons for punishment. :naughty:

Frank

DelawareGold · Jul 30, 2025

pinefd said:
Hey, Jimmi, do us a favor and show us some token pics of your abominations. Just because we're gluttons for punishment.

Frank

Now Frank, you know better than to ask a guy from Nashville
to show you his Lester's.
We'll be here all night!
:io:

Dolebludger · Jul 30, 2025

Well, if it is a great player, it is worth a few hundred bucks. But not much more. This guitar will need some love.

DelawareGold · Jul 30, 2025

Dolebludger said:
Well, if it is a great player, it is worth a few hundred bucks. But not much more. This guitar will need some love.

The fretboard is worth that.

eric ernest · Jul 30, 2025

DelawareGold said:
The fretboard is worth that.

Fretboard? $1,500 minimum.

Dolebludger · Jul 30, 2025

Question, what is special about a 56 LP fretboard? Back in 1962 I had the chance to buy a real 1956 LP P 90 that was a real wreck for $60! So I am just wondering how big of a mistake I made.

jaik · Jul 31, 2025

Dolebludger said:
Question, what is special about a 56 LP fretboard? Back in 1962 I had the chance to buy a real 1956 LP P 90 that was a real wreck for $60! So I am just wondering how big of a mistake I made.

It’s aged Brazilian rosewood , an endangered species and OG inlays that are pretty hard to get so for someone who is into these things good luck finding one.
you can’t get the switch tip for $60 now. Hell people probably charge that for the control panel screws lol of course this one we’re discussing doesn’t have the OG switch tip and only 2 control panel screws left so

lolz but I’m a full time player not a museum guy so it’s not of primary concern for my uses

A lot of things have happened between 1962 and now and who knows if you’d still have it if you had bought it. We’ve all got our near miss fishing stories over the years , I sure do.

Banned · Jul 31, 2025

Dolebludger said:
Well, if it is a great player, it is worth a few hundred bucks. But not much more. This guitar will need some love.

Cmon

LPTDMSV · Jul 31, 2025

Dolebludger said:
Question, what is special about a 56 LP fretboard? Back in 1962 I had the chance to buy a real 1956 LP P 90 that was a real wreck for $60! So I am just wondering how big of a mistake I made.

Don’t look back …

There’s probably not a person on this forum who hasn’t thought “I should have bought that” about some old beat-up guitar, when at the time all you could see were all the things that were wrong with it and how it ought to have been cheaper.

I bought an equally hacked-up ‘65 Melody Maker a couple of years ago at a “shop price”, not such a great investment but how often does an opportunity come up to buy a ‘65 Gibson, or a ‘56?

So glad I did.

Jimmi · Jul 31, 2025

pinefd said:
Hey, Jimmi, do us a favor and show us some token pics of your abominations. Just because we're gluttons for punishment.

Frank

Let me see what I can dig up. Luckily for everyone involved I am traveling so limited to what is on my phone.

Jimmi · Jul 31, 2025

eric ernest said:
I would suggest the better move would be to put the pickup in the correct spot and patch it....why? Because if he doesn't do it the next guy will. LOL!

I think visible plugs shoo-ins be avoided at all costs. The pickup ring is barely out of alignment as is. With the right pickguard, most would not see it. To me that is a better result…also loses no more original wood.

is this a 1956 Lester?

Dolebludger

Senior Member

jaik

Senior Member

jaik

Senior Member

LPTDMSV

eric ernest

eric ernest

VictorB

Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

dwagar

strayedstrater

Senior Member

pinefd

V.I.P. Member

DelawareGold

_Artie_

Dolebludger

Senior Member

DelawareGold

_Artie_

eric ernest

Dolebludger

Senior Member

jaik

Senior Member

Banned

Senior Member

LPTDMSV

Jimmi

Senior Member

Jimmi

Senior Member

Similar threads

Latest Threads

is this a 1956 Lester?

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

Senior Member

V.I.P. Member

_______Artie_______

Senior Member

_______Artie_______

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

_Artie_

_Artie_