More Custom Color Les Pauls!

[R9.]

Very cool, Mike, all of them.

[Trans-Am]

Originally Posted by MikeSlub

Except for the Canary Yellow, these were Gibson Custom Colors from the '60s, used on Firebirds. Same as Fender colors with different names. It's okay if you don't like them on a Les Paul; I like them, and that's what matters. Different strokes for different folks.

Oh no Mike! Please dont get me wrong here...I'm sure a lot will be sold of these light colored pasteled Les Paul's. It just seems that Gibson is running out original color scheme just to make Les Paul's. I am not bashing the quality and reasons of whatsoever, but you never see Fender with Gibson colors unless, it's a one off custom color that a customer request.

I'm sure a lot of female Les Paul players will notice this color and hey whatever it takes to rock you right? It would have been different since Gibby's been gving signatures left in right across the board to designate an artist like i have mentioned above before. But then again, she wouldn't qualify just yet i reckon. ...another .02 of mine.

All in all Mike? I think you've covered another model of what Gibson has to offer for the masses. You can check this one off your list.

Peace!!

[John@themusiczoo]

At the risk of sounding like a sales pitch...my favorites are Gun Metal Grey VOS with a red back...looks so good...and kerry green VOS with a walnut stain back. Need I say where you can see some? wink wink nudge nudge. Kudos to you on your solid colors. I'm a big fan, they look great! - john@themusiczoo

[J.D.]

[quote=MikeSlub;2379825]Except for the Canary Yellow, these were Gibson Custom Colors from the '60s, used on Firebirds. Same as Fender colors with different names. It's okay if you don't like them on a Les Paul; I like them, and that's what matters. Different strokes for different folks.

AMEN!

[MikeSlub]

Originally Posted by Trans-Am

It just seems that Gibson is running out original color scheme just to make Les Paul's. I am not bashing the quality and reasons of whatsoever, but you never see Fender with Gibson colors unless, it's a one off custom color that a customer request.

Peace!!

They are GIBSON Custom Colors that were used on Firebirds! They happen to be the same as Fender colors, but both manufacturers used them and gave them their own names. Here is the Gibson color chart from the early '60s. Peace to you too!

[shred]

Yeah, it's easy to forget that when the custom color craze hit Fender & Gibson, it was in the 60's when Les Paul's weren't being built. If the LP had been in production when these colors hit, Mike's guitars would be historically accurate as well as outright cool

[buyusfear]

Originally Posted by MikeSlub

but both manufacturers used them and gave them their own names. Here is the Gibson color chart from the early '60s.

I believe that they were similar, but different dupont colour codes.
I have a chart somewhere that has the codes. But I know that Heather, for example is much lighter and non sparkly when compared to Burgundy Mist.

[Trans-Am]

Thanks Mike for sharing, yes they are at the same time to be offered along on the Firebirds but the Fenders were well known and remembered for these custom colors Gibson is belting out these days. Nonetheless, they are a reminisence of the past and are most acurate as to when and what was used at that time/era.

Asthetically in my honest opinion? They seem to look better on Fenders.
I guess for the other fellow forum members who hasn't learned or known they were offered back then could look at it differently and have a different take on the offerings.

Cheers!

[Gold Tone]

From: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gibsonc.html

Gibson Custom Colors.

With the advent of the Firebird, Gibson offered ten new custom colors and a pretty chart that displayed them. Although developed for and seen most often on the Firebird series from 1963 to 1969, basically all Gibson guitars were available in these colors. Models that utilized the new colors most often were the SG solidbody series and the ES-335, ES-345, and ES-355 series. But occasionally you'll see these colors on other models too.
All ten of Gibson's new custom colors were automobile finishes, just like Fender's custom colors. And the colors Gibson choose where amazing similar to Fender's color pallet. So close, all of Gibson's custom colors had a basic Fender color equivalent in 1963. The Gibson colors were so close to Fender's, one Gibson color was even exactly the same as one of the Fender colors. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, Gibson was certainly flattering Fender.

