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Black Custom with Cream Plastic?? (pic)

LesterP

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Joined
May 13, 2003
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1,249
I just received some cream historic pickup rings, and along with a pickguard and toggle ring I already had, just mounted them on my '74 Custom.

I'm 99% sure that I love it, 1% sure that it looks very different than stock.

What do you all think?


3151_p48855.jpg
 

bcjames

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Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
84
I like it.

Im thinking about getting a new pickgaurd for my classic, as I dont really like the 1960 one. May I ask what the difference is between Historic parts, and just regualar ones?

Thanks

James
 

garywright

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Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
I think it looks pretty good ..maybe an amber switch tip and the gold pup covers would look cool too.
 

LesterP

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May 13, 2003
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The Historic Pickup rings are a little taller than stock. I like that the pickups are barely above the rings.
The pickguard is a 3 ply, but the top is actually cream. (cream/black/cream).
It's funny that the plastic looks very light (almost white), as it's really cream. The binding on this guitar is very yellow due to age, but also looks white in the picture.
 

lpnv59

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Jul 15, 2001
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10,725
I like it! Heres a pic of Steve Marriott, who did almost the same thing with his.
2563_p48858.jpg
 

AndyC

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Aug 10, 2005
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I like it alot. I have sometimes thought that all the black on my custom was too dreary looking, and that cream would brighten it up. Looks great! You still have the old pieces - it's a few minutes to change it all back if you decided too, or wanted to sell it as original. Very nice. :salude :dude
 

Omega

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Jul 16, 2001
Messages
319
I love it as is. Love it. Another player who used one like that was Ace Frehley, around 1979/1980.
 

HHB

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Jul 27, 2004
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241
it's the british LP custom thing, Marriott, Frampton and Brian Roberstson all did up their customs like that, a brit friend told me they were all trying to copy Beck and his oxblood. I've been thinking about doing the treatment on mine, but I put in zebra DiMarzio VPAFs instead
 

LesterP

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May 13, 2003
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Hey HHb, it's interesting that you mention copying Jeff Beck's Oxblood, as that's the guitar that influenced me in changing the plastic on mine.

As a side note, it now seems easier to play along with a few specific albums, including "Blow by Blow", "Wired", and "There and Back". After all this time, I thought it was in the hands, it was really the color of the plastic. :) LOL
 

levonhelmet

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Jul 12, 2004
Messages
107
"it now seems easier to play along with a few specific albums, including Wired and there and back'

wow! those plastic pieces make your les paul sound like a strat too?
Ive gotta try it! :biggrin:

your guitar looks good though,I like that look too. :salude
 

LesterP

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May 13, 2003
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Hey, there's some Les Paul tone going on with all those albums... :)
(Yeah, Yeah, a lot of strat also.)
 

Backslider

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Sep 9, 2004
Messages
201
That's how I got my 1970 Black Custom: creme rings, guard, no covers, black bell knobs, and gold TP-1 tunable tailpiece. I immediately set to replacing everything back to dead stock, including tailpiece, witch-hat knobs, gold covers, black switch ring, black pu rings, because it's a Custom, not a Standard. I think a Standard with that look is very cool, like Joe Perry was often seen playing, but a Custom, with the binding both front and back, diamond inlay headstock, different inlays, and ebony fingerboard, demands to look elegant all over in its proper attire. I never liked people who go to their weddings with a tux and tennis shoes to "proclaim their individuality." which is oxymoronic when you consider that enough people do that that we all have no trouble conjuring up the image. My redneck ex-brother-in-law did that about 15 years ago, and it was a cliche then. Kinda like the mullet haircut - short on top to please the boss and look straight, but ridiculously long in back to "let the freak flag fly and proclaim individuality," again with enough numerous examples to defeat the individuality point.

But if you like customizing your guitar, go all out. This is just my opinion and you all have your own, and I could personally care less. You might like to put a Floyd on it, which would be alright since it's not mine. I agree that the Jeff Beck look is iconic and very eye-catching, but technically it was the oxblood color and started life as a 54 goldtop if I recall correctly. If any of us are able to butcher a classic guitar but raise it to iconic status like Beck's, John Lennon's stripped Epiphone, Alvin Lee's chopped 335, SRV's whacked out strat, etc., by our musical virtuousity, then I guess in hindsight we will have been right.

Regards,

Backslider
 

donw35

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Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
695
It looks ok, might look different even more with out the pick gaurd but I think an all black custom has that mojo look...
My 74, 9.5lbs custom.
75lpc2.jpg
 
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