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Mystery les paul possible 54 custom?

Tenzona

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Dec 6, 2019
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Moonweasel sent me.
Updated
Need info on this guitar possible custom with repairs or a 70s reissue maybe with a 50s body? Did the 70s reissues have the round channel drilled through the body because this one does. The eyeball test tells me the body is very old and well made...the neck has a slight fracture which may be the reason for this thing being partially restored?replica build?
Either way looking like a lucky find paid nothing for it
 

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Tenzona

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More pics sorry for doubles
 

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Tenzona

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If anyone needs specific stuff showcased let me know thanks
 

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zhivago

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Weird body...no "chew mark" in the cavity, three pieces at the top when it should all be all one piece it it were 50s...volute on the neck shows 70s era, no inlays on the headstock, but it is bound...the three last inlays are correct... :hmm

God knows what this is... :hmm
 

Tenzona

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Thanks for looking! Is there anything specific I can show you to get more insight on this guitar? I am learning more and more about these all the time. It appears to have had 2 neck repairs one from a truss rod mishap that is not fixed. The guitar seems in the process of restoration but is still playable


QUOTE=zhivago;2847641]Weird body...no "chew mark" in the cavity, three pieces at the top when it should all be all one piece it it were 50s...volute on the neck shows 70s era, no inlays on the headstock, but it is bound...the three last inlays are correct... :hmm

God knows what this is... :hmm[/QUOTE]
 

Rev.WillieVK

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Volute on headstock, transitional tenon, 2 humbucking routes (2-pickup '57-'60 Les Paul Customs are super-rare)...

1970s Gibson at best, 'ellifino' copy LP at worst. IMO :salude
 

Tenzona

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Thanks so much!!! I guess a more specific question is does anyone know if the early 70s custom reissues featured the round wiring channel and a laminated top?
Thanks guys


QUOTE=Rev.WillieVK;2847672]Volute on headstock,

transitional tenon, 2 humbucking routes (2-pickup '57-'60 Les Paul Customs are super-rare)...

1970s Gibson at best, 'ellifino' copy LP at worst. IMO :salude[/QUOTE]
 

poor man's burst

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" three pieces at the top when it should all be all one piece it it were 50s"

The three pieces show on the back as well. The whole body appears to be made of three pieces with no top added.
 

Tenzona

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Top should be visible in pictures that show sides of PU routes. Definitely has a 3 piece mahogany top not as you described


QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847694]" three pieces at the top when it should all be all one pieuce it it were 50s"

The three pieces show on the back as well. The whole body appears to be made of three pieces with no top added.[/QUOTE]
 

poor man's burst

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Volute on headstock, transitional tenon, 2 humbucking routes (2-pickup '57-'60 Les Paul Customs are super-rare)...

The humbucking routes are not typical Gibson routes. No deeper routes for the pickup's "legs". No evidence of former single-coil pickups, neither P-90, nor Alnico btw.

The picture is not very clear, but it looks like the headstock is made of two pieces. Could be a repair.

The fingerboard color looks more like rosewood than ebony. A close-up picture would be welcome.

Stop tailpiece position is way off.
 

Tenzona

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Yes it is rosewood for sure.

QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847696]
Volute on headstock, transitional tenon, 2 humbucking routes (2-pickup '57-'60 Les Paul Customs are super-rare)...

The humbucking routes are not typical Gibson routes. No deeper routes for the pickup's "legs". No evidence of former single-coil pickups, neither P-90, nor Alnico btw.

The picture is not very clear, but it looks like the headstock is made of two pieces. Could be a repair.

The fingerboard color looks more like rosewood than ebony. A close-up picture would be welcome.

Stop tailpiece position is way off.
20191206_113700.jpg20191206_113705.jpg
 

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poor man's burst

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Top should be visible in pictures that show sides of PU routes. Definitely has a 3 piece mahogany top not as you described


QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847694]" three pieces at the top when it should all be all one pieuce it it were 50s"

The three pieces show on the back as well. The whole body appears to be made of three pieces with no top added.
[/QUOTE]

Is your post an answer to my description?
 

Tenzona

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I am saying it has a top whatever it is!
As for the body I see what you mean by the lamination thing but from some angles it just looks like woodgrain or tooling and others it doesnt. All this insight is great



Is your post an answer to my description?[/QUOTE]
 
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poor man's burst

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I am saying it has a top whatever it is!

Of course it has a top in some way, but it is made ofmahogany in three parts. And as the 3 parts also show on the back, it is likely a three parts mahogany body with no added/glued on top, like a maple top on a Standard Les Paul or a post '68 Custom.
'54 to '61 Les Paul custom have a solid one piece mahogany body without added/glued on top, unlike the standard and post '68 Les Paul Custom.

'71-'72 Limited Editions '54 reissues have mahogany body whithout added/glued on top.
 

Tenzona

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That is great to know can you tell me more about these reissues? Could this be one in your view?

QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847700]
I am saying it has a top whatever it is!

Of course it has a top in some way, but it is made of three parts mahogany. And as the 3 parts also show on the back, it is likely a three parts mahogany body with no added/glued on top, like a maple top on a Standard Les Paul or a post '68 Custom.
'54 to '61 Les Paul custom have a solid one piece mahogany body without added/glued on top, unlike the standard and post '68 Les Paul Custom.

'71-'72 Limited Editions '54 reissues have mahogany body whithout added/glued on top.
 

Tenzona

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Yup

QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847702]The shape of the trussrod channel is also wrong for a Gibson.[/QUOTE]
 

poor man's burst

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That is great to know can you tell me more about these reissues? Could this be one in your view?

I dont think so
I've had one of these'70s reissue with a stripped finish in hands once, and I don't remember a multiple parts body. Besides that, your guitar has almost everything wrong for a Gibson Les Paul Custom. Pickup routing, tailpiece position, controls routing, rosewood fingerboard, headstock inlay,trussrod channel shape, two pieces neck, and the fingerboard inlays look more like plastic than real mother-of-pearl, on the pics anyway.
 

Tenzona

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I do appreciate that this is why I came here, to talk to the experts!! Whatever it is I am going to finish it out and play it the neck feels amazing I have not felt one like it

QUOTE=poor man's burst;2847704]
That is great to know can you tell me more about these reissues? Could this be one in your view?

I dont think so
I've had one of these'70s reissue with a stripped finish in hands once, and I don't remember a multiple parts body. Besides that, your guitar has almost everything wrong for a Gibson Les Paul Custom. Pickup routing, tailpiece position, controls routing, rosewood fingerboard, headstock inlay,trussrod channel shape, two pieces neck, and the fingerboard inlays look more like plastic than real mother-of-pearl, on the pics anyway.
 
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