Limehouse Blues
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2012
- Messages
- 187
- Reaction score
- 271
A couple of days ago my 2012 Plaintop R0 arrived in Oberstdorf (thank you DHL - 24 hours door to door). I've admired Florian's work on other guitars and decided it was time to give my Historic the complete Bavarian tuning - new finish, rod, board, inlays and binding. I bought it in '13 and it's a great guitar. Absolutely nothing wrong with the sound of the thing. I even like the Burstbucker pickups. It's a great weight too. Bang on 9 lbs. So my reasons for getting the makeover are mainly aesthetic. While I really like the Bourbonburst there are some things about the finish of the historics that I am none too keen on.
First, the thickness and plasticky nature of the finish. I have a replica finished in very thin, almost glass like nitro that is just a few months old. It's so much nicer than the finish on my Historic. The binding colour also drives me nuts on the R0. It really is pink in hue and looks nothing like the binding on my early 80s Tokais or my replica. The board and inlays on the Historic are also an aesthetic weak point. Mine is a low serial number 2012 and there is a chance it still has a one piece board (we will see) but the colour is uninspiring. The fret inlays are also amazingly cheap looking for such an expensive and supposedly 'premium' guitar (they're far finer on my 80 Standard).
I'm rather a fan of gently aged guitars. When I bought my R0 the neck shape was all important though and I couldn't lay my hands on any well priced VOS or aged historic with a 60 neck so it was the gloss I ended up with. As I say though, it's a gloss finish that doesn't seem likely to age in the same way that a guitar with a much thinner/less plasticky finish would. While the exact colour of the refinish remains to be determined (probably something close to the bourbon burst, maybe a tea burst perhaps) I will be asking Florian to do some subtle ageing - something at which he appears highly adept.
So, the decision to go for a makeover is mainly an aesthetic one. I have no doubt that the refinish will have some impact on the instrument's tone which will be interesting to hear. For now I leave you with some pictures of the guitar in its new temporary Alpine accommodation. As the project progresses I will post more photos.
Unless the big lottery win comes in (which seems unlikely since I rarely buy a ticket) I see no vintage burst in my future. This makeover will I hope take me closer to the aesthetic, vibe and mojo of a vintage burst. I'm already eagerly acquiring new parts to finish the look, and managed recently to score some 60s gold plated grovers that are so aged they bear a resemblance to those sported by Mr James Page.
First, the thickness and plasticky nature of the finish. I have a replica finished in very thin, almost glass like nitro that is just a few months old. It's so much nicer than the finish on my Historic. The binding colour also drives me nuts on the R0. It really is pink in hue and looks nothing like the binding on my early 80s Tokais or my replica. The board and inlays on the Historic are also an aesthetic weak point. Mine is a low serial number 2012 and there is a chance it still has a one piece board (we will see) but the colour is uninspiring. The fret inlays are also amazingly cheap looking for such an expensive and supposedly 'premium' guitar (they're far finer on my 80 Standard).
I'm rather a fan of gently aged guitars. When I bought my R0 the neck shape was all important though and I couldn't lay my hands on any well priced VOS or aged historic with a 60 neck so it was the gloss I ended up with. As I say though, it's a gloss finish that doesn't seem likely to age in the same way that a guitar with a much thinner/less plasticky finish would. While the exact colour of the refinish remains to be determined (probably something close to the bourbon burst, maybe a tea burst perhaps) I will be asking Florian to do some subtle ageing - something at which he appears highly adept.
So, the decision to go for a makeover is mainly an aesthetic one. I have no doubt that the refinish will have some impact on the instrument's tone which will be interesting to hear. For now I leave you with some pictures of the guitar in its new temporary Alpine accommodation. As the project progresses I will post more photos.
Unless the big lottery win comes in (which seems unlikely since I rarely buy a ticket) I see no vintage burst in my future. This makeover will I hope take me closer to the aesthetic, vibe and mojo of a vintage burst. I'm already eagerly acquiring new parts to finish the look, and managed recently to score some 60s gold plated grovers that are so aged they bear a resemblance to those sported by Mr James Page.
