Me??? With a Les Paul???

Thats a badass Lester Custom Guitarweasel.Is it a original or one of the new reissues ? non the less its beautiful. Those faded while LPCs are real beauties.
 
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Robert Herndon said:
Dude! Love that color. I have seen Rhoads' Les Paul in person in 2002 and that color is so close. I like white, but I don't "love" the bright white...I like the aged look.
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Interesting thing is, that is not very aged at all. Mine was almost that identical color when brand new - it wasn't white, they called it "blonde" and you could easily tell that it was painted that custard color at the factory because it looked exactly the same inside the cavities and the binding was pure white. I've noticed over the years that most people that list these for sale don't know this because they say something like "beautifully aged Alpine White" or some such thing in the ad. I remember quite vividly what the color was when I got it...hell, I still remember the serial number from that guitar (72497511).
 
gball said:
Interesting thing is, that is not very aged at all. Mine was almost that identical color when brand new - it wasn't white, they called it "blonde" and you could easily tell that it was painted that custard color at the factory because it looked exactly the same inside the cavities and the binding was pure white. I've noticed over the years that most people that list these for sale don't know this because they say something like "beautifully aged Alpine White" or some such thing in the ad. I remember quite vividly what the color was when I got it...hell, I still remember the serial number from that guitar (72497511).
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September 6th, 1977 production date based on the serial number you posted...

The only reason I am not looking at white is because I like that "custard" color and all I can find is that brilliant white....
 
Robert Herndon said:
September 6th, 1977 production date based on the serial number you posted...

The only reason I am not looking at white is because I like that "custard" color and all I can find is that brilliant white....
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It's funny I still remember the S/N, but I had that guitar for 22 years before I sold it so maybe it does make sense. Truth was, it got messed up in a refret and I couldn't afford to keep a guitar that I couldn't use to gig with so I let it go. I wish I still had it for sentimental reasons and if I still did I would spend the money to get the fretboard sorted out.

There have been a few reissues and custom runs in that color but yeah, for the most part you are looking at a Norlin-era guitar, so '70's - early '80's.
 
gball said:
It's funny I still remember the S/N, but I had that guitar for 22 years before I sold it so maybe it does make sense. Truth was, it got messed up in a refret and I couldn't afford to keep a guitar that I couldn't use to gig with so I let it go. I wish I still had it for sentimental reasons and if I still did I would spend the money to get the fretboard sorted out.

There have been a few reissues and custom runs in that color but yeah, for the most part you are looking at a Norlin-era guitar, so '70's - early '80's.
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Sentiment - Only reason I keep my 1987 Squirecaster that my bandmates bought for me in 1988. I totally understand not being able to work with a guitar....so many people just don't "get it" when you are upset with a guitar you have to totally rebuild before you can gig or record with it....
 
So, I have been negotiating a deal with the owner of the Les Paul Custom. Right now, he is on the fence about the "stripping out" of the guitar for it's parts. His collection of guitars is indeed massive, so he is not motivated by money and the LPC is by far probably the cheapest guitar in his collection.

I find this Les Paul particularly intriguing. Not just because it is basically a time capsule from 2005, but just the overall feel. It's quite heavy and the neck, to me, is quiet thick, which I really do like and prefer. Saturday, he has agreed to let me bring over a DSL40C and get a feel for it's tone through a good sized rig.

Progress...
 
Daydreaming...

The one thing I "see" happening to this LPC, if indeed I am blessed enough to get it, is a knob change. The black speed knobs are virtually invisible. I'm thinking amber bells or gold inlay witch hats...
 
Robert Herndon said:
Daydreaming...

The one thing I "see" happening to this LPC, if indeed I am blessed enough to get it, is a knob change. The black speed knobs are virtually invisible. I'm thinking amber bells or gold inlay witch hats...
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On a black Custom? Yeah, black/gold reflectors all day

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Ok, since I am not 100% sure this fellow will even sell this LPC, I been looking around at other guitars too.

Now I always thought that all Customs had ebony fretboards and, apparently, they did not. Another thing I noticed was how light some ebony boards are.

The board on Mom's 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom is jet black, while others appear much lighter. I even read that Gibson offered a custom with a maple fretboard.

Is there any logic to this???
 
Well, not all ebony is actually black. Most is really more of a brown. Historically, guitar makers have striven to use the darkest ebony. However, this results in the waste of a lot of trees. It is a simple fact that the demand for the blackest ebony in the musical instrument and furniture industries has resulted in major ebony deforestation.

I would suspect Gibson has realized they need to use some browner ebony. Taylor has been doing this for some time.

You may be able to darken it with an oil.

I don't know if they ever used rosewood on Customs. However, in 2012 Gibson began use Richlite on their Customs.

I don't know about a maple board. It would have to be baked maple.
 
OK Smitty, now you did it. If I am not mistaken, my 1987 3 knob SG Special was supposed to have ebony, but mine sure looks light in color which led me to think it is Rosewood.

I guess I will need to ask some other folks to take a gander up close and not from just pictures.
 
ok my camera on my phone is getting beat to a pulp but i took some pics of my 2 Precision Guitar Kits 61 JRs boards.Both of which are Ebony.20170408_105141.jpeg
 
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