1953 Gibson Les Paul Retread

[boogieongtr]

I recently bought this 53 wrap tail Les Paul from the original owner's Son. The owner was a Pastor and he and his wife lead the singing at their church every Sunday and at mid week service. I was contacted a year ago and at that time the Son wanted me to do a restoration to the guitar. He had some financial things come up plus he got Covid and couldn't do the restoration. After getting thru Covid he then contacted me and asked if I would buy the guitar. So that's the back story on this guitar. I'll be doing a restoration, refurbish or retread whatever you want to call it. Sometime in the 60's he had someone finish over the existing gold. The color was a horrible green and there are a few minor repair's I'll be doing to the guitar. After the repairs I'm having Kim at Historic Makeovers do a total refin. I can't decide to put it back to the correct Gold or do a finish like the 53 Jared James Nichols bought from Charlie Daughtry. Tell me which one you like..... Thanks

Here's my new project

My 52

JJN 53

 

[LocoTex]

My vote is for doing it up like a proper '53.

 

[VictorB]

I dig the red, reminds me of Dickey Betts’ red top.

Or.... there could be flame under there!

 

[geddy]

Reminds me of the Mary Ford les paul that Robbo has, albeit without the trapeze tailpiece.

 

[Guy Named Sue]

I like the red, reminds me of 335 Lazarus that can be seen played by Samuel L Jackson in Black Moan Snake. Altho that one probably had a hint of purple in it also? I think so, not sure. It sold in an auction for merely 1500 back in -07

 

[Jake_Jakerson]

I love the red finishes on old Lps. My vote has to go to red and or cherry finish kinda like "Lucy" would look killer!!

 

[E.T.]

I recently bought this 53 wrap tail Les Paul from the original owner's Son. The owner was a Pastor and he and his wife lead the singing at their church every Sunday and at mid week service. I was contacted a year ago and at that time the Son wanted me to do a restoration to the guitar. He had some financial things come up plus he got Covid and couldn't do the restoration. After getting thru Covid he then contacted me and asked if I would buy the guitar. So that's the back story on this guitar. I'll be doing a restoration, refurbish or retread whatever you want to call it. Sometime in the 60's he had someone finish over the existing gold. The color was a horrible green and there are a few minor repair's I'll be doing to the guitar. After the repairs I'm having Kim at Historic Makeovers do a total refin. I can't decide to put it back to the correct Gold or do a finish like the 53 Jared James Nichols bought from Charlie Daughtry. Tell me which one you like..... Thanks

Here's my new project
View attachment 514152

My 52
View attachment 514147

JJN 53
View attachment 514148

Finish it in Wine Red and send it to me!

 

[zhivago]

Cardinal Red gets my vote!

 

[dwagar]

While the red looks cool, I'd still go, everyday, for the Gold.

 

[jeggz]

Red.

 

[boogieongtr]

Finish it in Wine Red and send it to me!

That can be arranged. Here's one I did 8 years ago. It's a bit more transparent than Jared's Red.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

Gold ... and PLEASE don't put humbuckers in it.

 

[Dogbreath]

Do it like a proper ‘53. It needs to be gold with P90’s and a wrap tail.

 

[fernieite]

Do it like a proper ‘53. It needs to be gold with P90’s and a wrap tail.

Yep, just the way it left Kalamazoo 68 years ago.

 

[E.T.]

That can be arranged. Here's one I did 8 years ago. It's a bit more transparent than Jared's Red.
View attachment 514259

Beautiful! Unfortunately from what I read online market price on a genuine '53 is probably about the same as four kidneys and I can only spare the one

 

[KStopper65]

Yep, Gold it is

 

[lewis_grey]

I vote gold, if not just for the novelty of seeing an early 50’s LP actually restored for once rather than hacked up into a poor man’s burst!

 

[fernieite]

Fwiw, if I was wanting to get a 1950s Les Paul refinished in gold, I'd be begging Buyusfear (from the Les Paul forum) to paint and lightly age it!

Check out the save he made on the '52 trapeze...

Sorokin Guitars - Home | Facebook

 

[glenngross]

Gold as Gibson intended. Hey Jim, do you have a recommendation for replacement studs to cure the leaning bridge on mine? It’s strung with 10s, and doesn’t appear to have gotten worse since I bought it here.

 

[Archtopanimal]

Restore to original .