1976? Gibson Les Paul Custom Norlin era

Logie

A colleague at work brought this to me today to see if I knew anyone who could repair the headstock. I don’t but maybe someone on here does?
It actually still holds tune although the frets are almost level with the fretboard.
I weighed it on our calibrated scales at work and it’s a solid 11.05 lbs. I guessed 10lb

https://imgur.com/gallery/X99UMMI

Boromedic

I'd send it to @FelineGuitars ;personally, but that's an expensive refurb like. Looks a mess, but might be worth it to someone despite the mass!

timmypix

Yep, I'd get it to Feline or to Steve at the Guitar Repair Workshop in Salford.

strtdv

That's the worst refinish of a neck I've ever seen, however even at that it's probably worth the best part of £3k in repaired and good condition. 

Personally if it was mine I'd spend up to about £1500 getting it sorted, particularly if it had any sentimental value

I agree Feline would be a very good choice for the repair

BobHillman

Has somebody repainted the neck with Dulux gloss?

Boromedic

BobHillman said:

Has somebody repainted the neck with Dulux gloss?

Over artex.....

FelineGuitars

Oof - that's a weighty one!

Certainly looks like it's lived a life.

There is a lot that "could" be done to it, but depends what the owner has in mind .

OilCityPickups

It's also proper gorgeous - even in a mess it's pretty ... but then I'm odd :-) 

AK99

^ Yeah, and looks like it's certainly lived life. I think it'd be a sin not to spend the money getting it playable again. 

strtdv

I'd be inclined to get the neck repaired, refret the guitar (don't worry about replacing the binding), refinish the neck, get rid of the Bigsby (replace the tailpiece with a relic period correct one) and get it set up and playable.
I'm no expert but £650 would probably cover most of that?

Seems money well spent on a guitar that presumably must sound good or it wouldn't have been played to death as it has been

OilCityPickups

If it could tell stories .... 

Logie

The neck has indeed been hand painted at some point by his Dad ( now deceased ) in the distant past for whatever reason but the binding on the neck isn’t missing. He painted over that as well!
The frets are almost level with the fretboard they’re so low but they’re not ridged at all so it’s almost like he had them levelled like that for ease of playing

webrthomson

Logie said:

The neck has indeed been hand painted at some point by his Dad ( now deceased ) in the distant past for whatever reason but the binding on the neck isn’t missing. He painted over that as well!
The frets are almost level with the fretboard they’re so low but they’re not ridged at all so it’s almost like he had them levelled like that for ease of playing

Those frets are what Gibson called fretless wonders in the 70's - basically almost not there - I've got a 77 Custom and it's the same.

I'm with @OilCityPickups I think that guitar looks great and it could be returned to use, granted its very heavy, but that is in keeping with 70's customs

Logie

I took the strings off and checked the pickups etc. and they all seem original ( T Tops, ABR-1 bridge, 300k pots ) so apart from the Bigsby pretty much stock.

Kittyfrisk

I'd love that to have to fix up. Very cool guitar, but also needs a vintage pin up girl sticker for maximum post ironic rock cliche  

Logie

@webrthomson ;
It’s with me at the moment as he left work early and although I’ve never had an urge for a Custom or vintage guitar it’s definitely got that mojo people talk about.

Logie

@FelineGuitars ;
Would you have a ballpark figure of how much a repair to the headstock would run to?

OilCityPickups

You see - an immaculate shiny Les Paul of any kind doesn't get my mouth watering ... I like em a bit ratty and 'firked' ... if it reeks of beer and fags I feel right at home ... 

webrthomson

Logie said:

@webrthomson ;
It’s with me at the moment as he left work early and although I’ve never had an urge for a Custom or vintage guitar it’s definitely got that mojo people talk about.

I agree - 70's customs should not work, too heavy, maple neck, silly frets and meh pickups but some how that when added together does work, goodness knows how…

I'd send that to Feline to get the neck fixed, sanded and refretted

OilCityPickups said:

You see - an immaculate shiny Les Paul of any kind doesn't get my mouth watering ... I like em a bit ratty and 'firked' ... if it reeks of beer and fags I feel right at home ... 

^ This, that guitar has had to work hard for that patina, cleaning it would be down right disrespectful

SteveRobinson

Logie said:

I weighed it on our calibrated scales at work and it’s a solid 11.05 lbs. I guessed 10lb

https://imgur.com/gallery/X99UMMI

It would be more like 10 with all the brass replaced with original plastics.

ICBM

What a mess . That brass junk is an absolute dog's dinner and really isn't helping with the weight as SteveRobinson said.

Personally I would strip the whole thing down to the body finish (which looks just about OK), strip the neck and refinish it after the headstock repair, and rebuild it with all new hardware, but I know I'm unfashionable like that...

I do like a Bigsby on a Les Paul, but I have to admit that removing it would reduce the weight by more than a pound.