Top repair

[dilbert]

Hello, I have a Les Paul Custom. After owning it for a year or two, I made the mistake of installing a tremolo. I purchased a tremolo from the guitar shop I bought the guitar from. The tremolo required a cavity to be routed into the body. At that time I was a carpenter so I was not hesitant to install it. Unfortunately, I was sold the wrong tremolo and the one routed into the body did not fit. The guitar store had a Washburn that had a large plate that covered the hole, and mounted to the stopbars mounting screw holes.

 

For many years, it seemed to be OK – especially for the last ten or so when I rarely played. Now for the past year I’ve been playing a little more. I cannot keep the guitar in tune any longer and have removed the tremolo. There is obvious unsightly damage that was caused by routing into the body, as well as two holes that were drilled into the head.

 

I hope that the hole can be filled, and a new veneer placed over the face of the body, as well as repairing the holes in the head. I know it's a solid body guitar, but if a veneer could be placed over the top to make it look like it does now, that would be great. Gibson will repair it for me, but they will only paint it. That would look worse than the hole in my opinion.

 

I posted some pictures of the guitar here: http://ctreeves.smugmug.com/Other/Guitar/10687173_GFr4K#744152603_BWQgy I added some comments to some of the pictures outlining some of the damage.

 

Can anyone recommend a good repair shop that can repair it closer to the original look than painting it?

 

Best regards, Cliff

[Shade]

Hm... I obviously don`t know any luthiers in Boston, but anyone who learned the job should be able to repair something like this, or am I wrong?

 

Don`t you know some musicians (guitar playing friends) in Boston to ask?

 

This piece could be a replacement I guess...

 

Good luck...

[ItsForrest]

As far as filling the hole, it will always show the repair unless you paint it. The damage has been done and there's no way around this. I'm sure that's why Gibson responded as they did. You can't put a veneer over the top of the guitar because it is a curved surface. You could square up the hole and fit a piece of the same type of wood in the hole but the grain and color won't match.

[loneguitar]

Dilbert that is seriously F***ed up....

If you were a carpenter then and created that you should be able to repair it, but it'll never look right.

Why didn't you just install a bigsby?

Good luck though in your quest.

And on a custom model too.

[retrosurfer1959]

Poor guitar, that is really messed up - best suggestion I have is paint - you ever fancy a gold top?

 

Theres not a lot of options while replacing the cap is technically possible it will probably cost almost as much as a replacement luckily it's a plain top so you didn't murder a burst at least.

[tbonesullivan]

well, definitely has "weight relief" holes, though that's usually not the way you want to find out about them.

 

*sigh* another guitar buggered up by someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Being a carpenter does not make one a guitar tech/luthier. I don't know if there's enough wood left to do the proper les paul kahler routing. also the route looks to be too far back, so even if you had installed the bridge the intonation would have been buggered.

 

Your only real option is to make the edges of the hole perfectly straight, and drop some maple in there, and glue it in, sand it down, and get the top refinished. however, unless you get it refinished in a solid color, the repair will always show.

[Murph]

1 post.

 

This is not real.

 

Is it just me?

[dilbert]

Yes, I know it was my first post, and sadly it is true.

I have sent request to several people about the possibility of repairing it, and it's sounding pretty grim.

When I did this I was young and foolish.

Also, it is a burst.

If I could go back in time and not do what I've done, I would, but...

So now I need to try and do what is best for getting it back to as close as possible to where it should be.

[Mark]

I think Gibson restoration should get a call on this one, they can

do incredible stuff, but it won't come cheap.

 

At least they use to, I have read stories about

mangled, water damage, fire being fixed

why not yours

[dilbert]

Gibson said they will replace the top at 5000+, or paint it.

I don't want it painted, and can't afford to replace the top.

A couple of repair people have responded, one will repair the hole, stain and airbrush it. I saw an example of their work, and it looked pretty good.

[Mark]

5000+ WOW I knew they were expensive but seriously.

 

So they would just paint the cavity? as is?

[dilbert]

They'll repair it to a smooth finish, then paint it any stock color I want ~ 1200.

[Old Deadhead]

They'll repair it to a smooth finish' date=' then paint it any stock color I want ~ 1200.[/quote']

 

 

Sounds like your best bet. Consider Gold Top or Ebony BlackBlack would look decent with your gold hardware.

[SGplayer1994]

all i have to ask is why..........

[dem00n]

Poor poor guitar....

Man paint that thing it breaks my heart to look at it.

[tbonesullivan]

If you can, see if you can get in touch with Dan Erlewine. He's a guitar repairmen without peer, and may be able to help you find someone. A new top is not an option, due to the huge amount of labor involved, which is why the price is so obscenely high. For that much you could just buy a new Custom.

[pohatu771]

Ed Roman goes on and on about re-topping Les Pauls. I don't know what he would charge, but it's an option.

[tbonesullivan]

here's a link to some of the "work" ed has done on retopping les pauls:

 

http://www.edroman.com/guitars/gibson/retops.htm

[charlie brown]

Gibson said they will replace the top at 5000+' date=' or paint it.

I don't want it painted, and can't afford to replace the top.

A couple of repair people have responded, one will repair the hole, stain and airbrush it. I saw an example of their work, and it looked pretty good.[/quote']

 

 

Five GRAND???! Good LORD! They are "Precious" aren't they?! That's insane!

And/or tells me, they don't want the job! I contacted them, when they were

first getting started, about rebinding my Gretsch Country Gent...they quoted $1,500,

for the binding job, and refinish, at that time. THEN, by the time I got that saved up,

they requoted it at $4,000! NUTS!! That place, is for the Government, or other folks

that have endless funds, to spend! I'm sure they do excellent work, but..come on! ;>b

 

CB

[deepblue]

My word that was painful to see!

 

On a happy note....tbone, I have never been an SG fan, but that one in your avatar is gorgeous!

[Hall]

#12

 

 

Steve

[NeoConMan]

Wow, a Les Paul Custom Train Wreck!

 

Maybe this could be the inspiration for a new model line - I mean after they did the BFG....

 

:-#/

 

Erlewine sounds like excellent advice.

 

I was trying to think how that guitar could possibly get any more fxcked up.

Then somebody mentioned Ed Roman.

 

 

Yeah, I dunno.

I think I would just try to make the guitar function as good as possible.

Then look around at new or used guitars and throw all the money at another Custom.

 

That's a hard lesson to learn.

 

[cwness]

Put the Tremolo back in and sell it that way. Let someone else worry about

it. Then buy something new.

 

CW

[Thundergod]

1 post.

 

This is not real.

 

Is it just me?

 

 

No man, I was about to post the same... nice to know I'm not the only one.

[Thundergod]

5000+ WOW I knew they were expensive but seriously.

 

So they would just paint the cavity? as is?

 

 

For 5K I would expect them to send me a new guitar too!