heymisterk Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 My apologies if you have already seen this, but I thought it was kind of cool. A couple of years ago I sat in the fifth row of Macca's concert and got a good look at his '60 LP...awesome guitar, lots of flame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 McCartney's sunburst lefty was originally "found" by a friend of mine. I wrote a complete history of this guitar a couple of years ago and posted it on this site. I'll see If I can find it in the archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Well, that was respectable. Sir Paul knows guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I will have to say that the archive search on the new website really sucks, but....... I found the write-up I did on my computer files. Paul McCartney’s 1960 Cherry Sunburst Les Paul As I posted previously in this thread, a guitar dealer friend of mine was very involved in the history and public offering of this guitar. I spoke to him at length last week regarding this guitar, and thought that everyone might find the FACTUAL history of this guitar interesting. He also tells me there has been various articles published about this guitar, most notably in Vintage Guitar Magazine, but this information has only been partially factual at best. He has also offered to let me see his file on this guitar and make copies of any and all documents and photos he has. As the history and ultimate destination of this guitar could be a book in itself (which I may write), and it has traveled around the world, before and after Mr. McCartney purchased it, I will give you the condensed version. This beautiful 1960 Lefty ‘Burst (serial number 0 1482), was owned by a schoolteacher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who liked to dabble in vintage guitars. He consigned it to a local vintage guitar dealer to sell for him. Being a “lefty” this guitar had a very limited market, and the local dealer wanted to “turn” it quickly for something he thought he could get better money for through a broader market (right handed guitar players). This is where my friend, the St. Louis vintage guitar dealer, comes in to the picture, we’ll call him Ed (because that’s his name). Ed traded him an early 70’s Les Paul Deluxe, and other “considerations”, for a total cost of about $4500. Being a very notable vintage guitar dealer, Ed then began to shop it around to various well-known lefty “rock stars”. This guitar was offered to, and declined by Beeb Birtles of The Little River Band, and eventually shipped to Elliot Easton of the Cars at the selling price of $8500. Easton shipped it back saying that the price was too high. Easton also stiffed Ed on the shipping cost in both directions, which in the business is standard procedure to reimburse if the item is declined. During this time Ed had loaned some vintage pieces (including a right handed burst) to an advertising agency that used them in an advertisement for Hamilton Guitar Stands that ran in Guitar Player magazine. Seeing the ad, a European dealer eventually tracked Ed down and asked if the burst was for sale. He told him “no”, but he had a lefty for sale. By chance, the European dealer was able to contact Paul McCartney. McCartney told him he was not interested in the lefty burst since he already had a goldtop that Linda had given him for his birthday (there’s the guitar that was given to him by his wife, the goldtop). Running short of “lefty” clients, Ed then offered the guitar to noted collector and guitarist Rick Neilson of Cheap Trick fame. They eventually worked out a deal in which Neilson got the lefty burst in trade for a ’63 Epi, ’65 EDS-1275 doubleneck, ’59 gold Strat, ’53 LP Std, and a ’60 sunburst LP (right handed) with a bad headstock repair. Ed was able to market these guitars to members of Heart, REO Speedwagon and others, and figures he made about $10,000 out of the deal. Rick Neilson then offered this guitar to Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, who also declined. Neilson also had this guitar on consignment at Gruhn’s at some time, but it was a consignment deal, at no time did George Gruhn ever own this guitar, nor did he “find it”. At some time later a “deal” was brokered by a couple of other middlemen, in which the 1960 Lefty ‘Burst was sold by Rick Neilson to Paul McCartney. Selling Price: $9000.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Bravo! Great writeup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahKeen Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I was waiting for Paul to say, "The sustain, listen to it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Bravo! Great writeup. +1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I will have to say that the archive search on the new website really sucks, but....... I found the write-up I did on my computer files. Paul McCartney's 1960 Cherry Sunburst Les Paul. . . . Cheers ! When stories like these includes personal heroes, I lick them like vanilla soft ice - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Interesting history. B) And Larry - thanks for taking the time to find that write up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryUK Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Sounds like another Gibson sig coming. The Paul McCartney. 8k. Aged 14k. Signed and aged 30k. Signed aged and with a pair of pauls used boxers. 31k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The local dealer here in Pittsburgh was Carl owner of Pittsburgh Guitars. Here's a link to their website with a pic of Carl holding said lefty burst. Cool history. http://www.pittsburghguitars.com/mccartneyLP.