NGD - Gibson Les Paul Custom '54 RK Aged #045

[PierM]

Damn, Pier.

You've outdone yourself (for a minute) again.

I'm not a big fan of relic jobs, but, in all sincerity, this one would be an exception. They did a MARVELOUS job on this (-a "bang-up job", if you will). My favorite detail being the joint at the neck where they popped out the finish at the seam just like I've seen on the real things many times. Remarkable.

Well done, you. I have no opinion on the neck pup swap, but I'm partial to staples, for no other reason than aesthetics, as I've never had the pleasure of playing one, for whatever that's worth.

And- -a side note-
The cat playing in that first video is Erwin Van Ligten who's pretty huge in the Netherlands (I think it's the Netherlands), and I'm a big fan. I've probably watched fifty of his demo videos, many more than once, trying to steal licks and style from him, along with some inspiration. Great player.


Edit: JEEZUS that thing is breathtaking!

Thanks man!

I'm also a big fan of Erwin. Love his style, he's never banal in his playing, and looks he has a big background coming from many different styles. Really great player!

 

[Slashperryburst]

Full sized Staple from the Seymour Duncan custom shop.

Nice. Good to know that's an option. If I end up not being able to afford an R4 custom, I'll end up sacrificing a neck p90 to finally try one of these out. Never had the pleasure of playing with a staple pickup, but they always sound sooo good.

 

[PierM]

Nice. Good to know that's an option. If I end up not being able to afford an R4 custom, I'll end up sacrificing a neck p90 to finally try one of these out. Never had the pleasure of playing with a staple pickup, but they always sound sooo good.

Yeah, it's a great option. Only problem is they are bloody expensive, and it's 4 weeks to 3 months to wait for one, if you want specific specs. It's not a pickup you find easily on the stores, and here in EU it's non-existent.

BTW, I bought this guitar to roll back to its '54 nature, but now I don't know really. I had no idea that vintage mini humbucker would have sounded that good! I guess I'll decide when the honeymoon is over...

 

[Midnight Blues]

Not that there's anything wrong with the minim PM, but you're gonna love the "Staple" in that baby! I love mine and it might be my favorite pickup in all my guitars?

 

[jc2000]

Nice job with that one!!

 

[Mike J.]

Unbelievably beautiful!

By the way, your yard looks very European ;-)

 

[rjwilson37]

Very sweet, congrats! I love that guitar, but will probably never be able to afford one.

 

[Guitpicky]

Honestly old anything isn't really my cup of tea but that isn't going to keep me from properly congratulating you on a successful mission.

Congrats my friend!

Now you need to go on YT and present it as a brand new Gibson with "finish issues"

 

[PierM]

Subliminal images.....

 

[Slashperryburst]

Seeing as Gibson are coming out with a nice goldtop with p90's and a '50s neck this year at a (hopefully) affordable price, my quest for an R4 custom is going to take much longer than anticipated. I bought a Pelham blue classic with p90s last year, and as much as I love a p90 in the neck, I may just have to get one of those staples and have the classic routed for it.

And when I do manage to get an R4 custom, it's getting the waffleback treatment too.

 

[PierM]

Seeing as Gibson are coming out with a nice goldtop with p90's and a '50s neck this year at a (hopefully) affordable price, my quest for an R4 custom is going to take much longer than anticipated. I bought a Pelham blue classic with p90s last year, and as much as I love a p90 in the neck, I may just have to get one of those staples and have the classic routed for it.

And when I do manage to get an R4 custom, it's getting the waffleback treatment too.

Yeah, sounds a good plan!

Now I've a stupid question.... Are these like standard P90 when it's about orientation? I mean, does orientation matter with these? @cooljuk ?

 

[ReWind James]

Do you mean regarding rotation of the pickup in the route, which side goes towards the neck or bridge?

The only consideration with that is physical mounting. You might need the lead exiting on one side or the other or something similar. Occasionally, I'll mix magnets in my P-90s and, in that case, I have a preferred side I like facing the neck. Gibson doesn't get that fancy.

 

[PierM]

Do you mean regarding rotation of the pickup in the route, which side goes towards the neck or bridge?

The only consideration with that is physical mounting. You might need the lead exiting on one side or the other or something similar. Occasionally, I'll mix magnets in my P-90s and, in that case, I have a preferred side I like facing the neck. Gibson doesn't get that fancy.

Exactly that. Since the pickup it's totally symmetric, and the plate/pickup can be rotated and mounted in any direction (toward neck or toward bridge), I was wondering if there is a mandatory orientation, which usually isn't a problem with stock Gibson P90.

At this point I think I'll try both sides and see what happens.

 

[Subterfuge]

IMHO as far as Factory Relics go, this guitar is up there with the best of the best, if not the best, the aging job is mind-boggling, how they do this with a razor blade is amazing ... beautiful, congrats

 

[Les Paul John]

I see you're going to make pickup changes, and maybe other changes too. I'd keep the changed parts in the case as this is a rare collector piece and a piece of art the way it is now as an artist guitar. I'm sure you will, I often see people change pickups and then resell the parts to recoup money. You see Custom Buckers for sale often for example for pretty good money.

It's the most beautiful guitar I've seen in here in quite some time. I'm going to get one eventually and when I do it will be left as is because I'm a huge The Doors fan. The other guitar I had my eye on was the Colletti Collector's Choice but yours to me is more fascinating.

 

[PierM]

I see you're going to make pickup changes, and maybe other changes too. I'd keep the changed parts in the case as this is a rare collector piece and a piece of art the way it is now as an artist guitar. I'm sure you will, I often see people change pickups and then resell the parts to recoup money. You see Custom Buckers for sale often for example for pretty good money.

It's the most beautiful guitar I've seen in here in quite some time. I'm going to get one eventually and when I do it will be left as is because I'm a huge The Doors fan. The other guitar I had my eye on was the Colletti Collector's Choice but yours to me is more fascinating.

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Eh eh, I'm probably one of the most OCD guys you could ever met, LOL. As for the Colletti, it does look gorgeous, but doesn't work for me because of the weird neck profile. I do play these guitars, so I need necks that I can use.

 

[Christosterone]

-Chris

 

[ReWind James]

Exactly that. Since the pickup it's totally symmetric, and the plate/pickup can be rotated and mounted in any direction (toward neck or toward bridge), I was wondering if there is a mandatory orientation, which usually isn't a problem with stock Gibson P90.

At this point I think I'll try both sides and see what happens.

It shouldn't matter, sonically, but you may find that the lead exiting the pickup has to be on a certain side to fit the route.

Now, on something like a Casino, or many other dogear P-90 setups, that's a different story and the pickups are often angled or shimmed one way or the other to match the string angle.

 

[Les Paul John]

Eh eh, I'm probably one of the most OCD guys you could ever met, LOL. As for the Colletti, it does look gorgeous, but doesn't work for me because of the weird neck profile. I do play these guitars, so I need necks that I can use.

Very nice.

 

[PierM]

Mojoaxe pickguard, perfect! Thanks @Danelectro