1st Les Paul, I like it.

[MrRoundel]

Greetings folks,

 

I just acquired my first Gibson. It's a '74 Les Paul that appears to have been factory setup as a Standard, as it has the full-size humbuckers. I haven't had the pickups out but it does appear to have come from the factory with the full sized humbuckers, and perhaps a harmonica style bridge. It has a natural finish with a 3 piece maple top, with the center piece perfectly centered. I mention the centering because I read a post somewhere in which a guy was griping that his center maple piece was not centered. I was told that the bridge pickup was original, however the neck pickup is a Dimarzio (Super-Distortion?). The control pots are 500k Dimarzio brands that look like they've been in there for many years. The guitar does have the engraved serial number and "Made in USA". The condition is good for it's age, however it's certainly spent some time around tobacco smoke. It has aftermarket, Grover tuners and a small script "Standard" truss-rod cover. There is a neck volute. If a "pancake" body is obvious by what might be a 1/16" layer between larger pieces of mahogany, that's what I've got. I don't mind the harmonica bridge. I think it looks kind of cool.

The Dimarzio pickup reads 13.6K* ohms. However, the bridge pickup, original, only reads around 5.35K ohms. This is intriguing, as there is a pickup on Ebay right now that's supposed to be from a 70's-80's Gibson, that shows a similar impedance. My friend told me that such a reading indicates a problem with the pickup. Are they coincidentally both messed up to the same degree? Or do these pickups read that low for some reason? That's the kind of impedance I have in some of my brighter MFD's in a couple of my newer G&L guitars. Any input is appreciated. I'll post pictures if I can figure out how. Thanks for any input.

While the pic's don't show it, the headstock does have the "Les Paul Model" decal on it.

 

[Big Bill]

Welcome to the forum MrRoundel.

 

Could you post some more pics, I would love to see some more with close-ups of the fretboard and headstock.

 

Do you know if it there was any fret work done on her?

[MrRoundel]

Sure Big Bill, here you go:

 

BTW:I was told that the frets were original and I don't see any indication that this is not true. They are well worn and I don't see any messing with the neck binding. I'd think that refretting such a neck would have its challenges in order to have that binding remain factory intact, if it's even possible.

 

 

[RandyB]

A few things about the guitar just don't seem right to me. The back of the headstock doesn't have wings on the outer edges, and it looks like there are two seams running down the middle of the headstock back. Also, the "Gibson" insignia on the headstock doesn't look like the correct lettering style and you mention that it's a decal ... it should be silk screened. Finally, the cutaway seems a bit short to me. You may want to look into this a bit more to determine its authenticity.

[Big Bill]

I wished you would have said 'yes' on the fret job. There isn't any nibs on the fretboard and including what Randy listed, you may have reason to be a little concerned about this purchase. You may want to contact Gibson Customer service with these photos and the serial number.

[Andre S]

A few things about the guitar just don't seem right to me. The back of the headstock doesn't have wings on the outer edges' date=' and it looks like there are two seams running down the middle of the headstock back. Also, the "Gibson" insignia on the headstock doesn't look like the correct lettering style and you mention that it's a decal ... it should be silk screened. Finally, the cutaway seems a bit short to me. You may want to look into this a bit more to determine its authenticity.[/quote']

 

I'm pretty sure that the Norlin Era Les Pauls, did not have the wings on the headstocks they had the 3/5 piece headstocks (the seams as you called it) and necks......

 

But I don't think I see any fingerboard binding nibs, maybe it had a fret job already?

[RandyB]

Don't know much about the Norlins. I hope it's the real deal.

[dem00n]

Its real.

The logo looks Norlish.

[yoda]

A friend of mine has a '74 deluxe, it looks just like that; no fret end nibs either.

[BigKahune]

Its real. The logo looks Norlish.

 

+1

 

It's got a Norlin volute' date=' and a three piece neck that goes to the top of the headstock, (no wings?). As well as a Norlin pancake line.

 

 

<*edit*>

 

MrRoundel - Welcome.

 

And that's a nice lookin' Norlin era LP in great shape. Congrats.

[Big Bill]

Well slap me in the a$$ and call me Charlie, I just learned something new.

 

With that being said, welcome to the elite club of Les Paul owners MrRoundel.

[MrRoundel]

Thanks gent's. You guys had me going for a moment. I have had rather focused expertise in G&L guitars, not Gibsons. Believe me, I would not have bought this guitar if I wasn't sure. My buddy, who knows quite a bit about these guitars told me to get this one. He wouldn't have pressed me so hard if he wasn't sure of the authenticity. Unless counterfeiters have found a way to relic their wares to the point of imbuing them with what smells like years of tobacco tar, it has to be real, at least pretty old. Of course, the counterfeiters might indeed put a guitar in a box and have carton upon carton of cigarette smoke blown into it. Stranger things have happened.

BTW: In case it's not evident in the photos, it does have a mahogany neck.