Note there was another custom Gibson color introduced in 1965 that wasn't on their Firebird custom color charts. This color was "Sparkling Burgundy", and was Gibson's equivalent to Fender's Candy Apple Red. It was even applied in the same manner as Fender's CAR. That is, it had a silver metallic basecoat beneath a translucent red color coat. This gave a deeper metallic finish than the one-step automotive metallics which combined the metallic particles with the color.
Strangely, the vintage guitar market does not value Gibsons in Sparkling Burgundy as highly as Fenders in Candy Apple Red. Sparkling Burgundy seems to be the only Gibson color that is actually worth the same or less than Cherry Red. This probably wouldn't apply to a Firebird, but on models where Cherry Red is the norm (such as an ES-335, 345, or 355), this does seem to be the case. This is probably because Gibson's Sparkling Burgundy does not wear well (but either does Fender's CAR).

Gibson's Original Custom Colors Gibson and Fender Equivalent:
(1963 - 1969)

Ember Red - Fiesta Red
Cardinal Red - Dakota Red
Polaris White - Olympic White
Golden Mist Poly - Shoreline Gold**
Silver Mist Poly - Inca Silver
Heather Poly - Burgundy Mist*
Pelham Blue Poly - Lake Placid Blue*
Frost Blue - Sonic Blue
Kerry Green - Surf Green
Inverness Green Poly - Sherwood Green*

* these Fender colors are slightly darker than Gibson's equivalent color.
** this Gibson color is the exact same color as the Fender's equivalent color.

Lacquer is no longer available, and unfortunately many of the original Gibson automotive lacquer colors were not translated to the new low VOC paint formulas. There are some alternatives though. For example with Pelhem Blue, the color "Astra Blue Mica" as used on 1992 Iszuz vehicles is an excellent match, Sherwin Williams color code 718/B204 and Dupont ChromaBase H-9623K. Ernie from the Gibson Custom Shop claims that after extensive research by Gibson this is the equivalent to the original Pelhem Blue.

Note Gibson used the term "poly" when referring to metallic finishes. The term "poly" does not mean it's a polyurethane finish. It's just another way of referring to a metallic finish. They probably did this to be unique since Fender used the term "Metallic" when referring to finishes with metal flakes. Or Gibson used Ditzler's convention (instead of DuPont's) of calling metallic paints "poly".

[paris is burnin]

My god "Kerry Green"...

[buyusfear]

Originally Posted by Gold Tone

From: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gibsonc.html

[i]Gibson Custom Colors.

Thanks, thats the page I was searching for.

[BluesBurst]

Originally Posted by Zen Guitar

As a follow up... Are there any runs of similar, but translucent finishes over figured tops on Historics?

Here's my seen before "R6 Twistoric", in Candy Apple Red or as I believe it's official name may be, Bullion Red.

[BluesBurst]

Originally Posted by MikeSlub

Except for the Canary Yellow, these were Gibson Custom Colors from the '60s, used on Firebirds. Same as Fender colors with different names. It's okay if you don't like them on a Les Paul; I like them, and that's what matters. Different strokes for different folks.

No Mike, you must submit to the authority of "THE EXPERTS".

Deviation from the accepted acceptibility criteria will not be tolerated.

Do you understand!!!

Historics rather than Twistorics are the ONLY acceptable guitars in this forum



The fact that Gibson created the humbucker by mating 2 Fender single coils will be ignored... after all, they're meant to have covers on them so we didn't know that...

[Classic71]

When it comes to this type of guitar, I'd just enjoy them as great looking guitars and play them accordingly. They're not supposed to be re-issues, and both Fender and Gibson, being competing companies in the past, have taken cues from each other. If I saw a Heather Poly (sorry to go on) in a shop and I had the readies, I'd be asking the store assistant to go and get the case while I tried it out. I obviously have my favourites, but I wouldn't turn down any of these guitars, they're fun but at the same time being of Historic quality (I assume) which is a great combination. And they certainly bring some colour to Mike's collection, not that it needs it. They'd also stand out in a band setting, as well.

[MBrown]

Originally Posted by BluesBurst

Here's my seen before "R6 Twistoric", in Candy Apple Red or as I believe it's official name may be, Bullion Red.

Love it! Whenever I see any guitar in that color I'm reminded of David Gilmour's red Strat.

[MBrown]

You know, the more I look at these, the more I really want that Pelham Blue guitar.

Or the Candy Apple Red one.

[goldtop72457]

Here's my 2010 Chambered 57 in candy Apple Red

[p19978]

Now if Gibson would only make some of these with big fat necks...

[MikeSlub]

Originally Posted by p19978

Now if Gibson would only make some of these with big fat necks...

All of mine have fat necks ('56 and '57 style).

