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Burst Number 0 0252 ' Dirty Burst'

ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
For anyone interested in hearing the full story as to how we came upon this Burst, we have just edited a brief video detailing its acquisition:

What a fabulous experience for all concerned, thanks for sharing Mike.

I believe there are enough skilled and sympathetic hands out there, wherever it ends up, to bring this beautiful guitar to life again.

Imagine how thrilling it's going to be to hear it in all it's glory when it's match fit.

As the young 'uns say...subscribed.

Thanks again Mike.

Wot Larks.
 

bern1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
Not played in over 25 years, stored in a dusty, dry cupboard and no idea of value.
They also had a 1967 JTM 45 plexi and 4x12 but threw it away as the mice got to it when it was stored in a garage.
That is just the cat’s meow story man!
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
Walking into a room with a known burst- watching the case open- laying eyes on it- touching it- being told "go ahead"- it still gives me a bit of a piss shiver.
Having one walk in "back from the dead"- it something from the beyond. And it is a looker.
But the switch on the PG without any mods raises my eyebrows... Not questioning anything more than "why?"
 

Reddart

Active member
Joined
Feb 26, 2004
Messages
286
Walking into a room with a known burst- watching the case open- laying eyes on it- touching it- being told "go ahead"- it still gives me a bit of a piss shiver.
Having one walk in "back from the dead"- it something from the beyond. And it is a looker.
But the switch on the PG without any mods raises my eyebrows... Not questioning anything more than "why?"
Probably coil tap or some other kind of pickup wiring mod, I believe they said the pickups wiring/winding was suspect.
 

DrRobert

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2003
Messages
6,050
This is definitely in far worse shape than my 59 was (bigsby removed, one solder joint touched up, really faded). That took a while to sell. It was definitely over $200k, but add up refret, replaced bridge, heavily rewired, needs new pickguard, Bigsby scars, little figure, bad fade... I don't think it will make $200k restored. Maybe next year?

Still, a very cool story and great to see a wonderful guitar in good hands for a restoration!
 

ATB Guitars

New member
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
6
This is definitely in far worse shape than my 59 was (bigsby removed, one solder joint touched up, really faded). That took a while to sell. It was definitely over $200k, but add up refret, replaced bridge, heavily rewired, needs new pickguard, Bigsby scars, little figure, bad fade... I don't think it will make $200k restored. Maybe next year?

Still, a very cool story and great to see a wonderful guitar in good hands for a restoration!
Already sold!
 

Hayduke

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
24
I've really enjoyed watching this unfold. Thanks for sharing the story and especially documenting the transaction with JB. I can't wait to see him re-introduce it to the world.
 

nevray

New member
Joined
Apr 30, 2023
Messages
1
Hi, just watching Joe Bonamassa Bluray, Tales of Time, which was recorded at Red Rocks in Aug, 2022 and think he uses the Dirty Burst on a few numbers -still got the old scratch plate with that switch on it, hence why I recognised it. Looks and sounds great, but then it would in Mr Bonamassa's hands. Who ever did the restoration work did a great job!
 

Larry Natalini

New member
Joined
Aug 25, 2023
Messages
9
Thought the members here may like to hear the story of how we found this undiscovered Burst right on our doorstep here in Cheltenham, UK. It just goes to show they are still out there but sadly I do not think this will be an everyday occurrence for us...!

I have enclosed some pics of it in the exact state we received it. If anyone wants to see any more pics it is on our website, with a full set of around 60 pics, the direct link is here

A few weeks ago we received a call from a teacher who lives locally, for us to have a look at and value a guitar belonging to her Dad who gave it to her to look after while he was moving house. She looked online for the model and came up with prices of around £5,000 so she asked us to confirm the valuation so she could increase her household insurance.

She initially sent through some blurry pics taken at a weird angle which looked rather odd and at first I thought it may be some kind of 70's Burst copy made by someone like Dick Knight or similar (there were a few UK builders doing this in the 70/80's). The fingerboard in places did not even look like rosewood it was so dry so I said I would need to see it in person to give an accurate valuation. She made an appointment and two weeks later she walked in with an original looking Cali Girl case, at which point things started to get interesting...

I had a good look at it and instantly recognised it for what it was but to be 100% sure we delved in to it internally and checked out each part. It was and still is, in terrible condition. It had not been cleaned for 30 years and stored in a dry cupboard. The bridge posts had snapped clean off and the ABR-1 was resting on steel washers and old gaffa tape. The pickups had been out then spliced back in with cheap plastic wire and we could not get a sensible reading from them. The guitar was overall, in one of the worst condition I have seen and was totally filthy with a bronze wound D string. It also has an added Bigsby, extra screw holes and half of the original screws have been replaced.

When it came time for my assessment, I told her I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is it is in terrible, awful condition, it has bits missing and bits added. It is totally unplayable and will need a complete restoration before is in a condition to play and even work as an electric guitar. In fact it was one of the worst condition guitars I have seen!

The good news is it is an original early 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard aka the ‘Burst’. It is one of the most desirable guitars on the planet and it is probably worth close to £200,000. There was total stunned silence when I told her this and after a while her face just dropped in disbelief. I wish we could have filmed this!

She said her Dad bought it in 1967 for £50 after seeing Eric Clapton play one at the Marquee in London so it has been a pretty good investment for him to say the least. She told her Dad what we told her, but her Dad just thought she was pulling his leg and only started to believe her when the money started to appear in their account.

It has since been sold to a very good home and I believe it is being refurbished by its current owner who I am sure will bring it to life again.

In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy some of the pics which is exactly how it was presented to us.

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Dirty but purty
 
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