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Gold Top Conversions

Bouldergold

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
70
Some Gold Top Conversions are re - finished covering up the holes and marks from earlier....some are left as is showing all the scars.

I wonder is that a good thing or bad in terms of value?

Any insights?
 

bern1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
In general, I would always prefer an original finish vintage guitar. I would consider a refinished guitar to be of less value, regardless of the quality, beauty or the name of the person/entity who applied the newer finish.

What I cannot make any pronouncement on however, is how a buyer of such a hypothetical guitar might perceive the situation today or tomorrow.

To the OP, if you are considering a GT conversion, I would first devote some thought as to which camp you would like to be in, then shop accordingly. There are bound to be relatively plentiful choices either way.
 

Jeggz

Active member
Joined
Jul 29, 2017
Messages
109
First and foremost I’d always prefer original finish.

Now that we got that outta the way, in order to have a 52-53‘s neck joint to be “correct”, you’d need a refin. Now you can keep the original finish, and use a shim underneath the fretboard to make the angle, and it’ll be great, but it won’t be “the same” as vintage. I opted the refin route, and never looked back. The value in these guitars are the sum of its parts, the husk, and who did it. Original finish might bring in one buyer, while the shim might turn off another, the refin might deter one guy, while the “correct“ neck joint might be what someone wants.

Just figure out what’s more important, or find a 54 that’s been converted already (but then you’ll have plugged stud holes that might turn some buyer off), or go top shelf and find a converted 56.
 

AA00475Bassman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
Although my first Les Paul purchased 1973 was 57 - 59 conversion , no hole's to hide just another refinish my last refinished guitar .

I would not consider any refinished Gold even with neck set plugged holes !
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
I'm very happy with my '55>'57 conversion/restoration. The work done (humbucker routes and top refin by Florian Jaeger) made it affordable enough to take it out for gigs and rehearsals without security. It has been my No1 since I got it in 2015!

Current state in 2021

goldtop55.jpeg


When I got it in 2015.

dsc08875.jpg
 

tom wu

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2003
Messages
984
This is a nice one at 8.3 pounds on 'verb
 

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corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
That's the one I pinged you about- I didn't realize he had put it up on reverb. I played this guitar this winter in FL and it is a great conversion- great neck and sounds like you want. I think it would benefit from a good set of real PAF's.
 
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