DrRobert
Les Paul Forum Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2003
- Messages
- 6,050
I should preface this with thanks to the folks who helped me with this stage of my life: Wittrock, Ganzler, Terry Mueller, Andy Yonke, Dave Rogers and many others. My thanks to you all for a LOT of fun!
More than 20 years ago, I stopped collecting oddball Americana (Microfets, Robin...) and started looking at vintage guitars. My first LP was a supposed 59 Custom from Ebay that was anything but (probably a 1968 Reissue with an added middle pickup rout but who knows) which I returned. Next was a Gruhn special, and LPC from 58 that had a wonky neck (triangular shape, wrong fretboard, broken headstock but cheap). Next was a pair of 54 Goldtops, very cool. That didn't really scratch the itch, so I found the LPF and went to a few Texas guitar shows.
We'd finally paid off the mortgage, and I sold a bunch of americana and went looking for a burst. Dave Rogers helped me ship my first, Kat, that I bought from Mike Reeder in Cincinnati. She was worn and faded but she SCREAMED. And I got the bug. 2 years later a 1960 (also ex-bigsby but much nicer finish) showed up, and in 08 a really early 60. At that point I needed to buy another house, so the second 60 went pretty quickly (BAD timing on my part), but a very nice 59 335 in blond came along to soften the blow. And things settled into a nice pattern after that. I nurtured them and kept them safe and they gave me many hours of pleasure playing. Lots of folks have come to the house and tried their hands at a real burst, and that's been fun, too.
But now I'm in my 60s and my hands hurt sometimes when I play guitar. And I'm partly retiring. It seems like time to float the idea of selling them... Weirdly, they've been on consignment at CME in a VERY low key way for a year or so, and last month someone bought Kat thru CME, someone else approached me thru TGP and ended up buying the 60 and the 335. In less than a week, both are gone! I've got a little whiplash. But I don't really need sympathy, I've still got the LPC, with a REALLY nice hand done neck from Terry Mueller in Illinois (don't ask, I think he's pretty much retired) wired up like a standard. And one of the 54s, a 61, a pair of Jrs and a pair of Specials... I get to keep my Les Paul card for now.
More than 20 years ago, I stopped collecting oddball Americana (Microfets, Robin...) and started looking at vintage guitars. My first LP was a supposed 59 Custom from Ebay that was anything but (probably a 1968 Reissue with an added middle pickup rout but who knows) which I returned. Next was a Gruhn special, and LPC from 58 that had a wonky neck (triangular shape, wrong fretboard, broken headstock but cheap). Next was a pair of 54 Goldtops, very cool. That didn't really scratch the itch, so I found the LPF and went to a few Texas guitar shows.
We'd finally paid off the mortgage, and I sold a bunch of americana and went looking for a burst. Dave Rogers helped me ship my first, Kat, that I bought from Mike Reeder in Cincinnati. She was worn and faded but she SCREAMED. And I got the bug. 2 years later a 1960 (also ex-bigsby but much nicer finish) showed up, and in 08 a really early 60. At that point I needed to buy another house, so the second 60 went pretty quickly (BAD timing on my part), but a very nice 59 335 in blond came along to soften the blow. And things settled into a nice pattern after that. I nurtured them and kept them safe and they gave me many hours of pleasure playing. Lots of folks have come to the house and tried their hands at a real burst, and that's been fun, too.
But now I'm in my 60s and my hands hurt sometimes when I play guitar. And I'm partly retiring. It seems like time to float the idea of selling them... Weirdly, they've been on consignment at CME in a VERY low key way for a year or so, and last month someone bought Kat thru CME, someone else approached me thru TGP and ended up buying the 60 and the 335. In less than a week, both are gone! I've got a little whiplash. But I don't really need sympathy, I've still got the LPC, with a REALLY nice hand done neck from Terry Mueller in Illinois (don't ask, I think he's pretty much retired) wired up like a standard. And one of the 54s, a 61, a pair of Jrs and a pair of Specials... I get to keep my Les Paul card for now.