69 Deluxe - Refinish or leave alone?

[davedent]

This is my first forum post here. I picked up this 1969 Deluxe last year. The top was refinished back in the 80's. I'm trying to decide whether to restore the top back to it's original goldtop and aged to match the back and neck. Thoughts and advice?

 

[geezbill]

it wouldn't look stock seeing as it was routed for fullsize humbuckers. i would be inclined to leave it as is

 

[davedent]

it wouldn't look stock seeing as it was routed for fullsize humbuckers. i would be inclined to leave it as is

True. It still has the original gold in the pickup cavities. Fortunately, they didn't paint over that. Definitely wouldn't attempt to go back to the minis. Mainly just get it closer to what it once was.

 

[geezbill]

If i was to paint it goldtop, i'd do it right and fill in the humbucker routes with maple and re-route for the minis. if you do it correctly, it would be undetectable under the gold (unless black-lighted)

 

[supaplexi]

Only you would know if you want your guitar painted gold or not ....

 

[1981 LPC]

If i was to paint it goldtop, i'd do it right and fill in the humbucker routes with maple and re-route for the minis. if you do it correctly, it would be undetectable under the gold (unless black-lighted)

No, the plugs will show in time.

 

[1981 LPC]

This is my first forum post here. I picked up this 1969 Deluxe last year. The top was refinished back in the 80's. I'm trying to decide whether to restore the top back to it's original goldtop and aged to match the back and neck. Thoughts and advice?

I would definitely choose Goldtop. The current finish is... well... not great.

Goldtop + humbuckers gives it that '57 vibe. Pretty cool.

 

[YodasDad]

This is my first forum post here. I picked up this 1969 Deluxe last year. The top was refinished back in the 80's. I'm trying to decide whether to restore the top back to it's original goldtop and aged to match the back and neck. Thoughts and advice?

If you don’t like it, I suppose it’s cheaper to just sell it and get a gold top. But to me in that 1mb photo, it looks nice enough and it’s already got a story. Does it play well and does it sound good?

 

[steviegitar]

This is my first forum post here. I picked up this 1969 Deluxe last year. The top was refinished back in the 80's. I'm trying to decide whether to restore the top back to it's original goldtop and aged to match the back and neck. Thoughts and advice?

 

[davedent]

I would definitely choose Goldtop. The current finish is... well... not great.

Goldtop + humbuckers gives it that '57 vibe. Pretty

If you don’t like it, I suppose it’s cheaper to just sell it and get a gold top. But to me in that 1mb photo, it looks nice enough and it’s already got a story. Does it play well and does it sound good?

It plays amazing. I’ve been playing for 40 years and it’s the first guitar I’ve ever sat down in the store and said “holy cow, I have to have this guitar”. Definitely a keeper. After some research about its history, found some threads about this guitar from 2010. It definitely has some history and with the top refinish it was probably half of what original would have cost. Patent number pickups sound great as well.

 

[steviegitar]

Normally I'd say no but since the top is already refinished I'd go for IF I could find a talented person to match the front to the (original?) back. If the back and sides are dull and funky/aged and the top is pretty and shiny -- big mistake. If you can match the wear patterns and color it will look great and maybe even go up in value as a result???

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

This is my first forum post here. I picked up this 1969 Deluxe last year. The top was refinished back in the 80's. I'm trying to decide whether to restore the top back to it's original goldtop and aged to match the back and neck. Thoughts and advice?

Welcome to the Forum!

Cool that you found a guitar you really bonded with.
It's a nice guitar.
A nice refin is not exactly cheap and matching the wear
is not an easy task. Not too many guys can do that.
If you go to shops like HM you can expect good results
but it's gonna cost you.

The current finish is not all that bad compared to
original Cherry Sunburst patterns so it's really a matter
of your own taste and money!


More pictures would be great!
Back, cavities, etc.
We love those!

 

[Sea Ranch]

Welcome, davedent!

Good news: generally speaking, if we buy a refin at refin price, then we are free to refinish it again without any loss in value.

Bad news: because this guitar has been routed for full-sized pickups, you cannot return it to it's original condition (as 1981 LPC said, any wood plug in wood will definitely show through in time. The woods will move and you'll see very clearly the plug; done that myself with both filler and wood).

So that leaves you with the final good news: you can refinish it at will. Any (reasonable factory-type) finish you like! You enjoy playing the guitar; now make it something you enjoy looking at!

(Personally I love finding guitars whose worn out or poorly done refin has seriously devalued the piece; I can then finish it the way I like and have a beautiful player for significantly less than an equivalent-condition unmodified guitar. Must add that I do finishing myself, so the cost is not too great, especially when talking about just the top.)

(PS the guitar in my account pic is a 1974 gold top Deluxe; much like yours started out)

 

[jodybriggs]

I wouldn't be a fan of the tomato soup burst refin currently on it, so you have my vote to go gold if you have the cash. Though I hate about 98% of the bursts I see, so maybe i'm not the guy to advise you.

 

[dc007]

If you love it then make it like you want it. As mentioned it's already routed so a refin is something I'd consider myself

 

[Goff]

A change in the finish can change the sound. Something you might want to consider. Granted the LP has been modified but if the guitar lucked out and survived the changes tone-wise might want to ponder what's more important. Looks or tone? Page's Dragon Tele is an example it got painted and it lost the sound.

I like a gold top but IMO the way the guitar sounds and plays is more important than what it looks like.

 

[601Ken]

Personally I would rock the hell out of that beast!

But, If I were to go with turning it back....... I would ONLY do it with an experienced professional. Otherwise it's just another refinish and no increased value (just personal satisfaction)

Good luck & Best Wishes on your decision!

 

[davedent]

Welcome to the Forum!

Cool that you found a guitar you really bonded with.
It's a nice guitar.
A nice refin is not exactly cheap and matching the wear
is not an easy task. Not too many guys can do that.
If you go to shops like HM you can expect good results
but it's gonna cost you.

The current finish is not all that bad compared to
original Cherry Sunburst patterns so it's really a matter
of your own taste and money!


More pictures would be great!
Back, cavities, etc.
We love those!

Thank you! I’ll get you guys some pics up a little later. I found this forum by trying to find some history on this guitar and was shocked when I found this thread: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/69-les-paul-gets-a-makeover.107065/
Seems it made its way around about 10-15 years ago. Couldn’t believe it was my guitar! Lot of good pics of it on that thread. It seems to have raised some questions back then. It is unique. One piece body, no pancake. No volute. No Made in USA. Left the factory November of 69. Pickups look to be early/mid 70’s. Wiring wasn’t original but I put back in a harness with 6952 pots. I believe tone selector is original. Looks like it has the pantograph logo that probably had all chipped off and then repaired. Just excited to be in the vintage Gibson game even if it’s modded.

 

[Goff]

, any wood plug in wood will definitely show through in time. The woods will move and you'll see very clearly the plug; done that myself with both filler and wood).

I'm not a luthier but couldn't a thin veneer placed over the entire top of the guitar do away with seeing the plugs? I had a guitar refinished and that's what the luthier did. He measured the stock thicknesses of what the factory measurements should be and since the guitar was refinished a few times prior the addition of a veneer worked out.

 

[davedent]

Let me correct myself: 3 piece body, but not pancake.