Difference between 57's and Goldtop 58's?

[delawaregold]

Not all 1957 Goldtops had Maple Tops. The "Route" would have been a through hole.

 

[paulster]

Don't know the measurements, but it's pretty obvious to the eye.

awesome information! i have different years to compare. thank you

 

[TM1]

With sharper corners on SS covers and generally lower output pickups than late 1958 PAFs and beyond.

See my early 1957 below:

Wow, That's clean! Do you clean it everytime you're done playing it? Not trying to be an A-hole, but some folks do clean their guitars after everytime they get played. I have a friend who has an L-4 & an L-5 and he cleans them before they go back in the case..

 

[rockabilly69]

I

I have a friend who has an L-4 & an L-5 and he cleans them before they go back in the case..

I do that most of the time. I just like to take care of things.

 

[Professortwang]

You have a lot of things to take care of 😬

 

[MikeSlub]

Don't forget that there were a handful of '57 Goldtops that had all-mahogany bodies and tops. This is one of them. Heavy as hell, but plays and sounds great! Poker chip is a repro. EDIT: Missed the earlier post on all-mahogany LPs.

 

[Bruce R]

No difference in the type of fret wire between the '57 and the '58? Wasn't 1958 when they went to a heavier wire?

 

[rockabilly69]

You have a lot of things to take care of 😬

ain't that the truth, but then so do you

 

[rockabilly69]

Don't forget that there were a handful of '57 Goldtops that had all-mahogany bodies and tops. This is one of them. Heavy as hell, but plays and sounds great! Poker chip is a repro. EDIT: Missed the earlier post on all-mahogany LPs.

View attachment 21425

Heavy as hell, how heavy is that??? Beauty of a guitar Mike!

 

[G650]

No difference in the type of fret wire between the '57 and the '58? Wasn't 1958 when they went to a heavier wire?

Early 59 IIRC

 

[MikeSlub]

Heavy as hell, how heavy is that??? Beauty of a guitar Mike!

10 lbs.

 

[rockabilly69]

10 lbs.

hammer of the gods

 

[57gold]

Wow, That's clean! Do you clean it everytime you're done playing it? Not trying to be an A-hole, but some folks do clean their guitars after everytime they get played. I have a friend who has an L-4 & an L-5 and he cleans them before they go back in the case..

Sadly or stupidly, it doesn't get played much.

Bought it 25 years ago for not much $, even though was the most I spent on anything other than my house, car and perhaps some jewelry for my wife.

With what has happened to the vintage guitar market and the fact that I play out at local bars and jams, I feel better brining along a new build - Bartlett, JGs, Collings CL/I35s or for a vintage vibe my 1959 345 with double whites, for PAF tone. Have noticed a couple of members here showing off their vintage "road warriors". Have half a mind to sell it to a collector and find a beat GT to play out.

Another photo. Little ding through the lacquer on left bottom bout is it's only mark.

 

[Ricky_Rockhardo]

That's some serious gold, there^^^^^