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Paul Kossoff Eric Clapton 1955 Les Paul Custom

abalonevintage

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Have any of you guys got any photos of Clapton with this guitar? The only distinguishing characteristic would probably be the grain on the mother of pearl. (Headstock.)

Thanks in advance for the help.

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Paul Kossoff Guitar collection Free 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar

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av.m.gibson.1955.kossoff.young.gif

Paul Kossoff owned Guitars Free
 
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lpnv59

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And you'll never find a pic of EC with that guitar either. Their trade deal involved a 3 pickup Black Custom.
 

abalonevintage

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Thanks for the reply. It's my understanding that this guitar came from one of Clapton's early managers. I'll post his name once I dig it up...
 

lpnv59

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EC was managed by Robert Stigwood for years. From Cream, Derek/Dominos going into the mid 80's, I believe was always Sir Denis Eton-Hogg.....I mean RSO, running EC's business affairs.

Heres a video of Eric playing the Kossoff BB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1iT72VZXQY&feature=related

Paul Kossoff did have a early P90/Alnico BB. The trade was a burst for a 3 pu Custom. I'd say Paul made out on that deal!:hee
 

abalonevintage

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I'd say Paul made out on that deal!

+1

Ok, the paperwork says the guitar came from Clapton's road manager, John Wilson....via Howard Parker, another road manager. (Brian Epstein was around doing something at the time for Cream.) If there are any Clapton photos, they most likely would be from 1967.

This guitar would have been Paul Kossoff's first Les Paul.
 

Kossoff_Fan

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Cool pics of Koss' 55 Les Paul Custom. Thanks for posting those.

Actually, I understand that Koss' first Les Paul was a 57 Junior. The 55 was likely his second Les Paul.

all best,

JC
Kossoff_Fan
 

abalonevintage

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Kool!!!! Do you know how old he was when he got the Junior? I believe he was between 14 and16 in the above photo.
 

2002standardmat

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And that LP junior hangs on the wall in the Manchester Hard Rock Cafe - had many a night sitting looking at it in the past.

It is also pictured in the 'Treasures' book which HRC publish.
 

DHBucker

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I saw that guitar for sale awhile back. Eric, do you own it now? Does anyone know how she sounds? Anything Koss just makes my hair stand on end. Thanks for the clear photo. :yah
 

4string

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Was Maverick selling this awhile back? Seems like there was a Kossoff-owned one @ Arlington in ... 2006 (?).
 

beck-ola

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I have loads of pics of EC with customs, none of them are the alnico/P90 version.
 

mistersnappy

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EC was managed by Robert Stigwood for years. From Cream, Derek/Dominos going into the mid 80's, I believe was always Sir Denis Eton-Hogg.....

:rofl :dude: Ah, Sir Denis.."Tap into America"
christopher_guest8.jpg


Re; The Custom, here's a pic from Spring of '67, post-perm. Hard to tell what the pup configuration is. Maybe some of you Custom experts can figger this out-
ClaptonCustom.gif
 
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abalonevintage

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WOW! Now that's what I'm talking about.

Did Clapton's 3 PU have a guard? I think the guard would be visible with that wide border they have.
 

beck-ola

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He supposedly bought the 3pup custom at manny's, so if this pic predates that us visit I'd say that could very well be the Kossoff 55!

Looking closely, it really does look like a P90/alnico custom minus it's pickgaurd!

His humbucker LPC had grovers, pickup covers and pick gaurd on during the disraeli gears sessions.

CS1006_Eric_CLAPTON_6.jpg


The custom he is seen playing crica 69/70 does not have pickgaurd or pickup covers.

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abalonevintage

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WOW, more cool info....Thanks.

The Paul Kossoff LP has the truss rod logo blackened...This may make an identification possible too.

Those do not look like Grovers in mistersnappys photo!

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Paul Kossoff Free Les Paul guitars
 
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Emerald

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Those are JTM 45 heads in that photo of Eric from 1967 though!!
yngwie308
 

mistersnappy

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From the EC Tourography http://www.ectours.de/

It appears that Cream performed at the Marquee Club (where the pic I posted above was taken) on March 21 and May 23rd. His 'fro is pretty tight in that pic so maybe it was the earlier show? They went to America in late March-early April and recorded Disreali Gears; http://twtd.bluemountains.net.au/cream/gearslive.htm

Now, if the pic is after the trip to Manny's maybe he picked it up there along with the 3-pup custom?
 
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