Framptons '54 Custom found

[alvintage]

Go to it, alvintage!

Haha! Don't ask me. I saw that link on the LPF 'Burnt Frampton' thread a few hours before your request.

I know nuttin'!!

 

[OldGuy]

Haha! Don't ask me. I saw that link on the LPF 'Burnt Frampton' thread a few hours before your request.

I know nuttin'!!

(heh) That's okay...you done good!

 

[OldGuy]

... Some people here thinks that when they never seen something, it does not exist..well i never seen a molecule, so it does not exist either . They say those things with an air as if it is the gospel
...

Benwave, you may or may not be referring to me, but, either way, if you read what I've written on this thread, you will find that I never say that the original burned LP is definitely not what it's being represented as being. All I said was that I wanted to see a pic confirming the existence of shrinking inlays on '50s LPs. Thanks to alvintage's post, I refined my request to see a pic of a pre-1958 LP Custom with shrinking inlays. I didn't say--and won't say--that there isn't such a Custom; I'll just say again that I'd like to see one. As I said, my mid-1957 Custom doesn't have them...

 

[Benwave]

Sorry that i seem from time to time a little on the edge.
But also understand, that the nervous system is being tested in a serious way...........

 

[Midnight Blues]

A reissue 1972-1973 custom has no dot above the i. Our guitar has a dot
The serial number is gone due to the fact that Mark Mariana had the guitar repainted at the Gibson factory. So simple please if you have a comment on the serial number, and you've never read the interview with Frampton, stay out of this
Also look at the diamond from a reissue . I believe they are smaller then from a real 1954-1960
Im getting real tiered from defending this.
Look at the picture and compare it with our guitar.

You're right Ben, I have a '72 and there's no dot. However, I believe the Diamond on the headstock is the same size. I have three Guitars with that headstock, my '72, a Frampton LP and an Alex Lifeson ES-355, all the same size and to me, they appear to be the same size as Frampton's original '54 (the "Comes Alive" LP).

With all due respect though, I don't think this is that Guitar, but I do think it very well could be the one that TKO has posted videos of.

Oh, and no need to apologize either. Not to speak for all the Frampton fans on this forum, but this is very exciting news for us!


Again, GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!

 

[Benwave]

You're right Ben, I have a '72 and there's no dot. However, I believe the Diamond on the headstock is the same size. I have three Guitars with that headstock, my '72, a Frampton LP and an Alex Lifeson ES-355, all the same size and to me, they appear to be the same size as Frampton's original '54 (the "Comes Alive" LP).

With all due respect though, I don't think this is that Guitar, but I do think it very well could be the one that TKO has posted videos of.

Oh, and no need to apologize either. Not to speak for all the Frampton fans on this forum, but this is very exciting news for us!


Again, GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!

Ok thanks.. I do belief its the right one. We establish that it is no 1972 reissue so far we agreed.
It is a guitar before 1980, we have a video were Peter is playing "our" thing.
So what could it be then ?
Edit: And a all mahogany body (no maple top)
I know for a fact that there was a p-90 original in the guitar.
So that rules out any LesPaul custom with three or two humbuckers
tell me what is left then ?

 

[Midnight Blues]

Ok thanks.. I do belief its the right one. We establish that it is no 1972 reissue so far we agreed.
It is a guitar before 1980, we have a video were Peter is playing "our" thing.
So what could it be then ?
I know for a fact that there was a p-90 original in the guitar.
So that rules out any LesPaul custom with three or two humbuckers
tell me what is left then ?

His original had a "Staple" (Alnico V) pup in the neck and a P-90 in the bridge. Mr. Mariana routed those out as well as the middle and put the HBs (black with white pup rings) in. What I think (and hope as well), is that you have one of his other LPs that he used to bring on tour with him.

Besides the color of the pups and the fact that there is a PG, there are two other difference that I noticed. There's an angle to the Machine Heads moving upwards towards the shaft (35-45 degress?) whereas Grovers are straight across (I put them on my '72 back in the early 70s because I wanted mine to look as much like Frampton's as I could, but didn't want to go as far as changing the pups) and the binding appears to be cream in color like my '72, not white as Frampton's original was. I suppose that this could be attributable to the fire damage?

