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The Ultimate Deluxe?

Strings Jr.

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Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
This is what my girl looked like when I brought her home from the factory.
Black P-90's, black speed knobs, black switch hardware, and a chrome TP-6.

I believe I prefer the more mellow / vintage look that she's developed into today.



 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
This is what my girl looked like when I brought her home from the factory.
Black P-90's, black speed knobs, black switch hardware, and a chrome TP-6.

I believe I prefer the more mellow / vintage look that she's developed into today.




:wow

I think I prefer ... both! :ganz :dude:
 

deytookerjaabs

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Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
Wow!!! Great story and neat quirks.


Any comment on the mini-hum swap? So often I see people do the opposite.




There's a beautiful beat to hell '73 Goldtop Deluxe at a shop here in town. It's light, real light for the era, rings out nicely, and the gold top has been shattered to streaks of green all over with the wood showing through in some areas. I've been drooling over it for some time but they're asking a bit high on the price and I purchased a hell of a guitar ('74 Flying V, w/TP-6 too) a few weeks back on top of that. I've got 3 guitars for sale right now as I think about that gold top!
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Wow!!! Great story and neat quirks.


Any comment on the mini-hum swap? So often I see people do the opposite.




There's a beautiful beat to hell '73 Goldtop Deluxe at a shop here in town. It's light, real light for the era, rings out nicely, and the gold top has been shattered to streaks of green all over with the wood showing through in some areas. I've been drooling over it for some time but they're asking a bit high on the price and I purchased a hell of a guitar ('74 Flying V, w/TP-6 too) a few weeks back on top of that. I've got 3 guitars for sale right now as I think about that gold top!

Oh yeah, that's a story in itself. One day at the plant, I was having a casual conversation with one of the repair guys. I noticed he was working on an older guitar. A CSB Deluxe. When I asked him about it, he said it belonged to Charlie Daniels. He had brought it in for a new set of pickups. I asked what he was going to do with the old ones and he said "chunk 'em I suppose". So I took them and checked them out and they worked fine. After doing an epoxy job on them, I put them in my Deluxe. The P-90's were ok, with maybe a tad more punch, but as Big Al has mentioned many times, the tone from the mini-hums is so much more versatile, and sweeeet!! And with the epoxy, there is no unwanted feedback for rock-n-roll. I rarely take it out and actually play it these days, but after talking about it last night I had to go for it. Plugged her straight in to the '64 Super Reverb and OMG, there it is, that sound.
 

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
You gotta be kidding, right? Deluxe into Super Reverb!!!! I have never heard a better combo with my early 70's goldtop Deluxe than my old '65 SR. I am biased towards Les Paul Deluxe's and Fender Blackface amplifiers with Super Reverbs tops in Reverb combos, IMO.

Great googley moogley that is a glorious racket! That axe was a stunner from day one, but it has improved with age. Someday soon people will realise how perfect the classic mini-hum pup really is. So sadly overlooked.
 

deytookerjaabs

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Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
Oh yeah, that's a story in itself. One day at the plant, I was having a casual conversation with one of the repair guys. I noticed he was working on an older guitar. A CSB Deluxe. When I asked him about it, he said it belonged to Charlie Daniels. He had brought it in for a new set of pickups. I asked what he was going to do with the old ones and he said "chunk 'em I suppose". So I took them and checked them out and they worked fine. After doing an epoxy job on them, I put them in my Deluxe. The P-90's were ok, with maybe a tad more punch, but as Big Al has mentioned many times, the tone from the mini-hums is so much more versatile, and sweeeet!! And with the epoxy, there is no unwanted feedback for rock-n-roll. I rarely take it out and actually play it these days, but after talking about it last night I had to go for it. Plugged her straight in to the '64 Super Reverb and OMG, there it is, that sound.


Sounds heavenly! Great story, layers of history on that guitar. Kudos on the SR, I've been in the hunt since they're really coming down on price as of late, scored my '67 JBL Twin for cheaper than a reissue this spring. Big amps not moving like they used to.
 
Last edited:

Strings Jr.

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Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
This is the original paperwork I received when I bought this guitar.

Guitar, tax, and case for less than $400.

