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1956 Les Paul Custom. I finally own one.

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
Hi everyone,

I thought I would share some images of the 1956 Les Paul Custom that I bought this week.

The guitar has had a well-repaired headstock crack that is over-sprayed. The rest is all there, even though the pots had to be-rewired from the shop. The seller also said there was a possibility that a couple of the pots aren't original, but they work well, so I don't mind that much.

The issues of the guitar brought it down to a sane price level, and I jumped at the chance of owning my favourite version of 50s Les Pauls (yes, I am a bit weird, I guess!)

You will notice that the amber switch tip is missing. Unfortunately it cracked in transit. I have the pieces so I will try and glue it together, but in the meantime I have ordered a repro from DMC, so that should come through the post later this week.

The guitar is around the 9lbs mark...the seller said 9.2, to be exact, but I have no postal scale to confirm it. It is so light and easy on the shoulder, and it sounds absolutely amazing. It is super resonant and the neck feels incredible...not as fat and huge feeling as the Historic neck on the '03 that I used to have.

The low frets can be a bit tiring, but not too bad...I am going to have it re-fretted in the next couple of weeks, so it will be playing at it's full potential soon. :)

I have wanted a guitar like this for over a decade...it was well worth the wait and the money spent!

So, on with the pictures...wait for all of them to load...there are quite a few... :jim

Full-Against-Case_zps37d10669.jpg


Body-Against-Case_zpsdcc2f068.jpg


Body-and-Checking_zps29d59845.jpg


Body_zps5c50f503.jpg


Money-Shot_zpsea9f5f02.jpg


Checking_zps81a13f72.jpg
 

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
Pots-and-Bees_zps679fb536.jpg


Case-Badge_zps1f098020.jpg


Case-Open_zps6f46768a.jpg



and in it's black Pro-Form case :)

In-ProForm_zps87613fc8.jpg


In-ProForm-Closeup_zps7b0263c1.jpg


And with my 1951 J50...

J50-and-LP_zps914b15ff.jpg


Headstocks_zps67652c4b.jpg
 

fakejake

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
1,274
Just lovely!! I dig those Customs since I found out that Jim Hall played one on his eraly recordings, amazingly mellow yet strong sound he got out of it.
What amp do you play her through?
 

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
They are really cool guitars :)

I play through a 5E3 clone...it has a Celestion Gold 12" and NOS tubes
 

Coda

Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
115
Super cool guitar.

Interested to know which UK guitar specialist you are going to use for re-fret, and what wire you plan to go with.
 

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
Thank you guys :)

I will take it to Charlie Chandler's for the refret...as far as wire goes, something medium in height...not too low, not too high...I am open to suggestions of specific wire
 

sharky

Active member
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
1,267
now we're talkin'! Real nice and pure RnR. Congrats. CC is going to treat the ebony gentle enough
 

Black58

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
10,139
NICE! :salude


.. Gawd, I HATE them damn rainbow-colored string ball ends!
Ever' time I see 'em on these fine, ol' fiddles, I get a nasty visual
of The Mona Lisa

with fuckin' blue eye-shadow! :wah
 

torger

New member
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
766
beautiful patina on that one! congrats with a fine fiddle:salude

trgr:)
 

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
Thank you so much guys,

I have been playing her all weekend, and she's been "waking up" very nicely...I still have to pinch myself sometimes, as it really is a dream come true for me :salude
 

darkwave

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2001
Messages
357
Congrats! You're not weird in loving that model, just someone who does their own thinking. I've got a '56 Custom as well and it was what I wanted, not "what I got because I couldn't afford the real thing".

The frets... well, I gave them a shot for over a year and ended up having it refretted. It plays much better for me now, though I can see how some may prefer it as originally outfitted.

Have a blast, and play the snot out of it!

-Douglas C.
 

zhivago

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
1,417
Many thanks Douglas!

Good to hear you are loving yours...post a thread on it if you have time...it would be great to see some pics :)
 
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