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King of the Standard Faded Les Pauls?

buckwild

Active member
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
Hey Guys Thanks for all the replies. She got here yesterday. Sophia, which I'm now gonna call this guitar, is super light. I did notice that the route through the control cavity seems a bit bigger than my historic-could be just me. Also, I believe there are chambers as there is some loose dried glue or something that is rattling around in the body. I can't get rid of the slight rattle which leads me to believe it's locked in one of the chambers. It is however a one piece body. It's a very cool guitar, fairly resonant and sounded quite standard for a les paul when plugged in. Nice shifts when the tone controls were rolled back and very balanced bit in the open bridge position. It's obviously not as sweet as my R9 but I think with some tweaks it will get pretty close. I completely took it apart-removed all electronics and hardware. The top is gorgeous but the person who did this one kinda screwed up with the burst transition and overall tear shape. Long of the short it's gonna go to RS guitarworks Tuesday for a top refin in light/washed teaburst or lemonburst. I'll resurect this thread when Sophia comes back. I'm also gonna add the RS upgrade kit and lightweight tailpiece. This is gonna be my main gig/rehearsal guitar so I don't have to break out the historics in dodgy settings.
 

Wattage

New member
Joined
Feb 23, 2003
Messages
509
I vote Lemonburst fwiw, I have thought about re-doing mine in lemon when it'll have some down time.
 

Leña_Costoso

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Jul 24, 2005
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2,234
Is it me or do the tops on faded's look much better than on a regular Standard? I don't like the satin finish though. Is it possible to apply a finish of laquer direct to the satin finish or does it need a complete re-spray?

Mine (up top of thread someplace) is an overspray. The "problem" is that you dont have the wood prep under the factory spray... so you have to apply a bit more lacquer to fill the grain above the old finish. Its workable, its doable... just takes a bit more time... maybe three more coats of lacquer. Time factor is to allow a real good shrink before "leveling" and to get some build up there, so when you do level it, it doesn't cut into the existing finish.
 
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jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
She certainly has, and what a fine pair they are too...:wow

sophia_loren167a.jpg

I'd like to adjust her pole pieces :laugh2:

Hope the refin works out!

:salude
 

Lution

New member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
70
I'd like to adjust her pole pieces :laugh2:

Hope the refin works out!

:salude


I was hoping she would adjust my pole piece! :ganz

btw, I think its a mistake to refinish the top on your king of all fadeds, because it won't be a real faded anymore so the crown you'll forfeit, but also it looks sweet the way it is.
 

buckwild

Active member
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
btw, I think its a mistake to refinish the top on your king of all fadeds, because it won't be a real faded anymore so the crown you'll forfeit, but also it looks sweet the way it is.

You know it is what it is. If you could see the finish in person you wouldn't think it looks sweet. They screwed up the tear shape. How could they have an idiot working on a top like this one? I might forfeit the crown but she'll still be Sophia
 

Lution

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Feb 6, 2007
Messages
70
You know it is what it is. If you could see the finish in person you wouldn't think it looks sweet. They screwed up the tear shape. How could they have an idiot working on a top like this one? I might forfeit the crown but she'll still be Sophia

I'm sure it will look killer when its done. You've got a great starting place.
 

schlacker

Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2006
Messages
93
If it was me, I'd leave the color the same and just try to get a shiny clear coat on it. That is some gorgeous ribbon flame. How much did you say you wanted for it again?

I still don't get it. I bought my faded BECAUSE it was faded. It's an awesome contrast to my SHINY LP's. If I wanted another shiny Gibby I would have bought another shiny Gibby!

OK, I've put on my asbestos jump suit.....
 

buckwild

Active member
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Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
I still don't get it. I bought my faded BECAUSE it was faded. It's an awesome contrast to my SHINY LP's. If I wanted another shiny Gibby I would have bought another shiny Gibby!

OK, I've put on my asbestos jump suit.....

I bought it because it has an amazing flame top and was only 7.1 lbs. not because of the faded finish. I bought it looking at it how Lution said, a great starting place. I'm a perfectionist, so sue me.
 

schlacker

Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2006
Messages
93
I bought it because it has an amazing flame top and was only 7.1 lbs. not because of the faded finish. I bought it looking at it how Lution said, a great starting place. I'm a perfectionist, so sue me.

There's 1.....
 

buckwild

Active member
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
Well she's off to RS.

However, for anybody interested I did call Gibson about the chambered/weight relieved body issue. They said that the Standard Fadeds are not being weight relieved. I'm wondering if the rattling on my faded is from loose solder where the ground wire is attached. Can anybody tell me where it is attached?, tail bridge studs?
 

buckwild

Active member
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
???? I was under the impression that all Standard production LP's are weight relieved

Well maybe they are weight relieved compared to the historics? Could you explain this a bit more as I am interested to know.
 

Lution

New member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
70
I've been told that the Standard Fadeds have 9 weight relieving holes in the mahogany body. There are even X-rays posted on this Forum somewhere.

I also hear some little wood fragments bouncing around in those holes. No big deal.
 

gogitchershinebo

New member
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
10
I like that faded tobacco color on yours. The auction labeled mine as faded tobacco but I'm pretty sure it's faded honeyburst.

You are correct about it being a Honey Burst -- check out the Gibson inspection sheet on the seller's slide no. 7; LP5FHB -- the HB indicates Honey Burst. Its a beauty nonetheless -- enjoy it!
 

Edward

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Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
1,255
Oooohhh, very cool pic! May i ask how that was taken? Someone here work at the airport? :)

I wonder how much those holes can reduce weight, though. Maybe 4-6oz.??

Edward
 
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