daveg Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 The Inlaid Marquetry on the back tends to suggest that the Mottola Guitar was a modified "Crest" and not an ES355. The Crest had no pickup routing because its pickups were the Johnny Smith variety. The plain top would then have been easily routed for the Low Impedance pair. Added to this the Crest was a fully hollow body design with no centre block making the routing easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 The Crest was more like a fancy ES-330, fully hollow like Dave mentioned. I was fortunate to have been able to see one in person. It was a silver Crest. Beautiful, rare guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 There is another anomaly with the Mottola Guitar. The bridge is a "fixed" Tunomatic variant whereas Crests usually have an archtop type bridge. The position of the three way toggle doesn't suit either the ES355 or the Crest. There is a "mistake" in the description in the Rudy's ad. Presumably, the whole wiring harness of a Recording has been fitted into the guitar with the necessary extension for the 3 way toggle. Therefore the Controls would be Volume, Bass, Treble and Decade. There cannot be Decade, 2 Volume and 2 Tone as they say - that's five and the pic only shows four. I notice also that it states that there are two outputs - that is a Recording Mark II arrangement. Maybe this guitar came before the Mark II? DG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 There is another anomaly with the Mottola Guitar. The bridge is a "fixed" Tunomatic variant whereas Crests usually have an archtop type bridge. The position of the three way toggle doesn't suit either the ES355 or the Crest. There is a "mistake" in the description in the Rudy's ad. Presumably, the whole wiring harness of a Recording has been fitted into the guitar with the necessary extension for the 3 way toggle. Therefore the Controls would be Volume, Bass, Treble and Decade. There cannot be Decade, 2 Volume and 2 Tone as they say - that's five and the pic only shows four. I notice also that it states that there are two outputs - that is a Recording Mark II arrangement. Maybe this guitar came before the Mark II? DG Due to the way that the neck is mounted & the normal "Tune-O-Matic" bridge, I would be surprised if this guitar wasn't a semi hollow body. As Dave said, the Crest top could be easily modified to anything. The Les Paul Signature has a big chunk of the center block hollowed out on the control side to aid in installing all of the controls, still not easy! If Lester had any say in this guitar, he would insist on the center block..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boogiedude Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hi all, I haven't been out here in awhile but I wanted to let everyone know I got my 1974 Less Paul Signature back from Ron Pace Guitar shop. It took Ron 10 months and me buying a vintage inductor but the guitar now appears to be functioning correctly. Time will tell if any problems show up but so far I have played it and no issues. First, I would like to thank member grog for all his help. He went out of his way to take internal pictures of his guitar so Ron Pace could figure out the wiring. Even then it took a couple of extra months to sort it out. Ron told me if there was any guitar he wanted to leave his shop, mine was it. Second, the sound of this guitar is surprising. It's mellow, yet some settings gets a real bite. I really like the flexibility in tone. Third, attached is a picture of the guitar. Walter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Hi Walter, Beautiful guitar!! I didn't know it was one of the few sunburst models! The shipping total book only lists (85) shipped in Tobacco Sunburst. Whether Ron Pace ever want's to see another one or not, he is now the expert on repairing a rare vintage guitar.......... Congratulations!! George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boogiedude Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 Hi George, Yeah it's a beautiful guitar. The first Vintage Guitar magazine I picked up had a sunburst one. I had always wanted one after that. Years ago someone had one for sale and I bought it. It was rewired incorrectly at one point (and the inductor ended up missing). Thanks again for all your help. You really went out of your way and I (and Ron) do appreciate that effort. And the nice thing is with your help we have repaired a beautiful rare guitar back to it's glory. Walter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 26, 2016 Author Share Posted August 26, 2016 Hello George, and Dave. As it seems, the Treble pot died on my '78 Recording. Do You happen to know the make, specs of it? What would be the correct new replacement part for it? Thank You in advance! Best wishes... Bence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Hello George, and Dave. As it seems, the Treble pot died on my '78 Recording. Do You happen to know the make, specs of it? What would be the correct new replacement part for it? Thank You in advance! Best wishes... Bence It is a 1K (Linear - I think) - good luck!! Wiring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Hi Bence, The pot should have been made by CTS. My extra control plate for a '73 Les Paul Triumph bass shows a part # of 70-988. I'll post a photo of that & the info from my 1981 Parts List