[Bluuzman]

Originally Posted by BluesBurst

Here's my seen before "R6 Twistoric", in Candy Apple Red or as I believe it's official name may be, Bullion Red.

[Monroe]

Rather than a custom color top, it might be cool to have a flame top and custom color back and sides... kinda like Mick Ronson meets HGTV

[CoolGuitarz]

cool guitar's mike-
quick question: on the kerry green guitar- curious if the binding is less wide on the side of the guitar, than it is on other lp reissues?? also, can you feel a very slight "shelf" between binding edge and the rest of the guitar's side (both w/ regard to top binding & fingerboard binding)?
i just got a similar guitar & have noticed many of that the custom color one's w/ the whole guitar finished in the given color (ie. including guitar's back) have both these feature's.........

[MikeSlub]

Originally Posted by CoolGuitarz

cool guitar's mike-
quick question: on the kerry green guitar- curious if the binding is less wide on the side of the guitar, than it is on other lp reissues?? also, can you feel a very slight "shelf" between binding edge and the rest of the guitar's side (both w/ regard to top binding & fingerboard binding)?
i just got a similar guitar & have noticed many of that the custom color one's w/ the whole guitar finished in the given color (ie. including guitar's back) have both these feature's.........

If your binding is less wide, it's because the scraper didn't take off enough of the paint off the binding when scraping. The "shelf" is because the pore filler used on the natural or cherry red or dark back guitars is a thinner finish that is rubbed on versus a painted back that is sprayed on.

[CoolGuitarz]

for the record, even tho its not my own guitar, the below pic is what im referring to-- this is a 2012 heather poly V.O.S. r8 at olivia's vintage...... look how skinny binding looks--binding look's to be only like 3/16" or maybe 5/32" wide, which seems visibly smaller than on 'regular' LP reissue-
(also, if u look at the where the top binding meets the neck joint, there is a reflection of the feel-able "shelf" between the heather part of the guitar's body & lower edge of binding---
do you find that binding is like this on your kerry green guitar??

[Big Al]

Lordy!!! Those are all so cool but BluesBurst's Candy Red Lester is the cat's pajamas!!! Man that thing is sweet!

[BluesBurst]

Originally Posted by Big Al

Lordy!!! Those are all so cool but BluesBurst's Candy Red Lester is the cat's pajamas!!! Man that thing is sweet!

Thanks Big Al,

Some guitars are always cool when you pull them out for playing time then there those special ones that you just stare at for moment, or two, or three before you plug them in... My Candy Apple R6 is one of those

[Pip]

Love the pastels, Kerry green for me every time - I have FB1 in Kerry, stunning. Really nice to see these Lesters.

[Cliff Gress]

Originally Posted by Big Al

Lordy!!! Those are all so cool but BluesBurst's Candy Red Lester is the cat's pajamas!!! Man that thing is sweet!

Yep...very bold color.

[DocJ]

Originally Posted by BluesBurst

I agree with the superlatives on this one. It is just about the coolest-looking Les Paul I have seen on this forum, some outstanding bursts and reissues excepted.

[Elliot Easton]

As Mike says, different strokes. I, for example am baffled by the obsession with big fat necks. Growing up in the 60's, the by-word in almost any guitar catalog description was 'slim, fast-action neck'. For me it still is. Virtually all of MY Gibsons have the 60's neck and my sig model neck profile is based on the '63 block-neck Historic 335. Just my worthless 2 pesetas.

[Big Al]

Well hell! Neck size is a personal thing. Thank god there is a choice. I love the classic slim real deal actually 1960 neck profile. Great neck.

I always found the larger round necks comfortable and just as fast. The funny thing is in the 50's catalogs the fat necks are referred to as slim and fast action, so it is all perception and personal choice. I find that for extended play and maximum hand comfort a larger round neck fits the bill, for me.

However, picking the worst color possible from all the cool ones Gibson offered for a signature guitar?...... unforgivable!!!

Hey Elliot I don't know if you remember me but I had found a Custom made Lester of yours for one of my lefty pals and it had the most beautiful burst!!! Without a doubt the most extreme top carve and the thinnest flat neck ever!! I referred to the top as a Roulette carve and the neck profile as a yardstick! Brother that was a pretty thing. BTW I love the SG!!! Great choice.

[Elliot Easton]

Originally Posted by Big Al

The funny thing is in the 50's catalogs the fat necks are referred to as slim and fast action...

