pippy

Stunning in every way! Many Happy Playing Days to you both!

The '53 model is extremely easy to identify for several reasons. Pictures, obviously, would help... I sincerely doubt it's even a reissue for $1,500 but you never know. Serial numbers on their own mean diddly-squat. We need more info as to hardware etc. P.

I tend to like both Gibson and Fender 'regular fare' electrics through a Fender Twin-type combo. I know full-well that a Les Paul plugged into a Marshall should be the bee's knees but for reasons unbeknownst to me I've never had much luck in finding the same sweet-spot with a Marshall as I have with Fender-type combos - and that's after having an original late '60s Marshall 2x10 as my only amp for several years. I've played in groups where other guitarists DID have that superb, archetypal LP-Marshall tone but after I plugged in and used the same settings it STILL didn't work out for me. Weird. Actually there was one Marshall that I played through which sounded absolutely amazing to me but I had practically zero experience at the time so perhaps it's a case of 'rose-tinted specs'. Whatever; that was a late '70's (I think) 'Club and Country' Combo. Thin on the ground these days - I've occasionally had a look for one - and not common even back then when they were new but probably well worth a listen if you get the chance. Philip.

The camera(s) were the first thing to get sorted-out in the packing stakes. Seriously. For those who give a poop I'm taking 4. My beloved Leica M9-P (and some lenses) for almost everything; the Leica point-and-shoot thing for rubbishy stuff; my ancient Nikon F / Standard Prism (black) - which I've had since 1978 - with period 28mm Nikkor bolted-on for when I go out with my daughter (who has an equally ancient Nikkormat FT 2 {chrome} c/w 50mm f2) to do 'Daddy/Daughter' proper FILM snapping days (she's nearly 15 now and has really gotten into photography these last 12 months) and, finally, an even more ancient (early '40s) Leica IIIc (Sharkskin finish) with, unusualy, a Canon 50mm f1.8 screwed-on for those 'Just for Laughs' adventures. I just hope to get both the time and the weather to enjoy - at the very least - one or two of the combinations... Pip.

Thanks for the head's up, m-e! Shame they're all gone; I have a four-hour sea-crossing to undertake tomorrow morning and was looking forward to having something meaningful to do... Pip.

It's the Counterfeiters getting a bit of their own back after seeing their sales becoming drastically reduced through Gibson's numerous Counterfeit Awareness efforts... Pip.

Apologies for having to ask and please excuse my ignorance but is your text written in Korean or Chinese? I'm having a bit of difficulty in translating it all. Thanks in advance! Pip.

Oh come on now! Think about it for goodness sakes. Obviously it IS a Gibson. It simply has to be. Gibson NEVER put markings or numbers on their guitars. NEVER EVER. They are well known for keeping their name a closely guarded secret. pIP.

Oddly enough that's one of the few states I have visited, Bill! We have friends who lived in Montclair and paid them a visit a couple of years ago. Very nice place. Don't know if it's typical of NJ, of course, but it was pretty...erm...pretty. One of Scotland's most admired Sporting Heroes... Pip.

I'm too old for that, too, but unfortunately my daughter isn't! Hey? It keeps me feeling like I'm slightly younger.... Glaciers? Don't get me started. Anyhow; forum rules are in the way. Lovely to see you out and about in the space. Personally I first became aware of the various amazing 'walks' on offer to you 'muricans through reading about the John Muir Trail in the autobiography by the (absolutely peerless IMO) photographer Ansel Adams. You folks in the USA have SO MUCH stuff to appreciate practically everywhere you could throw a dart. I'm so glad you and yours can manage to enjoy the special nature of what you have available. It's a great part into what makes 'life' become 'Life'. Pip.

OK; I simply just have to ask. Did you or did you not ramp up the hill and have a snowball fight? I strongly doubt whether my daughter and I could resist the opportunity! Pip.

Gorgeous bit of scenery BD! Pip.

He needs a broken-glass-encrusted tiara. Pip.

This coming Sunday, actually. For three weeks. Doubt I'll have time to head across to the Czech Republic (if that's where they're based) but I do aim to bring back our usual haul of plunder so I'll be sure to send you a PM with the snaps. Especially of the cases - once they've been opened... Pip.

It has the really neat neck volute, too. V. Nice! Pip.

Good grief. I'd go the extra mile and say that it is, without a doubt, the ugliest SG I've ever seen. By a VERY long way. What is the point of taking the most simple entry-level single-p'up SG and ladling all that ugly expensive crap on top of it? It has become the guitar equivalent of an over-tarted-up whore. Horrendous in every way. Thought the rest of the stuff was a bit dull, too. The capos looked to be nicely crafted. I never used one - even although I do still have a Gibson one which I bought in the late '70s - and forgetting the Swarovski(?) broken-glass encrusted ones if a well-made and nicely finished capo will last you a lifetime then I suppose $70 is no great shakes in the grand scheme of things. Pip.

Ah, yes! Well remembered BD. I had forgotten about that one. The closest I could remember myself was the Classic Custom which was very close but yours, obviously, is closer still! Pip.

Very glad to read that things are starting to get back to some more reasonable state of normality - albeit after what must have been an extremely trying eight months for you and yours. Hearty congrats to the members of the online group whose generosity brought about this wonderful gift; clearly your initiative in starting the forum is greatly appreciated by your fellow colleagues. Amazing guitar, too! In all my years of playing and reading about these things I don't ever recall seeing - or even hearing about - a Les Paul Custom with a Gold-Top finish. Quite the Unique Beastie! Play Long and Prosper, Two-Ells! P.

It depends on which specific model of instrument you are talking about. In your case it might well have indicated what you say it does but, historically speaking, usually it DOES indicate whether an instrument is a first or second. Pip.

Postimage.org I've been using it since the photobucket outrage and it's the easiest picture hosting site I've ever used. Highly recommended. Pip.

Much like m-e I don't have a couple of hours to spare but I had a scan through and, yes, there are many, many gorgeous guitars in that place. I liked the green strat a lot.... Pip.

Serial numbers are no use in determining with 100% certainty whether a particular instrument is - or is not - a fake. If a competent counterfeiter can fake an entire guitar then a serial number isn't going to prove to be much of a challenge. We need to see far clearer shots and taken at sensible angles. There are no glaring errors so it's not the usual Chinese fare but without substantially better images all we can see is that it closely resembles a LP Custom. Pip.

Hi and welcome to the forum. If it's in sunburst finish it could possibly represent Les Paul Custom Heritage Burst Gold Hardware 1. If it's black then check the code isn't LPCEBGH1 as the EB might indicate Ebony finish. The '1' just means that it isn't a factory 2nd (lower grade) instrument. Just a guess. Pip.

I won't take up any more bandwidth to re-post rct's answer in full yet again but, by golly, he hits the nail squarely and surely. Pip.

I congratulate you on your purchase! I, like you, picked up both the Bishop books when they were current and have been rewarded 100-fold in terms of Outlay v's Profit - although the 'profit' is purely knowledge-acquisitional... As far as the Epi Scroll goes; I played one back when they were new which belonged to the ubiquitous 'Friend of a Friend' who was a Brian May fiend and he absolutely nailed May's tone perfectly. It was a chance meeting and I was only crashing out overnight so have no recollection as to what we were playing through but it sounded superb. Pip.