I paid $100 down and they took $29.50 out of my check for 10 weeks.

If I'd only known then what I know now...


 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
This is the original paperwork I received when I bought this guitar.

Guitar, tax, and case for less than $400.

I paid $100 down and they took $29.50 out of my check for 10 weeks.

If I'd only known then what I know now...



They probably cut you some slack due to that awful, awful attempt at bookmatching.:laugh2::ganz
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
A most beautiful Deluxe ! I have a question about the "Harmonica " bridge , How did it come about and is there a story of why it was choose to be used ? To me it looks so funky and non Gibson .
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I had forgotten about using these "no-lip" bridge bushings on my Deluxe.
At first glance, gives the appearance of a vintage ABR, but keeps all the advantages of the Nashville TOM.


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Speaking of the advantages of the Nashville TOM , Can you elaborate on that please ?
 

PaulD

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Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
Someday soon people will realise how perfect the classic mini-hum pup really is. So sadly overlooked.

+1. I have to admit I hadn't given them much attention before but recently acquired a 1976 Deluxe and am loving the minis! (mine is a natural finish too but a 3 piece top and much plainer than the OP's guitar which has to be the most stunning Norlin I've ever seen!)

Just out of interest how do you tell if it was made at Kalamazoo or Nashville? When I put my serial number into the guitar dater project it says it was made in 1976 at either Kalamazoo or Nashville.
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Oh yeah, that's a story in itself. One day at the plant, I was having a casual conversation with one of the repair guys. I noticed he was working on an older guitar. A CSB Deluxe. When I asked him about it, he said it belonged to Charlie Daniels. He had brought it in for a new set of pickups. I asked what he was going to do with the old ones and he said "chunk 'em I suppose". So I took them and checked them out and they worked fine. After doing an epoxy job on them, I put them in my Deluxe. The P-90's were ok, with maybe a tad more punch, but as Big Al has mentioned many times, the tone from the mini-hums is so much more versatile, and sweeeet!! And with the epoxy, there is no unwanted feedback for rock-n-roll. I rarely take it out and actually play it these days, but after talking about it last night I had to go for it. Plugged her straight in to the '64 Super Reverb and OMG, there it is, that sound.
I am curious about your use of epoxy versus wax to get rid of unwanted feedback ?
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Strings Jr. this is a most awesome and informative thread and I love it and Thank You Kindly for posting !
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
@ El Gringo

  • I don’t know the origins of the harmonica bridge. Gibson was using them long before I started there. I’m sure there are others here that could answer that.
  • Long ago, players had problems with losing the wire on their ABR bridge. Then, if you were at a gig and broke a string, the saddle fell out onto a dark stage. Usually at that point you were done. Time to pack up and go home.
  • Epoxy is hard as a brick when it dries. Nothing moves. That stability is what it takes to cure a microphonic pickup. I’ve never used wax. Not saying it doesn’t work. I just know epoxy has always worked for me.
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
+1. I have to admit I hadn't given them much attention before but recently acquired a 1976 Deluxe and am loving the minis! (mine is a natural finish too but a 3 piece top and much plainer than the OP's guitar which has to be the most stunning Norlin I've ever seen!)

Just out of interest how do you tell if it was made at Kalamazoo or Nashville? When I put my serial number into the guitar dater project it says it was made in 1976 at either Kalamazoo or Nashville.

Thank you Sir!!

Although it may not be a definitive way to tell, if your guitar has an ABR bridge, chances are it was made in Kalamazoo. If it has a Nashville bridge, chances are it was made in Nashville.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
@ El Gringo

  • I don’t know the origins of the harmonica bridge. Gibson was using them long before I started there. I’m sure there are others here that could answer that.
  • Long ago, players had problems with losing the wire on their ABR bridge. Then, if you were at a gig and broke a string, the saddle fell out onto a dark stage. Usually at that point you were done. Time to pack up and go home.
  • Epoxy is hard as a brick when it dries. Nothing moves. That stability is what it takes to cure a microphonic pickup. I’ve never used wax. Not saying it doesn’t work. I just know epoxy has always worked for me.

Thank you kindly for your most informative response .
 
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