Basket Case 52 Goldtop .... Conversion Candidate Just For Me

[moonweasel]

:rofl An easy fix next time you restring. Been there and done that.

 

[Masotti Guy]

The guitar ended out stunning to my eyes.
Thank you so much for all the detailed informations on the conversion process.
Not easy to find opinions from a guy who made 24 conversions, and so very useful (well, in general not so easy to find a guy who made so many conversions, actually!)

 

[Bob Womack]

Excellent workmanship and a lovely guitar. Nicely done!

Bob

 

[mikeslub]

A most enjoyable thread! Awesome guitar! :dude:

 

[Skipped]

I like the big frets.
I like the decision to go with no serial number.
I like everything about this guitar.

Thank you for taking the time to share the process with us. :salude

 

[Humbuck]

Wow!

 

[bigtomrodney]

Absolutely stunning guitar, the work on this just floors me.

 

[Steve Craw]

Beautiful job and a great result!

 

[wsaraceni]

wow. finished product is amazing. dowel plugs and all!!!

 

[goldtop0]

What a beauty.......thanks for the great thread and play the hell out of her:2cool

 

[KS 5150]

Wow....just wow!! :applaude

 

[Wilko]

...It is very deceiving to see the line without the tailpiece & knobs installed.

And that guitar is just beautiful!

I love that it's just faded and not "aged"

Great work.

Oh, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it's "break in period"--or how long 'til it's settled in and really starts to sing.

 

[nuance97]

Another phenomenal thread Jim! I could re-read your threads a hundred times. Thanks!

 

[boogieongtr]

Thank you everyone for all the feedback and I'm glad you have enjoyed the thread. I have been playing the guitar at least an hour a day with small tweaks to the set up. The guitar is a great piece and not because I did the work. The mahogany used for the 52-53 Goldtops IMOP is some of the best tone wood Gibson ever used in the Les Paul line. As to break in time..... we'll see. I love the smell of old wood sawdust in the morning. :biggrin:

 

[guitars1]

As an owner of two of Jim's guitars ('53 conversion and a '59 replica) I think we're all missing the most important aspect of his work.

These are the most wonderful sounding guitars! They're so incredibly smooth sounding and responsive to the most subtitle changes in attack. Put the toggle switch in the center position and use volume and tone pots to manipulate the tone... the variations are endless. Play it thru a a clean platform amp with lots of headroom and keep the amps volume up around 7-8. Back off the guitars volume and you'll find crystal clear cleans that can splatter a little just by digging in. Then, ride the LPs volume pot to add grind. You'll find every tone imaginable.

These guitars create vintage tones: Duane, Dickie, Beano, Billy Gibbons, Bloomfield, Kossoff. IMO, you can't really get those tones out of a modern guitar. You can get 80% close but the delicate, detailed attack and sound isn't there. To me, modern guitars sound like there is a blanket thrown over the amp. Jim's guitars breath life and fire.

Compare it to a R8, R9, R0 and you'll see an immediate difference. While those are nice guitars and quite beautiful, the old wood and vintage parts make SUCH a huge difference. Think fine wine vs. boxed wine.

If you're a player who can discern these subtleties you owe it to yourself to play one of Jim's guitars. If not, admire his craftsmanship. Either way, these are amazing works of art.

 

[viking LP]

Boogieongtr quote :"The guitar is a great piece and not because I did the work. The mahogany used for the 52-53 Goldtops IMOP is some of the best tone wood Gibson ever used in the Les Paul line."

That's interesting.It certainly confirm my own experience as a player.

 

[madformac]

Thank you Jim for a beautiful thread and I am in admiration of your work. Looking at the neck and crude dowels I thought "how the hell can this work out well?" but you did a stunning job.

I admire all luthiers, craftsmen and repairers of fine instruments, great to be a voyeur of your work. As John Monteleone said "it's time to make sawdust" :salude

 

[DonP]

Great work as always. Love these threads.

 

[EdKing]

<<To me, modern guitars sound like there is a blanket thrown over the amp. Jim's guitars breath life and fire.>>. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

 

[TulsaDiamndDave]

This thread is absolutely amazing, and this guitar, even more so. Incredible work, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sharing, and taking the time to post throughout the process. I'm blown away. Just incredible.