NVGD - OMG - GAS over!

merlin

I've been playing clarinet for a living for many years. My search for "tone" has led me to playing older systems, my favourite sound coming from instruments made in the early part of the 20th Century. They used higher quality woods and different bores, key systems, fingers hole sizes and spacing. All of which leads to a very different sound, which is much closer to the sound in my head... 

I realised quite recently that I ought to apply the same ideology to my guitar tone. Rather than try to sound like someone else (I have never played in a covers band, and refuse to for many reasons, primarily creative ones) I knew that I needed to find "my" sound. This has over the years led to much buying and then selling, but finally I've decided to whittle my "collection" down to just three electrics and one acoustic (late 40s Kay Archtop), each of which allow me to make a pretty personal sound. This means that because of my latest acquisition, I'm going to have to sell everything that I'm not playing.... but that's another story.

So what is this post actually about? It's about my latest, and quite possibly last purchase. And it's a delicious instrument. 60 years old, in quite stunning condition and sounding and feeling absolutely beautiful. So here it is, a 1956 Les Paul Junior. I've been hankering after one for years, and have tried several types of instruments with P90s, but finally hit gold. 



























I wondered whether the speed knobs were correct or aftermarket, but apparently speed knobs and top hats were fitted on many Juniors in 1955, and many earlier '56 models and a few later '56ers also had them. They are certainly period correct so my guess is that this guitar came from the factory with speed knobs. 

This is a tremendous instrument and it sounds fabulous through my 5e3 clone. I am one happy man, although I do need to move on a few others.... 

IvisonGuitars

Great score! 

And yes, the speed knobs are period correct, top hats came in late '56.

Enjoy!

DefaultM

merlin said:

So what is this post actually about? It's about my latest, and quite possibly last purchase. And it's a delicious instrument. 60 years old, in quite stunning condition and sounding and feeling absolutely beautiful.

What does it taste most similar to?

guitarfishbay

Congrats, nice instrument

richardhomer

That's a cool guitar....

AndyR

Wow, that's pretty darn fine. Congratulations.

merlin

DefaultM said:

What does it taste most similar to?

Whatever your favourite flavour is....! 
Delicious from the late Latin deliciosus, meaning delight, pleasure.   

Moe_Zambeek

Very nice!

SimpleSimon

That is some nice wood and a great ethos to playing and buying instruments! Congrats!

ESchap

Lovely looking guitar.

Sassafras

Pretty good nick for a 60 year old.
If only I looked that good now.

stimpsonslostson

That is lovely. 

May I be the first to say...







DIBS!! 

Bridgehouse

Welcome to the club. Lovely looking vintage beaut.

Skipped

Very nice indeed merlin.
Looking at the headstock edges, the guitar has clearly been looked after.
Has the original case survived?

breakstuff

Awesome!

Congrats.

merlin

Thanks for your comments everyone. I can't seeing it leaving me for a while @stimpsonslostson, however who knows what the future will hold? Don't hold you breathe though. 

Skipped said:

Very nice indeed merlin.
Looking at the headstock edges, the guitar has clearly been looked after.
Has the original case survived?

It's in really good shape and has definitely been played a lot but taken great care of. It's one of the best I've seen but sadly the cardboard case didn't survive. Any ideas where I can source one? Although I don't think it's really necessary apart from completeness sake, so happy to keep it in a decent protecting case. 

Steffo

Just perfect.

riscado

Juniors are great guitars... enjoy!

Brize

Forget the faux-croc cardboard case - they're unbelievably crap.

That looks like a beautiful guitar - I can see from the photo of the back of the headstock that the neck has a lovely, almost v-shaped profile toward the nut.

IvisonGuitars

merlin said:

Thanks for your comments everyone. I can't seeing it leaving me for a while @stimpsonslostson, however who knows what the future will hold? Don't hold you breathe though. 

Skipped said:

Very nice indeed merlin.
Looking at the headstock edges, the guitar has clearly been looked after.
Has the original case survived?

It's in really good shape and has definitely been played a lot but taken great care of. It's one of the best I've seen but sadly the cardboard case didn't survive. Any ideas where I can source one? Although I don't think it's really necessary apart from completeness sake, so happy to keep it in a decent protecting case. 

I wouldn't worry too much about the original case @merlin, as you say, nice for completeness but they are absolutely useless and end up in the attic/garage while the guitar sits safely in a Hiscox! ;-)

They also seem to fetch stupid money, even the already broken/ripped ones.

Bridgehouse

Totally agree on the cardboard case.

About as useful as a cardboard, er, case.

They do fetch silly money and you'll never get it back on resale either. 

Mine is now a decoration item in the music room: