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Let the hating begin...the Anarchist has been converted!

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
Here's a conversion that would look great! :)

14c26dfd6634d4504e6dc362e588c231--hunger-games-drawings-scout-activities.jpg

Another option...

41UfdIovnnL.jpg
 

Dragonkoi

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2015
Messages
37
I like it, it looks like a real mean machine now. I think you just finished off what the previous owner started with the sticker. This is how it was meant to turn out. Play it until it dies.
 

thin sissy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
For all the haters: I think Charlie's quote of "Because we wanted to" should close the case once and for all on conversions. It's their property, let them do what they wish with it. And he's got a set of PAFs to put in it --- surprise, surprise! I doubt those are NOS pickups that were found in a drawer in Kalamazoo and saved for a rainy day. Those pickups came out of a guitar that was sold for parts. So, at the end of the day, JB is going to be playing a converted Les Paul with PAFs that came from a guitar that got parted out. :hmm Can we make that thread sticky? Cheers, guys. Looks badass!
Where's the hate? I'm honestly wondering, not trying to start anything. In my book hate is a totally different thing than what has been said in this thread.

How is it so weird that some of us feel a sting of sadness when a thing we like is removed from the world. I always read the response "It's his property, he can do whatever he wants with it". I agree, that is correct! Still, if one starts a thread with a title like this on a discussion forum I would assume they are after comments, positive or critical. Am I crazy? If anyone thinks so, please read my previous comment in this thread, I really don't think it was a harsh one.

Again, I'm not saying this is morally wrong or anything.

An example to demonstrate my point: I don't have any strong opinions on 60's rosewood strats. If I bought one of those and had it routed for humbuckers, I would understand that people who love those strats would feel sad that I routed it. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if some people expressed that opinion to me when I showed it to them. I wouldn't call them haters (until maybe one of them punched me in the face).

I'm already regretting this post, but what the hell. I've tried to be as clear and fair as I can :salude
 

CDaughtry

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner and Moderator
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
12,646
For all the haters: I think Charlie's quote of "Because we wanted to" should close the case once and for all on conversions. It's their property, let them do what they wish with it. And he's got a set of PAFs to put in it --- surprise, surprise! I doubt those are NOS pickups that were found in a drawer in Kalamazoo and saved for a rainy day. Those pickups came out of a guitar that was sold for parts. So, at the end of the day, JB is going to be playing a converted Les Paul with PAFs that came from a guitar that got parted out. :hmm Can we make that thread sticky? Cheers, guys. Looks badass!


If you find a 60's Strat routed for a humbucker, please let me know. I want one so bad! However, I'd never route one on my own. A 52 Goldtop is different in my opinion. It was a flawed design, that can't be made fully right without modifying it. Could it have been less modified than what we did? Absolutely, but the Glaser tailpiece, while making it better, doesn't entirely cure the flaw. Indeed, as you can see from this pic, things were done to this guitar in an attempt to make it play better WAY before we owned it.
 

thin sissy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
If you find a 60's Strat routed for a humbucker, please let me know. I want one so bad! However, I'd never route one on my own. A 52 Goldtop is different in my opinion. It was a flawed design, that can't be made fully right without modifying it. Could it have been less modified than what we did? Absolutely, but the Glaser tailpiece, while making it better, doesn't entirely cure the flaw. Indeed, as you can see from this pic, things were done to this guitar in an attempt to make it play better WAY before we owned it.
CD, I hope you take my comment for what it is, just a nuanced (I hope) way to describe why not everyone loves the idea of routed P-90 Les Pauls. The bridge mod is totally understandable IMHO. Also, this wasn't so much directed at this particular guitar, it was more of a comment on the recent threads about routing, in which the P-90 camp are sometimes called out as snobs who don't care about the principles of ownership :)

The guitar looks awesome and I'm sure I would love it if I tried it :salude
 

KR1

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
266
A "converted" Anarchist, aka "Cash." The one and only....

johnny-cash-the-finger_a-g-5244317-0.jpg
 

Thundermtn

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2016
Messages
548
The real question, does this conversion make it intelligible to be the king of the "turd" collection?
 

J.D.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
Agreed that '52s have some tailpiece issues. There were very knowledgeable people with first hand information who made the modification decisions. What good is a guitar that doesn't play and sound right?

I personally don't like the sticker and would attempt to carefully try to remove it. But since it isn't mine wgaf. As long as CD and JB are happy it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
 

rifle

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2002
Messages
104
There is a reason why humbuckers are invented and why P90 is not as common today.
Supercool guitar anyway!

:dude:
 

MikeSlub

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
15,166
A 52 Goldtop is different in my opinion. It was a flawed design, that can't be made fully right without modifying it.

Charlie, let me say first that I have no issues with your decision process that led to modifying the guitar.

While I agree that a '52 Goldtop is a flawed design, I do take some issue with the statement of making it "fully right."

It depends on your criteria. If your definition of "fully right" means that it is difficult if not impossible to palm mute the guitar, then I understand your decision to modify. Obviously, another criteria for you was that humbuckers were a preferred option over P-90s.

But if someone simply wants to play rhythm guitar and isn't big on palm muting, I believe an unmodified 1952 Goldtop with P-90s has a special quality and sound that pleases my ears. I love mine for what it does. I don't expect it to do everything. It's "right" for what I need it to do.

Not all tools do everything. A '52 LP isn't a Swiss Army knife. It is indeed limited in how it can be used unmodified, but IMO it is a wonderful tool for what it does.

Just my opinion. :hank
 
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DonRowe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
840
I need some in hand time with this to give my blessings and evaluations .. A year or 2 should do :spabout
 

Ed A

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
We had the guitar for months before we made the decision to fully convert it. The P-90s in it were unremarkable, the bridge even with the Glaser compensation mod was ok at best, finally you gotta ask yourself... ? Why do I own this ? It’s been messed with before and not mint ... suddenly the decision process becomes a no brainer. :salude
Joe B

Same thing happened with me and my trapeze '53.... I REALLY tried to love it... did the Glaser thing too... and it JUST wasnt happening... already had a busted headstock so I converted with PAFs and I was off to the races.... And Joe played it for nearly a half hour at one of his shows so it musta been good!

Seriously Charlie, damn I am in LOVE with the way that thing looks, and now it sounds like a REAL Les Paul LOL!
 

lare65

Active member
Joined
Feb 18, 2017
Messages
110
Looks great! Would look even better without the sticker.:salude
 

jimmi

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,077
In principle I am not against modifying the right guitar depending on the issues (minor finish issues or it having had a switch or bigsby aren’t enough for me). That said, I have played a 52 with one of the other bridges (mojo axe?) and there wasn’t a problem palm muting.


Joe, in the past you have said conversions haven’t played well for you and felt “stiff”. How about this one? (The ones I have owned and played have always played like any other vintage Gibson to me at least).
 
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