R6 Jaeger Make Over

[rockabilly69]

Thanks rockabilly69 I appreciate the kind words.

You're welcome, I'm a huge fan of Goldtops P90 and Hummers!!! Here's mine, and I would love to have the shoulders shaved on my R4 like you had Florian do to your R6...

R4 on all electric guitar fills and solo (and Gibson F5G mandolin)

https://soundcloud.com/daniel-weldon-1%2Fwhen-was-the-last-time-we-had-fun

R7 on solo @ 2:43

https://soundcloud.com/daniel-weldon-1%2Fim-looking-for-a-change

 

[Steve Craw]

I was at a Philly Guitar Show and staring at a row of vintage goldtops in a dealer's booth when I heard a woman softly say, "there's just something about a goldtop". That's been my mantra ever since. Speaking of cases, in 2000 I bought one of the earliest Lifton reissue cases from 1999-2000. These were sold with the aged 1957 goldtops as part of a package that included a Goldtone amplifier covered in the same brown tolex. These early cases were made in Canada, and had no date tag. They were made like the original Lifton's out of bent plywood rather than the particle board construction of the Costa Rica built Liftons. The weight is significantly less on these cases. I slathered the exterior with Kiwi brown shoe polish to give it a shine and darken the color, and treated the handle to make it look like the originals that I've owned which had either blue or green coming through. The result is a very authentic look.

 

[Steve Craw]

I dealt this case away in a guitar deal thirteen years ago, last year I was finally able to get it back. I'm beyond thrilled to have it again. You can just see a little of the "Lifton" badge peeking out. I added that later, these did not come with this badge.

 

[Steve Craw]

 

[Steve Craw]

You're welcome, I'm a huge fan of Goldtops P90 and Hummers!!! Here's mine, and I would love to have the shoulders shaved on my R4 like you had Florian do to your R6...

R4 on all electric guitar fills and solo (and Gibson F5G mandolin)

https://soundcloud.com/daniel-weldon-1%2Fwhen-was-the-last-time-we-had-fun

R7 on solo @ 2:43

https://soundcloud.com/daniel-weldon-1%2Fim-looking-for-a-change

Man, this is great stuff !

 

[Revolver1]

Thanks guys, that was awesome!

Just don't expect my sound clips to be as cool as that......

 

[Revolver1]

Florian has very kindly arranged the Video links for me so I can post them, so a big thanks to Florian an his web designer.

So I must apologise, there is a little background noise going on. The Tube Trains run directly over head so there's that and also the electrical field they give off causes a slight crackle in my tubes that comes out the amps. Plus the P90's pick it up as well. But it's not too bad. Its authentic sounds of the London Underground....

So the first clip is just the amps with a touch of reverb. The second is with a shafer replica set to a fairly clean boost with a touch of reverb. And the third one is with a Klon clone no reverb.

So please enjoy.....

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video1.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video2.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video3.mp4

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I was at a Philly Guitar Show and staring at a row of vintage goldtops in a dealer's booth when I heard a woman softly say, "there's just something about a goldtop". That's been my mantra ever since. Speaking of cases, in 2000 I bought one of the earliest Lifton reissue cases from 1999-2000. These were sold with the aged 1957 goldtops as part of a package that included a Goldtone amplifier covered in the same brown tolex. These early cases were made in Canada, and had no date tag. They were made like the original Lifton's out of bent plywood rather than the particle board construction of the Costa Rica built Liftons. The weight is significantly less on these cases. I slathered the exterior with Kiwi brown shoe polish to give it a shine and darken the color, and treated the handle to make it look like the originals that I've owned which had either blue or green coming through. The result is a very authentic look.

Are you sure your Lifton case was made in Canada? The late 90's to 2008 Lifton reissue cases I owned and have seen were made in Costa Rica. I had 1999 and 2003 cases and both were made in Costa Rica. The 99 just had a Costa Rica tag, but the 03 also had a date tag. I am not sure what the 99 was made out of, but the 03 was definitely made out of plywood. I don't think I have ever seen any curved case made out of particle board. As well, the edges are so thin that I don't think it would work or even be possible.

The deeper with different latches and 2 headrest cases that were made from around 2012 onward were made in Canada. It looks like in 2018 they went back to the 50's design and are having them made in Costa Rica again. The interior lining and padding looks different in the pictures I found. I am going to try and find one to compare to the older one.

There is nothing wrong with the late 50's design. The guitar fits very nicely and snug into place. My 03 took a tumble down a flight of stairs when a friend tripped carrying it once and it survived very well. There were some abrasions to the edges of the covering, but the guitar was still perfectly in tune. None of the plywood on the edges became separated. It sort of gave the case a little bit of natural aging, not that I wanted that though as the guitar inside was not aged.

