1960 Burst

[PHILBERT]

Just think of it as lying in wait all these years for the right owner and just think, In 50 years time this burst may be blooming from careful playing while others are turning to dust.

That gave me a new idea for a History Channel show..."Life After 50's Les Pauls". :hee

I love to see these time capsule Les Pauls. I always wondered what the real color of the binding was. I can't stand that dingy dank color on the new Les Pauls. What I really wonder is if the original color was white. ??? Did it turn the yellowish shade from age? :hmm

Phil :jim

 

[Tom Wittrock]

That gave me a new idea for a History Channel show..."Life After 50's Les Pauls". :hee

I love to see these time capsule Les Pauls. I always wondered what the real color of the binding was. I can't stand that dingy dank color on the new Les Pauls. What I really wonder is if the original color was white. ??? Did it turn the yellowish shade from age? :hmm

Phil :jim

Most of the yellowing of the binding is the clear lacquer turning yellow with ages and environmental exposure.

 

[PHILBERT]

Most of the yellowing of the binding is the clear lacquer turning yellow with ages and environmental exposure.

Thanks, Tom. You would know...White it is!

Phil :jim

 

[scraven]

I live in N Va and will drive there monday and report back

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Thanks, Tom. You would know...White it is!

Phil :jim

I should add:
You can see this on most well played guitars, where the finish is worn off the binding. This image from my 56 GT shows this.

 

[PHILBERT]

Ouch! That has to hurt. You must love to play that one, huh? :salude

But that answers the question. Thanks, Tom.

Phil :jim

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

Thanks, Tom. You would know...White it is!

Phil :jim

You know Phil, there's white and then there's white... :rofl

I would say the real color is a subtle pale ivory/cream. Not tan like on the Historics and not 'bright white' like on some other instruments.

:salude

 

[PHILBERT]

You know Phil, there's white and then there's white... :rofl

I would say the real color is a subtle pale ivory/cream. Not tan like on the Historics and not 'bright white' like on some other instruments.

:salude

Roger that, Rev. I got ya. I had it on my long lost '68 SG. The "tan" they use today is a real turn-off for me.

Phil :jim

 

[abalonevintage]

Originally Posted by Fixxer View Post
What I mean, and I thought I made clear, is that lighter boards grow darker over time, and that is why today so many boards look dark. I have no doubt that yours are on the darker side today. Heck, mine look black today. But what I'm talking about is how they looked the day they were made. This '60 is about as NOS as they come, and gives a good peek into how some of the boards might have looked back in the day.

This is ABSOLUTELY true!

I had a guitar custom made in the 90's for a customer. A Brazilian fingerboard was supplied that was ORANGE. About five years later he brought the guitar back in there was not even a HINT of orange color....Just chocolate brown.

I couldn't believe it! :wow

It was originally a BEAUTIFUL fingerboard...It turned out to be quite boring in the end.

 

[TM1]

This is ABSOLUTELY true!

I had a guitar custom made in the 90's for a customer. A Brazilian fingerboard was supplied that was ORANGE. About five years later he brought the guitar back in there was not even a HINT of orange color....Just chocolate brown.

I couldn't believe it! :wow

It was originally a BEAUTIFUL fingerboard...It turned out to be quite boring in the end.

Cut wood has a tendency to turn darker with time and exposure to the elements. Even white pine turns dark yellow after a few years.

 

[abalonevintage]

Agreed...Just would never think it would be so DRAMATIC, particularly in only five or so years.

 

[DEVILBAT]

Is it possible that a late 1960 burst would have black sprague caps instead of bumblebees?

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Is it possible that a late 1960 burst would have black sprague caps instead of bumblebees?

Yes, but the possible serial numbers posted are nowhere near the range of one that might have black Spragues.


So, has anyone ever found out the price? :ganz

 

[DEVILBAT]

My 1960 has black spragues. Not bumblebees. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Thanks,guys.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

My 1960 has black spragues. Not bumblebees. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Thanks,guys.

What's your serial number?

Mine, 0-7448 has Astrons.

Here's a really late one, 011188 with black Spragues:

 

[wizardmc]

.

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

AbaloneVintage, thanks for chiming in on the issue of BRW darkening over time. The people that swore it was true to me were people of stature that you'd think would know.

I think we all agree that BRW fingerboards darken with age and use.

I think we disagree if you are positing that most BRW in the '50s was pale. As stated above, I've seen several '50s Gibsons with really pale BRW fingerboards, but I believe that the majority were on the medium-to-dark side even when new.

:salude

 

[J.D.]

Stunningly beautiful guitar, and kudos to Gibson CS for making the historics very close in appearance to originals like these :jim

 

[abalonevintage]

I believe that the majority were on the medium-to-dark side even when new.

I believe they were all over they place....But many WAY lighter than we would ever think...unless they were milled and sat unfinished for some time.

I would LOVE to see some photos from back in the day when new!!!!!

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

I would LOVE to see some photos from back in the day when new!!!!!

All the photos we have from the '50s and early '60s are poor quality B&W/color snapshots...

... that show really dark fingerboards! :rofl :hee :rofl

:biggrin: