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Les Paul Custom - what year?

123sg

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Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
1972 Gibson Les Paul custom mahogany neck
Congrats! I love Norlin Era Black Les Paul customs!!



I've never heard of a LPC from the 70s having problems with neck dive...
Thanks for responding, perhaps he was covering the additional expense of sanding the neck down with the pearl. He does good work and I let him do the job also put in a Thicker fret
 

123sg

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Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
It is a 1972 custom With Gibson imposed And pick ups. Any idea what kind of pick ups these would be.? What would you recommend size frets? Thanks again I really like this form trying toLearn it new to iPhone
 

123sg

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Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
It is a 1972 custom With Gibson imposed And pick ups. Any idea what kind of pick ups these would be.? What would you recommend size frets? Thanks again I really like this form trying toLearn it new to iPhone
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Recently picked up a 72 custom 72. My guitar tech said there are issues with the neck and these guitars? He’s doing a refret Which I suspect that it needed but had to take extra material out and of course the pearl and lays and lays because the neck tips down. It has a mahogany neck and said this was common in the early Les Pauls 70s customs . Anyone have experience with this?
Nothing in this post makes any sense or match the real world I know. "My guitar tech said", is the 4 word preamble to more goofy crap I've read that it comes as no surprise anymore. I see that phrase and I know it's gonna be wacky world of fake guitar physics and phoney baloney loony tune time.

WTF???

No there is no ISSUES with these necks. They are extraordinary, excellent Kalamazoo crafted vintage feeling necks. Volutes and reduced headstock pitch, or higher neck pitch are only issues for 50's obssessed fanatics and pose no structural, or functional issue.

Refrets are common as not everyone prefers the low skinny flat Fretless Wonder stock fret. Randy Rhodes did though, and preferred them stock.

Remove material and mother of pearl inlay?????? To prevent NECK DIVE???????
I'm not sure how to respond to such a fantasy delusion. WTF kind of fly by night hack, so
called "my guitar tech", baffoon did you take an early LP Custom to be butchered too???

"My guitar tech", ..... hardly instills confidence.
 
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123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
Nothing in this post makes any sense or match the real world I know. "My guitar tech said", is the 4 word preamble to more goofy crap I've read that it comes as no surprise anymore. I see that phrase and I know it's gonna be wacky world of fake guitar physics and phoney baloney loony tune time.

WTF???

No there is no ISSUES with these necks. They are extraordinary, excellent Kalamazoo crafted vintage feeling necks. Volutes and reduced headstock pitch, or higher neck pitch are only issues for 50's obssessed fanatics and pose no structural, or functional issue.

Refrets are common as not everyone prefers the low skinny flat Fretless Wonder stock fret. Randy Rhodes did though, and preferred them stock.

Remove material and mother of pearl inlay?????? To prevent NECK DIVE???????
I'm not sure how to respond to such a fantasy delusion. WTF kind of fly by night hack, so
called "my guitar tech", baffoon did you take an early LP Custom to be butchered too???

"My guitar tech", ..... hardly instills confidence.
Nothing in this post makes any sense or match the real world I know. "My guitar tech said", is the 4 word preamble to more goofy crap I've read that it comes as no surprise anymore. I see that phrase and I know it's gonna be wacky world of fake guitar physics and phoney baloney loony tune time.

WTF???

No there is no ISSUES with these necks. They are extraordinary, excellent Kalamazoo crafted vintage feeling necks. Volutes and reduced headstock pitch, or higher neck pitch are only issues for 50's obssessed fanatics and pose no structural, or functional issue.

Refrets are common as not everyone prefers the low skinny flat Fretless Wonder stock fret. Randy Rhodes did though, and preferred them stock.

Remove material and mother of pearl inlay?????? To prevent NECK DIVE???????
I'm not sure how to respond to such a fantasy delusion. WTF kind of fly by night hack, so
called "my guitar tech", baffoon did you take an early LP Custom to be butchered too???

"My guitar tech", ..... hardly instills confidence.
Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve probably been listening to too much YouTube reviews “Guitar tech”. But don’t you think to do a proper fretInstall andleveling of the fretboard you have to alter the pearl inlays Or there will be a discrepancy in height and a different note what kind of pick ups would be in a 72 LPC
 

