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Where are they now...

jrgtr42

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Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
Hold onto your seat because the history of the Firebrands is a convoluted mess. The Mahogany Firebrand was introduced in January 1980 while the Walnut bodied version was still called The "SG" (as it had been since 1979). By July 1980, these models both became part of the "Firebrand Series" and were renamed as The "SG" Standard and The "SG" Deluxe.

Your TRC would not be original. The original on that guitar would say "SG Firebrand". More info here: https://solidguitar.fandom.com/wiki/The_"SG"_/_Firebrand

I was able to find the pics and specs of that guitar from an archive of EverythingSG.com

Thanks on the additional history of that model. My number one guitar, as I mentioned a ways back in the thread, is a Firebrand Deluxe SG. It does have the Firebrand TRC. Mines a late March date code (081.) |(that works out to March 21st; damn, I missed it's birthday...) I've had it since 1992, and it was pretty beat down when |I got it. |It's accumulated it's share of love since then, a fret job, a couple levelings, electronics work... I honestly wasn;t really a fan of the stock pickups, so for it's 21st birthday it got a Duncan Pearly Gates in the neck and an Alnico 2 in the bridge. I got the drinks.
 

techter71

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May 14, 2015
Messages
20
Hey Randy, I was hoping maybe you had some info on my 1980 Les Paul Custom Silverburst serial 80180688. I'm the second owner as the original was a good friend of mine that passed away last year and left this to me. This has been my dream guitar for a very long time and I came across this post and thought maybe you might have more info. When I get home I will have to look for initials in the TRC cavity. Thanks!!

275724356_5275086849170704_1778114075077644318_n.jpg 274952039_265495935736759_277502705584202822_n.jpg 275936506_10101070025023718_7648755769252478207_n.jpg 275930616_10101070024978808_6552243907797764603_n.jpg275943281_10101070024255258_5506480400007826993_n.jpg
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hey Randy, I was hoping maybe you had some info on my 1980 Les Paul Custom Silverburst serial 80180688. I'm the second owner as the original was a good friend of mine that passed away last year and left this to me. This has been my dream guitar for a very long time and I came across this post and thought maybe you might have more info. When I get home I will have to look for initials in the TRC cavity. Thanks!!
Hello there! Thanks for your message. Those were great guitars. I didn't see your number in my records. In my opinion, the Kahler was not factory installed. Here's why. The factory installed Kahlers were Gibson branded. Also, I don't show any guitars in my records built with Kahlers until '83. The white wire in your control cavity pic appears to be a string ground. That also would not be factory, but a legit mod if it has continuity to the strings.
BTW, I didn't put my initials under the TRC. Mine would be mostly in the control cavity or a pickup cavity. The person who filed the frets put their initials in the truss rod pocket. These guitars played great and sounded great. I think the proof is on the back of the neck.

Thanks!
Randy
 
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techter71

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May 14, 2015
Messages
20
Hello there! Thanks for your message. Those were great guitars. I didn't see your number in my records. In my opinion, the Kahler was not factory installed. Here's why. The factory installed Kahlers were Gibson branded. Also, I don't show any guitars in my records built with Kahlers until '81. The white wire in your control cavity pic appears to be a string ground. That also would not be factory, but a legit mod if it has continuity to the strings.
BTW, I didn't put my initials under the TRC. Mine would be mostly in the control cavity or a pickup cavity. The person who filed the frets put their initials in the truss rod pocket. These guitars played great and sounded great. I think the proof is on the back of the neck.

Thanks!
Randy
Thanks Randy! Yes I did know the previous owner put the Kahler on a few years after he bought it, I have pictures of him playing it before the Kahler was unfortunately added ha! The white ground wire was from me, the ground wire it had was very short so I used a piece I had laying around to extend it. Thanks for getting back to me!! I'm sure you saw some very cool stuff leave the factory back in the day!
 

Sacowylde

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Apr 5, 2022
Messages
1
Hello from Chile Randy! you were recommended on the gibson forum to help me with a question, I hope you can. I have a '95 Les Paul Custom and in the neck pickup cavity it is handwritten "JW", do you know what does that mean? Thank you!
 

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Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hello from Chile Randy! you were recommended on the gibson forum to help me with a question, I hope you can. I have a '95 Les Paul Custom and in the neck pickup cavity it is handwritten "JW", do you know what does that mean? Thank you!
Hello! Thanks for your message. I left Gibson in 1990, so I can't tell you specifically what it means. It appears to have been made by a wax pencil on top of the finish. Did you buy it new? If you bought it used it could have been made by a previous owner. My personal opinion is that they are not initials. If you turn your photo to the left 90 degrees, you will see the number 37, with the three over the seven.
 

