• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Duane Hotlanta 29 and Nicky CC24A 111

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
PB132461 by peter ellman, on Flickr

Hello everybody its been a long time since I posted. I felt I had a couple worth while and some morning Carolina sunlight bringing the flames on these two beauties. I've kinda been on a journey. Corpse knows a lot of it. I'd say back in 2002 it all started when I was a dirt poor general surgery resident and I was obsessed with the tone of the guitars on Blue Sky. This started my Les Paul journey. I had 2000$ in the bank from some moonlighting and went to Sam Ash in Richmond VA and bought my first les paul-- a Honeyburst "50's neck" (remember those?). and it was cool and I loved it for years. Around 2003 they came out with the Duane Hotlanta run of 55 guitars with the "DUANE" spelled out w the frets on the back (as the real one now has with the old frets when they re-fretted it). Duane being one of my favorite humans ever, I just really fell in love with that guitar but it was a rather mythical beast- you don't see em come up much. Well I actually finally got one a few years back (#54) but then stupidly traded it for a Gil Yaron (which are fabulous guitars but honestly after having 3 of them I finally decided I just wanted my les paul to say "Gibson" on the headstock and have the spirit of the animal have come from a Gibson factory. I don't hate on replicas but in the end thats where I landed). Last year another Duane popped up on reverb (actually 54 is back there too!) but the deal was I had to fly to Austin to get it. My sister lives in Austin so I called her and said, "what if I get on a plane tomorrow to come there to get a guitar"... which i then did after going to the bank and taking out more cash than I ever have in my life. It was a pretty epic guitar safari out to the hill country of Texas where (I believe he is here) Hotlanta29 and I did the deal. And this guitar is a MONSTER.... you'd go to war with it. Its just so cool.

I also in my fits of buying and selling guitars bought, sold then bought back, then sold -- a Greg Martin CC15 (that had been owned and gigged by Derek St. Holmes ... and played by slash as it were)... and kinda regretted that a bit. As the collectors choice guitars have skyrocketed in value, and in my mind, just a cool as hell chapter at Gibson, the regret has worsened. I'd had a braz green lemon for a minute... cool guitar but honestly just my compulsive flipping (and also I just think I"m a better guitarist now so I know what I like more) and a few other custom shops but I've been always looking on Reverb for a lemon True Historic R9 from 2015... even these have gone up. Add to that the fact that I've always thought Nicky was basically my dream girl perfect burst, the CC Nicky had always intrigued me but the prices were always a bit high. And Nicky, if you will, (I'm guessing someone will correct me here) is really just like, the most badass True Historic 2015 R9, with extra sauce and all the fixings (mojo, history, and the perfect neck carve). Last week one popped up on Reverb for a very reasonable price and boom.... Duane now has a friend. So these are my two les pauls after about 20 years of messing about. I'm PRETTY sure I'm good.... not sure how I'm gonna top these unless I go real deal and I've got to invent something for that to happen.

they are very different. The Nicky is kinda the perfect les paul-- tele on steroids. The neck is just absolutely perfect. I believe its around 0.89" at the first fret which is šŸ‘Œ. Its JUST RIGHT. And acoustically sounds great so just playing it without plugging in is a joy. The Duane is like something you take to battle with blue paint on your face wearing a scottish kilt. the neck is bigger for sure. From everything I've read about it people aren't sure what the original was but think it might have been a 58? Love some more data here. One of Tom Murphy's older works so that's cool too. I love em both.

PB132453 [/URL]

PB132443 by peter ellman, on Flickr


PB132445 by peter ellman, on Flickr

PB132441 by peter ellman, on Flickr


IMG_3930 by peter ellman, on Flickr

PB132451 by peter ellman, on Flickr

PB132440 by peter ellman, on Flickr

PB132423 by peter ellman, on Flickr
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Absolutely beautiful pair. I hope these guitars actually get played!
thank you ! and yes... 100 percent. I while it seems I collect guitars I don't consider myself a "guitar collector" šŸ˜¬ ... these are instruments I play. In fact its one of the reasons I love aged guitars. a ding is just more wabisabi art ... does not effect the value. I just have the Duane display case up on the wall of my bedroom because it looks really cool.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Aboot time you got yer azz back here bucko.

You be careful playin in da woods in SC.

I hear ozblots, mountain-run bull sharks and mountain gators are re-infesting da forests there.

No telling what were behind the trees you be leanin' your fiddles on...

Strong drink and heavy armaments are suggested.

Next time youse be in my neck of the woods (Hill Country) you'd better call.

I coulda run you over wit my truck not knowin' it be you..
 

ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Absolutely bloody fantastic guitars., beautifully photographed. What a treat.

Glad to see you back around and about Peter.

Take it easy Mate.
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Aboot time you got yer azz back here bucko.

You be careful playin in da woods in SC.

I hear ozblots, mountain-run bull sharks and mountain gators are re-infesting da forests there.

No telling what were behind the trees you be leanin' your fiddles on...

Strong drink and heavy armaments are suggested.

Next time youse be in my neck of the woods (Hill Country) you'd better call.

I coulda run you over wit my truck not knowin' it be you..
hey man! long time! great to hear from you-- and as always-- you make me laugh
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Welcome back Peter , I have missed reading your posts . Major Congrats on 2 most fine beauties !!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know which one I like more ? Maybe the Duane as the color and figure are awesome , But I digress as Nicky is a hottie for sure . 2 most fine beauties !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
man how much is this hide glue thing a a thing? The nicky I believe has hide glue but I don't think the Greg Martin 15 did (2013 vs 2015) it seems like the guitar is so resonant acoustically and its got the go and have a bite nigel tufnel sustain. You can almost see the sound waves propagating through the guitar LOSSLESS (I know thats a digital music thing) but it seems like a good word. All the good stuff stays. Its kinda crazy. I did the Corpse sound test where you hold the neck up against your ear and just pluck it and the amount of time this thing rings is kinda insane. when I play notes (particularly on my Trademark 10.... TRADEMARK 10 club can I get a shout out!? is this still not the most amazing low volume Fender/Marshall/Mesa in one humble little tiny solid state (I know. sorry. I tried. low watt tube amps don't work like this) amp ever in the history of man... with one giant leap for mankind ?)) its almost like I've got a freakin big box Origin Effects Slide Rig hooked up to it... with both 1176 compressors working (RENDERIT).... maybe its honeymoon phase but I honestly think its the best les paul I've ever had and that includes three Gils (although the Gil pickups have this "airy" quality I'm not sure i've heard anywhere else.... an unspotted thing?). Then again I just think I"m a better guitarist now than I was a few years back so maybe my ears were just dumb before and now they are just not as dumb
 
Top