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New Old Aged 73 Goldtop

Jethro Rocker

Jethro Rocker

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
438
Got a 1973 Deluxe Goldtop. I wanted something that is and looks 50 years old. Other than a couple, my guitars are all quite new and I will never live long enough to see them get aged.
Goldies seem to age really cool with finish checking, greening etc so I went on the hunt.
Found one with cracks in the finish, checking, some arm wear. Surprisingly no finish gone from the back. It isn't all original but I don't care. Pretty hefty at 9lb 9 oz. I am getting a higher output mini HB to see. I am a higher gain guy.
Cool mojo IMO.

LUv1aVU.jpg


7OVMFh3.jpg


Qhu3Hrj.jpg


l3R57nC.jpg


44m64bW.jpg


ySB95Ej.jpg


uok36aR.jpg
 
Triplet

Triplet

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
1,676
Nice. Reminds me of mine when I first got it. I stupidly stripped the goldtop finish. I don't even remember why now. Anyway, there was a faded burst finish underneath which looked pretty sharp so I left it at that.
 
Elmore

Elmore

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
1,907
I have a ‘70 in cherry that was routed for full size buckers. My experience is the neck position on a LP Deluxe with minis is fantastic. I could see replacing the bridge pickup with a hotter proper fitting mini. Also, those minis go great in the neck of Telecasters. That is what I did. IMG_3411-compressed.jpeg
 
rockabilly69

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
3,002
Jethro Rocker said:
No I haven't. I currently have a Mojo tone higher output Mini with Alnico 8 mags coming.
DM also makes a Super Distortion HB in a P90 package.
Click to expand...
Never tried the Mojotone, but I have tried the P90 sized DiMarzio Super Distortion, I had one in the bridge of my old '72 Deluxe. I liked the ones I posted better though (in my friends LP Special) as it had more of a dynamic range where the Super D sounds a bit darker and compressed. The pickup I posted is a 11K DC resistance with alnico magnets, and the Super D is 13.5 with ceramic magnets.

That said, I like the Super D, I just put a full sized one in the bridge of this Tele Deluxe (with a DiMarzio PAF in the neck)...

hqi6cQV.jpg


But, I am not a super high gain player. The hardest I go for is 70's hard rock crunch with a bit of air around it. And I have master volume amps that help with that.

I'd like to hear the Mojotone, post a clip when you install it!
 
Jethro Rocker

Jethro Rocker

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
438
rockabilly69 said:
Never tried the Mojotone, but I have tried the P90 sized DiMarzio Super Distortion, I had one in the bridge of my old '72 Deluxe. I liked the ones I posted better though (in my friends LP Special) as it had more of a dynamic range where the Super D sounds a bit darker and compressed. The pickup I posted is a 11K DC resistance with alnico magnets, and the Super D is 13.5 with ceramic magnets.

That said, I like the Super D, I just put a full sized one in the bridge of this Tele Deluxe (with a DiMarzio PAF in the neck)...

hqi6cQV.jpg


But, I am not a super high gain player. The hardest I go for is 70's hard rock crunch with a bit of air around it. And I have master volume amps that help with that.

I'd like to hear the Mojotone, post a clip when you install it!
Click to expand...
Thanks!
I am 80s metal to more modern flavours. Will see how the Mojo pans out. Otherwise maybe the Super D.
 
shadowbox

shadowbox

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2024
Messages
10
Jethro Rocker said:
Got a 1973 Deluxe Goldtop. I wanted something that is and looks 50 years old. Other than a couple, my guitars are all quite new and I will never live long enough to see them get aged.
Goldies seem to age really cool with finish checking, greening etc so I went on the hunt.
Found one with cracks in the finish, checking, some arm wear. Surprisingly no finish gone from the back. It isn't all original but I don't care. Pretty hefty at 9lb 9 oz. I am getting a higher output mini HB to see. I am a higher gain guy.
Cool mojo IMO.

LUv1aVU.jpg


7OVMFh3.jpg


Qhu3Hrj.jpg


l3R57nC.jpg


44m64bW.jpg


ySB95Ej.jpg


uok36aR.jpg
Click to expand...
I was looking for something like this for years. Finally gave up and bought an R6. Funny story - a former work collegue found I played guitar and told me he had a guitar he wanted to sell. It was a Goldtop from the early 70s. He said he has to do a good price because he left it in his car for a couple days (this was in MA in the winter) and when he brought it indoors "the finish all cracked". It had some amazing checking. Of course back then, people were less aware of the desirability of checking and no one had ever heard the word "relic". I didn't buy it, but funny that he thought the guitar was ruined.
 
Big Al

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,548
I've always had one. Love the Minis. They sound great and I see no reason for an overwound, dull toneless pickup with high capacitance fairy hair thin wire.
 
Jethro Rocker

Jethro Rocker

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
438
Big Al said:
I've always had one. Love the Minis. They sound great and I see no reason for an overwound, dull toneless pickup with high capacitance fairy hair thin wire.
Click to expand...
I will be trying it stock in a proper rehearsal at some point first. Can likely compensate fairly well with the amp but just in case...
Different styles. I am a higher gain higher output guy but the extra brightness and less output might be a nice change.
 
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S

SpencerD

Active member
Joined
Mar 11, 2016
Messages
955
Yeah

You're just flat out winning. Very nice.

(edit) After scrolling the pics again ....... the back of the guitar right?

The top strap button was mounted on the back at some point in time. Like an SG :cool:

Ronnie Montrose did that on a Burst. ?:D
 
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