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ideal conversion candidates + general conversion info?

JBLPplayer

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Sep 29, 2010
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1,136
Hammer and nails... Tool kit guitar. That's what it's all about. Then there is the mint stuff. You are up late Eric.. Hope you are well. :dude:
 
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jimmi

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Oct 8, 2012
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2,077
I think you always have to veiw things in context of the times. In the 70s-80s a lot of people did a bunch of stuff to vintage guitars. I remeber pulling PAF pat#s out of an early 60s SG because the owner wanted "better" new demarzios we had for sale. He didnt even want the pickups back. Added two small switches for coil taps...surprised in retrospect he didnt have us install a Floyd Rose.

Today, there are plenty conversions around and many are good and in the ball park of good to great bursts if done properly with a good set up. Some stinkers and average ones like anything. They arent hard to find so i dont see the need to convert one now. Certainly disagree with the approach that some have taken of systematicly hunting them down and converting them.
 

mistersnappy

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Jan 20, 2006
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7,321
Myself being a player will absolutely make no apology for wanting to butcher a 52 to give it new life as a 59 replica, and I would do it more than once. :fc

Why not just get a "59 replica" from Gibson? This is a perfect example of the insanity created by the Burst mythology. I'm surprised there are still original '52s still around at this point.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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14,537
Will this stupidity ever end?

Too true. It seems that an "ISSUE" is dependent upon the desire to mutilate and otherwise destroy an original guitar,(all of which are collectable, even players grade), to bastardize some cobbled together pseudo burst.

The proof of which is 58-60 Burst seem not to have these same issues. Refin, no problem, refret, no problem, headstock break same thing on and on, yet a gold top that maybe has had a string change and no longer has it's original factory strings is an issue. CONVERT IT!!!

A Goldtop with a missing knob, CONVERT IT!!! Changed tuning keys, CONVERT IT!

I don't like the practice and find it repugnent to do on any guitar that could easily be restored to it's original condition. I can understand on guitars with major issues I cannot afford another Burst in my life. So I bought some Historics a better deal all the way around for me. :bigal
 

jimmi

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Oct 8, 2012
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2,077
I think if the guitar has been previously routed is where my line us at this point. Already had HB then it will always show eventually.

Too true. It seems that an "ISSUE" is dependent upon the desire to mutilate and otherwise destroy an original guitar,(all of which are collectable, even players grade), to bastardize some cobbled together pseudo burst.

The proof of which is 58-60 Burst seem not to have these same issues. Refin, no problem, refret, no problem, headstock break same thing on and on, yet a gold top that maybe has had a string change and no longer has it's original factory strings is an issue. CONVERT IT!!!

A Goldtop with a missing knob, CONVERT IT!!! Changed tuning keys, CONVERT IT!

I don't like the practice and find it repugnent to do on any guitar that could easily be restored to it's original condition. I can understand on guitars with major issues I cannot afford another Burst in my life. So I bought some Historics a better deal all the way around for me. :bigal
 

Kris Ford

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Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
How about this as an ideal conversion candidate? :##

s-l1600.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIBSON-LES-...d7c8a18&pid=100276&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=172080441764

Gotta have the matching bass!:spabout
s-l1600.jpg
 

fcsnut

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Sep 15, 2015
Messages
248
Why not just get a "59 replica" from Gibson? This is a perfect example of the insanity created by the Burst mythology. I'm surprised there are still original '52s still around at this point.


I was fine with that concept until I played a burst then a 52 conversion with a new maple top(which also bugged me, it's not an old guitar anymore.)
 

jimmi

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Oct 8, 2012
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mistersnappy

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Jan 20, 2006
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I was fine with that concept until I played a burst then a 52 conversion with a new maple top(which also bugged me, it's not an old guitar anymore.)

I guess once its already done, it might as well be played but I personally want to throttle any "luthier" who wants to put on a new maple cap just because it doesn't have "flame". :dang
 

CBRmatt600

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
I also believe in the P-90 pickup. I love humbuckers too but not enough to sacrifice one of my babies for the burst mirage. Put the router down and learn to love the guitar the way it was made.

This. For the sake of those of us who have been hoarding cash hoping to one day own an original P-90 Goldtop, please don't destroy another one.
 

fcsnut

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Sep 15, 2015
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I guess once its already done, it might as well be played but I personally want to throttle any "luthier" who wants to put on a new maple cap just because it doesn't have "flame". :dang

THAT we can agree on! :dude:
 

buyusfear

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Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
2,951
No one cared when I converted it in 1985, and in fact, most guitarist at the time would have said I did the world a favor.

I'm glad I didn't put PAFs in it. No reason to.

View attachment 4102

I would have to respectfully disagree, but that's just my opinion.
However, that's still not as bad as raping a perfectly good guitar to try and have it be something else that it isn't.
Every conversation i've had about, "oh but its the old wood man" have been with folks who's opinion's were largely if not entirely based on internet readings and online forums, never having actually played a well built guitar.

Take the vintage build recipe, re-do it today, with "New" growth wood (even though the last time I checked- mahogany that was 8 quarter thick by 14-15 inches wide was considered old by most), and your results will be just as consistently inconsistent as they were in the 50's. Again, all my opinion.

Bursts are valuable because they're rare and are a quality product.
I learned that my first day at business school, supply and demand. Not because their wood and build methods were made by mysterious monks hidden away on some mountaintop.

Unless a conversion was the byproduct of some former butchery or poor decisions, I will never applaud someone going down that route.
I think the less we as a vintage guitar community applaud this type of GAS, the better chance these old treasures will remain as such.

YMMV.
 

sikoniko

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Aug 28, 2012
Messages
675
I don't comprehend how people can re-top a conversion and still ask (and get I assume) top dollar. I see people asking more for a re-topped conversion than an off-center seem, little flame, or gt conversion. It's like flame is the point, and it doesn't matter that the guitar is a Frankenstein now. IMO, it should be priced accordingly in the player-grade range, and below that of an original wood conversion.
 

hogy

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Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
715
[...] Most conversions I've played with exception of a few "GI Paul" being one of them, played stiff and would be put in the very average section. [...]

Joe, I find this statement intriguing. I have felt the same way on more than one occasion. Can you elaborate a bit more on what "playing stiff" means to you, and do you have any guesses on what might the cause of it?
 
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