Finally decided (Bavarian content)

[Netwarrior]

Thank you @DanD!

Today's progress pic.

View attachment 419431

I know probably @Netwarrior is going to be disappointed about this, but I finally decided to give up on the bigsby. The guitar will stay as it is and will not bear the bigsby marks. The tremolo will be installed in another guitar.

Not disappointed at all! Even though I like bigsby for cosmetic reasons I cannot stand it on a les paul from a playability perspective. The damn thing always get in the way of my wrist! (I have no problem with it on a 335 though).

Plus this guitar has all the mojo of the world even without a bigsby!

 

[LesPast]

The new inlays are being aged before installation on the fretboard.

 

[LesPast]

And they are in. Amazing.

 

[libtech]

Looking awesome, love goldtops..

 

[Netwarrior]

And they are in. Amazing.

To be very honest, this is the only bit I do not like that much so far. They have been a little overdone in my opinion but it's a matter of taste and I'm sure in person this will look far less evident.

 

[LesPast]

The guitar is finished! I will post some pictures. Please share your opinions freely, I am interested in what you guys think. @Netwarrior I appreciate your point of view, I will share some pictures of the inlays as I receive the guitar.

 

[Netwarrior]

Looks stellar! Headstock, tint of the back and shade of gold are exacty how they should be on the perfect goldtop. I find that the dent/hole on the left of the bridge pickup looks a little weird, but might be a problem of the low res pictures. Of course as soon as you receive the guitar we want a sound report and a high res photoshoot! I’m drooling already!

 

[libtech]

Parts choices look great as well, only thing Id change is the poker chip to an early font one

 

[LesPast]

@Netwarrior the ding you are talking about is quite substantial:

When I asked Florian about the ageing, I said "subtle, not overdone ageing, maybe one small accident or two". It is exactly what he did, and it's perfectly ok with me. The guitar had already a couple of this accidents, sometimes it happens when you actually play it and gig it, and it has never been a case queen.

Still, I understand it if some of you wouldn't want something like that on theirs!

@libtech I agree with you, it probably is not period correct, maybe I should look and find one!

 

[Netwarrior]

@Netwarrior the ding you are talking about is quite substantial:

When I asked Florian about the ageing, I said "subtle, not overdone ageing, maybe one small accident or two". It is exactly what he did, and it's perfectly ok with me. The guitar had already a couple of this accidents, sometimes it happens when you actually play it and gig it, and it has never been a case queen.

Still, I understand it if some of you wouldn't want something like that on theirs!

@libtech I agree with you, it probably is not period correct, maybe I should look and find one!

You are right, it is quite substantial but looks far bette than in the previous pictures.
I also believe that the finish of a guitar should reflect its history, so If this guitar was gigged quite frequently those kinds of scars are absolutely appropriate.

 

[Dogbreath]

I think I would replace the broken truss rod cover.

 

[DanD]

My next one is going to Florian for a Gold all over GT.

I've been scouring the usuals for a ridiculously cheap '14 and up R model. I figure Florian can do a neck re-carve and refin and all will be well.

Your makeover pushed me over the edge.

Congrats! She's a looker.

 

[LesPast]

You are right, it is quite substantial but looks far bette than in the previous pictures.
I also believe that the finish of a guitar should reflect its history, so If this guitar was gigged quite frequently those kinds of scars are absolutely appropriate.

I agree with you. It wasn't evident in the first photos I posted on this thread, but the guitar had a "teeth bite" just under the tailpiece, caused by a hit from the headstock (machine heads side) of my mate's strat during a gig. It happens, and it's probably going to happen again.

I think I would replace the broken truss rod cover.

And you didn't see the jackplate: it's broken as well!
But I am gonna keep 'em, they're part of the history of the guitar. They're working (up to now...).

My next one is going to Florian for a Gold all over GT.

I've been scouring the usuals for a ridiculously cheap '14 and up R model. I figure Florian can do a neck re-carve and refin and all will be well.

Your makeover pushed me over the edge.

Congrats! She's a looker.

Thank you, I will give feedback as soon as I receive it. All gold... that will be a thread I am not going to miss! Prepare for a special journey!

 

[LesPast]

Hi guys.

I finally received the guitar in my hands yesterday morning. I will share some initial impressions, I am going to send an update next week for sure when I will have spent more time with it.

First, it was a pleasure to share this journey with you, and I thank you all for your contribution. A big thanks of course goes to Florian as well.

