Show Us Your Goldtops ('52 - '60)

[mingus]

Originally Posted by j45

Just ran across this photo. What a great shot! I may be prejudiced but it's still the best looking goldtop I've seen. It would be nice if the photographer could move her signature, though. Glad to see that you are keeping it as the working guitar it should be.

Thanks, Kerry. That guitar gets played at every gig.

[rufes]

My main axes. The already posted 52-57 conversion and a '54 Strat.

[Electric Lloyd]

Originally Posted by bigsby'd

The "batarang" unbound '52:


And my often posted, but-what-the-heck-I'm-doing-it-again favoritest LP ever 52 with a Bigsby so rare its made out of vapor.

That "Batarang" GT is badass! I wonder who did the metal work. Looks really cool. And of course your "favoritest" with "the oldest B-7 known to man"! Very nice GT's my friend!

[L.A.Man]

My humble offering a 54/57 goldtop. Converted and refinned by Dave Johnson. I believe it used to be owned by another forum member at one time, I believe someone from Cali.



Another shot showing the weather checking. Real PAF's, sounds like vintage should.

[MapleFlame]

Originally Posted by mingus

Maybe it's because it has been re-necked?

Just saw the words under the pic. I have seen original 52's with wide frets that were exactly like this.

[Classic71]

Thanks for all the pics of some thoroughly gorgeous goldtops (and the '54 Strat!). Some amazing guitars and great photography which really shows off the battle scars and general ageing process of these beauties.

Frank - looking at your '55 again, in your shoes I would be torn in two trying to decide whether to go gold or 'burst that top, which is obviously a lot nicer than average for these guitars (I swear that whoever glued these tops together in the 50's, deliberately chose 2 or 3 totally completely different types of maple boards from the pile, with the odd rare exception like yours).

So what finally tipped the balance towards a gold re-fin? Just being true to the guitar, or the fact that you've already got a stack of beautifully flamed and 'bursted Historics? Curious minds and all that!

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Classic71

Frank - looking at your '55 again, in your shoes I would be torn in two trying to decide whether to go gold or 'burst that top, which is obviously a lot nicer than average for these guitars (I swear that whoever glued these tops together in the 50's, deliberately chose 2 or 3 totally completely different types of maple boards from the pile, with the odd rare exception like yours).

So what finally tipped the balance towards a gold re-fin? Just being true to the guitar, or the fact that you've already got a stack of beautifully flamed and 'bursted Historics? Curious minds and all that!

Yes, as you know, I was very torn about what to do with this guitar, especially since I bought the guitar with the intent of going with a full-blown conversion. But after giving it much thought, I couldn't bring myself to routing it out for humbuckers, especially since the guitar is a non-issue, unbroken guitar, in outstanding condition (except for the stripped paint, of course). And since I didn't feel that a burst would look right on a P-90 guitar, I opted to just restore it to a goldtop with some aging. I figure there are a lot more conversion-worthy candidates out there than this one.

And yes, the guitar has a nice flametop, but part of that is the photography. I've gotten to be pretty good (IMHO) at bringing out the best in a guitar (only in photos, unfortunately, though), and this guitar was no exception. The guitar can look a lot more boring, and the top look more mis-matched than you see in these photos, depending on lighting and angle.

Anyway, watch for a thread sometime in the months ahead, on the restoration of this guitar.


Frank

[mistersnappy]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Here's my recently acquired '55 (originally thought to be a '56), soon to be a goldtop again:






Frank

To each his own, but, I dig the natural look.

[Electric Lloyd]

Wow! That is sweet! Nice score.

[tooold]

I've held back on posting about my '55, as it's been not only refinished (by Gord Miller), but renecked (fingerboard's original). But seeing as how there's been one renecked goldie and a couple of refins in this thread, I thought I'd take a shot. Apologies for the logo, the photos are from my website, but it's not for sale...

[hoss]

toold, these are amazing pics!!! I bet the guitar plays and sounds as good as it looks.