IMMUSICRULZ

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May 25, 2021
Messages
616
There was a jazz guitarist named Mitch Holder who used to work alongside Rick Turner at the research and development center at Gibson in the early eighties. This was when Gibson was making thicker wood for their guitars. Mitch eventually became a teacher at California Lutheran University teaching guitar, and he played a lot of Gibson guitars and Gibson amps, as well as a Fender Twin Reverb reissue amp. I just wrote a letter to him asking about his experience with Gibson. I suppose somebody on this forum knew Mitch?
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
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5,657
There was a jazz guitarist named Mitch Holder who used to work alongside Rick Turner at the research and development center at Gibson in the early eighties. This was when Gibson was making thicker wood for their guitars. Mitch eventually became a teacher at California Lutheran University teaching guitar, and he played a lot of Gibson guitars and Gibson amps, as well as a Fender Twin Reverb reissue amp. I just wrote a letter to him asking about his experience with Gibson. I suppose somebody on this forum knew Mitch?
Mother nature makes wood , not Gibson .
 

djcmusician

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Apr 29, 2015
Messages
263
I was able to find the pics and specs of that guitar from an archive of EverythingSG.com

Wow! That’s it. Awesome and thank you! I wonder where that guitar is today.
 

Dpjjg2022

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Jun 5, 2022
Messages
1
Hi Randy. Very cool reading through this thread! I have a couple older Gibsons that would be very interesting to learn more about and if you built them. Am pretty sure this first one was just before you started working at Gibson. It’s a Les Paul custom with 3 pickups, 76 serial number and pots, but no pancake body and build date early 77. Serial number is 00119070. Second one is an 81 or 82 335, serial number 80752510. I sold the 335 a few years ago to a buddy, but still have pictures if interested. Thanks for your time! - Dave
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hi Randy. Very cool reading through this thread! I have a couple older Gibsons that would be very interesting to learn more about and if you built them. Am pretty sure this first one was just before you started working at Gibson. It’s a Les Paul custom with 3 pickups, 76 serial number and pots, but no pancake body and build date early 77. Serial number is 00119070. Second one is an 81 or 82 335, serial number 80752510. I sold the 335 a few years ago to a buddy, but still have pictures if interested. Thanks for your time! - Dave
Hello Dave and welcome to the Forum!
Yes, early '77 was a little before my time. I didn't start until December '77. I'm pretty sure Nashville was making 3 pickup Customs at that time though. I loved the early 80's 335 Dots. I did 566 of them in '82. I didn't have your number, but I built 80752509 on April 6th, 1982. Yours would have been built on or about that date as well.
Thanks for your message!
Randy
 

t_clark

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Oct 20, 2017
Messages
1
Hey Randy way cool for you to share the memories and your part of the stories for so many cool guitars!
Here's another couple of Les Paul Customs for you to consult your little book of tasty nuggets for!
80 LP Custom SN 83050078
83 LP Custom SN 82293560
Any chance you worked these pieces?
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hey Randy way cool for you to share the memories and your part of the stories for so many cool guitars!
Here's another couple of Les Paul Customs for you to consult your little book of tasty nuggets for!
80 LP Custom SN 83050078
83 LP Custom SN 82293560
Any chance you worked these pieces?
Hello and thanks for your message. I would say welcome to the forum, but it looks like you have been here a while. And this was your first post? I'm flattered!! Your 80 Custom was built in Kalamazoo. When the last three digits of the serial number are less than 500, they were Kalamazoo.
But, I did build your 83 Custom. She was born on August 30th, 1983. I think by then we were back to mahogany necks, better dish on the top, crank tuners, and Shaw pickups. Awesome guitars. Congrats!!

 

Nick-O

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Aug 12, 2015
Messages
223
Mr. Randy, have you ever discussed that amazing LP in your avatar?
It looks perfect!!
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Mr. Randy, have you ever discussed that amazing LP in your avatar?
It looks perfect!!
Yes I did, and yes it is a great guitar. Here's the thread. I believe you commented in post #20.

 

Reddart

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Feb 26, 2004
Messages
286
Hi Randy, I believe you had said before that you weren’t involved in building after 1988? I have a 1989 custom so that would be after you had any info on them?
 

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hi Randy, I believe you had said before that you weren’t involved in building after 1988? I have a 1989 custom so that would be after you had any info on them?
Yes sir. The last record in my logs is from 1987, but I also did many carved tops, and special orders after that, but I didn't record those numbers. Sorry.
 
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