123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve probably been listening to too much YouTube reviews “Guitar tech”. But don’t you think to do a proper fretInstall andleveling of the fretboard you have to alter the pearl inlays Or there will be a discrepancy in height and a different note what kind of pick ups would be in a 72 LPC
 

guitartsar

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
85
Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve probably been listening to too much YouTube reviews “Guitar tech”. But don’t you think to do a proper fretInstall andleveling of the fretboard you have to alter the pearl inlays Or there will be a discrepancy in height and a different note what kind of pick ups would be in a 72 LPC
Les Paul's especially from the 70's don't suffer from neck dive as the bodies are too heavy and are normally well balanced. That's usually an issue for lighter bodied/heavy neck guitars like the Firebird, Explorer, V etc........The LPC should have Patent sticker T-Tops. 1972 was the only year they did embosed covers. I hope the poor guitar survives whatever is being done to it!!! These guitars need very sympathetic work carried out. If it were mine I'd take it to a luthier with a good reputation as early 70's LPC's are starting to command decent prices. You may or may not want to keep the binding nibs when the refret is done. I prefer to keep them but it makes the refret more expensive and time consuming. The fretboard should only require very light if any levelling and so the pearl inlays shouln't be disturbed unless there's a major issue with the neck like twisting or extreme wear. Good luck!
 

123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
Les Paul's especially from the 70's don't suffer from neck dive as the bodies are too heavy and are normally well balanced. That's usually an issue for lighter bodied/heavy neck guitars like the Firebird, Explorer, V etc........The LPC should have Patent sticker T-Tops. 1972 was the only year they did embosed covers. I hope the poor guitar survives whatever is being done to it!!! These guitars need very sympathetic work carried out. If it were mine I'd take it to a luthier with a good reputation as early 70's LPC's are starting to command decent prices. You may or may not want to keep the binding nibs when the refret is done. I prefer to keep them but it makes the refret more expensive and time consuming. The fretboard should only require very light if any levelling and so the pearl inlays shouln't be disturbed unless there's a major issue with the neck like twisting or extreme wear. Good luck!
Thanks for your responses . Just got off the phone with luthier said there was a significant rise at the 12th or the 14th fretOr neck joint area successfully removed the inlays and commencing sanding fretboard is the best luthier in town most his clientele or professional rock bands . He didmention that this was a common problem. Again.Thanks for info pick ups as well looking forward to playing
 

123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
Thanks for your responses . Just got off the phone with luthier said there was a significant rise at the 12th or the 14th fretOr neck joint area successfully removed the inlays and commencing sanding fretboard is the best luthier in town most his clientele or professional rock bands . He didmention that this was a common problem. Again.Thanks for info pick ups as well looking forward to playing
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve probably been listening to too much YouTube reviews “Guitar tech”. But don’t you think to do a proper fretInstall andleveling of the fretboard you have to alter the pearl inlays Or there will be a discrepancy in height and a different note what kind of pick ups would be in a 72 LPC
I don't know the qualifications of your "guitar tech", and your post would lead me to believe he is unqualified. There is a history of these type posts where bad advise and just plain out falsehoods and lies, have been presented as fact because "my guitar tech" said so.
Either an imaginary made up person or an acual feeble bumbler, self anointed repairman setting up shop in the local shop.

As noted, there should be no altering of the fingerboard for most refrets, except for extreme rare cases with specific repair issues. I am a longtime guitar tech/repairman and it is concerning too me this rash of self proclaimed repair idiots.

Les Pauls are not neck heavy and removing fingerboard material is not, and never was a fix for any neck heavy guitar. That claim is false.

Proper fret job would entail a light very fine sanding or scraping to clean and prep the straightend necks fingerboard after the old frets have been removed. On an early 70's Custom I do it to remove the tiny binding nubs as I almost always refret these guitars with wider and quite taller fretwire. I carefully undercut the tang at the very ends and fret over the binding. It is precise and takes skill. That amount of material is miniscule and would not alter the weight or fingerboard other than looking cleaner and grunge free. Though the new frets are larger the wouldn't cause neck dive.

You often see claims of humps or rises at the body/neck joint, but in the over 30yrs I've done this it was mostly a case of improper truss rod adjustment. Any body hump so severe as to need planed fingerboard would mean the guitar was unplayable beyond the 12th fret. I've never seen one that couldn't be fixed by proper neck truss adjustment and fret leveling. There may be extreme cases of this, I've never seen it and am very wary and suspect of those who claim it.

Often I may need to make a new nut as the taller frets are often incompatible with the old nut. I prefer polished bone. Even though heavier it would'nt cause neck dive. Same for brass.

When done, after levelling and crowning I shape and profile fret ends, roll the edges and polish the frets and fingerboard, string up and setup.

Your 1972 or '73 embossed logo pickups would be pu490 Original Humbucker model, often called Ttop Pickups.
 
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123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
I don't know the qualifications of your "guitar tech", and your post would lead me to believe he is unqualified. There is a history of these type posts where bad advise and just plain out falsehoods and lies, have been presented as fact because "my guitar tech" said so.
Either an imaginary made up person or an acual feeble bumbler, self anointed repairman setting up shop in the local shop.

