• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

NGD 54/55 Conversion

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Picked this ol’ “54/55” conversion up yesterday in a trade. It was purchased by a Norwegian artist at “Orange Music / Denmark Street” (a quick google search suggest this means the Orange Shop) in 1975. It was already stripped of the goldtop finish (the 3-piece flamey top evident in early photos) and was fitted with double black original PAFs. Interestingly, the guitar was sporting a sign that read “owned by Jeff Beck”. No evidence of this remains, unfortunately. Move along to the 90’s and the guitar had a Bigsby, and at some point it was decided to fit a new maple top and pup covers. It sure does look perdy, but the body binding is slightly taller than my original 54’ – suggesting that a thin veneer was simply glued onto the existing top. The center seam is not quite 100%. Lastly, new neck binding has been fitted. This is the only job on the guitar that is badly executed, and will need remedy.

The laquer on the backside has been worn or removed at some point, and the serial is gone. Old non-correct Klusons (double line single ring, very strange) were already on the guitar in ’75. One original pot (soldering covers codes, but look exactly like my 54), older bumblebee lookalikes. Cavities are identical to the 54’, except the hole for the wiring to the pickups is slightly larger on this one and a pile of black paint has been applied (same in the pickup cavities, they are quite nasty). Early 60s ABR.

The PAFs sound otherworldly. This sucker screeeeams. I have had other guitars with PAFs, but this is the first time I play a LP with PAFS plugged in. And boy o boy.

The guitar plays very well as is. My other old LPs are hard to beat though, and to me it feels like the poor neck binding on this one is letting it slightly down, and that there is a really cracker of a Lester here somewhere.

For now I’ll enjoy her as is, and spend some time figuring what exactly to do with it. My initial gut feeling is bringing back the original top (in its’ flamey, converted state) and fixing the binding issues. Watch this space😊.

DSC_0496.JPGDSC_0498.JPGDSC_0499.JPGDSC_0500.JPGDSC_0501.JPGDSC_0502.JPGDSC_0503.JPGIMG_3214.jpgorigna2.jpgorignal.jpg
 

Midnight Blues

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,703
Lovely! Congrats, HNGD
jam.gif
and play her in good health!
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
Killer.
My #1 is nowhere near as cool, but a '70s gigger.
Mini humbucker holes poorly enlarged, mini toggle, Schallers....
But somebody kept/modded/gigged it heavily for a reason...it's a killer.
I love these old gig dogs.
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Nice project! Going for gold or staying with the burst?
Staying with the burst, but am thinking about having the newer veneer top removed to reveal the old top. I have a 54 Goldtop, and have yet to see a refin goldtop that is close. Humbucker routing, ABR1 and the binding issues also mean that keeping it as a conversion makes sense.
 

Frutiger

Active member
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
727
Staying with the burst, but am thinking about having the newer veneer top removed to reveal the old top. I have a 54 Goldtop, and have yet to see a refin goldtop that is close. Humbucker routing, ABR1 and the binding issues also mean that keeping it as a conversion makes sense.
I think the original mismatched top is really cool. I can understand why someone wanted it to be symmetrical and got it veneered, but I'd probably reinstate the original top if it were mine. Particularly as that bass side has some killer original flame! Plus, it's not a 'Burst, it's a conversion, so like you say, I'd embrace it. I'd also get the fretboard binding changed to something more vintage correct.

What a great project though, looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Got any idea who you'd want to do the work?
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
I think the original mismatched top is really cool. I can understand why someone wanted it to be symmetrical and got it veneered, but I'd probably reinstate the original top if it were mine. Particularly as that bass side has some killer original flame! Plus, it's not a 'Burst, it's a conversion, so like you say, I'd embrace it. I'd also get the fretboard binding changed to something more vintage correct.

What a great project though, looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Got any idea who you'd want to do the work?
Thanks, pretty much sums up my veiws as well. Had a closer inspection today with very good help from my luthier, and the laminate "new" top is wafer-thin. The pickup cavites look pretty rough, but on closer inspection not nearly as bad as expected. The corners have been pugged with what looks like solid mahogny (no maple cap), so that may need some TLC as well.

Need to look more into suitable luthiers for the job, as well as the CITES issue with sending it internationally. The UK would be pretty optimal, so will start the search:).
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Old top is outrageous!!
I know, would love to get that top back and to its' full glory.

Any tips to good restorers in the UK/Europe are much welcomed. I've seen HMs work in the US and it looks fantastic, but has anyone here sent a guitar from Europe to the US recently? Thinking about CITES.
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Mine was done by Florian Jaeger in Bavaria. He did some very nice work and has plenty of experience with vintage instruments!
Florian is also a very good alternative, but logistically the UK is much more convenient for me. Also, the pubs are unbeatable.
 

Frutiger

Active member
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
727
Yuuki would have been first choice in the UK but he's not taking commissions anymore :(. Maybe Neil Ivison? He has plenty of vintage experience and builds a cracking guitar himself.
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Yuuki would have been first choice in the UK but he's not taking commissions anymore :(. Maybe Neil Ivison? He has plenty of vintage experience and builds a cracking guitar himself.
Thanks for tip. Currently doing my best to harass Yuuki into taking it on:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

Phatfrank

Active member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
309
Spent Easter breaking-in a car we've had restored in the UK, and naturally the 750 miles I "had to" drive in the UK before heading home were spent zig-zaging the fantastic UK countryside between pubs and guitar shops. And, luckily, visiting @Jumping@Shadows to hand over the ol' LP to his very, very capable hands. He had fortunately agreed to take on the project, and after I got to his shop it took him about 3 minutes to verify that it is in fact an original stoptail early 56 (or possibly late 55). Lots of original parts, including one or two pots (one dates from late 55' if I remember correctly). He had warned me that this project could take some time as he had other priorities, but it was quite apparant that he was excited about this guitar (and the possible Beck connection) and by the time I got back in the car he had already started working on it:LOL:.

Yesterday I got pictures of the original top, the veneer top was extremely time-consuming and difficult to remove but fortunately it now looks amazing. He posted the following on instagram ;

"1956 Gibson Les Paul Conversion.
Quick update on this very cool conversion 👀👀
The previous veneer top was very thick and cross-banded (I use solid >2mm thick flame maple and hide glue when I do these..), and the adhesive was some kind of indestructible epoxy which resisted heat and solvents, so it came done to cabinet scrapers and drudgery 😵‍💫
The original top is beautifully figured, and will help in confirming the Jeff Beck provenance- what say you? I think I can see some solid similarities..
"

Aaand some pictures, let's hear what all you interweb-experts have to say:LOL::


Bringing her to the UK Joe B-style (without the talent and the groupies wanting to join the mile-high club, of course):
09FAD561-3C0D-4EC6-B1A7-C45722C6A7E1.JPG
Proof that I was in the UK:
IMG_3712.jpgIMG_3679.JPG

And some pictures of the process:
8a88c540-4017-4132-bac0-2d894000afde.JPG
low1.jpg

And the picture the previous owner believes to be of this actual guitar:
Beck.jpg
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
Thanks for the update! What fun all around and Ol'Top looks great, definitely see the JB provenance coming together with the double blacks and 3-piece. How many were in UK? Best...
 

gmann

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
6,147
If I owned it I’d want it to be Jeff Beck’s guitar too. There looks to be some flame on the treble side in the control area and on the cutaway on the guitar JB is holding while there is none in the stripped guitar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ADP
Top