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Rhoads To Randy's Les Paul


crazytrain513

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So just picked up a 2012 Gibson Les Paul Studio in Satin Yellow. As you can tell from the username, kind of a big Randy fan. Decided I'm gonna do this one in his honor (not that I mind it in any way).

 

Here's what I'm working with:

 

20121025_232228.jpg

 

Plans:

 

- Gold Schaller strap locks

- Gold Schaller tuners

- Change out black speed knobs for amber knobs

- Change out pickup selector and ring for all brass

- Add an inlay to the first fret (or possibly switch out all inlays for block ones?)

- Change out pickguard for multi-ply black with white outline (engraving it too cheesy?)

- Change out truss rod cover for classic "Les Paul Custom" scripted one.

- Possibly add a headstock "inlay" of the Gibson "split-diamond"

- "Wear" the pickup covers slightly - it's much too chrome. Either that, or snap on a couple gold covers

- Fade the color of the finish a bit (input on this one? Not sure if I can do this without refinishing the guitar. Not a necessity but it would be nice) and then polish it up to a gloss (minus the neck).

- Burstbucker Pros - Should I switch these out for something else closer to the sound of the Super 74's? If so, what are your suggestions? I'm still not completely fluent in the characteristics of Gibson's pickups over the years.

- Faux binding (sanding edges, and painting them white, clear coating them)

 

As you can see, it's mostly aesthetic. Not looking to fool anyone as I'm mostly a bedroom gutarist, but I thought it'd be a nifty little project I could do in my free time.

 

For those who may be wondering why I didn't just get the Alpine White Studio, I just fell in love with the Satin finish feel on the neck.

 

For those wondering why I didn't just get a Custom: I'm a poor college student.

 

Any other feasible thoughts and suggestions are welcome! [thumbup]

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Sounds like a really fun project.

 

OTOH......

 

I don't want to be a wet blanket but I'm afraid I have to say I agree with Bence.

 

Considering how much you would like to swap and change you'd have been far better-off buying a Classic Custom in Cream.

The fairly small extra initial financial outlay would have been more than balanced out by the plusses involved - such as block inlays on the 'board; split-diamond peghead inlay; bound peghead; pearl Gibson peg-head logo; bound body; multi-ply p/guard; close body-colour match...etc...etc...

 

The cost of your own ideas - done properly - such as swapping out the inlays(!), inlaying a split-block, creating faux-binding and changing the p-ups will end up costing you more in the long run.

 

Even your own thought about the Alpine White Studio : you could easily have sanded down the neck with very fine glasspaper if you didn't like the gloss feel.

 

Anyhow, too late now! LOL!

 

Best of luck and keep us posted!

 

[thumbup]

 

P.

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Hello again!

 

If You didn't insisted on recreating Randy's main axe, You could have bought a Classic Custom Antique Natural. Basically - with almost no mods - You could have a guitar exactly like one Randy used to have (expect for the gold hardware and the amber knobs.)

 

Rhoads_with_natural_LP.jpg

HPIM3009.jpg

 

(To those who are tired of me posting my CC: excuse me for doings so! I can't resist. [blush])

 

Cheers... Bence

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Thanks guys. I really like the CC's but it wouldn't be as much fun if everything was already all done!

 

Plus, I really liked the BB Pros for my music style & I didn't want to spend $1400 on a guitar & then an additional amount on pickups afterward too :/

In which case I applaud your attitude and wish Lady Fortune attend you in your efforts!

 

Looking forward to the end result although, to be honest, the guitar as-is is already a pretty good-looker in my book!

 

"Cry 'Havoc' and Let Slip the Dogs of War!" as someone once said.

 

[thumbup]

 

P.

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In which case I applaud your attitude and wish Lady Fortune attend you in your efforts!

 

Looking forward to the end result although, to be honest, the guitar as-is is already a pretty good-looker in my book!

 

"Cry 'Havoc' and Let Slip the Dogs of War!" as someone once said.

 

[thumbup]

 

P.

 

 

Thank you very much! I may skip out on the "binding" and finishing for now. Maybe just switch out the knobs and simple cosmetics -- it can only get better, right??

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absolutely ! it can only get better, as long as you take your time and make high quality mods only.

modding guitars can become an addiction as gnawing as any.

i've currently got 2 "in the works" as I type this.(one will be an A/F Budokan clone)

 

good place to start is making sure your playability & sound are "there" right where you want both......everything else is just eye candy.

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heh, that's NOT Randys main guitar ;) it's not even his guitar to begin with [flapper]

his main/goto axe was indeed a LPC, but arctic white, atleasted it started out arctic white,

nowadays it looks more creamish/tv-yellow [biggrin]

 

http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xSS.pUoGYe8/s/750/750/Randy-Rhoads-003.jpg

 

Hello again!

 

If You didn't insisted on recreating Randy's main axe, You could have bought a Classic Custom Antique Natural. Basically - with almost no mods - You could have a guitar exactly like one Randy used to have (expect for the gold hardware and the amber knobs.)

 

Rhoads_with_natural_LP.jpg

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heh, that's NOT Randys main guitar ;) it's not even his guitar to begin with [flapper]

his main/goto axe was indeed a LPC, but arctic white, atleasted it started out arctic white,

nowadays it looks more creamish/tv-yellow [biggrin]

 

Hello Cú! It seems You haven't payed enough attention to my post - I said the same thing: it's not His main guitar. As for whose guitar it is, even His close friends couldn't tell - but as many of them said: they have no reason to think it wasn't His. He had some around. Cheers... Bence

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