As noted, there should be no altering of the fingerboard for most refrets, except for extreme rare cases with specific repair issues. I am a longtime guitar tech/repairman and it is concerning too me this rash of self proclaimed repair idiots.

Les Pauls are not neck heavy and removing fingerboard material is not, and never was a fix for any neck heavy guitar. That claim is false.

Proper fret job would entail a light very fine sanding or scraping to clean and prep the straightend necks fingerboard after the old frets have been removed. On an early 70's Custom I do it to remove the tiny binding nubs as I almost always refret these guitars with wider and quite taller fretwire. I carefully undercut the tang at the very ends and fret over the binding. It is precise and takes skill. That amount of material is miniscule and would not alter the weight or fingerboard other than looking cleaner and grunge free. Though the new frets are larger the wouldn't cause neck dive.

You often see claims of humps or rises at the body/neck joint, but in the over 30yrs I've done this it was mostly a case of improper truss rod adjustment. Any body hump so severe as to need planed fingerboard would mean the guitar was unplayable beyond the 12th fret. I've never seen one that couldn't be fixed by proper neck truss adjustment and fret leveling. There may be extreme cases of this, I've never seen it and am very wary and suspect of those who claim it.

Often I may need to make a new nut as the taller frets are often incompatible with the old nut. I prefer polished bone. Even though heavier it would'nt cause neck dive. Same for brass.

When done, after levelling and crowning I shape and profile fret ends, roll the edges and polish the frets and fingerboard, string up and setup.

Your 1972 or '73 embossed logo pickups would be pu490 Original Humbucker model, often called Ttop Pickups.
Thanks for the follow up big Al you guys are really serious about Les Pauls I love it Thanks for the info on the T tops toO all I can do now is trust the process and I’ll send pictures. In the meantime I have a 2000 tobacco burst standard It has a set a really strong pick ups which I like any info on these pick ups . Year 2000 the neck has been repaired professionally I bought it like this but it has a slight buzz Seventh fret d String nothing to step behind nothing above it? Also what causes it the neck face plate to get a crinkly look this is a manufacture flawOr flood damage? Thanks
 

123sg

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
125
Thanks for the follow up big Al you guys are really serious about Les Pauls I love it Thanks for the info on the T tops toO all I can do now is trust the process and I’ll send pictures. In the meantime I have a 2000 tobacco burst standard It has a set a really strong pick ups which I like any info on these pick ups . Year 2000 the neck has been repaired professionally I bought it like this but it has a slight buzz Seventh fret d String nothing to step behind nothing above it? Also what causes it the neck face plate to get a crinkly look this is a manufacture flawOr flood damage? Thanks
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Thanks for the follow up big Al you guys are really serious about Les Pauls I love it Thanks for the info on the T tops toO all I can do now is trust the process and I’ll send pictures. In the meantime I have a 2000 tobacco burst standard It has a set a really strong pick ups which I like any info on these pick ups . Year 2000 the neck has been repaired professionally I bought it like this but it has a slight buzz Seventh fret d String nothing to step behind nothing above it? Also what causes it the neck face plate to get a crinkly look this is a manufacture flawOr flood damage? Thanks
Sounds like a simple case of a high fret. With seasonal climate changes in humidity wood will expand and contract. Metal not so much. Up here I pretty much plan on bi-annual setups, Winter and Summer. Contracting wood in dry, (low humidity), season like winter is what causes fret ends to feel sharp or on bound necks cracks appear by the nibs.

It may cause a fret to rise among other things. You can sometimes tap it back down with a fret hammer. Then level, crown and polish. Good idea to put a small bead of glue along the high frets base before tapping down. I work it in with my finger when using titebond and snug slots. With sloppy slots that the fret keeps popping out of I use water thin super glue, it wicks into the slot and either way I will clamp the frets down to set.

Tobacco burst is a favorite finish of mine, I like that color on every kind of guitar. I have a 2000 Standard and it is a firm favorite, having gigged and toured with it constantly until I was unable to play and forced to quit. Refretted with 6100's when I wore them out. Pickups were 57 Classics and they suit me very well. Excellent pups and favourites of mine. Big fan of Ttops too. I have an early 70's Goldtop Deluxe I really like and have played it for almost 50yrs. I try to keep stuff I like. Been with my wife almost as long, I'm an old hoarder.

Not sure about your headstocks wrinkley face. Pics would help.
 
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KennyInKY

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Feb 25, 2021
Messages
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aNYBODY WANNA WEIGH IN. cOULD THEY BE PRE 62 OR A REPRO?
 

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