pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 A few days ago, a local store put an ad on Craigslist for a 1983 Gibson Spirit... they had listed it before, and I had checked it out, and decided it wasn't worth what I would have to pay to have it fixed up. I was feeling a bit more confident in my abilities this time around, and decided it would be a good summer project to refinish and repair... in the end, I'd have a perfectly playable guitar (theoretically) for around $400. So I went to the store and I bought, for $310 plus tax, a 1983 Gibson Spirit, heavily modified and spray-painted, with an Epiphone hardshell case. It plays great... it might be the best-feeling guitar I've ever played. The body rings - unplugged - in a way that I've only seen my friend's SG Special Faded ring. The only thing ruining how it feels is the spray-paint finish. The modifications include the spray paint, an additional volume knob (it started as a Spirit II, so one volume and two tone), re-routed for P-90s, and some Ping tuners. It has Seymour Duncan Hot P-90s in it, according to the store, and they sounded good enough to me. My intentions are as follows: Remove all hardware and strip the paint off down to the bare wood Fill holes (they added a crappy-looking pickguard) and the extra space in the pickup cavities Use Stew-Mac's spray lacquer to refinish... I'm debating between Vintage Amber, Cherry, or a burst. Since it's my first attempt, I think I'll stick with a solid colour. I'll do the top coat in satin. Depending on how my patchwork comes out, I may or may not put a Les Paul Special-style pickguard on. It also needs a better control cavity cover. After that, I re-install everything. I may install a more adjustable bridge (it has a wraparound) and some keystone tuners when I have a bit more money, but what it has is suitable for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHawk233 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Im not familiar with the Gibson Spirit.. But sounds good, keep us updated on it. Oh and pictures would be lovely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 I'm home for Easter, and left my camera at school... I can get some tomorrow, I imagine. I looked for the Craigslist ad, but it was taken down. For what it's worth... The Spirit started out as an Epiphone USA model made in Kalamazoo. It didn't sell well, so the leftover stock was re-branded as a Gibson model, and was then manufactured in Nashville as a Gibson. It was essentially a double-cutaway Les Paul Junior or Les Paul Special, with humbuckers. The Spirit had a single humbucker in the bridge, the Spirit II had two humbuckers. Both had binding, but not on all examples. It was more common on the Spirit II. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Spirit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 Here are some pictures... not the best quality. Don't say I didn't warn you, it's not pretty. Especially that pickguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHawk233 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 not bad, for $310 thats definetly a good project guitar. After the mods this thing will roar! Keep us updated on this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimolas Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 A little rough around the edges (no pun intended... well maybe) but it's certainly a beautiful guitar to my eyes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 I think the most costly part will be the replacement pickguard and control cover... since neither are standard-sized, they both need to be custom made. Now, y'all need to convince me as to what colour to do... from Stew-Mac's selection of spray lacquer. Your choices are Vintage Amber, Cherry, Tobacco Brown, or Red Mahogany. Samples here: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Finishes_and_solvents/2/ColorTone_Aerosol_Guitar_Lacquer/Pictures.html#details If you want to post some pictures of similar-coloured Les Paul Specials, feel free... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHawk233 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Red mahogany or Vintage amber, Or many a burst with both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 why not just play it the way it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 Because my hand feels sticky when I'm done. When I say it's a spray paint finish, that's not hyperbole... as far as I can tell, it is actually spray paint. The good news (for me, anyway) is that the paint is chipping off along the back edge, and it is bare wood underneath. It looks like there won't be much sanding at this point, because I can scrap it off (slowly) with a guitar pick. A rubber spatula should handle most of it, I'm hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 why not just play it the way it is? +1 Looks nice!! Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callen3615 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Yeah, just leave it alone, and play the piss out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueslespaultone Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 very nice, i love the dc look. why not lightly sand the back of the neck and keep it as is. looks very vintage, dude for 310. its a steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 +1 Great looking axe dude and for the price ... nice one ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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