Let's start with the aesthetics. The guitar is very different from what it was before. I have to say it is quite similar to the recent historics I have played (2018 and 2019). But still on a superior level, in my opinion. The gold is incredible, it has a sparkle I have never seen on another guitar. It glows. The hue changes dramatically depending on the light source, from warm yellow to greenish. The color of the back is exactly what I wanted. The checking on the top is very noticeable, while on the back, neck and headstock, is sutble, but definitely there. It looks completely different from the razorblade treatment I experienced on the CC7 and CC8. I honestly don't know if it could be mistaken for a real vintage at first sight, but still it is quite impressive. One last thing, I wonder if the lacquer will become even harder over time, it looks still a bit fresh to me.

Feeling. The neck is... I don't know, is thick as it was before yet comfortable, with a veeeeery subtle V shape near the headstock. The modification of the shoulders made it completely different to play. Is it better? Yes, WAY better. It fills my hand, but the effort in playing it is greatly reduced. As for the rest of the guitar, the stickyness has gone, the finish has a smoothness, silkiness to the touch, very different from before. This of course has improved playability. Finally, the setup is stellar. The guitar is a blast to play, you know when you realize you stopped thinking about what is not working or it doesn't come out as you wanted, and you're just focused on playing. You just play the guitar.

Tone. Ok, I know everyone has his own ideas and beliefs about makeovers, upgrades, human ears, perception, et cetera. It is the precise reason we are on this forum: share all of these. This is my take - bear in mind, the guitar has been refinished with nitro, neck re-shaped, top re-carved, long studs and bushings installed. All the rest - pickups, hardware, electronics, has stayed the same. It is my number one, bought new 10 years ago and played almost every day. I have played the guitar yesterday evening for about one hour on my rig, reasonable volume. And it has changed. The basic tone has stayed intact, but the sound is more, how can I say... acoustic. It is clearer, more dry. It's not dramatic, but it's there. One of the consequences is that, when rolling back the volume, the guitar has even more that very distinctive telecaster twang and snap. And when you turn it back to 8.5 to 10 sbam! that glorious Les Paul thick punch. Very cool.

I have to spend more time with it, let it settle and hear it in a band context (next week at rehearsals). Will report back. So far, very happy with the result.

Will share some more pictures of course.

 

[Sct13]

Congrats, Enjoy it in good health!

 

[LesPast]

Congrats, Enjoy it in good health!

Thank you Sir! The more I play the guitar, the more I realize the tone has changed... but it's still the same, just better. ...I guess both you and me were right, in the end!

 

[Netwarrior]

How did I miss the update of this thread?

Glad to read you are happy with the end result and that feeling and sound have improved without changing the character of the guitar. Now we miss just two things: to hear her and to see proper pictures

The journey through the makeover has been very involving for me, so I need to thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[LesPast]

How did I miss the update of this thread?

Glad to read you are happy with the end result and that feeling and sound have improved without changing the character of the guitar. Now we miss just two things: to hear her and to see proper pictures

The journey through the makeover has been very involving for me, so I need to thank you for sharing your experience!

Thanks, it was a pleasure also for me to share the whole process.

Since day one I put the guitar on a stand in my living room. Everytime I am passing by I feel the urgency of grabbing her and play. It's really growing on me. Especially the playability: it's just amazing, makes you want to go faster and faster.

Made some very slight adjustment to pickups height to accomodate the "new" tone of the guitar, but I still have to rehearse with the band (and we play quite loud) to evaluate the changes. Will report back.

I will try to share some pics in natural light (if the weather has mercy of us here in Liguria!). Not very good at micing-recording-etc. I have to figure out something.

 

[RocketKing]

"I have to figure out something"
I'm sure you will!
Enjoy

 

[LesPast]

A quick update after rehearsals.

It was a short session, about one and a half hour, at full volume with a 4 piece band, which usually is 5 piece but the lead guitarist is on holiday in Miami (lucky b*****d!). We play a Pearl Jam tribute, so in some cases I took also his parts and played some solos (and believe me you wouldn't have wanted to listen to those ).

Frankly, I am astonished. I don't know how it is possible, the guitar has the same hardware (except for the long tailpiece bushings and studs), same electronics, pickups, but... wow. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's more...vintage, dry, acoustic. It's clearer and "broader", at the same time it drives the amp and the pedals more, I had to reduce a little bit all my gains. And I carefully checked and re-set pickup heights to what I was used to.

I really, really like it. It was a great sounding Les Paul before, but know it instantly delivers the classic tones and dynamics you hear in all those records we all love.

Curious detail: I weighed the guitar before and after the makover. It lost some 98 grams. And remember it now sports slightly heavier bushings and studs. According to Florian, most of this variation is accountable to Gibson's original coating.