Regardless of whether it is the original or one of his other ones, it's a great find/story and I wish you good luck!

Oh and welcome to the MLPF btw! Stick around, you'll enjoy it here.

My '72:

My Frampton:

 

[mapleflame]

You sure about that? My 52 standard, no serial number. My 54 Custom, no serial number. My 56 custom, no serial number. My 54 that I still have is a refin, but the 52 and the 56 were not.

I have seen a few others and dont remember seeing a number till late 57 on a gold top. I'm not a person with all the facts, I just like to play them, but there are way to many things that are not set in stone in the early years. My 54 is wider than any other year. The neck set angle is less than others. The neck has never been tampered with. The angle of the head stock is not the same either. I've brought this up before and was clobbered by ney sayers and doubters till I showed pics then every body backed off.

You guys have probably seen more af them then me, but I know without any doubt none of mine had serial numbers and only one was a refin.

From mid 53 to 61 All GoldTops and Customs had factory serial numbers period. Any others without are refins. Some 52 in late series had a 3 number stamp on top of the mustache on one side. Also out of the country guitars had a made in USA impressed stamp. Your information is incorrect.

 

[mapleflame]

Benwave, you may or may not be referring to me, but, either way, if you read what I've written on this thread, you will find that I never say that the original burned LP is definitely not what it's being represented as being. All I said was that I wanted to see a pic confirming the existence of shrinking inlays on '50s LPs. Thanks to alvintage's post, I refined my request to see a pic of a pre-1958 LP Custom with shrinking inlays. I didn't say--and won't say--that there isn't such a Custom; I'll just say again that I'd like to see one. As I said, my mid-1957 Custom doesn't have them...

Only material that would shrink on an LP are the binding, side dots, pickguard, knobs, and jack plate. All of the fret inlays and headstock inlays are mother of Pearl. Have you ever seen an abalone shell ash tray melt, I don't think so. I have only seen one Custom Prior to 61 that had the smaller last inlay and that guitar I have questions on. Again if this guitar was rebound or reboarded, why would they not fix all the other damage. Change pickups, rings and Bridge, but not address the headstock doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Oranjeaap]

Only material that would shrink on an LP are the binding, side dots, pickguard, knobs, and jack plate. All of the fret inlays and headstock inlays are mother of Pearl. Have you ever seen an abalone shell ash tray melt, I don't think so. I have only seen one Custom Prior to 61 that had the smaller last inlay and that guitar I have questions on. Again if this guitar was rebound or reboarded, why would they not fix all the other damage. Change pickups, rings and Bridge, but not address the headstock doesn't make sense to me.

Mother of pearl is a very resilient material indeed, it would not easily melt or get damaged.

But, if the guitar was re-necked or re-boarded before the plane crash, that would explain why the headstock wasnt fixed.

Anyway, im not gonna get mixed up in this discussion. Im not gonna try and convince anyone wether this story is legit or just nonsense. I'll wait for the official outcome, and in the meanwhile enjoy watching people come with clues or facts. Its also a great learning experience; inlays, serial numbers, dots on logo etc. That why I love this place, solve mysteries and absorb all the info i can find.

It would be cool if we all treat eachother with respect and keep the thread on track. If going just fine now, and if we all behave like civilized men, theres no reason for me to ask the mods to pull this thread Yes, that was a threat

Enjoy your saturday

 

[GitFiddle]

Sorry that i seem from time to time a little on the edge.
But also understand, that the nervous system is being tested in a serious way...........

Benwave, welcome to MLP.

I realize Oranjeaap drew you into this discussion. He is a well respected member here and this proves to be a very interesting and captivating adventure. I hope you realize this thread is fueled by LP experts and lovers from all over the world and makes for a very exciting story.

Hopefully, you will keep us up to date on this story as it unfolds. Personally, I would love to hear more about the rest of the adventure as you travel to the US and meet with Mr. Frampton. Pics, pics and more pics please.

Regardless whether it turns out to be an elaborate hoax that fools everyone involved or culminates in a win for everyone and provides Mr. Frampton with a warm reunion with a long lost friend, it is still a fascinating story.