[Classic71]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Yes, as you know, I was very torn about what to do with this guitar, especially since I bought the guitar with the intent of going with a full-blown conversion. But after giving it much thought, I couldn't bring myself to routing it out for humbuckers, especially since the guitar is a non-issue, unbroken guitar, in outstanding condition (except for the stripped paint, of course). And since I didn't feel that a burst would look right on a P-90 guitar, I opted to just restore it to a goldtop with some aging. I figure there are a lot more conversion-worthy candidates out there than this one.

And yes, the guitar has a nice flametop, but part of that is the photography. I've gotten to be pretty good (IMHO) at bringing out the best in a guitar (only in photos, unfortunately, though), and this guitar was no exception. The guitar can look a lot more boring, and the top look more mis-matched than you see in these photos, depending on lighting and angle.

Anyway, watch for a thread sometime in the months ahead, on the restoration of this guitar.


Frank

Thanks for the reply Frank, for what it's worth I think your reasoning is pretty sound - especially now that I know we're getting the "money shot" of the top mainly due to your photographic skills.

I'll look forward to the restoration thread, but I'm wondering who you'll go with to carry out the work. HM would seem to be the obvious choice, unless of course you've go a direct line to DJ and can get him to do the work within your preferred timescale. And the million dollar question - what degree of ageing/checking, if any?

[Classic71]

Originally Posted by hoss

toold, these are amazing pics!!! I bet the guitar plays and sounds as good as it looks.

+ 1, excellent re-fin and killer looking guitar. I bet the P90's are the business. And of course Gord would be another option for Frank, but I'm sure he's already got someone in mind.

[Zane16520]

Tooold, that is a smashing GT.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Classic71

Thanks for the reply Frank, for what it's worth I think your reasoning is pretty sound - especially now that I know we're getting the "money shot" of the top mainly due to your photographic skills.

I'll look forward to the restoration thread, but I'm wondering who you'll go with to carry out the work. HM would seem to be the obvious choice, unless of course you've go a direct line to DJ and can get him to do the work within your preferred timescale. And the million dollar question - what degree of ageing/checking, if any?

The guitar is in the hands of DJ "as we speak". And I don't get the impression from him that it will take too long. And there are two reasons for that... 1) He's really starting to get caught up on his backlog; and 2) This guitar will require just a refin, so no heavy duty woodworking involved (which tends to slow down the process considerably).

Oh, and with regard to your aging question. To tell the truth, I'm not a big fan of new looking goldtops. It wasn't until I started seeing some of the nicely aged ones around here that I started to appreciate goldtops at all. So I'll probably have him go middle of the road aging...not too beat up, but some nice checking and possibly some arm wear and greening.


Frank

[tooold]

Originally Posted by Zane16520

Tooold, that is a smashing GT.

Thanks for the kind words, guys. It's a very cool guitar. Didn't think I was ever going to get one, but events conspired...

[Classic71]

Originally Posted by pinefd

The guitar is in the hands of DJ "as we speak". And I don't get the impression from him that it will take too long. And there are two reasons for that... 1) He's really starting to get caught up on his backlog; and 2) This guitar will require just a refin, so no heavy duty woodworking involved (which tends to slow down the process considerably).

Oh, and with regard to your aging question. To tell the truth, I'm not a big fan of new looking goldtops. It wasn't until I started seeing some of the nicely aged ones around here that I started to appreciate goldtops at all. So I'll probably have him go middle of the road aging...not too beat up, but some nice checking and possibly some arm wear and greening.


Frank

Can't wait for THAT thread, having seen pics of DJ's work for Mapleflame and other forum members. I'm sure your appreciation for goldtops will continue to grow!

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Oh, and with regard to your aging question. To tell the truth, I'm not a big fan of new looking goldtops. It wasn't until I started seeing some of the nicely aged ones around here that I started to appreciate goldtops at all. So I'll probably have him go middle of the road aging...not too beat up, but some nice checking and possibly some arm wear and greening.

