Gibson Les Paul Conversions

[pinefd]

Yeah, not much gold left there for sure. Wish I could find such a Gem (your refinished version).
I'm glad you didn't go "all in" on that LP..

BTW Abalone Vintage has a similar one on Reverb, a 1953 LP factory 1959/60 burst refin, have you seen that listing?

Haha! Yes the guitar had already been completely stripped. When I said that I did a goldtop to 'burst conversion, I just meant that it started life as a goldtop, and instead of redoing it in gold...as I did with a previous conversion candidate that I didn't have the heart to convert...I decided to burst this one.

Regarding the Abalone Vintage listing, I hadn't seen it before so I just looked it up. I assume you're referring to this one? https://reverb.com/item/63717248-19...ated-in-1959-1960-to-burst-one-of-a-kind-rare


Frank

 

[pinefd]

That guitar looks seamless. Or should I say timeless. When did Tom do that? I kind of got out of the aged guitar finish thing when the spiderweb thing was starting, but that looks really good. Is it checking more with time or staying the same?

Also, I am guessing that you are doing the two knob thing for a reason, but I have a bunch of knobs from the 50's and 60's if anyone is interested. I can post any anyone is looking for in the for sale section.

Tom did the guitar maybe two years ago now? The checking is real weather checking, and no, I haven't noticed any additional checking over time, but then again, I'm not exposing the guitar to any temperature extremes.

And yes, I am doing the two knob thing on purpose. I have the other two of each set that I could put on if I want to in the future. It's more of a conversation starter than anything else...and it worked! Haha.


Frank

 

[S. Weiger]

Haha! Yes the guitar had already been completely stripped. When I said that I did a goldtop to 'burst conversion, I just meant that it started life as a goldtop, and instead of redoing it in gold...as I did with a previous conversion candidate that I didn't have the heart to convert...I decided to burst this one.

Regarding the Abalone Vintage listing, I hadn't seen it before so I just looked it up. I assume you're referring to this one? https://reverb.com/item/63717248-19...ated-in-1959-1960-to-burst-one-of-a-kind-rare


Frank

Yes, that one
It was a '53, renecked & refin in Kalamazoo in 59/60.

EDIT: I have no affiliation with the seller.

 

[jimmi]

I actually saw this one also at the Nashville show. One of the better retops I have seen.

 

[pinefd]

I actually saw this one also at the Nashville show. One of the better retops I have seen. View attachment 24326

Yes, the same one! It sure has been making the rounds!


Frank

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Very distinctive voice.

Character is what makes certain guitars great. Not best/better, bla bla bla, just a guitar that sounds like itself.

 

[Yewonthegnargnar]

Yes, the same one! It sure has been making the rounds!


Frank

What's hilarious is the pickup cavities are gold. Just not 1953 Gold! I have no positive idea why this would happen. Unless it was a weird gold refinish before the conversion. But, if doing a proper burst conversion, I can't make sense of why they would do this.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

What's hilarious is the pickup cavities are gold. Just not 1953 Gold! I have no positive idea why this would happen. Unless it was a weird gold refinish before the conversion. But, if doing a proper burst conversion, I can't make sense of why they would do this.

Ya, I would guess converted to goldtop without retop and then retopped.

 

[MBSC]

My MIrabella with a 59' Gibson factory top only refin

 

[Yewonthegnargnar]

My MIrabella with a 59' Gibson factory top only refin

This one rules.

 

[MBSC]

This one rules.

thanks!!..Montreaux stop bar love their stuff. Paf's are 7.4 and 7.6...best set I ever heard and at one point I had 7 or 8 conversions with one Mueller the rest Mirabellas'. I'm always toying with selling it because at 70 now I gig 200 shows a year and mostly uses a 12 string acoustic, a12 string ric, a 59' Rusty Anderson 335 and the fourth guitar is one of my LP's beit this one, my R7 or stars and stripes CS 2006. Just got a TOP OF LINE (#1214 of 1965) John Lennon casino for my Beatles gigs now

 

[bursty]

Thanks! I actually bought it as a stripped husk; in fact, Tom was the one who found it for me. Here's what it looked like the day I bought it (all the parts were in the case pocket):

Frank

very interesting ....... I never noticed the tenon on these was off-set, unlike the burst era where the tenon is not off-set. Thanks for posting.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

My two. ‘55 and ‘54. Both original center or near center seam 2 pc tops. The ‘54 was converted by the original owner in ‘65. Very old finish with almost none left on the neck.View attachment 24289View attachment 24290

Insane that those tops were covered with presumably gold top originally.

 

[sws1]

Yes, that one
It was a '53, renecked & refin in Kalamazoo in 59/60.

The listing doesn't mention a reneck.

I saw that guitar the last time I was in TX when AV first got it...before covid.

 

[S. Weiger]

The listing doesn't mention a reneck.

I saw that guitar the last time I was in TX when AV first got it...before covid.

But yes it does, sws1.

Eric says in the listing:
"Please read the last photo which has a complete detailed authenticity description and breakdown."

And the last photo is this one,for your convenience


EDIT 12/1 for clarification.
And I have no affiliation with the seller.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Tom did the guitar maybe two years ago now? The checking is real weather checking, and no, I haven't noticed any additional checking over time, but then again, I'm not exposing the guitar to any temperature extremes.

And yes, I am doing the two knob thing on purpose. I have the other two of each set that I could put on if I want to in the future. It's more of a conversation starter than anything else...and it worked! Haha.


Frank

I have been trying to figure out what their process is. I am figuring obviously Tom Murphy painted it, but any idea how they are getting it to check that way? Someone mentioned to me that they are pre starting the checking lines. You know anything about this?

Also, did Tom do it on the side or was it sent in through Gibson?

 

[pinefd]

I have been trying to figure out what their process is. I am figuring obviously Tom Murphy painted it, but any idea how they are getting it to check that way? Someone mentioned to me that they are pre starting the checking lines. You know anything about this?

Also, did Tom do it on the side or was it sent in through Gibson?

I don't know what his process is, unfortunately.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I don't know what his process is, unfortunately.

Thanks for the reply. Just joined the forum last fall and it is interesting to see newer works done by Tom. I have a few pieces of his work dating from the mid 90's till 2011.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Hey all. I’ve owned this on for maybe a month? 8 pounds 3 or 4 ounces. This is the only guitar I’ve stupidly reached to turn down while unplugged. Ha! As a young guy, traversing the vintage market has been a real struggle. But, the forums have been super helpful. I never wanted a conversion. I like goldtops. Plain and simple. But, this is just a damn wonderful instrument. Even without the story. Ty all for rocking.

That is light. Lucky thing to get em light when you are young. Or should I say get em young when they are light. Wonder if anyone ever came up with that one before. Anyways, what is that green guitar in your avatar?

 

[sws1]

But yes it does, sws1.

Eric says in the listing:
"Please read the last photo which has a complete detailed authenticity description and breakdown."

And the last photo is this one,View attachment 24333for your convenience


EDIT 12/1 for clarification.

Devil in the details as they say. Either that, or I need new glasses.