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Dickey Betts' "Redtop" Goldtop...a bunch of cool pics!

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
We just finished the restoration of this guitar today.
For those who would like to see the process:

https://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Shipped-2019/8-3142-DB/n-qNbtj7/

i-LSZfCX3-XL.jpg

i-zLQrLqH-X2.jpg


https://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Shipped-2019/8-3142-DB/n-qNbtj7/

Outstanding work. :salude
 

djcmusician

Active member
Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Messages
263
Restoration. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
 

boogieongtr

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Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
937
Kim did a great job bringing the guitar back to life, it looks awesome...!! The guitar has now been marked down to $75K. Still at $75K without any original parts, body & heel break, neck break, replaced fingerboard, inlays, binding and NO documentation that it was owned by Dickey. Pretty steep IMOP. Last year Carters had a 57 on consignement with original parts but had a burst refin for $50K. That guitar was for sale for over a year and I don't know the actual selling price. Joey Landreth had a nice demo of the guitar, I thought it had great PAF tone. Goode luck on the sale.
 

STROKER

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2004
Messages
121
I think its worth around 40k even with it being the Humpty Dumpty burst it looks great it needs some real parts and paf's to make it where it needs to be but its a great start.
 

marshall1987

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Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Appearances are one thing. I sure hope that after all the work that has gone into to it, the guitar sounds good and plays well. That's the million dollar question.
 

jimmi

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Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,077
I think its worth around 40k even with it being the Humpty Dumpty burst it looks great it needs some real parts and paf's to make it where it needs to be but its a great start.

This would be a great buy at $40K especially if you can prove the history and it still functions well as a guitar. It looks fantastic and I know I would love to have a guitar used on stage by the Allman bros.
 

AVGDeluxe

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
10
This would be a great buy at $40K especially if you can prove the history and it still functions well as a guitar. It looks fantastic and I know I would love to have a guitar used on stage by the Allman bros.

There is a video of this guitar being played well by Spencer Kirkpatrick ...there is another video being shot tomorrow ....showing it played thru a Twin Reverb and a Marshall as well ... We took the guitar off Reverb but is still for sale !
 

AVGDeluxe

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
10
Appearances are one thing. I sure hope that after all the work that has gone into to it, the guitar sounds good and plays well. That's the million dollar question.

It maybe the best playing and sounding Les Paul I have ever played ....the fretwork done by Historic Makeovers is amazing ...they do not need a Plek machine !!!
 

AVGDeluxe

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
10
I think its worth around 40k even with it being the Humpty Dumpty burst it looks great it needs some real parts and paf's to make it where it needs to be but its a great start.
I promise you it sounds and plays as good as any I have ever played and feels very light !!!
 

E.M.

Active member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
141
I started researching the history of Dickey's gold tops and I am still not sure which guitar this is. This is not Goldie/Redtop or is it? If it is Redtop - when did Dickey relinquish it and why was it stripped back down to bare wood? It seems like it would have been very valuable as Redtop repainted by Dickey himself, albeit without the original gold finish. Could someone post a video of Dickey playing this guitar in its original form before it was either repainted or left in disrepair? Stunning restoration but it remains unsold and unverified. https://reverb.com/item/34362816-gibson-les-paul-1958-burst-original-goldtop
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,655
I started researching the history of Dickey's gold tops and I am still not sure which guitar this is. This is not Goldie/Redtop or is it? If it is Redtop - when did Dickey relinquish it and why was it stripped back down to bare wood? It seems like it would have been very valuable as Redtop repainted by Dickey himself, albeit without the original gold finish. Could someone post a video of Dickey playing this guitar in its original form before it was either repainted or left in disrepair? Stunning restoration but it remains unsold and unverified. https://reverb.com/item/34362816-gibson-les-paul-1958-burst-original-goldtop
This one actually looks nice and the price point as well and if i was into this i probably would want one similar to this one versus a 52-55 one that has been repurposed with the removal of the trapeze tail and such along with the removal of the gold finish thus most likely exposing a 3 piece top . I also forgot to add that i like Historic Makeovers and it looks marvelous as there work is on point !
 

AVGDeluxe

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
10
I am the guy who had this guitar restored at Historic Makeovers I have the receipts to prove it. I also provided the pickups for this special guitar. According to David Spero, Dickey’s manager this is not his guitar nor was it ever! I lost a dear friend over this guitar and it is special but warning someone out there may have a real valid receipt for this! Sometimes it’s best to keep the fantasy in your head ! At least the guy who owns it can worship it and pretend he is Dickey and Duane all he wants but he treated a true friend like crap who finally got it playable for him after 20 or so years ! This is the true story and I can back it up ask Kim at Historic who paid him for this !! It was me !
 

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
I am the guy who had this guitar restored at Historic Makeovers I have the receipts to prove it. I also provided the pickups for this special guitar. According to David Spero, Dickey’s manager this is not his guitar nor was it ever! I lost a dear friend over this guitar and it is special but warning someone out there may have a real valid receipt for this! Sometimes it’s best to keep the fantasy in your head ! At least the guy who owns it can worship it and pretend he is Dickey and Duane all he wants but he treated a true friend like crap who finally got it playable for him after 20 or so years ! This is the true story and I can back it up ask Kim at Historic who paid him for this !! It was me !

Sorry you had to go through that. I've restored several 50's guitars, I prefer to view this one as a nice save and a very nice playing Les Paul. Sometimes its best to cut bait with so called friends. I've done a lot of that recently. Life is too short. With all the alcohol and drugs, could those guys really remember all the guitars they had lol
 

Drayve85

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2019
Messages
194
I started researching the history of Dickey's gold tops and I am still not sure which guitar this is. This is not Goldie/Redtop or is it? If it is Redtop - when did Dickey relinquish it and why was it stripped back down to bare wood? It seems like it would have been very valuable as Redtop repainted by Dickey himself, albeit without the original gold finish. Could someone post a video of Dickey playing this guitar in its original form before it was either repainted or left in disrepair? Stunning restoration but it remains unsold and unverified. https://reverb.com/item/34362816-gibson-les-paul-1958-burst-original-goldtop


Just spitballin’ here, but wouldn’t there be marks where the Floyd rose was in Goldie? That was her right? I would think Goldie would still be with Dickey. I wouldn’t think he would let her go after retrieving her from the Hard Rock Cafe. I could be wrong, but just thinking out loud.

Beautiful guitar, nonetheless! Historic Makeovers does brilliant work!! Just wish I had the beans to pony up for it.

Anybody have any ideas on a name for her? I think deserves a name. My vote would be for “Pandora”, because a lot of bad came from her, but she looks SOO damn good! And I’m sure Kim and his team at HM felt like they were opening Pandora’s box when they opened the box that this guitar came in!lol
 
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