These cases have protected many a Burst from the 50's for decades. It was the best case they offered at the time. There weren't flight cases per say back then and those cases were all you had to travel the world. I saw a 50's case once that was completely covered in travel stickers.

It wasn't easy finding some examples of the early reissue cases as so many people pulled and cut out the tags to make them look more original to a 50's case. Maybe some even pulled them out because they didn't want their USA guitar in a Costa Rica case. The examples from 99 to 06 that I did find I put links below.

https://reverb.com/item/53423771-gibson-les-paul-lifton-vintage-50s-style-case-1999

https://reverb.com/en-bg/item/76866610-les-paul-case-lifton-gibson-custom-shop-historic

1999 Gibson Les Paul 1959 Standard Historic Reissue Murphy Aged Cherry Sunburst - Sweetspot Guitars | English

sweetspot-guitars.de

2005 Left Handed Custom Shop Historic 1960 R0 Les Paul Flamed Cherry Burst $3650

2005 Left Handed Custom Shop Historic 1960 R0 Les Paul Flamed Cherry Burst $3650 This is a very rare, hard to find lefty guitar; and it may be a long time before you see another.... Nicely bookmatched flamed maple top with Washed/Worn Cherry Burst finish. This guitar has been played and has a...

www.lespaulforum.com

https://reverb.com/item/41281784-gibson-lifton-les-paul-historic-reissue-case-costa-rica

 

[Revolver1]

I couldn't tell you for sure what my 2019 Costa Rica case is made of, but it sounds like it's different from those earlier lifton replica cases. Its considerably heavier than the other one. Also the guitar can move fowards in the case. If you stand the case up and lean it forwards you can feel the guitar move inside the case.

On the Canadian case theres padding on the lid that holds the guitar in place.

 

[metropolis]

Thanks for posting those videos, they sound great! I know exactly what you mean about the noise in those types of rehearsal rooms - we played under the railway arches in Holloway for many years and just got used to random buzzing and the noise of trains overhead.

I love the chirp of the middle position, and how balanced it is across all the different positions. What a great rig you have to play through!

 

[Steve Craw]

I'm the original owner of my 1999-2000 Lifton and it never had the "made in costa rica" tag. It looks like the first one the Subliminal referenced above. I've owned several Lifton reissue cases, this one being the earliest and the latest was a double headrest version that came with a 2012 R8. The others were all from Costa Rica, and had the tag attached to state such. They were all heavy as hell, and one of them had a latch that went bad soon after I got it. There is a gentleman locally who ages and repairs cases, and has worked on countless examples , I trust he knows what he's talking about when he told me of the pariticle board construction.

 

[Shokry]

Haha, it was overwhelming almost like my mind had gone blank. But here's a short video of the first few chords played through Florians Tweed Delux, it's a very nice amp!

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/plugged-in.mp4

That sound is the real deal man! Congratulations.. even though it’s an iPhone mic you can tell it sounds very lively.. has a nice growl and string separation to it.. that sweet home Alabama fender-ish ring
I love it!!

 

[Revolver1]

Well, this is going to take some adjustment and getting used to now the journey is finally done. And what a journey it's been from leaving for Germany on the 6th of February in the dead of Winter to now the 8th of May where Spring has finally sprung. The journey has come full circle.

This thread has been a huge part of my life for the past three months and I want to thank you all for coming along with your support, your input, your contributions and the great discussions we've had along the way. The ups the downs, all of it. It's been awesome, I feel privileged to have made your acquaintance. so thanks for having me and welcoming me aboard the Les Paul Forum.

And what a triumphant conclusion, I now have a guitar I can say I truly love. It's a peice of art but more importantly an incredible tool for creating music. That thing we all have in common and are so highly addicted to in our own individual ways. Plus, " The Argonaut " now has all these memories attached to her that I can't possibly ever forget every time I pick her up. That's not something you could ever put a price on. You can only experience it, live through it and then live with the memories for the rest of your life. This can't be beat, totally awesome...

Florian has been so great to deal with throughout all of this, I can't speak highly enough of his skills, his dedication, attention to the finer details, his generosity but most of all what a great guy he is to have on your side. I have been lucky enough to have come out of this with a friend for life, that's not the sort of thing that happens to me every day. As I think it may have been Subliminal that said, yes life can be wonderful....

Rock On!!! and thanks....

 

[zakkrhoads]

Florian has very kindly arranged the Video links for me so I can post them, so a big thanks to Florian an his web designer.

So I must apologise, there is a little background noise going on. The Tube Trains run directly over head so there's that and also the electrical field they give off causes a slight crackle in my tubes that comes out the amps. Plus the P90's pick it up as well. But it's not too bad. Its authentic sounds of the London Underground....

