NGD: MIJ Burny Les Paul Custom RLC70

Loobs

Well, it's been ages since I had a NGD. I bought this on a recent trip to Tokyo and had it shipped back. It arrived today without any import costs apart from shipping. UPS smashed the case up pretty well, though; it's a wonder it didn't have a neck break.

It's most likely a Fujigen or Dyna-produced Burny. Has the VH-1 Gotoh pickups and other usual MIJ hardware. I guess it's around 20-25 years old, which is pretty staggering considering how good condition it is. It's barely been played and has only slight tarnishing of the gold hardware. It sounds and plays great.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the pickups yet because right now I only have my Champ at home to play through with various dirt pedals. Anyway, it's really good and definitely scratches the itch...I'm big big fan of Mahavishnu/Crimson/Sonny Sharrock etc. Unsure whether to leave pickguard off. Looks cool but maybe a bit too rawk. Anyway, pics:

maharg101

That's lovely. HNGD !

Loobs

Thanks. Forgot to mention I have a BK True Grit humbucker here that I had intended to put in it. I'm not so sure though. The VH1s sound pretty fucking good. The best thing about the guitar is that it looks like it says Bunny. 

photek

I take it they are grey plastic covered wire VH1s rather than the earlier braided leads?

Lovely guitar that, enjoy!

Loobs

Exactly. Grey plastic covered wire with Gotoh faintly embossed on the stickers under VH1, which presumably stood for vintage humbucker 1? Either way, these are not the OG VH1s for sure, to my ears they sound like hotter PAF style. The neck unit is a bit woofy sounding. 

Pete.R

Congrats !

Looks mighty fine.

Teyeplayer

Needs a bigsby.

photek

Loobs said:

Exactly. Grey plastic covered wire with Gotoh faintly embossed on the stickers under VH1, which presumably stood for vintage humbucker 1? Either way, these are not the OG VH1s for sure, to my ears they sound like hotter PAF style. The neck unit is a bit woofy sounding. 

Worth trying the old trick of winding the neck pickup down so it’s flush with (or even below) the surround and winding the pole pieces up a few turns. I quite like those pickups  

Svartmetall

I never knew Gotoh made pickups for anyone; but then I have a Washburn with Egnater-branded pickups, so what do I know?

Boromedic

Noiceeeeee

Loobs

photek said:

Loobs said:

Exactly. Grey plastic covered wire with Gotoh faintly embossed on the stickers under VH1, which presumably stood for vintage humbucker 1? Either way, these are not the OG VH1s for sure, to my ears they sound like hotter PAF style. The neck unit is a bit woofy sounding. 

Worth trying the old trick of winding the neck pickup down so it’s flush with (or even below) the surround and winding the pole pieces up a few turns. I quite like those pickups  

Will give that a try. 

Schnozz

I love the Gotoh HBs in my Fujigens - If I changed them then it would just be PAF for PAF. Wouldn't mind putting a DP100 in just for fun though.

Loobs

What's a DP100? I find the BK Black Dog I have in another guitar a lot more nuanced and refined than the VH1 in this guitar. In fact, I'd say it just sounds better, though it's pretty hard to describe exactly how. 

Loobs

Ah, Dimarzio Super Distortion.