Conversion of 1953 Les Paul

[randrewrussell]

Hi Everyone,
Ok I am interested in having a pro luthier finish the conversion of my 1953 Goldtop Les Paul. The work I am most interested in is the routing of the humbucker cavities and the ABR-1 stop tail placement. I stripped the Goldtop finish. (Calm down, it was already a refin). I know some don't like the multiple pieces of flame maple that were underneath but I do. So... I just need those humbuckers done right and I don't feel qualified. Any recommendations and cost. Thanks.
RAR

 

[ARandall]

Luthiers corner has......luthiers there.

Any work done on the fill of the original wrap will either be very costly or quite visible.......have you considered just having it like a Jeff Beck......wrap + humbuckers???

 

[dc007]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your project. Would love to see pics when its completed.

 

[charlie chitlins]

 

[kaputme]

Pics?

 

[dwagar]

My '53 (early, trap guitar) has a multi piece top too. It was stripped when I bought it, it's back to GT now.

If you want to convert to ABR-1, another option is to leave the P90s and go with a '56 style?

 

[Airplane]

i think harrison/clapton‘s lucy looks pretty fucking good with that cherry red multi piece top!

and yes... photos!

 

[randrewrussell]

 

[randrewrussell]

Here is the thing. This is a late 53. It has a pretty decent angle at around 3.8 so I don't think I need a neck reset. Regardless I would like a luthier to do that route. I have done ABR conversions before and without a neck reset all you need is to fill the holes with Maple inserts and then I cover with a flame veneer and sand lightly. It comes out pretty well. This guitar is special to me so I dont want a screw up on the routing of the humbucker, i.e. I know I need to fill the cavities first and then route.

 

[randrewrussell]

Luthiers corner has......luthiers there.

Any work done on the fill of the original wrap will either be very costly or quite visible.......have you considered just having it like a Jeff Beck......wrap + humbuckers???

Yes but if I can I would like the ABR.

 

[randrewrussell]

i think harrison/clapton‘s lucy looks pretty fucking good with that cherry red multi piece top!

and yes... photos!

Yes and someone else said the same thing. I am still thinking of where to go on it but obviously first the route of the P-90s to HBs.

 

[yamariv]

Restore it to original, it will never be a burst. Every day there are more and more beautiful early 50's Goldtops gone forever in a sea of wanna be conversion bursts..

 

[NINFNM]

C'mon, do you really like that top?
Sunbursting that would be however even less unfortunate than routing it for humbuckers and drilliing/pluging it for ABR.
Restoring it to original seems a better idea, there are better candidates for what you want.
For the moment it still would be a valuable refinished 53

 

[Airplane]

so thrilling to see what those guys were hiding under the gold tops back in the day. i wouldn't do a ABR1 bridge if i were you. of all the LPs i had the wraparound R4 was by far the best sounding and playing guitar. i would get some vintage P-90s and finish it cherry red. this way you wouldn't burn any bridges to go back to original and will probably end up with an incredible guitar.

(sunbursting that asymmetrical top would probably look weird)

 

[charlie chitlins]

You're freakin' nuts, IMO.
You're going to carve wood out to put HUMBUCKERS in?
Jeeze.
There is nothing you could do to that guitar that would be more badass than a gold top with a wraptail.

 

[Big John]

...just need those humbuckers done right and I don't feel qualified. Any recommendations and cost...

Jim Weyandt/Jam City Guitars, or Kip Elder/Starr Guitars, or Chris Mirabella, or Dave Johnson. Contact these guys directly for pricing and scheduling.

 

[yamariv]

There should be a law against destroying early 50's Goldtops..we should be able to seize them and give them to people who would appreciate the guitar for what it actually is.. Like me!

 

[fretnot]

I'll buy it as is. Then you can go buy one that's already buckered! Problem solved!

 

[RAG7890]

Jim Weyandt/Jam City Guitars, or Kip Elder/Starr Guitars, or Chris Mirabella, or Dave Johnson. Contact these guys directly for pricing and scheduling.

+ 1,

 

[amused]

+1 on the goldtop or red cherry P90 side...

I got a 52 that was already stripped (with a 2 piece symmetric top) and routed 5 years ago, and it was the only reason I chose to let it be a proper 52-59 conversion.

In your case I would make it an amazing goldtop with P90 again...