Jumping@Shadows
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2003
- Messages
- 1,331
Hi all, while I normally concentrate on '50s/'60s Gibson guitars to restore, with a particular focus on '50s Les Paul 'Burst' conversions, I wanted a cool single cut with vintage features to keep as a beater, yet still with enough nerd value to satisfy my inner (and outer) geek.
I hope the mods will indulge me, as while this is a vintage MIJ, the veneering process is relevant for early goldtop conversions, and while the process has been generally scorned, the results are really compelling, and I feel a totally valid alternative to retopping.
With this in mind I sought out one of the estimated only 500 Greco EGF1200 Super Real Les Paul's hand made in Japan between '79-'81, with BRW boards, supposedly old Honduran Mahogany bodies and the infamous 'DRY Z' PAFs made using NOS '50s PE wire.
While the bones are all one could want from a vintage Les Paul, the construction deviates in the fact the body is multi piece, the finish a kinda poly/nitro hybrid, and the top a very thick cross banded laminate veneer:
This example was greatly reduced in price as the top was severely cracked, so I immediately about removing it, hoping to reveal an acceptable centre seam (if plain) solid maple cap, but while it initially appeared that'd be so, it was actually a 5 piece block board..
I decided to try and make the most of what I had, and sanded and bleached in order to even out the pieces, but it just wasn't acceptable for the sunburst I had in mind:
I hope the mods will indulge me, as while this is a vintage MIJ, the veneering process is relevant for early goldtop conversions, and while the process has been generally scorned, the results are really compelling, and I feel a totally valid alternative to retopping.
With this in mind I sought out one of the estimated only 500 Greco EGF1200 Super Real Les Paul's hand made in Japan between '79-'81, with BRW boards, supposedly old Honduran Mahogany bodies and the infamous 'DRY Z' PAFs made using NOS '50s PE wire.
While the bones are all one could want from a vintage Les Paul, the construction deviates in the fact the body is multi piece, the finish a kinda poly/nitro hybrid, and the top a very thick cross banded laminate veneer:
This example was greatly reduced in price as the top was severely cracked, so I immediately about removing it, hoping to reveal an acceptable centre seam (if plain) solid maple cap, but while it initially appeared that'd be so, it was actually a 5 piece block board..
I decided to try and make the most of what I had, and sanded and bleached in order to even out the pieces, but it just wasn't acceptable for the sunburst I had in mind:
