The Les Paul Thread

[Newc]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Joe, for the Love Of God, man, go and buy a better camera [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

I can't say the Norlin era was a total loss - at least they got Gibson to make Vs and Explorers without pickguards, and the 70's SG Standards with block inlays were not that bad. Volutes are not a problem, and laminate construction such as 3-piece mahogany and 2 piece "sandwich" bodies are as tonally and structurally sound as one-piece construction. For the most part, laminate construction is stronger and more stable than one-piece.

While it may not be the way they were made "way back when", that does not make it a "false" or lesser construction.

As long as it all comes out the amp the same way, it doesn't matter [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Newc

[Budman68]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Originally posted by Newc:
[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Joe, for the Love Of God, man, go and buy a better camera [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


Dave->

[Bad-Brad]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Newc I agree they wrn't all bad I have an 85 SG but it was made in Nashville one of the first under the new rule. It is still baed on the Norlin Specs and is a great player. Not liked by many Gibson Hrad Liner though.

Those are Historic Photo's

BB

[toejam]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

I know! [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I need to get off my lazy ass and get one soon. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I don't know why I posted the crappy Carvin pics, as I do have better ones (Ken took them awhile ago in his garage).

[JACKSONFREAK]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

I have a Norlin era LP custom and it's one of the best Les Pauls I've played let alone owned.
Yeah its a three piece non figured top and a sandwich body. SO? The neck is great and the tone even better. Just the right amount of warmth, bite and clearity. It could be the three piece maple neck adding to it. But I love it.
The Heritage guys were some of the best Luthiers Gibson had during the Norlin era. They didn't want to relocate so they stayed and bought half the factory and the some of the very machines that made the stuff Orvile Gibson himself over saw the production of. Gibson slipped in quality during the Norlin days because Norlin owners were cheap and wanted to cut costs by using left over wood pieces and skimping alittle bit here and there. The luthiers did the best they could with what Norlin had to offer them. They had to follow their rules or be fired. The had families to feed and to send to school.
Those same guys run the Heritage shop like the way Orville did when he still owned Gibson. Yeah it may be a little out dated in its manufactoring techiniques. But a master luthier is a master luthier no matter the process used. Does a mans ability to make a quality instrument change just because he may be using old tools? Hell no. The guys at Heritage make awsomeguitars in the traditional way with sweat blood and love. They don't need a CNC machine to make instruments. They use thier knowladge and skill. My dad was a carpenter for over 60 years and made some incredable things. did he step up to the modern tools and do things with a computer to get it more accurate every time? No he didnt. My dad could make anything better and faster than amachine and it looked like a work of art when done. Not some robot made cookie cutter P.O.S. that was made with out love. My dad loved what he did and so do the guys at Heritage. Just cus their methods my be a bit "old School" they make them the right way. With love and true craftsmanship. Any monkey can push buttons on a computer. But give a monkey a saw and he'll probably cut his non aposable thumb right off.
I don't mean to rant and maybe I'm old school too. But iwould rather have a legitametly hand made with love Heritage than a CNC cookie cutter loveless Gibson.
I do have a Gibson but it is a vintage one. made by the Skilled craftsman of now Heritage.
Jackson is a very good example of old school methods or production. Until recently the guitars were made mostly by hand with the assistance of power tools when needed. Now They use CNC machines but the quality hasnt gotten worse. Why? Because the luthiers at Jackson love their jobs and what they do. They make some of the finest guitars on the planet and do it love and it shows.
ok Im starting to ramble so im done.
Gil

[deviltronix]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Finally found the pictures of a Les Paul I sold a few years ago. I was in a dire financial situation and god do I regret selling her.




Rich

[Newc]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Was the top a refin from black? [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Newc

[StukaJU87]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Originally posted by Newc:
Was the top a refin from black? [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Newc

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newc, I don't know about that particular guitar, but Gibson DID offer a model painted like that. I think it was called the "Tuxedo" although it wasn't printed on the truss rod cover or anything.

[paddok]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Is there a difference in neck profile between the Les Paul STD. and the Custom ?

Does anybody know where I could find the dimensions of the neck ?

[JACKSONFREAK]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

OK from what I can tell Matt your Les Paul is a 70-73. The sereil number matches that time range with a 5 digit number. The valute, the peg head size, the sandwich body, the Nashville bridge all point 71-72 range. From what the Gruhn guide told me and my experiance with Pauls. It looks like it is all original as far as the wood and finishand hardware goes. But probably a transition period piece. The pickup with the mis-aligned cover. You say its a Gibson so it's probably an after market cover that didn't fit right so obviously not a real Gibson cover. If the top is lighter in color than the back than its maple. The carved tops were either maple or mohagony. I don't know of any LP's ever made with a Korina top. The only procudtion Korinas' were the Exotic shapes (ie, explorer,V, moderne,vutura.) etc..
So it would be safe to say its a maple top and the guitar is around a 71-72 for value purposes.
Hope that helps. Also the "made in USA" started in 68/69 so it couldnt be a 61 with that on it. plus the logo without the dot on the "I" and the lower link between the "O" and "N" also say it's a 71-72. Don't ya just love transition period Gibsons'?
Gil

[deviltronix]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Stuka, you are 100% correct. Not a refin. This was a "Tuxedo" model. In fact, I totally forget about that untill you brought it up. Now I miss the guitar even more, although I did sell it at a great price. I had picked it up in a pawn shop for around $800 and sold it for over $1600.

Rich

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Newc:
Was the top a refin from black?

Newc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newc, I don't know about that particular guitar, but Gibson DID offer a model painted like that. I think it was called the "Tuxedo" although it wasn't printed on the truss rod cover or anything.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

[SEEGERMANY]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

I'd have given my left nut for that '76 Paul shown above. Who am I kidding, at my age I'd have given both nuts. What a beauty!

[hippietim]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Originally posted by GERMANDETH:
I'd have given my left nut for that '76 Paul shown above. Who am I kidding, at my age I'd have given both nuts. What a beauty!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There's a word picture I didn't need [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[deviltronix]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Each post here gives me greater regrets. I've yet to see another and I have been looking to replace her. If I remember correctly, the ebayer who got her off of me was really young (still in High School).

I'd have given my left nut for that '76 Paul shown above. Who am I kidding, at my age I'd have given both nuts. What a beauty!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

[Newc]

Re: The Les Paul Thread

Thanks for the info, Gil [img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

I swapped out the middle pickup for a Duncan Jazz neck, and put a cover I took off an 85 Flying V bridge pickup. Same alignment problem. I'd agree with the idea that either the covers or pickups are non-original - maybe both given the design differences (bridge has braided shielding, neck and middle have rubber and are 4-conductor).
The covers are worn significantly, so maybe the original pickups were de-covered and the guy kept the covers to maintain the look with the new pickups. Then again, maybe he's got the bridge cover on the neck and the neck cover on the bridge?

Newc