So there really still are some left under beds

[mertzy]

No, it was not given to me (although I'm working on that), they know I'm a gear whore so they're letting me look it over for a week.

The guitar has a lot of sentimental value to the owner(s), I told them what it's cash value is but since they are VERY well off (recent inhertance (sp) from the former owner) I don't think that the cash value carries as much weight with them.

It's interesting looking over the guitar, I've owned two Standards, a 1993 and a 1980 and the construction is different. Even to a strat player I can see differences just by looking over a few things.

A couple things that are interesting are that it's true the guitar plays as close to fretless as you can get, also the pickup rings are the same height as the fretboard so the pickups are set below the top of the rings but there is obvious string wear on the rings, it is much lighter than either of my two LP's were, and there seems to be a difference in the neck angle from my other two LP's, the 58 seems flatter.

If anyone has any specific questions about the construction let me know, over the next week I'll replace the strings, pop the neck pickup to get some measurememts and photograph the neck tenon, etc.

Also the band photos in the case are really cool, none are of the original owner with this specific guitar but there is at least one of him with a Paramount Model F Tenor banjo that I (currently) have. I'm a little reluctant to post the pics but I'll speak to the owner to see if I can.

[go7]

You have been touched by guitar fairy dust. Congrats!!

[CharAznable]

I want to cry

[Mitch Roberts]

Hey, careful not to remove the Mojo when you clean it up.

Oh, and WOW!

[Timmo]

Dude, you're forever screwed!
Historic Gibsons will never satisfy you now.


Cool story and nice to know there are still some out there that aren't in the hands of 'dealers'...............

[todd richman]

Nice find.

[TNJ]

Oh...my...GOD!

I probably would have fainted...

Enough about pix...how does that baby SOUND through an AMP????


I was at a music store a few years back...little strip mall place.
Shooting the breeze with the owner, when in out of the rain comes this little woman carrying a black faux alligator case.
She told us that her grandfather had passed recently, and left her this guitar.

Well...we said, "ENOUGH TALK, OPEN THAT CASE!!".
It turned out to be a '56 Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Weighed about 7 lbs....that wood must have been drier than dry!!
The bridge pickup didnt work (turned out to be the volume pot), but the neck pup still sounded like God.

She looked at us and said, "Is it worth anything?".

What would you have said?



S.
j

[Strat]

very cool. That's how I came to own a '59 strat with a '66 neck. Pulled it out from the back of the closet along with a Super Chet. too bad about your ending though.

[spectreman]

Amazing story....keep us posted on more details about what you find!

[BurgundyMist]

[jackerofonasis]

a 3 pickup from '58? crazy

[treeofpain]

Well, it is all mahogany with no maple cap, so that might explain the weight. It would be even lighter without that pesky middle pickup.

So what are you gonna do?

[Trebor Renkluaf]

I haven't played many '50s Les Pauls, but everyone I have played was light by todays standards. Very light. Most were in the low 8 lb range, but a few were under 8 lbs. I never bought into the Les Pauls need to be heavy to sound good crap, not when the '50s ones I've played were so light and had THE TONE.

[aftguitar94]

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! That is amazing. I've heard all the stories about '50's guitars under the bed but never thought it actually happened. WOW! You are a lucky man to get to play it for a whole week!

[Mcclassic]

Man congrat! still what a torture to have it so close... hope you can get it... wonderful story!