NGD: Les Paul Custom

xscaramanga

This is what I need to do.

AndyR

Okay... that does look cool - have you got the trousers?

usedtobe

Pure class! Covers and guard on, imho..!

rawk100

Yeah, pick guard and covers off.....nickel hardware as well......just like Mr Duffy above..

siraxeman

jonnyscaramanga said:

I'm trying to decide whether to keep the pickguard on or off, and (when I inevitably change the pickups) whether to go open coil or covered humbuckers. Please post pictures of customs in all configurations to help me decide!

You seemingly know not teh rules of LP etiquette. Bursts = guard off (but still ok on) Customs = ALWAYS OFF. C'mon man get with the script! ;-)

ICBM

Black Customs look the least bad of any Les Paul with a pickguard on, but still better with it off. Best with no pickup covers too. Also remember that removing this unnecessary stuff reduces the weight .

If you don't know if it's a mahogany or maple cap, when you've got the pickups out you can scrape the paint off the side wall of one of the cavities and check. If it's a CS '57 Historic it should be mahogany. Oddly enough the all-mahogany ones are not always lighter though, despite it being a less dense wood than maple.

artiebear

If it has as CS xxxxx type s/n its a maple cap version. They moved the USA factory version to a CS delineation around that time. ( 2003 )The all mahogany versions would have the historic s/n configuration. Lovely guitar ! As for covers and guard, an LPC looks great whatever.

lustycourtier

Inspired by this, my 81 is now unguarded! Covers stay though as the Shaw's are both double black and that's too much black

peteri

Welcome to the black custom club - just the best les Paul!

artiebear

ICBM said:

Black Customs look the least bad of any Les Paul with a pickguard on, but still better with it off. Best with no pickup covers too. Also remember that removing this unnecessary stuff reduces the weight .

If you don't know if it's a mahogany or maple cap, when you've got the pickups out you can scrape the paint off the side wall of one of the cavities and check. If it's a CS '57 Historic it should be mahogany. Oddly enough the all-mahogany ones are not always lighter though, despite it being a less dense wood than maple.

The CS maple/ mahogany Customs use the weight relief swiss cheese backs, while the historics don't ,hence the perceived weight discrepancy. That being said, there is at least one example of a 90's Historic, once xrayed, showing the aforementioned weight relief. May not have been part of the official spec back then. 

richardhomer

Looks lovely.

I've always been a fan of the Peter Frampton cream pick-up rings, covers and pick-guard off look....

artiebear

richardhomer said:

Looks lovely.

I've always been a fan of the Peter Frampton cream pick-up rings, covers and pick-guard off look....

This and the Brian Robertson 'Live and Dangerous" look. All that being said, I recently took a 3 p/up '76 in very well played condition back to the original black surrounds, uncovered  t tops and original controls and love the vibe .

xscaramanga

AndyR said:

Okay... that does look cool - have you got the trousers?

Not exactly... But I have many almost as ridiculous.

DLM

AndyR said:

Okay... that does look cool - have you got the trousers?

He did have, but they split all the way up the seams on him like a peeled banana when he pulled a stance onstage a few years ago.

SteveRobinson

Voxman said:

Its not a proper LP without the pup covers and guard

You need to strip the top back to bare maple too for the full Ronno.

mburekenge

Pickup covers on.

Loobs

Coolest guitar. 

Voxman

peteri said:

Welcome to the black custom club - just the best les Paul!

I do like black but my personal preference for a Custom is tobacco sunburst, which I think looks stunning with gold hardware and is much 'warmer' looking.  

Nunogilberto

Magnificent guitar. I only have the Epi version but I love the black Customs. As you say, they tend to be more mid rangey than the Standards but that can be a good thing. Instant John Sykes!