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Fixing up my dad's seventies LP Custom

Mike Moss

New member
Joined
Jun 22, 2022
Messages
7
Fantastic that it has the original pots so you can date it.

Does the back of the headstock have a volute? I may be wrong but I think the 54 Reissues didn't have one.
It does have a volute, I guess that means it's a regular Custom
 

Hamerfan

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
I say, the pickups are original to the guitar. The solder joints are not touched and original. Those clear bobbins pickups were used from 1968 to mid 80 ies.
What you Dad did was that he changed out the black covers. The good thing is that you can buy today covers from Gibson with the same markings.
 

dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
Can you take a pic of the inside of the neck pickup rout?

I AM nagging by this point, and I do apologise, but you're looking to see if there's a deep central channel.

I'm lazy and don't want to take apart and photograph one of my own guitars but I will if no one posts a pic of what I'm talking about.
 

Mike Moss

New member
Joined
Jun 22, 2022
Messages
7
Sure thing dnabbet2, I'll remove the neck pickup and take pics next time I change the strings.

Hamerfan, looks like you're right, for some reason I assumed it must have come with buckers but I was wrong. I'll look into the covers and put them back on, I might also replace the gold hardware parts and keep the chrome ones as a keepsake.
 

dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
Yeah, let us know what you find in the pickup cavity.

If it was a '54 reissue, they're worth a bit of dough these days -- I remember buying and selling the SAME one twice for about $500USD in the 1980s but I see them listed for over ten times that now.

Seymour Duncan makes a good staple, as I say, and there are lots of sources for hardware: I have Faber hardware on one of my own Customs. BUT, if you want the guitar as a memento of your dad, keep it as it is and save the dough.

Tell us how it works out.
 

Hamerfan

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
Sure thing dnabbet2, I'll remove the neck pickup and take pics next time I change the strings.

Hamerfan, looks like you're right, for some reason I assumed it must have come with buckers but I was wrong. I'll look into the covers and put them back on, I might also replace the gold hardware parts and keep the chrome ones as a keepsake.
Good idea! Black Soapbar is the name.

 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,020
If the neck pickup is a replacement, it matches the bridge.
If you go looking for a used p90, very few have the clear bobbin.
That guitar must have a good story.
 
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dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
Oops.

For the sticklers, a Robbie Krieger would have a Duncan mini-humbucker as original, obviously.

I hope that's clear as mud.
 

Azmedian

Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2017
Messages
35
IMO bring it back to playability minimum. Deep Clean

If you want refret with Stainless Steel & If you want to change pick ups Mini humbuckers (70's) IDK if Customs came with Mini's

Definitly a factory "2"nd
 

clearmudd

Active member
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
499
As already mention earlier in the thread,... if it's a '54 reissue it would have originally came with a "Staple" pickup in the neck position. It would have a different route than a P90.
It would have deeper route to fit a "Staple" pup as you can see by the junk hanging below in this pic. The screws and springs are there to adjust the height of each pair of magnets.

P90StapleSoapBar__17500.jpg
 
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Mwoodbro

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2002
Messages
158
Fantastic that it has the original pots so you can date it.

Does the back of the headstock have a volute? I may be wrong but I think the 54 Reissues didn't have one.
I believe a few things to differentiate those early 70's LPC and Goldtop reissues is that they had no volute, one piece neck, non-pancake body
 

KS 5150

Active member
Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Messages
137
Another vote here for making it as playable as possible and leave it alone. I have two of my dad's old guitars (Strat & Tele) and I haven't messed with them.
 
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