CDaughtry
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After reading this, I'm sure he's not even going to start a thread on it now. Party pooper.:spabout
** 54 Goldtop ** Or Should I Say Flametop - Conversion Candidate
- Thread starter boogieongtr
- Start date
After reading this, I'm sure he's not even going to start a thread on it now. Party pooper.:spabout
:salude
I'm not into it either because I like P90's and Goldtops and this one looks nice. But I sure like boogieongtr's work.
garywright
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I'm sorry CD but that's my true thoughts ...if Jim does go through with it I hope he does post it for all those interested.
CDaughtry
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I actually wouldn't convert it either, as I love P-90 Goldtops, and the naked arm wear with the flame looks killer, but it's his guitar.
hoss
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I am having a 54 all gold refretted and routed for humbuckers at the moment. Now fire away!
boogieongtr
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I bought the guitar over the internet and with the intention of converting it. When it arrived and what I found was very upsetting. I have contacted the seller and am waiting a reply. Here are the issues with the guitar. Most of the original parts were stripped and include: 2 of the pots, one of the wires going into the tone cap was broken, wiring harness, switch, switch tip, pickguard, bridge post bushings, pickguard bracket. There were 10 holes from where the bigsby was attached to the body and had to be repositioned. Oversized jack plate with 4 extra holes showing. I knew it didn't have the original case. I know it could have been restored but you would have to sink a lot of $$ into it and I think it would be a hard sell.
garywright
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wow ..you're so macho !
boogieongtr
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Even with the issues, what I found under the gold is IMOP a once in a lifetime find. I am glad I bought the guitar! So as not to be a party pooper Charlie .........
garywright
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good luck with it Jim
garywright
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Even with the issues, what I found under the gold is IMOP a once in a lifetime find. I am glad I bought the guitar!
:wow ...actually crow don't taste that bad ! :salude
hogy
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I honestly don't understand this PAF obsession. I have played plenty of original PAF Gibsons (still own my share), and plenty of P-90 guitars as well.
The PAFs don't sound "better" than P-90s to me. If anything I think the P-90s are more versatile and dynamic.
One thing I believe may be throwing people off is that the bridge pickup on wraparound Les Pauls is way too low, and raising the pole pieces does little to nothing.
If this is the only way you've ever heard your guitar, address this issue first before you reach for the router. You might be shocked with what you're hearing...
The way to do it is to lower all the pole pieces down as far as they will go. Now shim the pickup using wooden shims until it is as close to the strings as possible without touching.
Sometimes the mounting screws won't reach all the way into the wood after you do this. You'll have to find longer screws or "mod" the cavity. On my guitar I installed a small block of wood into the bottom of the pickup rout (secured with a single humbucker ring screw in the center, so yes, I did drill one hole) for the mounting screws to go into.
I sanded the shims for my guitar to be slightly slanted, giving the pickup more clearance on the bass side, with the high e pole almost kissing the string.
Set up like this, that P-90 will scream like the best PAF you've ever heard. Seriously, it sounds absolutely amazing. Roll it back and it clears up to an almost acoustic like chime, that's something no PAF will do.
One "downside" is that the bridge pickup cover is going to either be too short, showing a gap, or (depending on neck angle) you'll see the "ugly" part where early covers were sanded to slip into the rout.
Seriously, please try this before you hack up the guitar.
Even if you absolutely "must" have a humbucker, there are drop in options available. Not to mention there are countless "boutique" pickup makers that could make you a custom pickup to suit your needs perfectly.
Yes, it's your guitar. Now. But in the end, we're custodians of these historic instruments, and they belong to the next generation as well.
jimmi
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None of this was revealed to me when I talked to mine about this guitar. Still don't think I would convert it myself but a bit more understandable. He told me it was all original except the bigsby and it had a 50s case. Considering he was asking $3k more than for what I paid George for mine that does not have these issues I am happy with the one I bought. If sold to you as a guitar with issues limited to the bigsby damage and playing wear then you should definitely get some money back.
I bought the guitar over the internet and with the intention of converting it. When it arrived and what I found was very upsetting. I have contacted the seller and am waiting a reply. Here are the issues with the guitar. Most of the original parts were stripped and include: 2 of the pots, one of the wires going into the tone cap was broken, wiring harness, switch, switch tip, pickguard, bridge post bushings, pickguard bracket. There were 10 holes from where the bigsby was attached to the body and had to be repositioned. Oversized jack plate with 4 extra holes showing. I knew it didn't have the original case. I know it could have been restored but you would have to sink a lot of $$ into it and I think it would be a hard sell.
jimmi
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It will look great. Better it was a 2pc even if off center.
kharrison
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Mike had this GT for a long time in his store. I played it a bunch of times and knew it had a lot of issues but still would have left it alone. It was a great player as it was. Oh well, another 50's GT bites the dust....sad really.
MWR
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Leave it as-is, p90s are more versatile in a LP than humbuckers.
MWR
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Whoops, I guess I was too late to the party.....
Doc Sausage
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I say make a lamp out of it and thoroughly piss off everyone over at the, Lamps R Us forum.:jim
MapleFlame
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I honestly don't understand this PAF obsession. I have played plenty of original PAF Gibsons (still own my share), and plenty of P-90 guitars as well.
The PAFs don't sound "better" than P-90s to me. If anything I think the P-90s are more versatile and dynamic.
One thing I believe may be throwing people off is that the bridge pickup on wraparound Les Pauls is way too low, and raising the pole pieces does little to nothing.
If this is the only way you've ever heard your guitar, address this issue first before you reach for the router. You might be shocked with what you're hearing...
The way to do it is to lower all the pole pieces down as far as they will go. Now shim the pickup using wooden shims until it is as close to the strings as possible without touching.
Sometimes the mounting screws won't reach all the way into the wood after you do this. You'll have to find longer screws or "mod" the cavity. On my guitar I installed a small block of wood into the bottom of the pickup rout (secured with a single humbucker ring screw in the center, so yes, I did drill one hole) for the mounting screws to go into.
I sanded the shims for my guitar to be slightly slanted, giving the pickup more clearance on the bass side, with the high e pole almost kissing the string.
Set up like this, that P-90 will scream like the best PAF you've ever heard. Seriously, it sounds absolutely amazing. Roll it back and it clears up to an almost acoustic like chime, that's something no PAF will do.
One "downside" is that the bridge pickup cover is going to either be too short, showing a gap, or (depending on neck angle) you'll see the "ugly" part where early covers were sanded to slip into the rout.
Seriously, please try this before you hack up the guitar.
Even if you absolutely "must" have a humbucker, there are drop in options available. Not to mention there are countless "boutique" pickup makers that could make you a custom pickup to suit your needs perfectly.
Yes, it's your guitar. Now. But in the end, we're custodians of these historic instruments, and they belong to the next generation as well.
+100%
hoss
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54s (wraptail 53-55s) are my favorite Les Pauls, the tone of that bridge construction is superior to the ABR.
I have an incredible playing and sounding 54 with original P90s and I wanted another one with humbuckers.
I don't like "Burst conversions", though. Give me a Goldtop any day over a non-center-seam "Burst".