Framptons '54 Custom found

[Oranjeaap]

Cool story here:

Im on a Dutch guitar forum, and this thread just shows up where this guy claims to have found the famous Frampton guitar that was lost in a plane crash.

Here are some pictures first, then I will translate the original thread in English so everybody can read the story.

Ill start translating his story now, stay tuned, wont take long

 

[Matt_21]

Doesn't this story come to the top every once in awhile and neve gets verified? Or is that something else I'm thinking of?

 

[Oranjeaap]

Have some patience, read the story, and then judge. This story sounds legit. I never heard one of the other stories before. Just wait a couple of minutes till im ready

 

[Matt_21]

Sorry, not saying it's not true, just saying I recall hearing something similar awhile back.

 

[Oranjeaap]

As most of you know, many of Frampton's instruments were lost in the 1980 plane crash. Appearantly, not all intruments 'died' in the crash. It seems that some locals have salvaged some equipment from the plane.

Here is the story from the guy on the Dutch story:

"The '54 custom and another Les Paul was offered for sale by 2 venezuelan guys to a guitarist during a gig in a small local bar. He had no money with him at the time, but a few days later he bought the guitar(s) from the 2 guys". This was in Caracas so he says.
The guy untill recently, has owned the guitar.

This is where the Dutch guy comes into the story. A friend of his, living on Curaçao (former Dutch colony), contacted him about a very old Les Paul custom that was brought in for repair. Not a guitar you see every day.

To keep it short: they recognised the guitar so they put in some effort to buy the guitar, and it was succesfull. The also contacted Frampton and he is gonna buy the guitar back from them, and they will receive some money + cool Gibson guitar for the both of them.

Sounds like a legit story. Could also be bullshit. Just keep an eye out for any official news and then we'll know sure

 

[mapleflame]

Last inlay is too small. His 50's Custom was a 54 that had the three last inlays the same size. Framton had grovers not sperzels and many other obvious things. Tri-black pickups.

 

[Matt_21]

Yeah. Sounds similar to the story I was mentioning hearing before.
Well if it is real...cool. if not...too bad.

 

[Backstage]

Whether the story is true or not, it is certainly nice.
And the guitar looks like she's got a lot of rock'n roll .

 

[tag2]

Plane crash mojo!

 

[Oranjeaap]

Last inlay is too small. His 50's Custom was a 54 that had the three last inlays the same size. Framton had grovers not sperzels and many other obvious things. Tri-black pickups.

That was the main concern I had aswell. Remember, this guitar has been owned by another person for the last 30 years, so the changed parts arent a real concern to me

 

[captain tightpants]

Wasn't the back of Frampton's '54 hogged out? I could have sworn I've seen pictures of it with huge cavities routed out of the back and covered over with a huge back plate(s).

 

[tag2]

Last inlay is too small. His 50's Custom was a 54 that had the three last inlays the same size. Framton had grovers not sperzels and many other obvious things. Tri-black pickups.

Yup!

 

[Oranjeaap]

Last inlay is too small. His 50's Custom was a 54 that had the three last inlays the same size. Framton had grovers not sperzels and many other obvious things. Tri-black pickups.

Till what year did they make the last three inlays the same size?

 

[mapleflame]

Till what year did they make the last three inlays the same size?

I have seen late 60 and 61 with the last inlay being smaller. On the other forum, there was a discussion as to where that change came about. Frampton had more than one Custom that he used. It's tough to really know what year he really had. Lots of different pics and stories.

 

[TKOjams]

Last inlay is too small. His 50's Custom was a 54 that had the three last inlays the same size. Framton had grovers not sperzels and many other obvious things. Tri-black pickups.

and the Nashville bridge, should have an ABR-1, and what's with the PG?

 

[jcsk8]

That nashville bridge doesn´t seems right to me.

 

[Benwave]

Well look again boys



I am the guy from the Dutch forum, how are you all doing ?
The Les Paul custom from Mariana was a 1957 and not a 1954.
Peter get the guitar around 1970 and at that time it was nothing more then a used secondhand Gibson. Mark Mariana thought it was from 1954, but in fact it was from 1957.
I personally emailed with mister Peter Frampton. My first question to him was . are you certain that the lost guitar was a 1954 Gibson ? Because we found a 1957 guitar. And he said yes i could be one from 1957.
In that time (1970) nobody bothered with dates.
If you look closely at the pictures from that time you can see that the last three inlays are different
Just as a 1957 one should be.

But wait a few weeks, and all will be clear

 

[Luckynumber3]

So would this be the "Frampton Comes Alive" guitar if it is legit?

 

[tag2]

But wait a few weeks, and all will be clear

That would be cool as hell if it is Mr. Frampton's guitar. Getting it back after 30+ years!

 

[Luckynumber3]

Even if it isn't frampton's custom, is it still a 50s custom? I can imagine that it would be worth quite a bit of money if so, and thus a cool find.