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I went to my Grandmother's closet, and I found a 1970..

mjj209

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Apr 8, 2021
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I went to my grandmother's closet, and found a 1970 Les Paul Custom! Maybe I missed the deadline for this section by a year, but I thought I would ask the question: What should I do to ensure the guitar is playing well for a long time? Also, does anything look non-original? The frets seems to be fairly high for this kind of guitar.

This wasn't a total surprise, as I knew there was an electric guitar in the closet, and that my Great Uncle played it in the 70s. I just put some new strings on it, and it sounds great! The serial number puts it at 70-72, and the pot shows x37704 which I think indicates that it's a 1970. I also saw the pickups show "PATENT NO 2,737,842".



IMG_1001.jpegavatar.jpegblemish on side.jpegfrets.jpeg
 

mjj209

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Apr 8, 2021
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Update: I think I found the 'original' nut and 2 'original' frets in the case box. I think the guitar was re-fretted, and the luthier left a couple of the pieces around.
 

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Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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STUNNING!!!!

As has been mentioned, it's definitely been refretted, but no big deal.

If you don't work on your own guitars, take it to a qualified tech and have them give it the once over. Well worth it to do.


Congrats, HNGD
jam.gif
and play her in good health!
 

fernieite

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Jan 3, 2010
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Congrats! Does it have a "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock under the serial number?

Also, is there a volute (raised bump) on the back side of the neck close to the headstock?

My guess is that it has both, and is a late 70 or early 71...
 
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Wally

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Feb 27, 2003
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3,535
I went to my grandmother's closet, and found a 1970 Les Paul Custom! Maybe I missed the deadline for this section by a year, but I thought I would ask the question: What should I do to ensure the guitar is playing well for a long time? Also, does anything look non-original? The frets seems to be fairly high for this kind of guitar.

This wasn't a total surprise, as I knew there was an electric guitar in the closet, and that my Great Uncle played it in the 70s. I just put some new strings on it, and it sounds great! The serial number puts it at 70-72, and the pot shows x37704 which I think indicates that it's a 1970. I also saw the pickups show "PATENT NO 2,737,842".



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That pot code you show us has one more digit in the code that is covered by solder. That pot is from 1970…somewhere between the 40th and the 49th week. It is likely that the guitar was built in 1971. there are times during that period that one can get no closer than one of two or even three years.
good looking guitar that appears to have been well-cared for. Congrats!
 

Big Daddy Class

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Jan 11, 2020
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I have been fortunate enough to play many (dozens?) of 50s-60 LPs (Gold tops, Customs, and Bursts). Many of them refretted. I do not recall a single one that had all the nibs. Vastly most of them no nibs at all. Did not seem to hurt the value much.
 
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