Everything I found out about that era of LP, seemed to jibe with it being the real deal. Does anyone have any input about the output, of the bridge humbucker? Again, the impedance seems to read pretty low, at 5.35K ohms or so.

What are "nibs" on the fret ends? Thanks.

Mr.

[AXE®]

That is one sweet ole Norlin era lester. Congratulations.

[Andre S]

It is a pretty cool guitar.

 

So, Norlins did not have fretboard binding nibs?

[johnstaf]

That's a beautiful guitar.

[duane v]

it's very much real

 

Nice Norlin BTW[cool]

[MrRoundel]

Thanks all. I think I'll enjoy her for a while. Since I don't think I'll consider spending multiple thousands on what many might consider a more "pure" Les Paul, pre-Norlin (Or perhaps a little later?), this will probably be it. She is a heavy thing, heavier than my Northern ash S-500 G&L, which is about 9 1/2 lbs.

 

Hey duaneV: I have an Epi Casino that looks a lot like your Yoko. Mine was made at the Peerless factory in 1995. I'd play it more but it has a bridge buzz that makes me crazy. Nice guitar though, with subtle birdseye in the maple body. I'd love to have an Elitist, or Revolution model someday. Is yours the real deal "Revolution" guitar? I see yours has the black switch trim and it looks like Grovers.

[duane v]

Is yours the real deal "Revolution" guitar? I see yours has the black switch trim and it looks like Grovers.

 

She's the real deal' date=' and is my favorite guitar to play.... here's some more images...

 

As for your buzz it could be the pup selector switch. When mine is in the middle position it vibrate/buzzes.... I thought it was the bridge as well... I just move it to the switch to the treble or rythm position and the buzz goes away

 

[img']http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss17/duanevalle/P1120046.jpg?1275887892[/img]

 

 

[MrRoundel]

That Epi's a real fine guitar. I had my eye out for one but missed a few that were in my target price range. Epi sure got me with that Beatle thing. If I had a favorite Beatle, it would have to be John. He was the grittiest rocker in the band, and was utterly fearless. Thanks for the pic's of Yoko.

[pippy]

Very Sweet LP, MrRoundel.

 

5.35k is low by any Standards (ha-ha) but if it sounds good then why worry?

 

There was an in-depth study of half-a-dozen real '59 LP's in a 'ToneQuestReport' which just happened to conclude with the best sounding instrument having the 'weakest' pup. Hardly conclusive, I know, but interesting nontheless.

 

Are you going to keep the DiM. in the neck as a 'period-piece' or swap for something more 'in keeping'?

[Thundergod]

It'd real. It's a norlin. Please don't rush saying "probably fake 'cause....." if you are not 100% sure you know what you are talking about.

 

Nice guitar BTW

[pippy]

It's real. It's a norlin. Please don't rush saying "probably fake 'cause....." if you are not 100% sure you know what you are talking about.

 

+ 100.

[MrRoundel]

Very Sweet LP' date=' MrRoundel.

 

5.35k is low by any Standards (ha-ha) but if it sounds good then why worry?

 

There was an in-depth study of half-a-dozen real '59 LP's in a 'ToneQuestReport' which just happened to conclude with the best sounding instrument having the 'weakest' pup. Hardly conclusive, I know, but interesting nontheless.

 

Are you going to keep the DiM. in the neck as a 'period-piece' or swap for something more 'in keeping'?[/quote']

 

Thanks pippy. What you mention about the "weakest " pup is indeed interesting. I can say that of my electric guitars, albeit it has single-coil G&L MFD's rather than HB's in it, my favorite is a very early, '86, ASAT. It has pickups that read 4.01K in the neck, 4.05K ohms in the bridge. My other favorites are also have impedance reading under 5K ohms. I always thought there was something different at work between humbuckers and single-coils. Your post leads me to believe that the same "rules" apply.

 

For now I'll keep the DiMarzio. I don't mind the way it sounds at all. The way guitar sounds in either position eliminates the need/desire to shape the tone with my DGTM (Diabolical Gristle Tone Manipulator) overdrive pedal. It's got natural "gristle" I haven't had a lot of chance to let it get the amp breathing yet, and have played mostly through my Tascam guitar trainer, but there is an obvious volume difference between the neck and bridge pups, with the neck able to get quite a bit louder. I'm thinking it's the 8K ohms difference in impedance.

[MrRoundel]

 

Nice guitar BTW

 

Thanks Thundergod. I'm going to take what you've said as virtual gospel. Your 10,600+ posts here tells me you've been around for a while. Cheers.

[MrRoundel]

As for your buzz it could be the pup selector switch. When mine is in the middle position it vibrate/buzzes.... I thought it was the bridge as well... I just move it to the switch to the treble or rythm position and the buzz goes away

 

duane v: I haven't played the guitar in a while but I do remember thinking along those lines, as the switch does feel a bit loose. However, I believe that it's attributable to the spring that puts tension on the intonation screws at the bridge. I'll break 'er out today and test it out in different switch positions just in case. Thanks for the tip.