Beauty of The Black Beauty - The "Alnico" Custom thread

[zhivago]

Can we keep this thread alive?

We sure can...here's another one from my archives...

:dude:

 

[moonweasel]

zhivago,

Love the thread! Interesting side note, REALLY looks like the late 60's cases are identical other than the texture of the vinyl and the lack of the name plate. Same latches too.

Were the 50's one's "Lifton" brand?

 

[KennyY]

Don't all of those modifications that Les made on his '54 remind you of the finished product of the Jimmy Page Black Beauty...can't remember if Les was still with us when that JP BB came out but it seems as though that would be a true Les Paul Custom that the man himself would have loved...except for perhaps the weight as I imagine that most are likely in the 9-10# plus range. Anyone else notice this? Quiet a few of the greats did modify their Black Beauties, like Page and Fripp for example...although the king of tinkering seems to have been Les himself (rivaled perhaps by Eddie Van Halen).

I don't think he would have liked the 3PU setup on the JPPBB. I've seen photos the early SG Customs with the middle pickup removed.

 

[zhivago]

zhivago,

Love the thread! Interesting side note, REALLY looks like the late 60's cases are identical other than the texture of the vinyl and the lack of the name plate. Same latches too.

Were the 50's one's "Lifton" brand?

They really do look very alike...my case has no Lifton badge inside...not sure if none of the Custom cases had one...I can't remember of any picture of a case that had one, actually.

My case is actually in pretty beat condition, so it is in storage...I use a Proform case :jim

 

[moonweasel]

My late 60's case is in storage too, smells awful!

Thanks

 

[zhivago]

Here's Marc Bolan with a Custom

 

[zhivago]

Here's a '57 from my archives

 

[Ken Fortunato]

Absolutely LOVING this thread... :salude :salude :salude

 

[Midnight Blues]

Great Thread! LPs don't come any better than '54s IMHO.

 

[zhivago]

Thanks guys!

I have a few more pics to post in the near future

 

[Ken Fortunato]

Thanks guys!

I have a few more pics to post in the near future

Looking forward to it... :salude

 

[Ken Fortunato]

this thread also needs some Les...

Yeah... I had to save that picture... Being that I was born in '61, it would be reasonable to say that I can't pass it off as my own, but I WILL be printing it, framing it and hanging it in my home studio... eace2

 

[duaneflowers]

Still haven't heard a good reason why they dropped the Alnico... love to pick up another Lester with one. Routing out another model to fit an aftermarket one seems rather daunting.

 

[zhivago]

Here is a '57 from my archives...

 

[zhivago]

Four more guitars from my archives...unknown years...

 

[zhivago]

Here's a 1955 with a bigsby

Check out the black "dogbone" base...

 

[P.Walker]

Here's a 1955 with a bigsby

Check out the black "dogbone" base...

is that from larkstreet?

spectacular

 

[zhivago]

I think it was Lark Street, yes...not sure if it is still for sale...I save pics on my hard drive all the time and often forget where they are from

 

[zhivago]

Some more Les and Mary...

 

[zhivago]

double post, sorry