1973 Kick

[guitplayer]

Dang I`ve been on one. Could`nt resist bringing this back to a better state.
9.1 lbs of Norlin
Duncans
Lightweight kluson TP(thanks to whoever mentioned them)
ABR-1 bridge
Grovers
Bigger neck than most
M-69 rings
Vintage reflectors

 

[Kris Ford]

Awesome..not a damn thing wrong with that! I'll betcha it shits all over Historics too!:yah

 

[guitplayer]

I heard that.
2 years ago ,I drove 3 hrs to Daves with my amp.
Played a wall of the best historics. Wall stayed in tact. nough said
I currently own one historic. An 05 54 RI

 

[Big Al]

I found a particular tone with Historics, I like, not as common in the 70's Lesters.

I also found that late 70's Lesters that are unmolested, a very good and desirable tone and feel. I just love my mid 70's Standard to death and I was very much a fan of 78-79 Lesters. I found many good ones, just excellent playing and sounding guitars. This one looks mighty fine too me, and nice weight!!!! The biggest knock on these is weight and this one just kills that issue. Very nice!!!!

I like these guitars a lot and find in them a singular, much utilized tone. A very nice variation on the Les Paul theme. But they are what they are, as Historics are. The Historics are different, and as much as I like these, the Historics address the issues I had with 70's Les Pauls. Some cosmetic, some structural.

No need to piss on anything here as both serve thier purpose wonderfuly, in different, ways. My R9's and R8 are excellent sounding Les Pauls with a quality build and vintage specs unavailable to me in the years before 93. I love their playability and tone just as much as my well loved older 70's Lesters.

Different flavors, salt and pepper.:hank

 

[Bob Womack]

The only thing I don't like about my stock '74 Standard is the way the pickups darken up when you pull back on the volumes. I assume it was factory-wired with the "modern" scheme and with the wrong ohmage pots, but haven't really researched it. Since it is dead stock, I've worried that rewiring it would lower the value of the guitar.

Bob

 

[Big Al]

The only thing I don't like about my stock '74 Standard is the way the pickups darken up when you pull back on the volumes. I assume it was factory-wired with the "modern" scheme and with the wrong ohmage pots, but haven't really researched it. Since it is dead stock, I've worried that rewiring it would lower the value of the guitar.

Bob

Bob, I think you can add the volume compensating resistor, treble mod without disturbing the original wiring. I've never needed it, but I have some good pals who swear by it. I love your tobacco beauty!!!!:dude:

 

[Kris Ford]

The only thing I don't like about my stock '74 Standard is the way the pickups darken up when you pull back on the volumes. I assume it was factory-wired with the "modern" scheme and with the wrong ohmage pots, but haven't really researched it. Since it is dead stock, I've worried that rewiring it would lower the value of the guitar.

Bob

Got the 700 code for those pots? They "may" still be 500k audio taper..you can reference the pot codes here:http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/gibson/potentiometer/by_guitar/Les_Paul_Deluxe
(I know yours is a Standard, but being a VERY early version, I entertained the idea that the same pots used in a Deluxe may have been used in yours..)
Also, it seems that you will never part with it, so I say if they aren't 500K, or wildly out of spec. you could remove the old harness and put away for safekeeping, and install tightly toleranced 500k pots, IF you plan on keeping it forever..

 

[shred]

Love the Norlins and the Historics... I wouldn't want to be without either... Nice guitar :dude:

 

[Progrocker111]

Got the 700 code for those pots? They "may" still be 500k audio taper..you can reference the pot codes here:http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/gibson/potentiometer/by_guitar/Les_Paul_Deluxe

Very helpful link, thx.

 

[guitplayer]

Notice I did`nt say anything bad about the historics. Just not much good.
All I know and appreciate is how well these guitars preformed in the 70`s and early 80`s for me and my friends. Thats all we had. No replacement pots ,caps wiring needed.
Plug into your favorite amp and theres the tone.
If the historics are different,I did not like it as a whole.

I`ll say this about my R4.It does not waver in tune at outside gigs.
Rain ,heat. I do appreciate that.

 

[Ken Fortunato]

The ONLY guitar that I regret selling was my 1985 Ferrari Red LP Custom. My first brand new Gibson... I paid $800.00 for it... :##

 

[Kris Ford]

No historic hate from me! I've owned a couple, and they were nice..but not keepers..
I was waiting for the Norlin haters to say something LOL.:##

 

[Big Al]

No historic hate from me! I've owned a couple, and they were nice..but not keepers..
I was waiting for the Norlin haters to say something LOL.:##

I hear that, Kris!!! I have always liked the Les Pauls from ALL eras, but like Guitplayer said it's what we had and I never had a performance issue with them. My faves are the early 70's Kalamazo pancakes. I like late 70's Standards and Customs. 80's Lesters are real nice and the last Norlins are pretty damn nice.

I can't see the wisdom in knocking any, as they all are well made tone machines. There is just enough variety and spice that anyone should be able to find a personal favorite.

I just don't limit my choices. My hands and ears have told me how good they all are.

 

[guitplayer]

Right on Big Al!!!
If the Early Norlins lacked anything, that could have been motivation and inspiration to overcome without even knowing.
Kinda like the limits of a 50`s junior. If thats all you have you make the best of it.

 

[Kris Ford]

I hear that, Kris!!! I have always liked the Les Pauls from ALL eras, but like Guitplayer said it's what we had and I never had a performance issue with them. My faves are the early 70's Kalamazo pancakes. I like late 70's Standards and Customs. 80's Lesters are real nice and the last Norlins are pretty damn nice.

I can't see the wisdom in knocking any, as they all are well made tone machines. There is just enough variety and spice that anyone should be able to find a personal favorite.

I just don't limit my choices. My hands and ears have told me how good they all are.

I grew up on Norlins too..and was happy as hell when I heard about the Reissues..and have picked the ones from all eras based on my tonal needs..my JMP 2203 loves em both! But I just did basically give away an '09 LP/SG because it just flat out SUCKED compared to my '76 SG Standard...which is Norlin to the max..I did ditch the 300K/100K pots and installed tight spec'd 500K CTS audio tapers (reused stock caps..I like ceramics) and have a 498T/BB1 combo to replace the missing tarbacks..

 

[sickboy79]

Sweet! Norlin era guitars are so cool! I have a few winners myself!

 

[guitplayer]

Gibsons unsung heros

 

[Black58]

Since it is dead stock, I've worried that rewiring it would lower the value of the guitar.

It's not a 'Burst, Bob. :ganz
.. You'll only be missing out on hundreds and hundreds of loose change!

 

[ant_riv]

Love the Norlins and the Historics... I wouldn't want to be without either... Nice guitar :dude:

I agree with this.
There are so many great choices out there.

OP
Nice job! It looks great.

 

[Progrocker111]

Early 70s Les Pauls are sometimes so underrated. Many of them are despite pancake bodies surprisingly resonant and have excellent sustain and very articulate tone. With original T-Tops they have that classical 70s rock and hardrock tone i love so much. :dude: