Sandbox0
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Posts posted by Sandbox0
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Hi dear L5s enthusiasts!
This guitar is a mystery to me. In all the years of playing Gibson L5s I have never seen one with this finish. So far I only knew about sunbursts, firebursts and natural finishes from that era. What do you think? Is the guitar refinished? Also this guitar seems to have a 2-piece top, 3-piece middle and 2-piece back body. None of the L5s guitars from the 70s had that. They all had the 3-piece top, 3 piece middle and 3-piece back body. You can even see it on all the models (firebursts, sunbursts, naturals) through their finishes. The first time I know that this guitar had a 2-piece top was at the Ron Wood Signature L5s Custom in the 2000s (and maybe his personal one was like that too, I dont know). But all the other models from the 70s had these visible 3-piece tops. Any thoughts on that?
Very curious about your thoughts.
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On 7/5/2020 at 4:38 PM, Grog said:
Hi, I don't believe that a pre 1969 Les Paul Personal exists. The model didn't really hit the market until 1970. According to my shipping total book, (2) were shipped in 1969 & (222) were shipped in 1970. Mine is actually a 1971. Many of the guitars with pot codes that are identified as '69 are actually '70s, they must have wired quite a few assemblies at the same time.
There are two for sale on Reverb, one claims to be a 1969 but it's unlikely. Both are in nice shape with nice gold hardware.
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=Gibson Les Paul Personal
Thank you very much for the answer. Its strange because I already saw two Les Paul Personals with the typical pre 1970s neck (so without the Volute). And the ones on Reverb for example have the Volute neck. Maybe I saw exactly the two guitars which existed pre 1970 and these are the guitars with no Volute.
I will keep on searching! The price on Reverb right now is a bit too high in my eyes.
Have a great summer and stay healthy
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Just a friendly reminder, that I am still interested/searching for a pre 69 Les Paul Personal ... so if someone knows someone, please let me know!
Many Greetings and thanks for your help.
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Well, then I will be patient and wait. Thanks a lot for helping me. I appreciate a lot.
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Hi Low-Impedance Guitar Lovers!
If any of you, who owns an early model of a Les Paul Personal one day wants to sell it or knows somebody who wants to sell it, I'd be very happy if you contact me via private message! I am searching the internet for a long time but the early models are just nowhere to be found.
Greetings and thanks for your help in advance!
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On 12/15/2019 at 7:09 PM, j45nick said:
If the guitar has an endpin that goes through the tailblock (rather than a screwed-in endpin), remove the endpin and look closely at the rims inside the hole, using a magnifying glass and good light. You may be able to tell at least if the sides are laminate from that type of inspection.
Inspecting the grain inside and out can be an indicator, particularly if there are some unique characteristics in the grain, such as dark or light patches. In the case if this guitar, the very dark grain striations in the back near the edges at the widest point of the bass bout should show up on the inside, close of the kerfing in that area. You couldn't ask for a harder area to check inside a guitar, but it may be worth the effort.
My initial reaction is that this looks more like EIR than BR, but I've also seen BR with pronounced light/dark grain streaks like that.
The serial number is ambiguous, and can't be pinned down to within a couple of years.
Interestingly, the early 1968 Heritage in the photo on page 124 of Fabulous Flat-Tops has a similar bridge, which is says is a replacement. It's not the same bridge, as the pins and saddle are not in the same location on the bridge as the OP's guitar.
Fabulous Flat-Tops says the switch to EIR was made in '68, as was the switch to a bottom-belly (Martin style) bridge.
I would go inside the guitar with camera and mirror and photograph the bridgeplate. If this bridge is a conversion from an adjustable, or a replacement, there's a good chance this is still the original bridgeplate. If it originally had an ADJ bridge, that would be obvious from an inspection.
The pin position on this bridge is the same as on the 1968 ADJ bridge.
I would love to have this guitar in my shop with strong light and a magnifier. There are some marks on the top of the bridge that suggest to me that this could be a converted ADJ bridge. Since it's ebony, it would be easier to do a clean conversion compared to doing the same thing in a rosedwood bridge.
In any case, it's a nice guitar, and was near the top of the Gibson range in that period.
Thank you all for the time you have invested , the detailed answers and the profound knowlege. Next time I change the strings, I will go inside with a camera and will try to solve the mystery. The idea with the bridgeplate is excellent. Also I will inspect the grain again. Thanks again to everybody who commented on my question, have a great 2020!
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Ps: thats the serial number. also doesn't really help in my opinion.
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Finally I have the guitar in my hands! It has a really great sound. For me it sounds a bit like my Marting HD-28 but much stronger and louder. Sadly, as you can see the lable says nothing (anymore). Its really hard to say if this guitar is made out of solid BRW. I guess it will stay a mystery.
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On 8/14/2019 at 12:17 PM, bobouz said:
Something doesn't jive with this guitar. It's appearance seems to conform to the first version specs for a '65 to '67 Heritage - except for the bridge, which should be belly-up and adjustable. A stock belly-down bridge from the late '60s would date it to '68 or '69 - but it too would also have been adjustable, which it is not on this guitar.
This is EXACTLY what I was thinking too and why I put the question to this Forum.
I have the guitar not with me, but I will in about one month. I bought it from a friend for 900$ but he is not in town right now and he still has the guitar. I will post another pic of the lable then.
Thanks everyone for their opinion, I will keep you updated!
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What do you guys think?
Solid brazilian rosewood back and sides or laminated?
Solid brazilian rosewood back and sides or laminated?
Gibson L5-S Custom 1978 - Cherry Finish and 2-piece top - Is this possible?
in Gibson Custom
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Thanks. She indeed is and also sounds nice, but still there stays the question if mine was refinished and why she should be bulit differently than others in this era. Yours is beautiful too. But as you can see in your pictures, yours also has a 3-piece top and a 3-piece back body, so at least the building style seems to be equal to other L5s in the late 70s. Do you know if yours was refinished and may I ask how much you paid for yours?