GUITAR CENTER ANNOUNCES JIMMY PAGE “NUMBER TWO” GIBSON LES PAUL CHARITY AUCTIONS

[ghostwriter27]

 

Proceeds from the auction of these highly sought-after guitars will benefit Little Kids Rock and USO charities

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Two rare limited-edition guitars, both individually numbered, signed and played by Jimmy Page, to be offered in GC’s first-ever online charity auctions

Auctions to take place Thursday, June 19, 2014, 4PM PDT, through Sunday, June 29, 2014, 4PM PDT

Proceeds from the auctions will benefit the Little Kids Rock and USO charities

 

Los Angeles, CA (June 3, 2014): Guitar Center, the world’s largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ and lighting equipment, announces its first-ever online charity auctions, of two custom Jimmy Page “Number Two” Gibson Les Paul guitars. Proceeds from the auctions will benefit the Little Kids Rock and USO charities. The auctions will take place on eBay (www.ebay.com/jimmypagelespaul) starting Thursday, June 19, 2014, 4PM PDT, through Sunday, June 29, 2014, 4PM PDT. The minimum bid is $20,000 for each guitar, and each comes with a certificate of authenticity.

 

“Number Two” is a 1959 Les Paul, one of Jimmy Page’s prized guitars, obtained in the early 1970s and used consistently by Page ever since. He had the electronics altered to get the widest possible range of sounds from two humbucker pickups, and had the neck shaved to match his “Number One” Les Paul. Four years ago, Gibson Custom painstakingly recreated “Number Two” in an extremely limited run. These guitars were built to Page’s exact specifications, faithfully replicating the iconic aged flame maple top, faded “Page Burst 2” finish, and even the dings, dents and wear marks. Only 25 of these Aged and Signed guitars were released worldwide, and all 25 of them were individually played, signed and numbered by Jimmy Page. Jimmy kept #1 for himself and the remaining 24 guitars instantly became highly valued collector’s items. After half a decade, Guitar Center is opening the vault and offering #2 and #5 in this special charity auction.

 

THE STORY AND GUITAR FEATURES

The Custom Shop Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul was recreated with intense, millimeter-by-millimeter examination of Page’s original guitar, inside and out. The process of getting it right involved the production of a number of hand-built prototypes, each of which was checked and critiqued in detail by Page himself. Approval of the final iteration was only offered after the legendary artist had intricately examined and extensively played this last prototype in his London home—after which it was given the thumbs-up, worthy of being the template for the Custom Shop Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul. Only 325 examples were produced in total: 100 aged by vintage-reproduction master Tom Murphy; 25 more aged by Tom Murphy and signed by Jimmy Page; and 200 finished to Gibson’s VOS specs.

 

Body

Crafted from a uniquely figured two-piece Eastern maple top attached to a one-piece, solid, lightweight, genuine mahogany back, the Custom Shop Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul follows the body lines and dimensions of the original ’59 Les Paul Standard.

 

Neck and Headstock

The neck of the Custom Shop Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul is constructed from one piece, quarter-sawn, lightweight mahogany for improved strength and resonance. The luthiers in Gibson’s Custom Shop carefully match the grains and weights of these guitars’ bodies and necks to optimize tone and sustain.

 

Hardware

The Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul is equipped with top of the line hardware. From the Grover tuners to the stopbar tailpiece to the period-correct “antique bell” truss rod cover, it retains and replicates every bit of its predecessor’s strength.

 

Electronics

On this Les Paul, each of the controls’ potentiometers has been replaced with a push-pull pot for individual pickup switching functions, while two miniature push-pull DPDT switches have been mounted under the pickguard to provide additional universal switching functions. Note: due to trademark issues and per Jimmy’s directive, the bobbins on the Jimmy Page “Number Two” Les Paul reissue are black instead of crème.

[badbluesplayer]

I met a guy who was in the septic tank pumping business. His card said "Number one in the number two business."

[pippy]

 

Very Good.

I must admit to being a bit surprised when I got as far as "I met a guy who was in the septic tank..."...

 

As far as the JP #2 auction is concerned?

I hope the charity gets a good lump sum but I can't help feeling that it's a shame two very fine instruments are destined, in all probability, to spend their lives NOT being played.

 

Don't you just love how the spiel-writer is trying to 'big-it-up', though?

"After half a decade Guitar Centre is opening the vault..."

Erm...that'll be five years, then?......wow. Vintage ! ! !

 

P.

[xkimo]

 

Very Good.

I must admit to being a bit surprised when I got as far as "I met a guy who was in the septic tank..."...

 

As far as the JP #2 auction is concerned?

I hope the charity gets a good lump sum but I can't help feeling that it's a shame two very fine instruments are destined, in all probability, to spend their lives NOT being played.

 

Don't you just love how the spiel-writer is trying to 'big-it-up', though?

"After half a decade Guitar Centre is opening the vault..."

Erm...that'll be five years, then?......wow. Vintage ! ! !

 

P.

Well Pippy,personally if I were able to put out that kind of dough for what I read are repros,I'd darn sure strap 'em up and play 'em. Now if they were the actual instruments JP used,say the LP given by Joe Walsh to JP,now that is a different story at that point.I'm just not big on autographs personally.Wish GC the best in their endeavor tho.