book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 29, 2016 Author Share Posted August 29, 2016 Thank You very much! :) I have sent an inquiry to CTS with the original part number, asking for a product link. Best wishes... Bence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 I am stuck. First, I wrongly said it's the Treble, - never mind - it's the Bass pot. Anyways, CTS could not provide me a replacement part number. It's a 2.5K "L" pot. Does any of You have a good parts source? Thank You again! Best wishes... Bence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 Hi Bence, The few I'm finding don't have the fluted shaft for the guitar knob.................... http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/Potentiometer/Alpha-Potentiometer-24mm/Alpha-Pot-Mono/Alpha-2-5-kOhm-linear::4926.html?language=en&MODsid=vpovqfvhqkqsu1uirnlq0lc2v4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted September 2, 2016 Author Share Posted September 2, 2016 Thank You, George! I could only find a very few with 2.5KOhm rating, and all had some kind of a compatibility issue. As it seems, I have to order a custom-made pot... :( Bence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Here she is - a one off - the only one around? Rob Weaver bought her new in 1978 and did the mod himself - more details later - I hope that Rob will join in and tell us a little bit more about this unique guitar. DG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It would be interesting to hear more about it. How it sounded. How the middle pickup affected the phase feature......... etc...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Story of a Les Paul Personal Around about 1969/70 Jan Akkerman (Focus) bought a Les Paul Personal. While he loved the guitar the electronics didn't suit him so he changed the guitar (many times). This video shows him not long after he got it and how he changed it within the first couple of years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdb9kX_Ljcs DG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 .......and more recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FicBrQpRp0Q DG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Great videos Dave! I vaguely remember seeing a modified Les Paul Professional or Personal about 15 years ago at a Wisconsin guitar show. It was refinished in tobacco sunburst similar to this one, but you could see the plugs from the original controls if you looked closely. After 47 years, it makes you wonder how many are really still around after modifications, fires, natural disasters etc....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) Last week my wife & I hit both Les Paul exhibits, one that just recently re-opened in Lester's hometown of Waukesha Wisconsin, the other about a half hour away at the Discovery Zone in Milwaukee. I had visited the one in Milwaukee over ten years ago, this location was one of the two locations that was set up for a public reviewal before Les Paul's funeral. The exhibit in the Waukesha County Museum has been under construction for about three years, when I found out that it re-opened, we decided to check it out. Unfortunately, no photos were aloud. They had two Low Impedance Gibsons in the museum & the story of his life. He is buried with his mother just a few blocks away. Afterwards, we headed off to Milwaukee to re-visit The Les Paul display at the Discovery Zone. As far as guitars go, they had a much better display & they allowed photos. I'd like to know more about that Les Paul Recording with the trapezoidal pickups! Edited August 15, 2018 by Grog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro Vibratoer Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Recently acquired a '72 Les Paul Recording. A beast of a guitar, but enjoying it. Cool photos of Les' home town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 Enjoy your Beast! They are a unique guitar...………... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro Vibratoer Posted November 23, 2018 Share Posted November 23, 2018 Thanks, and yes they are unique. I believe they were the most expensive Les Model through their run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wound Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hello! I’m new to this forum, my name is Kim. I own a 1972 Les Paul Recording, and I love the sound I get from it! I was wondering if anyone knows of any similar pickups to these? I know sometimes used ones pop up, but are there any other pickups like these around? I have been looking at Lace Alumitone, but I have never heard one outside of youtube clips. Also looked at the Cycfi Nu pickups. They seem to have based their Low Impedance pickup around the recording, but then taking it to the next level. Seems a little advanced tho. Also found Langcaster, but I think they might not do anything anymore. Going to contact Sine Guitars as well, but seems last update I can see from them was 2012. So figured you guys might know something :-) Thank you for any help! Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Not much action here lately. I just traded my first 1973 L-5S for one in better shape. The biggest improvement is the condition of the gold plated parts. Most of these have seen the gold badly wore off in 45 plus years of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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