pohatu771 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 As you may know, I bought a 1983 Gibson Spirit about a month ago that has been modified quite a bit. I'm at the point where I can start working on it, but I'm conflicted about what to do with it.. That's the condition I bought it in. I've currently removed all of the hardware and stripped the spray-paint off. My original intention was to convert it into a Les Paul Special. The costs, as far as I can tell, would come to about $100, plus whatever a custom-made pickguard and control cavity cover would cost me. In the end, it would look quite a bit like this: More recently, though, I'm wondering if I should restore it back to factory condition... It would cost me about the same, plus the cost of a set of humbuckers. I could install the P-90s it has in my Casino, sell them, or keep them for a future project. This option, I think will be a more difficult project, because I have to plug more holes. It originally would have looked like this: Though mine isn't bound and doesn't have a quilted top. Either way, the refinish will be a solid colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I say black with gold hardware and knobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonbass76 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I prefer the looks of the les paul special, but I'm lazy and like pickguards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 How good does the body look under the paint? I like the Special look, and I agree with the use of the pickguard. Are the P90's in the right place for the pickguard? - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 The wood doesn't look too bad, but it was originally a black guitar, so it's not a highly-figured example. It is also a bit stained from the original black finish, and a bit of the yellow still. I'm going to see what I can remove with sanding and chemicals, but my plan has been to refinish in Cherry. Originally, it was going to be Vintage Amber, but I don't think enough black will come off to make it look decent. The pickups aren't spaced for a factory-made pickguard, so I'll have to have one made for me specifically. If you look at vintage Les Paul Specials, though, they aren't terribly consistent. I also have to have a cavity cover made, because it's your normal Les Paul shape, with an extra pot added at the bottom. I imagine those will be the most expensive parts... This is what I have for parts, from Stew-Mac: 4095 Nickel 3L/3R vintage tuners - $48.18 3883 Clear sanding sealer - $9.99 3882 Clear gloss - $8.88 (3) 5881 Cherry Red - $13.65 4387 Gibson style nickel pickguard screw - $0.37 (10) The tuners are your average 50s Les Paul Junior/Special design, but I'm thinking I may buy some Gibson Deluxe tuners because I have a $50 gift card at Guitar Center...that would reduce my cost to about $20. That's my quick mock-up. I'll adjust for the round corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bvarsel Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Good luck...I have been partial to the Spirit since first seeing one just recently. Not a big double cut fan but something about the Spirit I just really like. Also, are those Badass bridges on the two pictured above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I say go the special look, in Red or TV yellow. Those are personally my favourite colours for a double cut like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 That's my quick mock-up. I'll adjust for the round corners. Hmmm... having nursed an Epi Junior DC through a similar project' date=' I'd stay away from that little strip of material between the neck and the pickup. Perhaps, from an æsthetic standpoint, it'd be better to adjust the curve so as to cut the guard off parallel with the top edge of the neck pickup. It won't look quite like the LP Special but you're kind of screwed in that regard anyway since the neck is inset so far. All I'm saying is too many angles and strips will look goofy. [img']http://www.marantatech.com/Graphix/pohatu.jpg[/img] Or perhaps something similar to the single-cut Special, with less material between the pickups: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 I actually prefer the single-cut pickguard, but I was also going to use it to cover up the patch work I have to do... humbuckers re-routed for P-90s leave a bit of a space. I'm going to fill the extra space with spruce (because I have it... if I can find a scrap of mahogany, I'll use that) and I'm not sure how it will blend under the finish. With the larger pickguard, I'm covering two spaces between the pickups, and the extra bit covers the one between the neck and the neck pickup. I'll get out my paper and make a few more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I actually prefer the single-cut pickguard' date=' but I was also going to use it to cover up the patch work I have to do... humbuckers re-routed for P-90s leave a bit of a space. I'm going to fill the extra space with spruce (because I have it... if I can find a scrap of mahogany, I'll use that) and I'm not sure how it will blend under the finish. With the larger pickguard, I'm covering two spaces between the pickups, and the extra bit covers the one between the neck and the neck pickup. I'll get out my paper and make a few more.[/quote'] Ahhhhhhhhhhh... yes, I see what you're getting at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Just exactly how does one intonate that ???!!!??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 With a little work on the angle or slope between the PU's it will be very similar to the original, I too would stay away from the strip in front of the neck pu . I personally am a fan of the TV yellow with the black trim, it gives it a cool retro look. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregsguitardotnet Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 If the flame is anywhere near decent I would tobacco burst it myself,Greg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 If the flame is anywhere near decent I would tobacco burst it myself' date='Greg.[/quote']Flame is completely nonexistent. It's just flat mahogany. I also don't feel that I'm capable of doing a burst... solid colours, for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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