Unclowning the burst - sunbathed beauty

[Billy Porter]

Ok - not a real burst but a 73 LPC in cherry sunburst

Inspired by what Nicolasrivera (thanks) had done I thought I’d see if I could fade my 71 LPC. Having lived most of its life in a case for safe storage it had next to no fade and had been accused of being a clownburst on this forum. I want it to look like the old guitar that it is, so for the last 10 or so weekends ( I’ve been working away during the weeks) I’ve had it sun-bathing in our secure back garden – yes the sun does shine ‘Up Norf’ - and also let it get some indirect natural light last week.
I don’t think the photos show fully the real change. I’ve decided to stop giving it direct sunlight as the amber is also fading plus I haven’t been able to play it for a while. I masked the fretboard and headstock to stop any unwanted fade to the ebony and any damage to the inlays. I think that the tuning keys have alos faded a bit. I’m personally very impressed and happy with the results. Some befroe and after piccies

Is this a clownburst ?? (Before)

Before

After

Before

After

After

Under the switch surround

Even the amber faded ! (oops - I left the bridge and tailpiece on:wah )

I’d also appreciate any info on the capacitors. I’m guessing they’re not stock as very little was original when I bought the guitar in 84-85

I've a bunch more photos if anyone is interested

Disclaimer – I am not recommending that anyone copy what I have done. I wasn’t as concerned about spoiling my Gibby as you may be !!!!!

 

[D'Mule]

Wow!

 

[cherrick]

...
Is this a clownburst ??...

Absolutely.

 

[Texas Blues]

Looks a lot less clowney. You should feel good about that guitar as that's definitely not the worst clownburst I've seen...

http://www.cowtownguitars.com/itemtest2.php?invno=glp374&itemtop=includes/gibsonitemtop.txt

and this gem...

http://www.cowtownguitars.com/itemtest2.php?invno=glp541&itemtop=includes/gibsonitemtop.txt

Salute', TB.

 

[Elmore]

Great looking guitar. Oh yeah, and it is 39 years old. Pretty cool.

 

[woody-89]

Very nice BP!

I've been suprised about how much sun there's been up north, but am even more suprised to see how much that's faded! Amazing!

 

[Breakfastime]

I gotta say-that's a lot of fade! I'm surprised it faded that much in only ten sunbathing sessions. Looks great tho!

 

[pit_s_xroad]

Ok - not a real burst but a 71 LPC in cherry sunburst

...

Even the amber faded ! (oops - I left the bridge and tailpiece on:wah )

...

that's just realistic aging.
looks really good now...

PIT... :salude

 

[access]

That looks great!

Now for the real question, People here have been trying to do that with he newer re-issues with no such result.

The finish is obviously 'different' than the older Gibsons.

What do you think the difference is?

 

[Billy Porter]

Thanks for the coments

Woody-89

I've been suprised about how much sun there's been up north, but am even more suprised to see how much that's faded! Amazing!

Most weekends have had good weather this year - guess we’ve been lucky. The ‘before’ photos were only 2 years ago and its spent virtually all that time in its case ( I play the Strat mostly nowadays )


Breakfast Time:

I gotta say-that's a lot of fade! I'm surprised it faded that much in only ten sunbathing sessions. Looks great tho!

Yup - only ten weekends and probably about 8hrs per day


A couple of more photos with natural morning light.

Access

That looks great!

Now for the real question, People here have been trying to do that with he newer re-issues with no such result.

The finish is obviously 'different' than the older Gibsons

What do you think the difference is?

I couldn't comment on that though I know of other early 70's (Deluxes) that have faded naturally. It seems strange that 1960 bursts aren't supposed to fade

 

[cherrick]

That looks great!

Now for the real question, People here have been trying to do that with he newer re-issues with no such result.

The finish is obviously 'different' than the older Gibsons.

What do you think the difference is?

Well, for openers he didn't post his serial number. I guess you're out of luck.

 

[Billy Porter]

Don’t quite understand the relevance of the serial number but……..its 185229

A few years back I asked on this forum for my LP to be dated and the overall response was 71. Don’t mind if it’s a 72 or 73 but most evidence points to a 71

 

[cherrick]

Don’t quite understand the relevance of the serial number but……..its 18xxxx

Oh well.

I guess if you didn't post it, LPF member access would have. Whether or not you wanted it posted.

 

[access]

Oh well.

I guess if you didn't post it, LPF member access would have. Whether or not you wanted it posted.

I dont know what he's talking about.

He made another cryptic post like this before.

?

 

[duane v]

By leaving your guitar in the sun, wouldn't that amber the finish???

If you don't mind me asking, but why would you want the finish to be sun faded, when it looked great prior to doing this??

 

[Trans-Am]

...people and owners alike tend to get WACKO and have nothing better to do with their LP's (in a good way).....Hey ? That's allright, whatever floats your boat.

I've seen worse that are made way too too different it looked sick and disgusting. You bought or have something for years on end and suddenly you decide to bastardize the axe?...Perfectly fine, your the one that has to live with it anyways.

Me personaly? I would've let the thing unclowned by itself all the way and play her like a dirty whore and watch and see, she'll change/unclown around no more.

Way better looking before the rays set in.

Peace!!:hippy

 

[duane v]

that's fair enough.......

I never understood the "clownburst" association for this type of finish..... IMO they look nothing of the sort:hmm

 

[Billy Porter]

Duane v :

By leaving your guitar in the sun, wouldn't that amber the finish??? By leaving youBy leaving your guitar in the sun, wouldn't that amber the finish???r guitar in the sun, wouldn't that amber the finish???

I would have thought so. It may have been darker under the bridge and tailpiece for a while



Tran-Am :

...people and owners alike tend to get WACKO and have nothing better to do with their LP's (in a good way).....Hey ? That's allright, whatever floats your boat.

I've seen worse that are made way too too different it looked sick and disgusting. You bought or have something for years on end and suddenly you decide to bastardize the axe?...Perfectly fine, your the one that has to live with it anyways.

Me personaly? I would've let the thing unclowned by itself all the way and play her like a dirty whore and watch and see, she'll change/unclown around no more.

Way better looking before the rays set in.

Ahem….I resemble that remark.

Unfortunately I haven’t the room since the kids arrived to hang the LP on the wall so it has lived safely in its case under the bed for the past 13years – sometimes never seeing daylight for weeks on end. As I mostly play the Strat the LP would never have faded in my lifetime

I was never happy with the colour - far too red and brash – so as I said, inspired by Nicolasrivera and others I thought I’d age it a bit. See: http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158628&highlight=nicolasrivera

I much prefer the look of the LP now and the old girl may shortly get a serious outing again after 24years of home use only. :jim

 

[58junior]

Cherry Sunburst is THE original sunburst....ask Jimmy Page!:jim

 

[sharq attaq]

I've never thought much of the idea of buying a R(x) which is already often painted to resemble a color that resulted from fading....and trying to fade it.

However, that guitar looks waaaay better to me the way it looks now than the original. No offense to any Norlin CSB LP owners, but their finishes just looked awful back then. I think it's why I've never liked anything but solid color Customs...especially black.

That one's turning into something I kind of like. Nice going! :3zone