Change the color of my goldtop for a flametop??

[cheopsnet]

Hi all,
I have 2 questions:

1) I am thinking about installing a bigsby on my Gibson LP Classic. I love the look and heard it could help the intonation: True or False? Any advice? (I would not do it for the tremolo itself)

2) I own a Gibson LP Classic Gold from 1998 and recently read the following thing on ebay:

I purchased this from the USA along with another guitar several years ago. It is one of he best sounding guitars you will ever play. It is heavy, like most vintage les pauls made from the original Honduras mahogany. I would assume that some of the parts are not original, eg. I note that there is Gibson on at least one pot and this is not normal for the year. The heads look to be original 1960. The neck, inlays and binding look original.

Please let me repeat, this is not a totally original 1960 Gibson les paul. It is a re-manufactured Gibson conversion, eg. a flame top has been added replacing the original gold top. That is why it is not £200.000.



The guitar in question looks incredible (VINTAGE GIBSON LES PAUL CONVERSION 1956 TO 1959 1960. - eBay (item 360114413685 end time Dec-14-08 11:30:00 PST))

==> Can you convert a Goldtop to a Flametop? How (who does it?)? For how much? I dont think my LP Classic will have any vntage value and would consider upgrading it, since I like the instrument itself, but am kind of done with the look.

Thanks

C

 

[lp_junkie]

yes it can be done, yes it is expensive- there is a member here that had a 54 GT turned into a 59 burst, fabulous looking guitar before and after.
1954 to 1959 burst conversion near completion

Refinishing, retopping etc will seriously hurt the value of any guitar and may well cost you more than it is ever going to be worth.

 

[Roman]

Installing a bigsby is done for the purpose of having a tremelo, AND the looks.

It will do absolutely nothing to improve your intonation.
That being said, they are cool.

Doing a conversion to a 59 is not a cheap project, but well worth it in the personal satisfaction you get from it.

Depending on who is doing the conversion it can sometimes increase the value of the instrument, but chances are slim that you would be able to get a significant increase in value.

The reason for the 50s goldtop conversions, is for the sake of the old wood.

One can pickup a beater GT for a very reasonable price, and the 59 burst conversion is money well spent.

In the end you have a "59 burst", even though it didn't leave the factory that way, for a greatly reduced price.

Roman

 

[cheopsnet]

Hi
Thanks for your replies. My question is the following: Who does these kind of alterations (refinishing from an LP Classic goldtop to a faded lemonburst flametop)? Indeed I looked at historicmakeovers.com (look at the incredible lemonburst flames at the bottom of the gallery!!!) and it seems they do not accept any new order. Do you guys have any other RELIABLE and PROFESSIONAL names that would do an equally fantastic job, or do you recommend waiting as long as it takes to get on the historicmakeovers list?
Thanks

 

[twinrider1]

It may make more sense to just buy a modern flame top. If you're in the U.S., you can get one for less than $4000. You could sell your old guitar to make it more affordable. Or, keep them both.

People do it to the 50's guitars because the economics make sense and they are harder to find.

 

[billy]

It doesn't make any sence at all to do it to anything other than an original 50's goldtop.... and then i don't think i would ever re-top a vintage guitar, i would just keep the top as is and get a refin done.

 

[GooCart]

The '56-59 conversion in the ebay ad looks great. Does anyone have any additional information about it?

 

[The Stumble]

The '56-59 conversion in the ebay ad looks great. Does anyone have any additional information about it?

are you sure? i dont think its a real les paul

 

[Samantha]

the flame top conversion is normally done just by removing the gold paint and resealing with burst color's or clear nitro. thats if the maple underneath is flamed.

bigsbys will do nothing for intonation as Roman said but i know a few people who have just put it on there for looks, they said it did allot for the sustain as well but I'm not 100% sure it does anything for that, that said bigsby's look awesome and if i was to buy a les paul I'd have one factory installed....and yes i do plan on buying one one day.

I'd go for it if I had the cash but that isn't the case, if you like it that much i say give it a shot. make sure you do your research before you go spending money though, find out as much as you can about the guy who's selling it I'd hate to see another indecent like what's happening with that poor guy in Gibson les pauls with the ebay scandal.

 

[GooCart]

are you sure? i dont think its a real les paul

I just looked briefly on the ad and it said it was a 56 conversion, it would be interesting to know what it is, it sure is beautiful.

 

[shannon undery]

I like the conversion on Ebay except that the cutaway point is really sharp,almost like a heritage.Love the lemonburst and Bigsby though.

 

[Liam]

It is heavy, like most vintage les pauls made from the original Honduras mahogany.

None that I've ever picked up, not that I've picked up thousands of Gold Tops. So, who thinks it really started life as a '56 GT? (I know nothing, so I'm reserving my judgement.)

Liam

 

[The Stumble]

too many things dont look right to me so i dont think its a 56 conversion