Epiphone 1966 Les Paul Gold top - Long post photos!

[Aoresteen]

This is a long story! Lots of photos!

 

Part 1:

 

 

Around 1973 I was rebuilding a 1959 Grestech Duo-Jet and bought a used 1966 vintage Gibson humbucker for it from Ray Hennings Heart of TExas Music in Temple, TX for $15.

 

http://www.heartoftexasmusic.com/default.asp

 

They had a bunch of humbuckers - nice ones were $20, not so nice ones were $15. Since I was poor soldier and couldn't afford a new one I got one of the not so nice $15 humbuckers.

 

Here's the '59 Grestch Duo-Jet that held the humbucker from 1973 to Feb 2013:

 

 

It stayed in the Gretsch until a couple of months ago when I bought a set of TV Jones Classic Filtertrons for the Gretsch. Also on the Gretsch was a 1968 Rickenbacker Toaster pickup that I put into an Epiphone S-310. Story of the Ric Toaster is here:

 

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/100450-s-310-rick-a-fied-jetglo/

 

 

Now I needed to find a home for the mid-sixties humbucker.

 

I had been thinking about a single pickup Les Paul ever since I had seen this Les Paul a few years ago:

 

 

Not having a matching vintage humbucker I decided to build a nice single pickup 'vessel' for my '66 humbucker. Since the cover has never been off of the humbucker it could be a 1965, 1966, or 1967. I assume it's a 1966. It's been in my posession since 1973 so I know it's authentic. I have no intention of ever taking it apart to look at the bobbins.

 

 

 

 

The notes on the back of the pickup are mine.

 

I found a 2001 Epiphone Les Paul Standard in black off of eBay for a resonable price. It's made in Korea. Nothing fancy - it has had it's share of bumps & scratches but over all was in good shape:

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was missing the truss rod cover; everthy ting works fine, neck was set up great. End of Part 1

[Aoresteen]

Part 2:

 

First thing I did was to strip it down.

 

 

I then plugge the pickup switch hole and two of the corntrol holes.

 

 

 

Next was to chisle out a place for a patch over the neck pickup hole.

 

 

I fitted the block of wood in and glued it in place with Tightbound glue.

 

 

 

Using a hammer and chisle I carved the oak wood patch down to a rough fit.

 

 

Then I sanded the entire top smooth.

 

 

I did a couple of coats of sander sealer and then primed it with Reranch White primmer.

 

 

I then sprayed a can of Reranch Gold onto the top followed by two cans of clear.

 

 

End of Part 2

[Aoresteen]

Part 3

 

I replaced the bridge with GraphTech NV1 bridge and the NVT tailpiece

 

http://www.graphtech.com/product-619-2/

 

http://www.graphtech.com/product-631-2/

 

These items are made from an aluminum alloy and are close to the bridge type that were used on the '59 Les Paul. I also installed a Tusk nut.

 

 

http://www.graphtech.com/product-137-2/

 

For tuners I bought a set of Grover Keystone:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/item/3757?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=2013-04-gp&gclid=CKqXiOap0rYCFQQEnQod2V4Abw

 

 

 

I installed CTS pots and a .022 PIO cap. I wired it using the '59 Les Paul 'vintage' wiring diagram:

 

 

I had Terrapin Guitars make a custom pickguard and truss rod cover for it. I insatlled a set Schaller Stap Locks to keep her safe.

 

http://www.terrapinguitars.com/

 

 

All put together:

 

 

 

 

I named her Brenda after my wife of 40 years who was with me way back in 1973 when I bought that used Gibson humbucker in Texas.

 

So that's how I got a 1966 Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top. Too bad that Gibson never made a Les Paul in 1966 but if they had, it would sound like my Epiphone '66 Les Paul which is - FANTASTIC!

[crust]

cool guitar

[mgrasso]

Great story and great job.

This is one of the reasons I gravitate to this forum as often as I do.

I wish I had a workshop to do guitar work in.

But if I ever do, I know I have an extended family here for advice and help.

Again, great job.

 

Mark

[Mark L]

Epic!

[Kong]

Very cool, I dig it!

[EpiEric]

Great job. A very cool project. I hope you will continue to enjoy both Brendas for many, many years to come :)