Finally! A true vintage Les Paul! 53 Gold Top

[Jethro Rocker]

Finally did it! A true vintage Gibson. 1953 Gold Top. Only the second year of making solid body guitars for them.

So I know some are wondering – does it play better than a newer guitar? Well, no it doesn’t but for me that isn’t the idea. I wanted to own a bona fide vintage part of R&R guitar history and now I have! It still has to be playable, which of course it is, and I have not had a P90 till now. 1950s P90s sound any different? Who knows?

I’m happy as a clam! I think as far as collections go, it’s kind of like a car collector – all modern Mustangs or do you want a 1971 Mach 1? I want 1 oldie in there!

It's in better shape finish wise than my funky 73 Goldie. Intonation by ear sounds dang close but I still ordered a replacement trapeze bridge with ridges on top to be more accurate.
Yay!!

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Kinda wish the back had more wear on it!!

 

[dmatthews]

Gorgeous, what a score!
Love me some P90s, hope you'll love 'em too!

 

[SG John]

Beautiful! Congrats!

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Wow!!! That is freaking gorgeous!
Congratulations!

 

[GrooVey]

Wow!! Lucky boy. Glad for ya. Enjoy.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Oh and it did not come with the original Lifton case it is a 70s chainsaw style case.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Another WOW. Very nice.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

He's older than most of the members here!

 

[Headache]

That's a whole lot of winning right there! Congrats!

 

[ibmorjamn]

Kinda wish the back had more wear on it!!

Outstanding !

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Congratulations Geoff that is truly a beautiful score, and piece of history.

 

[iblive]

He's older than most of the members here!

Got me beat!!

 

[Don O]

What a great addition to the herd !

 

[Robb]

Marvelous, absolutely fabulous !!!

 

[syscokid]

Helluva acquisition there, JR! Big congrats…

… but I still ordered a replacement trapeze bridge with ridges on top to be more accurate.

Did you get the one from Music City Bridge?

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Helluva acquisition there, JR! Big congrats…


Did you get the one from Music City Bridge?

No I saw excellent reviews on the Mojo Axe so that's what I went with. They seem pretty similar. I also ordered one of their trapeze bar sets as it's possible existing bars might have to be bent slightly which I don't want.

 

[syscokid]

Forgot about MojoAxe products. Those are real nice too. Well done!

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Forgot about MojoAxe products. Those are real nice too. Well done!

You've used some of their stuff? Seems like it really well thought out. And it needs an overwrap for sure.

 

[gball]

You've used some of their stuff? Seems like it really well thought out. And it needs an overwrap for sure.

Nice score, Geoff. Should be fun.

It's hilarious to me that the only real design element of the early Les Pauls that Les Paul himself designed is that trapeze tailpiece which ended up being an objective disaster. The '52's are all but unplayable because they have a really shallow neck angle and the tailpiece will never allow proper action. Great for slide I suppose. Good to hear you have a remedy on the way.