Have you or your associates thought about contacting anyone from a media source possibly documenting the entire story?

This would make a great human interest mystery/adventure documentary on the order of finding Duane Allman's old goldtop, or one of Hendrix's strats sold on auction, or even Giraldo Rivera's debacle about the long lost mafia gold stash.

Good luck and please keep us all informed.

 

[Benwave]

Benwave, welcome to MLP.

I realize Oranjeaap drew you into this discussion. He is a well respected member here and this proves to be a very interesting and captivating adventure. I hope you realize this thread is fueled by LP experts and lovers from all over the world and makes for a very exciting story.

Hopefully, you will keep us up to date on this story as it unfolds. Personally, I would love to hear more about the rest of the adventure as you travel to the US and meet with Mr. Frampton. Pics, pics and more pics please.

Regardless whether it turns out to be an elaborate hoax that fools everyone involved or culminates in a win for everyone and provides Mr. Frampton with a warm reunion with a long lost friend, it is still a fascinating story.

Have you or your associates thought about contacting anyone from a media source possibly documenting the entire story?

This would make a great human interest mystery/adventure documentary on the order of finding Duane Allman's old goldtop, or one of Hendrix's strats sold on auction, or even Giraldo Rivera's debacle about the long lost mafia gold stash.

Good luck and please keep us all informed.

For now one of us is going, and that is my friend to meet Peter Frampton.
But who knows there is still time.
The other thing is we had to abandon some of our media rights

 

[Wilko]

Look at the end of the fretboard. Way more wood past the last fret on the original guitar that is said to be the "54" in the thread title. It may be another Frampton guitar. But not the one from the title. Also the tweaked inlay is clearly seen here.

 

[pinefd]

^^^ I agree. Very cool guitar...very cool story, and I do believe there's a good possibility of it being a Frampton guitar. But not the guitar it was originally claimed to be. But again, that's ok, it's a cool guitar and story nonetheless.

And thanks, Ben, for coming on the site, sharing with us and putting up with our detective work. That's what we do around here (both sharing and detective work, that is)! Best of luck!


Frank

 

[Midnight Blues]

Look at the end of the fretboard. Way more wood past the last fret on the original guitar that is said to be the "54" in the thread title. It may be another Frampton guitar. But not the one from the title. Also the tweaked inlay is clearly seen here.

One other thing, take a look at the frets. Those are the "Fretless Wonder" frets on the right (b/w photo).

Nice post Wilko!

I for one can't wait to read what Ben finds out!!!!

 

[LPCollector]

I would, also, like to welcome Ben.

It is unfortunate that your first exposure to the forum has been less than welcoming.

Hang in there Brother, if this turns out.....you will be a hero around here.

Please try to remember that we are all so obsessed with Les Pauls, part of our brains have melted.
I, for one, am very excited to see how this works out due to the fact that Peter Frampton is the reason I play guitar.....and the reason I play Les Pauls.

 

[morats8up]

Either way, Awesome thread! Quick question, Why is it so hard to believe that a wooden instrument inside a case would survive a plane crash when an exposed human body has done just that? There just seems to be so many variables involved with these kind of situations that can't be easily explained.

 

[Funky54]

From mid 53 to 61 All GoldTops and Customs had factory serial numbers period. Any others without are refins. Some 52 in late series had a 3 number stamp on top of the mustache on one side. Also out of the country guitars had a made in USA impressed stamp. Your information is incorrect.

Is what it is, believe what you want, I could care less. I'm sure you know a lot more than me. Lots of folks saw my guitars. They all confirmed the 56 was 100% original. No number. (except grover tuners)

 

[LPCollector]

Quick question, Why is it so hard to believe that a wooden instrument inside a case would survive a plane crash when an exposed human body has done just that?

I almost said the same thing earlier.......
My Mom and Sister survived a DC-10 crash in Portland, Oregon.
December, 1980.

 

[morats8up]

I almost said the same thing earlier.......
My Mom and Sister survived a DC-10 crash in Portland, Oregon.
December, 1980.

Truly incredible!