Jericho-79 Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Hey, everyone. I have a question for any Gibson historians here. Where can I find a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top without the pickguard? I’m looking for something along the lines of this: I heard that these types of Gold Tops were manufactured back in the ‘70s. I don’t know too much about the history of the Les Paul to judge. Are there any reissues of these kinds of Gold Tops? Do these models still exist? Can anyone help me? Thanks, guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 The LP in that picture had a pickguard at one point, you can tell by the hole in the top. I'm not trying to be an arse, but since you're new to the forum, I don't know if you knew that. I don't think you'll have much luck in finding a new one without a pickguard. Maybe a burst, but I doubt you'll find a gold top. Who knows...you might get lucky. Gibson still makes those, but with P-90s. 1954 reissue. http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/lespauls/54/1954Goldtop.html If you want humbuckers, look at a '57. They have an ABR-1 bridge, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 If it's a brand new guitar there is a good chance that it will come without the pick guard being installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MI_Canuck Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 The Slash Goldtop looks to come without a pickguard... http://www.gibson.com/Slash/Gibson%20USA/Slash-Les-Paul-Goldtop/ Although it's a sig model with slash headstock logo - not everyone's cup of tea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Talk to your local Gibson dealer and see if they can order one with the PG off? I think that is what I'd try... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LT ED Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Just leave it on, gold tops look much nicer with a pickguard . Its funny how some models look better with and some better without .Just down to personal taste. Why dont you like the pickguard ? To me the gold top screams for a pickguard , just gives it that classy look. It wouldn,t be slash related would it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jericho-79 Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 Not it's not Slash-related. Like I said, I'm very new to Gibsons. I'm still not done doing research on them. And the goldtop is such a great colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jericho-79 Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 I just noticed something... The guitar in the picture has something missing- a tailpiece below the ABR-1 bridge. Don't ALL Gibson Les Paul Goldtops have an ABR-1 bridge with a soapbar tailpiece? Just look at this: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-57-Les-Paul-Goldtop-Reissue-Electric-Guitar?sku=517468 Why is the Goldtop in the pic so different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckledzepplin Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 just take the pickgaurd off your self it is just removing two screws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I just noticed something... The guitar in the picture has something missing- a tailpiece below the ABR-1 bridge. Don't ALL Gibson Les Paul Goldtops have an ABR-1 bridge with a soapbar tailpiece? Why is the Goldtop in the pic so different? Nope, not all. Quite a few models don't and in the early Les Paul years this is how they did it for a while (not counting the trapeze) until the T.O.M. was invented. Do you know what model Les Paul is in the picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jericho-79 Posted September 28, 2008 Author Share Posted September 28, 2008 Nope' date=' not all. Quite a few models don't and in the early Les Paul years this is how they did it for a while (not counting the trapeze) until the T.O.M. was invented. Do you know what model Les Paul is in the picture?[/quote'] From what I understand, the Goldtops with the trapeze were made in the early '50s, the incarnations with the wrap-around tailpiece (like the one in the picture) came after, and the incarnations with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece came after that. What year did Gibson start manufacturing the Goldtops with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece? Based on the '57 RI over at Musician's Friend, I guess these incarnations began in 1957? And what is T.O.M.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 TOM stands for Tune-O-Matic (the bridge). I think you can just buy a traditional, or a standard in gold (goldtop), and take the pickguard off... it should be no problem... and both are fine instruments... If you have the money, then go for a reissue... but seeing as you are kind of new to gibsons, I would go with a more "standard" model first. Welcome to the forum by the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FennRx Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 From what I understand' date=' the Goldtops with the trapeze were made in the early '50s, the incarnations with the wrap-around tailpiece (like the one in the picture) came after, and the incarnations with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece came after that. What year did Gibson start manufacturing the Goldtops with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece? Based on the '57 RI over at Musician's Friend, I guess these incarnations began in 1957? And what is T.O.M.?[/quote'] the abr-1 showed up in late 1955, but is usually listed as 1956. 1957 was the intro of the PAF humbucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toner Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 That looks like a '54 conversion, that replaces the p90's with PAF's. And is missing the pickguard. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-54-Les-Paul?sku=518460 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FennRx Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 That looks like a '54 conversion' date=' that replaces the p90's with PAF's. And is missing the pickguard. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-54-Les-Paul?sku=518460[/quote'] if it was vintage... its just another spinoff from gibson, where the exception is the rule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 From what I understand' date=' the Goldtops with the trapeze were made in the early '50s, the incarnations with the wrap-around tailpiece (like the one in the picture) came after, and the incarnations with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece came after that. What year did Gibson start manufacturing the Goldtops with the ABR-1 and a stop-tailpiece? Based on the '57 RI over at Musician's Friend, I guess these incarnations began in 1957? And what is T.O.M.?[/quote'] The following info taken from "American Guitars" by Tom Wheeler. Trapeze combo bridge/tailpiece: mid '52 - late '53 Wrap-around stud mounted combo bridge/tailpiece" late '53 - '55 Stop-bar tailpiece with separate Tune-o-matic (TOM) ABR-1 bridge: '55 to current Humbuckers replaced P-90's: '57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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