Actually, now that I think of it, the guitar posted by tooold above is a perfect example of the type of aging I'd be looking for. That thing is awesome!


Frank

[buyusfear]

Originally Posted by pinefd

It wasn't until I started seeing some of the nicely aged ones around here that I started to appreciate goldtops at all.

Frank

I feel this exact same way.

For me, the goldtop finish that I like, is one that looks or is 50+ years old.

[tspoon]

1956 All Original, One of the cleanest examples......

Picked this one up yesterday, Serial 6 52xx......

Killer tone, sustain.....Just stunning......Perfect condition and electronics.....

Cavity area has never been touched......

Original Case.....8 lbs, 3 oz.....Shaded under pickguard......

[TW59]

That's a real beauty!

What does "Shaded under the pickguard" mean?
Got a photo of that?

[hoss]

Beautiful!

[Steve Craw]

Beautiful, congrats!

[williejoebob]

[tspoon]

Originally Posted by TW59

That's a real beauty!

What does "Shaded under the pickguard" mean?
Got a photo of that?

The shade under the pick guard is actually newer looking than the the rest of the body. I will show a picture later today, as I am visiting Mom out of town. Today is Mother's day.

I guess the shading is from the under pickguard being protected from UV lighting. I really do not want to mess with Toggle switch plate, to see if that is same way.

Thanks for checking it out..... Her name is Eleanor.......

[Steve Craw]

Originally Posted by TW59

That's a real beauty!

What does "Shaded under the pickguard" mean?
Got a photo of that?

From Mark's Guitar Loft site: a beautiful 55 goldtop. Scroll about halfway down to the pics without the bridge and pickguard. The gold is lighter under the areas protected by the plastic.
http://www.marksguitarloft.com/picBr...id=1955goldtop

[tspoon]

Originally Posted by TW59

That's a real beauty!

What does "Shaded under the pickguard" mean?
Got a photo of that?

Here is some shots with out the pickguard......

[hoss]

My nipples harden!

[tspoon]

Tom,

That is 55 years of sun tan.....Under the pickguard is in the shade,

That was what I meant.....

[TW59]

Originally Posted by tspoon

Tom,

That is 55 years of sun tan.....Under the pickguard is in the shade,

That was what I meant.....

Gotcha!

Here's my beat 56 GT:

[Red Baron]

Very nice, can you tell us about the 2 Les Paul's?

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by tspoon

1956 All Original, One of the cleanest examples......

Picked this one up yesterday, Serial 6 52xx......

Congrats mate, that's one beautiful guitar!

[tspoon]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Congrats mate, that's one beautiful guitar!

Thanks, all the Gold Tops posted here are really nice.....

After more than 40 1959 Flame Top Historic's, this is my first Vintage......

This one is the real deal, nothing like the real thing.....

I am calling this one Eleanor.....

[tspoon]

Originally Posted by TW59

Gotcha!

Here's my beat 56 GT:

Is that one your number one player?

It is cool as all get out.....Beat to death and the one to go to......

Nice !!!!

[thunderkyss]

There was a time, when I didn't "get" the whole gold top thing. I didn't care for any of the solid colors.

Then I wandered into a thread similar to this one, with guys posting awesome pictures of older & aged gold tops, checkering & all.

Now, I think they are the best... better than the bursts & the flames..... thanks guys.

[TW59]

Originally Posted by tspoon

Is that one your number one player?

It is cool as all get out.....Beat to death and the one to go to......

Nice !!!!

Yes, a real warrior named G.I. Paul:




I got it in 1980 with most of the wear and all the "army green" gold top color.
But under the guard is this amazing transition, both in checking and in color.

[williejoebob]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Very nice, can you tell us about the 2 Les Paul's?

Gold Top is a 57, the one on the left is a 54/59

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by williejoebob

Gold Top is a 57, the one on the left is a 54/59

Wow, both are very cool!

Any chance of seeing more pics of both?


Frank

[hoss]

Macro image

[hoss]

Here you can see the darkback refin.