NGD .... Beat-up Goldtop LP

ESchap

I might have posted this on the old forum ... can't remember .. if i'm repeating myself .. sorry, age thing.

Got this back in the Spring.  Been after a mullered distressed gold top LP with P90's for some time.  This is a 1974 Deluxe.  No breaks or alterations other than its had Schaller tuners on at some time in the past, came with repro tuners and cheap knobs but fortunately I had both in correct vintage form in my parts box. Original switch tip was split and fell off frequently, so I stuck a 50's repro on.

The state of the top is all genuine, clearly it's been played hard; and it plays great, that's probably why.  Has a fatter neck than normal for early 70's Gibson's, good shoulder and not too flat on the back, making it really comfortable to play for sustained periods.   It's a heavy bugger at 10lb 2oz, but it balances really well on a strap and therefore it does not feel anything like as heavy when you're wearing it.   Came with the original mini humbuckers and the neck in particular was very nice indeed, but I really wanted P90's so it's got a SD Antiquity in the neck and a 1954 rewound (Shed) in the bridge (probably Alnico 3 magnets), thin 50's covers.  Great guitar, has a real soulful tone. 

 

 

50's look, but I prefer the reflectors.

 

With its mini humbuckers

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

HAL9000

Not normally a fan of LPs but that does look very nice indeed.

stickyfiddle

Well that's just awesome

VimFuego

that looks the bizniz.

GuitarMonkey

Yes, it must be a good 'un to get in that condition. What a great looking guitar.

jaygtr

Just magnificent.

not_the_dj

As cool as a really cool thing.

dogload

This may be a stupid question (I've never been a Les Paul aficionado) but how does the sound of the mini-humbuckers differ from the P90s? 

I like both configurations on this LP. It looks great too, not being all sunburst and stripes!

Deadman

What a beauty.

Adam_MD

That's fabulous I'm seriously jealous of that one. Have a wow and a WOW! God I love goldtops

Rich

That is one of the coolest guitars I've ever seen. I love it. It would be kind of awesome to know who was thrashing it for the 35 years before you got your hands on it...

[Deleted User]

'Wow' duly awarded....

Basher

That's absolutely beautiful!

Plus, the P90s look way nicer than the goof rings and mini humbuckers, IMO.

As @dogload says, it would be interesting to know how they compared, sound-wise. I really like the P90s in my LP but I can see how the mini-hums might in some ways be the best of both worlds - brighter/clearer voice than a regular HB but without the P90 noise. Although there is a certain P90 growl that might be hard to reproduce.

ESchap

Thanks guys.  The mini humbuckers are much closer to regular humbuckers than P90's.  I think that the lower output of the mini humbucker really suits the neck in an LP giving more clarity than the full size humbucker.  The bridge mini hum can be a bit bright and thin for my taste. 

The P90's in this LP have a lot of balls even though they are vintage winds, I really like the smoothness of P90's and the way they  "compress"; almost too much through a driven Marshall style amp, but they are great for pushing a "clean" Fender type amp.  But roll the volume off the guitar a tad and the pickup changes character a little brighter, more transparent and sweeter.

This is the tone I was chasing and I feel I've pretty much got it ... not got the chops of course.  If you don't like DG, just go to 2:40 .... fantastic tone, what a LP with P90's is all about IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wFkn6Q7DzU

bertie

Basher said:

That's absolutely beautiful!

Plus, the P90s look way nicer than the goof rings and mini humbuckers, IMO.

nah, loves minis, and thems normal rings for minis innum ?

ourmaninthenorth

ESchap said:

This is the tone I was chasing and I feel I've pretty much got it ... not got the chops of course.  If you don't like DG, just go to 2:40 .... fantastic tone, what a LP with P90's is all about IMHO.

Marvellous... 

ICBM

Basher said:

Plus, the P90s look way nicer than the goof rings and mini humbuckers, IMO.

I don't like the goof rings, but this one doesn't have them anyway - those are the standard minihumbucker height rings. The goof rings are extra thin cream plastic surrounds nailed to the top to cover poor routing, hence the name . (And sometimes black ones under the tailpiece studs.)

I didn't know they went to the sharp cutaway horn as early as '74, I've always thought that was a bit later - clearly not! To be honest I don't like it - it's one of those details which I could never live with, like the paddle headstock. Yes, I'm probably shallow...

Really needs a Bigsby too .

Skipped

It's got the Look!
A few scratches and nicotine stains on the P90 covers would be a nice finishing touch.

ESchap

Pots date to early '74 so I'm assuming it is a '74, can't tell reliably from the serial number of course.  Mahogany neck also puts it more likely '74 than '75 (change to maple)  IMHO.   I had an early '74 Deluxe (pots dated late '73) and it had the more rounded horn and goof rings!  It weighed 9Lb exact but the body was about an eighth of an inch thinner (!) than this one measured top of binding to back.

Hummed and hawed about a Bigsby on this.  Really tempted, may go the vibramate route in the first instance. 

 

 

ICBM

I would do it properly . I think they look great with old ex-Bigsby holes if you change your mind!

They do add over a pound to the weight though - even worse with a Vibramate - so if you're starting at over 10lb already you may want a back brace...

But you could make it like this:

(Neil's backup guitar - I was there, and I actually thought it sounded better than Old Black!)

stonevibe

Dude!

Its gone green and mouldy...

Best you give it to me.