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Good stuff guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 To add to what BigKahune says, thanks very much for taking the trouble to post that, L5Larry. One thing is niggling away at the back of my mind, however; I found the whole thing really interesting but the prices mentioned seem astonishing! $9000 for a 1960 'burst! The various Rick Neilsen guitars should have been worth a small fortune : a '59 Strat; '53 Gold-Top; a '60 Standard (albeit with a headstock repair) yet the dealer says he (only) cleared about $10,000. In what year did the various deals take place? The first I heard of the Macca 'burst was in the back of Yas Iwanade's 'The Beauty of the Burst' so, if we're assuming it was pictured in the first edition, it was already in his possession in 1996. Did the book of the guitar ever get written? Thanks again, L5Larry. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 To add to what BigKahune says, thanks very much for taking the trouble to post that, L5Larry. One thing is niggling away at the back of my mind, however; I found the whole thing really interesting but the prices mentioned seem astonishing! $9000 for a 1960 'burst! The various Rick Neilsen guitars should have been worth a small fortune : a '59 Strat; '53 Gold-Top; a '60 Standard (albeit with a headstock repair) yet the dealer says he (only) cleared about $10,000. In what year did the various deals take place? The first I heard of the Macca 'burst was in the back of Yas Iwanade's 'The Beauty of the Burst' so, if we're assuming it was pictured in the first edition, it was already in his possession in 1996. Did the book of the guitar ever get written? Thanks again, L5Larry. P. I saw Paul play it in concert back in Feb 1990 so he had it then. Here's a vid from that tour with some nice shots of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5VuJPyllpM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I saw Paul play it in concert back in Feb 1990 so he had it then. Here's a vid from that tour with some nice shots of it. Thanks very much, cookieman, for that post; very enjoyable! Also, with regard to the prices, I'm somewhat relieved to see we're talking at least 20 years ago! Best wishes, P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The moral of the story is to watch yer back when it comes to Elliot Easton. Just sayin'..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadCase Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Thanks L5Larry! I love a good Burst Story... Had'nt heard that one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 The moral of the story is to watch yer back when it comes to Elliot Easton. Just sayin'..... Hey he didn't even ask for the guitar the guy just sent it to him. I wouldn't pay the shipping either. In fact I'd say I never received the guitar .....yeah thats the ticket. I never saw a guitar at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Hey he didn't even ask for the guitar the guy just sent it to him. I wouldn't pay the shipping either. No, you've misunderstood. He was offered the guitar, was interested, and asked to see it. It was then shipped to him for "inspection". Just like we recommend here, the pros don't buy a guitar without playing it first either, especially one of this value. Even when buying from MF, you have to pay the return freight if you decline the instrument. In the professional vintage guitar market you are expected to pay the return freight, AND reimburse the incoming freight, it's just the way it works. I've had high dollar guitars sent to my dealer for my inspection without ANY money changing hands. Reputable vintage guitar dealers are their own little network, and ship "pieces" to each other all the time when one might have an buyer. Accept or decline, when the customer orders in the "piece" he understands he pays the freight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky scott 29 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Is it just me, or does he sport that Donald Trump hairdo?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 No, you've misunderstood. He was offered the guitar, was interested, and asked to see it. It was then shipped to him for "inspection". Just like we recommend here, the pros don't buy a guitar without playing it first either, especially one of this value. Even when buying from MF, you have to pay the return freight if you decline the instrument. In the professional vintage guitar market you are expected to pay the return freight, AND reimburse the incoming freight, it's just the way it works. I've had high dollar guitars sent to my dealer for my inspection without ANY money changing hands. Reputable vintage guitar dealers are their own little network, and ship "pieces" to each other all the time when one might have an buyer. Accept or decline, when the customer orders in the "piece" he understands he pays the freight. No, I know Larry I was just pissin with Murph. I know how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Is it just me, or does he sport that Donald Trump hairdo?? No it's just you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 IMHO the 'Donald Trump' is a 'Duck's Arse' Rotated through 90deg V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 Just got back to this...Wow, L5Larry, that is a great story. It's funny because I don't really think of Macca being a Les Paul guy. I will say that on his most recent albums - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and Memory Almost Full come to mind - he seems to stick mostly to his Epiphone Casino, which sound really great too. I do remember his playing his Les Paul on "Getting Better" when I saw him live last. And of course on "The End". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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