Cool '53 conversion

[Mark Kane]

I got a chance last Friday to see a couple friends. What a great afternoon. I delivered an amp and we met up in the middle of the state with Kim at Historic Makeovers.
Kim showed us his new studio he's built and literally dozens of guitars in all stages of process. Lot's of vintage stuff as well which I hadn't realized they'd gotten into so heavily.
Anyway, the hit of the visit for me was Kim's personal '53 conversion. This thing weighed only 7 Lbs. 11 oz. and roared like Aretha Franklin. It's a freak!! This one came to Kim a disaster, a severely compromised headstock and lots of other goofy stuff I guess. Here's a pic of me holding it with it's new neck.
I never would have believed a guitar this light could sound this good!!

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

Gorgeous! And you're not so bad yourself. :rofl

I saw that guitar 'before' - had a headstock like a ukulele from boogered repairs. Kim did a fantastic resurrection! :dude: :3zone

 

[timmy 2 tone]

I agree, I played that same guitar in August.
Great looking and playing guitar, eace2

 

[MapleFlame]

Was this a trap 53 or Wrap. Yes this is a fine looking piece. I have a 53 that weighs like Balsa wood in terms of guitars. I'm sure this guitar was made up well.

 

[Red Baron]

Very cool guitar

 

[Stoj]

Nice :salude

 

[bobbradley]

Kim is the man.
And I'd love to see the makeover thread on this guitar!!!!!

 

[MWR]

Nice!

 

[viking LP]

Yeah, '53's are the best :yah :dude: :rofl :salude !!!

 

[KOTR]

I'd love to see the makeover thread on this guitar!!!!!

+1

More Pics please.

 

[timmy 2 tone]

Was this a trap 53 or Wrap. Yes this is a fine looking piece. I have a 53 that weighs like Balsa wood in terms of guitars. I'm sure this guitar was made up well.

I do believe this was a trap guitar because of what he did to the neck and body to get the correct pitch for the bridge and tail piece.

 

[MapleFlame]

I do believe this was a trap guitar because of what he did to the neck and body to get the correct pitch for the bridge and tail piece.

It had no mention of what was done and without a closeup I couldn't detect if there were wraptail hole or not. That's why I asked. wink smile Some late 53 LP's with Wraps would be OK on the neck angle. Looking closely at the pics again, probably was not a wrap, but really can't tell for sure.

 

[Mark Kane]

It had a trap on it. Here's another pic...

 

[kthesheep]

It's the guitar on the bottom of the picture:

It needed a whole new neck with the proper angle:

It has all the good stuff on it.
62 Patent # pickups with the 62 harness Vintage ABR 1 and 50's Stop tail.

This is the 53 (Converted to a 1956 spec) above in the top picture with a new neck:

 

[Musicman]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

 

[mistersnappy]

Very nice!

 

[JIMI55LP]

I love when they post the photos of the process! Thanks guys.