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Vintage Goldtop Finish Work

KBarry

New member
Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
3
Who does the best vintage goldtop refinish work?
I've got a 57 that has a bad burst on it and I want to get it refinished.
Who does the best most authentic work, including aged plastic?
 

ChevChelios

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
774
My vote goes to Historic Makeovers ...

10.26.12%20070.jpg


... or Dave Johnson ...
DJ54goldtop.jpg
 

FlamingTop

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Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Messages
361
IMHO, Dave Johnson is gold! If I could get a top only refin to my conversion, he would be my choice...
 

The Stumble

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Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
716
In my opinion I would go to Kim at historic makeovers, not only would you get a great authentic gold with as much as aging as you desired you would also get the work done in a reasonable time
 

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
One and Only Dave Johnson. How bout a picture of the 57 as it currently stands
 

SheltonGuitar

Active member
Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
1,720
Nothing against Joel's work at all, and maybe it's just the lighting and/or camera settings, but the gold on the refin looks a little off compared to what was under the 3-way cover...

1953-Les-Paul-4.jpg


1953-Les-Paul-27.jpg
 

Vintage1

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
254
Scott Lentz in San Marcos, CA does outstanding *old-Gibson*
gold top finishes.
 

blauserk

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Joined
Mar 12, 2002
Messages
1,778
+1 for HM. Beautiful, authentic goldtop finishes, delivered in a timely fashion.
 

ChevChelios

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
774
Actually, everybody who could paint a guitar with the ReRanch lacquer can do the paint job ... it gets kind of tricky when "distressing" is on the menu, too.
Here's a little conversion I painted with the ReRanch Gold and it turned out really nicely.

 

Stoj

Active member
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
3,514
My vote goes to HM, Dave Johnson or Scott Lentz there refins are outstanding :salude
 

moonweasel

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Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
9,427
DJ, HM, RS, then the rest.

That's the order of operations for me. If the guitar is a lifetime keeper, then the amount of time it takes to get the guitar isn't going to matter to me.
 

SheltonGuitar

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Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
1,720
...FWIW Kim was one of the first (along with DJ I believe) who started regularly using the correct powder...
FWIW, nope. I can't remember their names right now (dammit), but there were a few finish guys using the right gold back in the 60's & 70's. They probably got their powder straight from Gibson or their original supplier back then, who knows? And Dave was shooting his gold before HM even existed.

For a vintage correct gold refin nowadays, KBarry, go with a shop that has:
(1) a history of high quality work on vintage Gibsons
(2) a proven track record of high resale value
 

jimmi

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,077
Didn't Kim and Dave work together for a while? I know that Kim is turning out some great work over the last couple years. Would think either him or Dave would be a good bet.

You also can send your guitar to Gibson repair. I have had them do work for me in the past and it turned out well. Never had them do finish work though I admit.
 

SheltonGuitar

Active member
Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
1,720
Didn't Kim and Dave work together for a while?...
HM initially contracted to Dave to do all the guitar work out of his Olympia shop. HM now uses a group of people in Florida for all the work. Last I'd heard, Kip Elder was spraying HM's finishes.
 

jimmi

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,077
I actually talked to Dave about doing some work for me. Asked about the historic makeover business and he said he will not do it anymore because of issues with the fretboards. Kim and RS are the best ones that I know of still doing it. Lays of Akron quoted me a price as did a shop out near Toledo (Jim's?) but they have a 2 yr wait,

Kim has a 4 mo wait and has it down to a science at a least with the makeovers. Good turnover and good product. Hard to beat right now IMHO. I think the refinish on a 50s should be pretty accurate as well.
 
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