• 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!

* Spectacular Goldtop 1961 Les Paul/SG with Smokin' P.A.F.'s *

sgt_steiner

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
145
Hello All -- the Sgt. here.

Some of you may remember this beauty from an older thread on LPF --

1961 Gibson Les Paul/SG (refinished Gold by Dave Johnson) KILLER!!! - Les Paul Forum

fourway_zps4c27150d.png


Previously owned by Val, he told me he discovered it on eBay with a crappy '70's walnut refin, bought it and immediately sent it to Dave Johnson for the awesome goldtop refinishing you see here. After Dave painted it, Val decided to keep his '64 SG as his Number One and flipped her to CDaughtry.

(Val shared with me via FB that he immediately regretted doing it, and that the P.A.F.'s on the goldtop sounded the best. I'm sure ALL OF US have more than a few regret stories when it comes to guitars, right? ;)

Back in 2010, CDaughtry posted about his love fest with her, shared those awesome pics, then she joined his formidable collection and that was pretty much that... until I made the mistake of stumbling upon his original thread.

SGgt000_zps5bc7997c.jpg


Once I saw her, I pretty much lost my mind (ya think?). Contacted CD and commenced to groveling, begging and trying to pry her out of his clutches :) Very politely he told me she wasn't for sale. So I begged and pried some more, until I made it worth his while and he agreed to hook me up. God Bless ya, Charile. Thanks for taking pity on my SG/LP obsessed soul!

She arrived overnight (thanks again, CD!) and I ran her out to Eric's Guitar Shop in the Valley for Eric "Chaz" Czechanski to set up. Best guitar tech with the best customer service in L.A. for my money. Does a ton of big names (Slash, RHCP) but still treats every customer like a king.

EricSGLP001_zps9b27b97f.jpg


As others mentioned in the LPF thread, the tone of these P.A.F.'s is simply outrageous. This pair truly showcases what all the ruckus and high prices are about. A jaw-dropping vintage honk in the middle position, and the bridge is an outright sledgehammer -- AC/DC and classic Seventies tones to the max. Exactly as CD had promised.

mlpBRIDGEPAF_zpscb03b397.jpg


But wait, there's more! When teamed up with my new Red Jones Amps 1530 Combo, the synergy between them is SPECTACULAR. We're talking legendary '60's Clapton/Beano, Duane, even Keef tones. Some of the sickest I've ever heard, and believe me, I've owned a few guitars and amps ;)

(Sound clips and Amp info -- * Sick NAD - Red Jones Amps RJ 1530 Combo w/VVR Power Scaling * CRAZY AMP PORN - The Gear Page)

RedJonesAmpsGT005_zps53cb9f66.jpg


Builder Billy Yates and I plan to record some clips this week so all you P.A.F. addicts can get a taste of what I'm talking about. Of course, having played her four or five years now, CDaughtry can probably testify to this, too -- which is why it was so damned hard to wrestle it away from him in the first place :)

Lastly, there's that Dave Johnson refin which simply SLAYS. Whomever would've thought a goldtop SG/LP would be a genius idea? Not me. Thanks goodness Val and Dave had the vision, and made it a reality.

SGGT002_zps6db01b5a.jpg


Well, that's pretty much it, folks. Just wanted to share a few pics, thank CD for hooking me up, and thank my lucky stars I stumbled on that old thread. My "you only live once" account is now completely depleted, and I had to flip an old Tweed to close the deal, but right now I'm feeling pretty good about making it work. Cheers and enjoy!
 
Last edited:

CDaughtry

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner and Moderator
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
12,646
Believe it or not, she sounds better than she looks!:dude:
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
So now you have two - right? (Congratulations)

What are the sonic/playability differences?
 

pinefd

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
3,060
Wow, congrats! I, too, fell in love with this guitar the first time I laid eyes on it. But, figuring Charlie would never part with it, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and started working on a knockoff. I've got a '61 that was once a real a mess, but is now just a gold paint job (and some light relicing) away from looking like yours. Needless to say, I can't wait for it to be done.

Congrats again!


Frank
 

sgt_steiner

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
145
Cheers Frank -- love to see her when she's done. You're a far more sane man than myself :)
 

Cogswell

The Duke of Dumbassery
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Messages
15,717
What an amazing looking guitar. Somebody should have thought of it in 1961!
 

Stoj

Active member
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
3,514
I've always loved this LP/SG, Congrats on a killer score :salude
 

Daniel James

New member
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
202
Never thought I'd see a GT SG/LP, but I'm sure glad someone brought it to fruition. What a stunner!
 

Kevin James

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
495
Congrats! I've always loved that one. Can't believe you actually got Charlie to sell it.
 

MWR

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2004
Messages
2,510
Always loved that one the first time I saw CDs photos....Congrats! :salude :salude :salude
 

sgt_steiner

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
145
Congrats! I've always loved that one. Can't believe you actually got Charlie to sell it.

Just so we're clear -- getting this guitar away from Charlie wasn't much of a "negotiation" -- it was more like a hostage situation :)

And yes, Señor Daughtry got the 747 getaway plane, the Swiss Bank Accounts, and about everything else on his list of demands. LOL.
 

mistersnappy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,321
That amp sounds killer in those clips and its nice to hear a master builder say his fave amp is a '62 Deluxe!
 

tooold

Active member
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
2,071
That amp sounds killer in those clips and its nice to hear a master builder say his fave amp is a '62 Deluxe!

A brown Deluxe is just so… amazing. :salude

And, although hindsight is golden (particularly in this case :## ha ha) a gold SG isn't really that much of a stretch from a Pelham Blue SG. And we all like those!

Seriously beautiful guitar. :dude:
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
* Spectacular Goldtop 1961 Les Paul/SG with Smokin' P.A.F.'s *

Goldtop?

Looks all gold to me. :ganz :hee
 

DrRobert

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2003
Messages
6,050
I'm with TW, looks all gold to me? I wonder if it's finished so the neck finish won't flake off like vintage guitars do?
 
Top