1955 special to '59 conversion

[MapleFlame]

So, are you saying that anyone with a conversion who doesn't have pre-conversion pics, and work in progress pics shouldn't post the pic of the completed conversion?! :bigal

I see no reason whatsoever somebody should have to have these other pics before they can show off their conversion. :rolleyes

Your missing my point TW, I said there is a lot of money involved when doing a regular conversion, this is an odd case to which non of us have seen. There is a lot more work involved when going from a Special to Burst conversion. I was just saying if he paid a lot of money for that great looking guitar and that it is, why couldn't the luthier give him some progress pictures while it was being done and for him to post, that's all. I also had it easy because when I got work on my guitars I was given weekly pictures and updates. I don't ever get into pissing matches on this forum because of this. I haven't even come close to what some of the members have said on the forum Also for Spoiled rerasons I want to see them.:biggrin::lol

 

[MapleFlame]

Hi - I went ahead and posted the pics I was able to take myself because I thought people would like to see what could be done w/ a Special . I didn't realize it was so important to some to see the whole process. I personally am much more interested in the final outcome , not necessarily the procedure . I don't feel shortchanged because I didn't receive daily update pics. Hopefully Johnny Jellybean will have pictures of the work in progress soon and post them for those who are interested.

I in no way was trying to play the bad advocate of your post, I just was hoping you got pics for all the time and money you put into it. Sorry for misleading you philb.

 

[Mikester]

I in no way was trying to play the bad advocate of your post.

OK, I will play the bad advocate.

I don't believe that the beautiful '59 conversion that we are seeing, came from a lowly POS 55 special. Just couldn't be done! :bh

hotos hotos hotos

 

[moonpie]

If you are trying to promote or show off the guitar not exactly the correct way of going about it.

How much extra do you pay your luthier to photograph every step of the process?

 

[moonpie]

OK, I will play the bad advocate.

I don't believe that the beautiful '59 conversion that we are seeing, came from a lowly POS 55 special. Just couldn't be done! :bh

hotos hotos hotos

Well, geez...we have one member saying he has the guitar that it's been done to.

We've seen posts by luthiers, not only saying it can be done, but offering their services to do it.

We have you saying it just couldn't be done.

All of that's fine, but let's be careful how we word things.

 

[FLICKOFLASH]

How much extra do you pay your luthier to photograph every step of the process?

Believe me there should be before & after shots of any conversion job & any good luthier should photograph every step of the way especially something of this under taking keeping the customer informed

& here is why

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1393252#post1393252

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Guys ..guys.. guys. I will try to get some pics happenning of the guitar going through the process. Brian is a very vtalented Luthier but not known for his electronic or computer skills . I know he had a friend take a buch of shots of Phil's guitar at different stages and I will try to get them.

 

[Rich R]

As far as I know, many of these Montys were done long before the "raw material" got so expensive. Don't know how to link to my Lilypix albums anymore, but here's a few shots:
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54664.jpg
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54668.jpg
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54672.jpg

It's a killer guitar--far better than any historic. Great for taking out. Is it as good as my Mirabella GT job? No, but it cost a hell of a lot less!

 

[Tom Wittrock]

As far as I know, many of these Montys were done long before the "raw material" got so expensive. Don't know how to link to my Lilypix albums anymore, but here's a few shots:
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54664.jpg
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54668.jpg
http://images.lilypix.com/albums/olddata/3416a75f4cea9109507cacd8e2f2aefc/normal_4128_p54672.jpg

It's a killer guitar--far better than any historic. Great for taking out. Is it as good as my Mirabella GT job? No, but it cost a hell of a lot less!

These are conversions from old Les Pauls?
I thought Montys were replicas. :hmm

 

[dwagar]

Quote Mikester: "a lowly POS 55 special"

I'd love to find one of these POS models at a smokin good price.

 

[FLICKOFLASH]

Guys ..guys.. guys. I will try to get some pics happenning of the guitar going through the process. Brian is a very vtalented Luthier but not known for his electronic or computer skills . I know he had a friend take a buch of shots of Phil's guitar at different stages and I will try to get them.

That would be alsome !!!:salude

 

[kiergtr]

Believe me there should be before & after shots of any conversion job & any good luthier should photograph every step of the way especially something of this under taking keeping the customer informed

& here is why

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1393252#post1393252

Man,

I thought I was the only one who has problems with this "luthier".

I've tried over and over, in my own mind, to justify what I see to be some really awful work (not just cosmetic either) as perhaps just ignorance on my part...but another conversion done by them has the same flattened deck, the fretboard was over sanded as was the body...color was awful, and the checking looked horribly phony. Sorry for the rant....this is just my opinion of course.:wah

 

[v-verb]

I've had this sitting in my closet for a couple of years - a conversion sounds like a grand idea!!!

 

[v-verb]

[/IMG]

Here are pictures of the whole back and the neck joint . If you look closely at the joint you can see there's an "L" shaped piece of mahogany put in there. On the other picture that was posted earlier , close examination of the 12th fret inlay will reveal the rosewood dots used to fill the space where the original inlays were removed before putting the new crown inlay in place.
I was trying to get some better close-ups but I'm having trouble getting in focus shots .
The only "before" shot I have is of me holding the guitar. Honestly , it's just a special w/ the finish removed and a groove worn in the top. I live in San Diego and the work was done in Canada , so I didn't personally take the in progress shots . Hopefully they'll be posted soon by the person that has the pictures, before the LPF police come to arrest me for not having "proper documentation" :biggrin:

Can you let me know who did the work or email me if you prefer? I'm in Toronto, so a Canadian luthier would be ideal.

Hold on - looks like it was Brian Monty in Montreal? - My reading skills need improving...

Cheers

nigel.lall at rogers.com.

 

[philb]

V-verb - I'm really thrilled w/ the way my guitar turned out . I'm sure you will be , too! Brian did a great job.

 

[fast ricky love]

I've had this sitting in my closet for a couple of years - a conversion sounds like a grand idea!!!

Wow, I'd be all over making this into a conversion. Sell it to me Nigel!! :dude:

 

[FLICKOFLASH]

How much extra do you pay your luthier to photograph every step of the process?

A good luthier keeps you posted every step of the way

 

[Scott Lentz]

Flick, who set you up as spokesman to talk for all good Luthiers? When having any major guitar rework done, the job should be handled by people with a reputation for this work, not a camera! I can see your point when your trying to learn as much as you can from everyone else as fast as you can.

 

[MapleFlame]

It's not about the learning as much as it is the right thing to do when working on someone's guitar. If a customer pays from 2500-5000 for work done as simple 5 mins could be used to take pics and down load them for email. It's no different then when I document each of the athlete's I work with times on their runs or agilities. After a few months it's nice to see the progress. I also film them running and overlap on to a future video to show comparisons. Like a good guitar guy doesn't need more exposure or positive feedback. Would you let the person cutting your hair blind fold you while your getting it cut, probably wouldn't be the most comfortable experience.

 

[v-verb]

Wow, I'd be all over making this into a conversion. Sell it to me Nigel!! :dude:

Well Rich...you never know!!