My latest ‘50s Les Paul conversion project- eye popping original flame top!

Strat_a_tat_tat

ICBM said:

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

How about a P90 and an Alnico V staple???

That would be my second choice - but I simply associate them more with the all-mahogny Custom than a maple-top.

Yeah, I'd be intrigued to hear what that pickup would sound like in a maple-topped LP.

musicman100

Thanks for sharing and for the record I’m in ur camp of a conversion. 
Look forward to seeing the end result 

Brize

Winny_Pooh said:

I don't give a crap about some psychological idea of a "correct guitar". Anyone who does is forgetting that they're all bits of dead tree meant to play music on.

Quite. If the puritans had their way, Jeff Beck would never have modded that 54 Les Paul with 'buckers and that awesome tone on 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers' would never have been committed to tape.

Bridgehouse

newi123 said:

Bridgehouse said:

mbe said:

If making money was jumping@shadows' main objective he would repurpose it as an authentic replica of Neil Young's Old Black.

If it was his sole objective he wouldn’t take the time out to share it all with us - something we should be grateful of - he’s a busy chap and he charges nothing to share these lovely projects with us. We often forget that people often see no value in something that costs nothing.

Or you could view this thread as free advertising..........

Cynically, you could do.. yes.. but I’d rather buy from a known quantity than a shot in the dark with unknown track record. 

Bridgehouse

Brize said:

Winny_Pooh said:

I don't give a crap about some psychological idea of a "correct guitar". Anyone who does is forgetting that they're all bits of dead tree meant to play music on.

Quite. If the puritans had their way, Jeff Beck would never have modded that 54 Les Paul with 'buckers and that awesome tone on 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers' would never have been committed to tape.

I never forgave Francis Rossi for that big hole and that extra pickup. 

usedtobe

P90s are betterer than humbuckers, imho. I wouldn’t go down that route, personally.. I think it’s a shame, but, hey ho..

Schnozz

Keep the lovely burst top and put creme p90s and a creme pickguard on it please. A nice honey burst would be great. Pictures when you're done. Please and thank you.

(Welcome back TTony)

OilCityPickups

newi123 said:

Bridgehouse said:

mbe said:

If making money was jumping@shadows' main objective he would repurpose it as an authentic replica of Neil Young's Old Black.

If it was his sole objective he wouldn’t take the time out to share it all with us - something we should be grateful of - he’s a busy chap and he charges nothing to share these lovely projects with us. We often forget that people often see no value in something that costs nothing.

Or you could view this thread as free advertising..........

It may be advertising but it's not free. Taking time out of building, repairing etc in order to share photographs and text costs in time not spent directly earning a crust. Conversely that time spent helps entertain, enlighten and encourage forum members. It's an exchange. 

Bridgehouse

TheGuitarWeasel said:

newi123 said:

Bridgehouse said:

mbe said:

If making money was jumping@shadows' main objective he would repurpose it as an authentic replica of Neil Young's Old Black.

If it was his sole objective he wouldn’t take the time out to share it all with us - something we should be grateful of - he’s a busy chap and he charges nothing to share these lovely projects with us. We often forget that people often see no value in something that costs nothing.

Or you could view this thread as free advertising..........

It may be advertising but it's not free. Taking time out of building, repairing etc in order to share photographs and text costs in time not spent directly earning a crust. Conversely that time spent helps entertain, enlighten and encourage forum members. It's an exchange. 

Totally agree. I had huge fun when we did the Ric-o-like Pickup, call it advertising or whatever, it was hugely entertaining 

OilCityPickups

Bridgehouse said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

newi123 said:

Bridgehouse said:

mbe said:

If making money was jumping@shadows' main objective he would repurpose it as an authentic replica of Neil Young's Old Black.

If it was his sole objective he wouldn’t take the time out to share it all with us - something we should be grateful of - he’s a busy chap and he charges nothing to share these lovely projects with us. We often forget that people often see no value in something that costs nothing.

Or you could view this thread as free advertising..........

It may be advertising but it's not free. Taking time out of building, repairing etc in order to share photographs and text costs in time not spent directly earning a crust. Conversely that time spent helps entertain, enlighten and encourage forum members. It's an exchange. 

Totally agree. I had huge fun when we did the Ric-o-like Pickup, call it advertising or whatever, it was hugely entertaining 

I also enjoyed doing it. :-) 

skullfunkerry

TA22GT said:

"What it really needs is a Bigsby."

Just NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

If there's going to be routing involved anyway, why not just route a bit more and go for a Floyd Rose?


*runs like hell*

WezV

Does someone like Yuuki need to advertise?  Fairly sure he has enough to keep him busy.  Therefore, I will assume he is here because he wants to talk guitars

victorludorum

A nice copy of that Hank Williams Cherry Red Les Paul would be nice...

Bridgehouse

WezV said:

Does someone like Yuuki need to advertise?  Fairly sure he has enough to keep him busy.  Therefore, I will assume he is here because he wants to talk guitars

Yep. My thoughts exactly. 

shugz

Rock on YM/PGV. 

I do like the idea of it staying gold too but it is a rather special top that. It's a topcraftsman geetardude's choice to carve the neck tenon how he wishes ultimately. 

A bit plainer on the flame and that would have been killer p90 cherry wraptail or full Clappo-Harriso-PAF- loaded cherry goodness as well. 

Anyhoo, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

H

goldtop

The good news is that Yuuki has been around long enough to have dealt in person with much bigger a***holes than anyone on this thread.

If you believe the Burst recipe is something special, this conversion is no-brainer.

There are more than enough '50s P90 goldtops to go around (hence their low prices).

PhilKing

I think that looks absolutely fabulous and would make it into a bust myself, if I owned it and had the skill.  I have a 52/53 conversion that I've owned for years and think it is one of the best guitars I have played.  the conversion was done way back in the 60's and they inlaid a block for the bridge and tailpiece, rather than changing the neck angle, but it has aged really well and is probably the closest to a real 58/59/60 Les Paul that I will ever own.

I think doing this with the older guitars gives people chance to really play and own a vintage Gibson, where they never would be able to otherwise.

Also, looking at the past videos on the work done with some of these conversions, I'm sure that it will be really tastefully done and will look superb.

thegummy

I'm struggling to understand how anyone could care so much about what someone else does with their own guitar.

To try and understand I was trying to compare it to maybe someone destroying an ancient relic or when Isis destroyed historic buildings but it just doesn't seem to be close to that to me.

A question I'd have for the OP - what's the benefit of doing this on an old 50s model rather than just using a more recent guitar that already has humbuckers?

Philly_Q

thegummy said:

A question I'd have for the OP - what's the benefit of doing this on an old 50s model rather than just using a more recent guitar that already has humbuckers?

"Old Wood".  And the chance of finding a nice flame top hidden away under the gold paint, I'd imagine.  But mostly Old Wood.

GuyR

A shame, and to the detriment of all of us, to see yet another potentially joyous thread soiled.
To be abusive undermines any worthwhile point you might make and surely must embarrass you in retrospect.

On another subject, jumping@shadows, that LP is player-grade taken to the limit. How could you cover that flame top with a solid colour which will always be a refin? A P90 burst prototype look would have been intriguing, but so it will be with PAFs. 
Thanks for sharing your fabulous find.