Unknown LP type Help Please

[savvy]

Hi one and all. I am looking for help if any one can and am sorry if this is in the wrong category. All I can say is I bought it very cheap £45.00 If I remember a couple of years ago. It appears to have a 2 piece body without a cap But not sure of the wood! Definitely not flamed looks to me to be all Mahogany?

I paste a reply from the guy in Southport (Lancs England) That I managed to find out some info.

Hi. My son imported those in 2004
They are made from quality timber et cetera with a fitted neck
They were made in the same factory that JHS make the vintage Les Pauls
That guitar is well worth that money!
Same company made for Ibanez
Hence the similar headstock

Also put in the P90 bucker size pup's.

I will try and attach some pics from my phone, Here goes.
Barrie

 

[BadPenguin]

45lbs is... 60 bucks or so. For that price, it's a no brainer for just about any guitar. HOWEVER, the cavity pic looks as if it's made of plywood. It has the same styled headstock as mid/late 80's Ibanez. So I would bet most likely Chinese.
And that line about being made in the same factory that made Ibanez.... Doesn't really mean crap. Samick, Cort, Unsung, World Musical Instruments, Peerless, have all built for Ibanez at some time.
Let's say Samick made it for example. Samick builds most of the guitars made today, with Cort a close second. And quality can range from exceptional, to exceptional garbage.
What really matters if is you dig it.

 

[savvy]

Hi. I thought the same regarding the cavity. I am sure that those are cutter marks ie a Rippa cutter so they didn't finish it.
The pickup pockets etc don't look like that I am sure and looking at the body side on I don't see multi layers?
I know it is chinese made but was wondering if it could be a Vintage proto? It also had a faint wording on the headstock
' The Leviathon Guitar Company' and STANDARD all in silver.

 

[Roxy13]

The cap appears to be maple or at least a maple veneer.

But, any set neck singlecut for what you paid is a deal IMO. Provided the neck isn't twisted or anything it can be made to play well, and electronics upgrades can help it sound better too if you think it needs them.

 

[savvy]

Hi, Neck is spot on. I do guitar repairs and didn't do a thing except set up. It had Wilkinson pup's in and a trem arm which is off at the moment. I replaced the vol pots with 521 and 523 K pots so matched well and converted to 50's wiring. very low action and 8's on as at 73 yrs young and uncle arfur not helping my hands I need the help. It does sound great through my Vox AC10C so am well happy and play blues etc Peter Green types. Just wondering if anyone could give any help that's all.
May try and get some pics in the pup cavity's and side on tomorrow.
Thanks for the ideas all
Barrie

 

[Michael Matyas]

I think it's pretty cool!

 

[savvy]

Hi again. Got some pics of pickup cavity's etc. The top seems to measure 12 or 13mm thick or 1/2" imperial. the back is 3 piece. Tried to get a pic of the side but not very clear.
Many thanks for your help everyone and take care where ever you and yours are.
Barrie

 

[Roxy13]

Based on those pics it looks like the whole guitar is maple. Is it very heavy?

Seems pretty well made, enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

 

[savvy]

Hi Roxy. I don't reckon it is over heavy! Just checked it on SWINBO's scales and it is 8lb 5.5 oz so about the same as my Queensland Red Cedar tele I built. I am no good with woods, that's my brother's field!
Feels about right I think. I really like this guitar and the way it feels and plays super action. I keep messing with pups etc and just taken some Alnico 5 buckers out for the P90's
We are hopefully coming out of tier 3 this next week so we can see the grand kids oh the joy of them jumping all over you LOL
Take care all
Barrie

 

[Roxy13]

That's actually very light! Most of my singlecuts are heavier than that.

 

[truckermde]

Based on those pics it looks like the whole guitar is maple. Is it very heavy?

Seems pretty well made, enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

I wonder if maybe that maple cap might be sitting on basswood, or alder?

 

[truckermde]

Frankly, looks like a pretty nice, well-made guitar.

Enjoy!!

 

[Roxy13]

I wonder if maybe that maple cap might be sitting on basswood, or alder?

Could be. Look at the first photo of the pickup cavity. All the grain looks maple to me on both layers (top and back).

 

[truckermde]

Could be. Look at the first photo of the pickup cavity. All the grain looks maple to me on both layers (top and back).

I agree with that, as far as I can see, but his given weight does seem awfully light for all maple.

I guess it doesn't have to be Eastern rock maple. Maybe some varieties are lighter. (?)

The fact that the cap & body took the color in the same way does lend credence to the possibility of an all-maple construction.

Interesting...

 

[BadPenguin]

Or possibly alder.

 

[savvy]

Thanks for all your reply's. You have got me thinking now about wood. My younger brother is locked in Aus at the moment. He emigrated roughly 20 yrs ago and is coming back to live, too hot in Queensland, as we found when we went, he is the cabinet maker so I can get him to look at it.
For now I will just have to get on and play it!
Hope everyone gets through this covid thing.
Enjoy Chistmas and all things depending on your beliefs.
Barrie

 

[Grenville]

I'm gonna say yes, the headstock has some similarity to late-70s and early 80s Fujigen made Ibanez, but it's not really the same.

I'd think this guitar was made (quite a bit) more recently and at a different factory; it looks good, just any connection to Ibanez is tenuous to nonexistent.

 

[Roxy13]

Based on it's light weight it may be chambered. Perhaps along the lines of the Les Paul Supreme. You might try knocking in different places along the body to see if you find some hollowed out areas.

It was definitely a fantastic buy though based on it's construction and long tenon.

 

[savvy]

Hi, Thinking of Roxy's last post I think he may have something! If I tap lightly with my pin hammer it does sound hollow at the top and bottom but not along the neck line. when played unplugged it really does sustain and has a 'lighter' sound as in less bass also seems louder unplugged slightly more acoustic sounding. My guitar friend has a Billy Gibbons Pinstripe in his shop and that sounds somewhat darker and quieter to my ears.
Still love mine and is my go to guitar.
Thanks all
Barrie