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1952 Les Paul Goldtop with Marshall 50w Head & Cab

Dire Wolf

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Dec 20, 2006
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Here is a really fine 1952 Goldtop owned by my friend, Doug Gordon, who fronted the band, Tangier, in the late 80s/early 90s. Tangier's 1st album was produced by Andy Johns(Stones, Zeppelin, Van Halen, etc). The 50w Marshall head and 4x12 cab are from 1973. We had this guitar over earlier in the year for a setup, and this particular Goldtop is as good as any 50s Les Paul I've heard-no reason to change anything on the guitar, including the trapeze TP. Also check out his 63 Firebird III in a very special Johnny Winter tribute in the Other Gibsons section here on the LPF.



 

Tom Wittrock

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Aug 2, 2001
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Nice group! :dude:


Here's Doug's old 58 Burst. :jim :salude

917_p18851.jpg
 

sws1

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Dec 4, 2001
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Tom - If you look closely at that second photo, it has that same weird checking pattern around the switch as the guitar you post often. A weird circular pattern that looks like it has a mind of it's own.
 

MikeSlub

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Jul 15, 2001
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Since those strings on the goldtop are top wrapped, either the bar is a replacement or the neck was reset? :hank
 

J.D.

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May 24, 2006
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Since those strings on the goldtop are top wrapped, either the bar is a replacement or the neck was reset? :hank

Looking closely at the photo it appears to be a non-original bar :jim
 

Tom Wittrock

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Tom - If you look closely at that second photo, it has that same weird checking pattern around the switch as the guitar you post often. A weird circular pattern that looks like it has a mind of it's own.

I can't see that clearly enough.

Here's my photos that you refer to:

917_p40030.jpg


917_p40029.jpg
 

j45

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Jun 14, 2002
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9,081
Tom - If you look closely at that second photo, it has that same weird checking pattern around the switch as the guitar you post often. A weird circular pattern that looks like it has a mind of it's own.

JFYI, it's not all that unusual. Although you don't see it terribly often, I've also had it on 5 or 6 Gibson's from that area with toggle switches. The "crop circle" pattern is sometimes seen surrounding knobs as well. I believe it happens when the toggle switch (or knob) repeatedly hits against the case lid over the years, the circular checking occurs where wood is the thinnest at the respective rout and the slight impact of the toggle causes the wood to ever so slightly flex at the weakest point (the routed cavity which is circular), therefore the circular checking in the clear coat or paint. My burst had them as well as two of my 50's gold tops and at least a couple others.
 

sws1

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Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Messages
2,846
JFYI, it's not all that unusual. Although you don't see it terribly often, I've also had it on 5 or 6 Gibson's from that area with toggle switches. The "crop circle" pattern is sometimes seen surrounding knobs as well. I believe it happens when the toggle switch (or knob) repeatedly hits against the case lid over the years, the circular checking occurs where wood is the thinnest at the respective rout and the slight impact of the toggle causes the wood to ever so slightly flex at the weakest point (the routed cavity which is circular), therefore the circular checking in the clear coat or paint. My burst had them as well as two of my 50's gold tops and at least a couple others.


Great answer. Makes sense.
 

Dire Wolf

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Dec 20, 2006
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It does have the newer fully adjustable tailpiece on it, with the original TP in the case.
 

spidey

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Nov 21, 2003
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Somewhere I have Tangier's album 'Four Winds' on vinyl...
 

Dire Wolf

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That may be worth some money. They had one hell of a singer in that band!
 

Mark

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Jul 24, 2002
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Mine has the same crop circles
 
Last edited:

Mark

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Jul 24, 2002
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my crop circles were created by extraterrestrials lol
 
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