NGD: 1959 Gibson DC Junior

IvisonGuitars

Picked up this road warrior over Christmas.

A Gibson DC Junior. Due to the guitar being stripped and clear coated in nitro a long time ago the serial number is gone but all dimensions check out to it being a 1959 and due to the absence of any cherry pore filler i'm 99% sure it was a TV Model.

It's had some SERIOUS playing hours logged on it and it's not a surprise, it plays amazingly. I've always been a bit "whatever" about the Old Wood thing but, if this guitar is anything to go by, i'm converted, it rings for days and the whole thing literally vibrates in the hand. It's almost as loud as my 335 unplugged!

It's certainly not a collectors piece....but in the main, the Body, Neck, P90, Pickguard, wiring & bumblebee cap are original and it sounds stellar!

The previous owner purchased it a few years ago from Leeds Guitar Show, anyone recognise it?

I'm not sure if I should keep it as is or restore it? Thoughts?

ICBM

Keep it as it is. Anything you do to it will only make it sound less fantastic.

Although personally I would get rid of those awful tuners and put something lighter and more correct appearance-wise on it. (But be careful, because even this could change the sound.) At the very least get some nicer small rounded keys for them.

WezV

Love it.

Its very pale, almost looks korina ish... But I suspect you are right that it was tv yellow originally

koneguitarist

Nice, crank it up and let it sing.

ThePrettyDamned

Leave it as it is, it's a proper relic guitar, and looks all the better for it. 

Niallmo

Leave it, looks great as it is. It LOOKS like it sounds good and that's very important!

marantz1300

That is drop dead gorgeous.I'd change the tuners,that's all it needs to be perfect.
P.M. me if you decide to let it go.
I might be able to sell my liver..

IvisonGuitars

ICBM said:

Keep it as it is. Anything you do to it will only make it sound less fantastic.

Although personally I would get rid of those awful tuners and put something lighter and more correct appearance-wise on it. (But be careful, because even this could change the sound.) At the very least get some nicer small rounded keys for them.

@ICBM Yes, those God Awful Schallers - a classic 70's mod! I'm tone between a set of conversion bushes and a nice aged set of Klusons with white buttons (as original) or a nice set of Grover kidney buttons, my personal favourite. Jury is out currently.

richardhomer

I'd keep it 'as is' - except the tuners.

That is a really fantastic looking guitar. Congratulations.

ESchap

Fantastic looking guitar.  Great GAS.  I'm with @ICBM and others, I'd leave it as is but get rid of those Schaller tuners, they spoil the look / dimension of the late 50's narrow headstock.

jd0272

I hope it'll be getting gigged that man?

Nice.

IvisonGuitars

Thanks chaps, totally agree with you all regarding the Schallers. They are coming off as soon as I can decide what I want to replace them with. I personally hate them, I think they are the ugliest tuners ever made, god only knows why they adorn so many modified  vintage guitars - were they the only retrofit option 'back in the day'?? (and I hate that phrase too!) ;-)

@jd0272 Too bloody right it is! :-)

ICBM

miserneil said:

@ICBM Yes, those God Awful Schallers - a classic 70's mod! I'm tone between a set of conversion bushes and a nice aged set of Klusons with white buttons (as original) or a nice set of Grover kidney buttons, my personal favourite. Jury is out currently.

I would go for either Grovers with small kidney buttons (full size ones are still too heavy), or the current Gibson 'Kluson' type made by either Grover or Schaller with oval white buttons and the threaded bushing.

I don't like conversion bushings, they still don't look right and once the headstock has been bored out you really need to keep the threaded bushings, for the best rigidity and tuning stability.

Nunogilberto

Magnificent!

ThePrettyDamned

Also, put this in the cool wall. 

Somewhere in the freezer. 

ICBM

ThePrettyDamned said:

Also, put this in the cool wall. 

Somewhere in the freezer. 

At the South Pole.

On Mars.

shugz

And not a word of thanks, charming

Enjoy it Neil, looks a nice bit of history.

Cheers
Hugh

IvisonGuitars

shugz said:

And not a word of thanks, charming

Enjoy it Neil, looks a nice bit of history.

Cheers
Hugh

Haha! Sorry mate, got over excited! ;-)

Yes folks, it was all Hugh's fault that my little boy had a lump of coal and a tangerine for Christmas...but he'll understand...eventually!

marantz1300

When its his.

marantz1300

Hugh, was it you that had the Park and 68 GT?

breakstuff

Bloody lovely.I'm well jealous.