So the first clip is just the amps with a touch of reverb. The second is with a shafer replica set to a fairly clean boost with a touch of reverb. And the third one is with a Klon clone no reverb.

So please enjoy.....

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video1.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video2.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video3.mp4

I was a little disappointed with the early tones at Florian’s (you seemed nervous) but these tones I liked a LOT! At the same time open sounding and smooth… not sure if the guitar sounded like that before but congrats!

Any additional comment on the guitar? Is the honeymoon still on? Best and thanks for sharing the journey! Enjoy it!

 

[rockabilly69]

Florian has very kindly arranged the Video links for me so I can post them, so a big thanks to Florian an his web designer.

So I must apologise, there is a little background noise going on. The Tube Trains run directly over head so there's that and also the electrical field they give off causes a slight crackle in my tubes that comes out the amps. Plus the P90's pick it up as well. But it's not too bad. Its authentic sounds of the London Underground....

So the first clip is just the amps with a touch of reverb. The second is with a shafer replica set to a fairly clean boost with a touch of reverb. And the third one is with a Klon clone no reverb.

So please enjoy.....

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video1.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video2.mp4

https://www.jaegerguitars.com/customer/video3.mp4

I especially like the third clip, seems like you were loosening up more and more and you went. Does the Brazilian fingerboard and Florians fretwork feel better under the fingers than the stock Gibson board and frets?

 

[Revolver1]

Yeah, I was definitely nervous!!!! It was the strangest mix of emotions I can't even begin to describe when I arrived for the second time, almost like an out of body experience. Our first meeting was awesome, Florian has always been very calming company but he and I really got to know each other on another level after our first meeting and this was all by email and the occasional video so it's kind of why our friendship has grown in the way it has. But being face to face is even better and the way it, as human beings should be done.

I was pretty nervous in the clips I made as well, I think you can see it on my face. I'd like to think I'm a fairly confident guy but I haven't done anything like that for about 15 years so it's laying your self wide open to criticism. In all honesty I was crapping it.

I guess it all comes down to personal tastes with the way the amps are set. At Florians we had the back door wide open because the weather was soooo nice, we were in and out drinking coffee and me smoking plus he does have neighbour's.

He set it up for me to play like that because it's a very revealing setting and really show cases the instrument and it's capabilities. That was a Delux so its capable of extreme filthy over drive but that wouldn't show the pure tone of the guitar. It was joyous to play in person, I love Tweeds clean to filth. He also has a low powered Tweed Twin which is the last amp I swear to my Wife I just have to own. I would kill to hear what it would sound like to hook up the delux and the Low Power Twin together. Omg! Pure filth!

But I digress, with my clips I tried my best to show some different settings and flavours or levels of drive and all off the tone and volume on the guitar, but it's hard because given the equipment we would all set it up differently. And there's alot of options available.

But thanks for the kind words with my clips, I was really worried thinking they maybe sounded a bit crap compared to the Tweed rock machine.

 

[Revolver1]

Yeah, of course the honeymoon is still on, that's a given.

But as to the fret job it's the best I've ever had. Gibson used to have a habit of flattening of the tops of the frets and I found myself snagging up on it so I wasn't a big fan. They've gotten much better these days. But Florian's fret job Is like silk. The way he hammers the frets to harden them and then glues them in and the meticulous levelling I think is a huge part of why the guitar sounds so articulate.

When I first arrived to prove the dead spots were gone he set it up for me super straight and low. Like .003 at the 8th and 3/64th and 2/64ths at the 12th fret. That too low for me but a testament to the fret job. It still played clean, no fret buzz, that's beyond amazing in my book.

I'm told the Brazz board will just get better with time and more playing and also the guitar in general as the whole thing settles in especially the hide glue as it matures.

 

[Revolver1]

Sorry, I perhaps didn't answer the question in full. So dead spots aside the guitar sounded awesome to begin with. I loved it, which is why I couldn't give up on it. But now it's a very different beast.

I've heard of people talking about clarity, articulation and definition and I thought oh yeah. But this really has it and it's a joy to play. Acoustically and plugged in, I've never experienced anything like it.

Florian is very proud of this make over, he has put everything he has into it and has amazed himself at what he has created. He has another original 50s gem on the bench at the moment. But he says " The Argonaut " beats it hands down. That just blows me away.

The only thing I could or would say is that the re positioning of the tail peice stiffens up the B and E and I do like it slinky. But you can just re-adjust the tail peice. And the geometry of the guitar has changed so my set up has changed a little to achieve the the feel I like. But I'm pretty particular about that and what I like Isn't for everyone. But really I'd be struggling to find fault with anything about It now it's a completely different instrument, and vastly improved.

I did this to get rid of the dead spots but I've come away with a vastly superior instrument.

Hope that helps.