1969 GT HB Conversion

moonweasel · May 6, 2016

Serial number definitely not correct for the guitar. Neck joint is post switch to the Deluxe in late spring 69. 830xxx might be more likely.

Is it just me, or does that board look Brazilian?

WBailey · May 6, 2016

moonweasel said:
Serial number definitely not correct for the guitar. Neck joint is post switch to the Deluxe in late spring 69. 830xxx might be more likely.

Is it just me, or does that board look Brazilian?

Kinda. Hard to tell. Well oiled, tight grain rosewood ? 47 years oiled ! I know there are a few out there.

Only one way to tell ! :hee

MapleFlame · May 6, 2016

moonweasel said:
Serial number definitely not correct for the guitar. Neck joint is post switch to the Deluxe in late spring 69. 830xxx might be more likely.

Is it just me, or does that board look Brazilian?

I looked at it, looks just like my 69. It's not braz. I have two 69's, one that has the rare block for tenon and it has braz, the other one shorty tenon, it's indian. This guitar fretboard looks exactly like mine. For some reason, people who don't oil the boards, but play the hell out of them with love sweat and tears, I find they flake on the board leaving large grain lines. Not all cases, but several I've seen. Awesome guitar!!

corpse · May 6, 2016

The board has that soapy sheen to it.
Thanks for the good words. Very exciting.

Kris Ford · May 6, 2016

Routed Deluxes RULE!:yah

corpse · May 6, 2016

Some internal stuff

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guitplayer · May 6, 2016

Yep late 1969 deluxe control cavity.
I had saved some pics of the circle "B". early 69 and mid 69 have a smaller "B".
Here is a early 1969

Late 69 deluxe. the "B" runs into 1970.

djd100 · May 7, 2016

Curious, what do the B's indicate, top quality or...???

TIA!

guitplayer said:
Yep late 1969 deluxe control cavity.
I had saved some pics of the circle "B". early 69 and mid 69 have a smaller "B".
Here is a early 1969

Late 69 deluxe. the "B" runs into 1970.

guitplayer · May 7, 2016

Unknown.

corpse · May 10, 2016

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It's not my guitar until have I a shot of it on my deck. So here it is. Pick up covers are arriving from the last owner today. I love the color of the plastic- I am big on visual detail and this is not at all original but cool- and it came this way. A few observations:
1) The neck is pretty large up past the 7th fret- that's new. I thought my 05 Jr RI had a large neck and this is bigger.
2) The string action is a bit stiffer than I have had with pre-historics or historics. I wonder if this is due to the whopping 1/2 extra degree of neck angle. It's quite noticeable. Could be crap strings- time for a change.

So far I like it best with my '63 Bassman with a 2/12 cab loaded with 70's blackbacks. One of my personal favorites to play- the song that just amazed me in high school for it's solo speed and cohesiveness- is Mick Taylor on GYYYO, Stray Cat Blues. The tone is really different there- nothing I have heard before- and this nailed it on the middle position. Much more of a singing quality that I have owned before. More pics with the PU covers to follow.

WBailey · May 10, 2016

Loo king gude !

Did that pickgaurd come with it ?

When you have time, could you post a close up pic where it attaches by the neck ?

Thanks :salude

corpse · May 10, 2016

The pick guard came with it. This is the best colored guard I have seen. The original owner didn't know what it's pedigree was.
I will post the neck shots tonight.

corpse · May 10, 2016

The chrome covers are a little over the top, but that's the way they were made. I like it better than the exposed coils- have to check out the sound.

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And W's requested neck shots. Tell me if this isn't what you had in mind:

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moonweasel · May 10, 2016

Seriously cool guitar. Will post more impressions later, just wanted to post one thing before I forgot.

If I recall correctly, some old thread here stated that Grovers add just under a half pound relative to Klusons. So, your 9.5lb GT is actually closer to the sweet spot of 9 lbs.

Im not a big weight junkie per se, but this is just an interesting point to consider.

More later, gotta run

WBailey · May 10, 2016

No, that is fine. Thank you.

I like the covers on. A little shiny ( needs beer and sweat )

I was just curious if someone had hacked up the original pickgaurd.

Doesn't look like it. :salude

corpse · May 10, 2016

Good to know- I am a 9 pound believer.
Those extra eight ounces will make a difference to my back!
I ought to try and pick up some DR Klusons for this.
WB- the pick guard looks almost new. Really unmolested. Not a scratch. Kind of jonesing to knock the shine off it and the rings- but I am all about patience with this one.
No tone difference with the covers- funny the indent on the covers is exactly like the one in the Custom Buckers.
Interesting.

Reno_1ted · May 11, 2016

corpse said:
2) The string action is a bit stiffer than I have had with pre-historics or historics. I wonder if this is due to the whopping 1/2 extra degree of neck angle. It's quite noticeable. Could be crap strings- time for a change.

I am almost certain that will be a case of new strings and a setup. The action on both of mine is exceptional IMO. :salude

moonweasel · May 12, 2016

corpse said:
2) The string action is a bit stiffer than I have had with pre-historics or historics. I wonder if this is due to the whopping 1/2 extra degree of neck angle. It's quite noticeable. Could be crap strings- time for a change.

Is the stop bar set low on the body? If so, try bringing it up a bit. You can adjust that to make the guitar have the same geometry of any different neck set angle LP.

moonweasel · May 12, 2016

corpse said:
Good to know- I am a 9 pound believer.
Those extra eight ounces will make a difference to my back!
I ought to try and pick up some DR Klusons for this.
WB- the pick guard looks almost new. Really unmolested. Not a scratch. Kind of jonesing to knock the shine off it and the rings- but I am all about patience with this one.
No tone difference with the covers- funny the indent on the covers is exactly like the one in the Custom Buckers.
Interesting.

If the shininess bothers you, only an utterly tiny number of LP Standards shipped with full sized humbuckers in 68/69, so one is "free" to do what they want relative to being "how they were".

I have always loved worn nickel covers on worn GT's. Love the look either way though!!! great guitar.

Regarding Klusons, two important points:
1) You will likely need "conversion bushings". (most people drill all the way through the face of the headstock to install Grovers, leaving enlarged holes which need plugging (via a larger bushing) to return to Klusons.

2) VERY important: The larger washers for Grovers can become one with the finish of the headstock on an old guitar like yours. Especially if they have been there a long time. When one goes to pull them off, the finish of the headstock can come with it! That's the worse scenario, I have seen a ton of these with wood exposed or the finish having chunks missing around the now smaller kluson push in bushings. Less worse scenario, the larger washers will leave circular impressions in the finish. NOt trying to scare you off of changing from Grovers, just want to make sure you go slow and gentle on removing the Grover washers. :dude:

Kris Ford · May 12, 2016

corpse said:
The chrome covers are a little over the top, but that's the way they were made. I like it better than the exposed coils- have to check out the sound.

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And W's requested neck shots. Tell me if this isn't what you had in mind:

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I think the chrome covers look KILLER! :yah Also, looks like just an regular ol' Gibson USA LP guard.
I have 3 sets of T Top covers, 2 NOS, they're getting harder and harder to find these days.
But my routed Deluxe's T Tops are uncovered..it's one of those things where I actually have everything in balance on this LP, I really don't want to change a single thing! I'd be afraid I'd disrupt that balance, as crazy as it may sound.

1969 GT HB Conversion

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