That's funny, you're right about that, Al!
However, picking the worst color possible from all the cool ones Gibson offered for a signature guitar?...... unforgivable!!!
Pelham Blue is the worst color? You did see the yellow one, right? (sorry Mike, but that one is just.......well, all due respect, to each his own)

Hey Elliot I don't know if you remember me but I had found a Custom made Lester of yours for one of my lefty pals and it had the most beautiful burst!!! Without a doubt the most extreme top carve and the thinnest flat neck ever!! I referred to the top as a Roulette carve and the neck profile as a yardstick! Brother that was a pretty thing. BTW I love the SG!!! Great choice.

I think I know just what guitar you're referring to, it was delivered to me in '87 or '88 in LA just before we played the MTV awards show, and yes, that is typical of my neck preference. JT Ribiloff built that one.

[CoolGuitarz]

"all" pelham blue (vs. top-only) in gloss finish is my own personal favorite of this recent run....... although i think all heather poly is cool too (but havent been able to find a gloss finish one of those-
p.s. gibson should reconsider renaming frost blue either as "connecticut avenue" "vermont avenue" or "oriental avenue"

[Elliot Easton]

Pelham Blue Les Paul, Tikis, Sven Kirsten book-did someone sneak into my house? Oh wait it's righty w/ cream plastic, lol!

[CoolGuitarz]

Originally Posted by Elliot Easton

Pelham Blue Les Paul, Tikis, Sven Kirsten book-did someone sneak into my house? Oh wait it's righty w/ cream plastic, lol!

haha- great mind's think alike!!
the irony, though, is that im left-handed (but my first guitar teacher refused to teach me left-handed because he was a righty-- so, to this day, righty is the way i play)
re: plastic color......just got this guitar last week, but some black plastic may make its way on there (but only in the form of zebra pickups, alas-
(btw elliot i TOTALLY agree about slim neck's--- anyway since this guitar is an r8 my only gripe is w/ the humongous neck.. but im dealing with it

[DonRowe]

Originally Posted by BluesBurst

Here's my seen before "R6 Twistoric", in Candy Apple Red or as I believe it's official name may be, Bullion Red.

SWEET !!

[MikeSlub]

Originally Posted by CoolGuitarz

for the record, even tho its not my own guitar, the below pic is what im referring to-- this is a 2012 heather poly V.O.S. r8 at olivia's vintage...... look how skinny binding looks--binding look's to be only like 3/16" or maybe 5/32" wide, which seems visibly smaller than on 'regular' LP reissue-
(also, if u look at the where the top binding meets the neck joint, there is a reflection of the feel-able "shelf" between the heather part of the guitar's body & lower edge of binding---
do you find that binding is like this on your kerry green guitar??

Yes, the exposed part of the binding is thinner. But as I said earlier, I don't think the binding material is thinner. I could be wrong, but I believe that the scrapers (the folks who scrape the oversprayed finish off the binding) don't take off the same width of paint off the binding on a guitar with a solid color painted back as they do off guitars that have pore filler translucent finishes.

[CoolGuitarz]

Originally Posted by MikeSlub

Yes, the exposed part of the binding is thinner. But as I said earlier, I don't think the binding material is thinner. I could be wrong, but I believe that the scrapers (the folks who scrape the oversprayed finish off the binding) don't take off the same width of paint off the binding on a guitar with a solid color painted back as they do off guitars that have pore filler translucent finishes.

perhaps.. but if thats what the scraper's are doing, i think they should make more of an effort to get the resulting scraped binding to match that found on guitar's w/ translucent finishes (my main question is "why"--- i mean, why should one differ from the other?? is there some rule that say's a solid-color guitar looks better w/ skinnier binding-
i also dont understand the "shelf," which is definitely tangible throughout the whole binding on my r8 (both on top binding and on neck binding)......... i recall in earlier LP reissue's occasionally gibson would do an all-gold r4 or r6, would be curious to see if shelf exists on those guitars too?

[CoolGuitarz]

btw mike- in terms of tone/playability, which (if any) of the six guitar's depicted is your favorite??

[MikeSlub]

Originally Posted by CoolGuitarz

btw mike- in terms of tone/playability, which (if any) of the six guitar's depicted is your favorite??

All of them play well. Obviously the ones with buckers have a different voice than the P-90 guitars. Hard to pick a favorite - they are all winners!