Goldie is home :-) (Gibson LP Gold Top Trad.)

[Jimi75]

Folks, it's done. I thank you so much for crossing your fingers the last day. It worked. "Goldie" came home today. I woke up at 5h in the morning, drove the 65 kilometers to Cologne and arrived at 8h - two hours before shop opening time. So I went to the holy mess in the Cologne Dome and came back right in time for the shop opening!

I had the opportunity to check two of the Les Paul Traditional Gold Tops over a Fender Bassman 59. The first I have played was already great, the second couldn't convince me, I don't know why, it was just that my stomach said "put it away, it's the other one". So I grabbed the first one. The saddle needed to be filed a little bit so the technician did it right there, which was great.

It's 1h in the night right now and I still can't believe how fast my plan came together again (i am exhausted, believe me). Goldie weighs 9.93lbs, the craftmanship is really good and there are only small things that have to be done, like changing the pots and exchanging the saddle with a bone saddle. I couldn't believe my ears how great this guitar sounds and how comfortable you can play on it. The guitar is perfectly balanced, the neck is pretty chunky but not as huge as the one on the 56/57 Historics. The Classic 57 pus seem to be perfect for Blues and Classic Rock, this guitar smokes, awesome sustain, no dead spots, singing leads, woody Blues, some Bonamassa licks I have played just sounded so darn right! My favourite pu position is the middle position. Well,, I know there are some great guitars on the market that you could buy for the money, but I think the feeling of that real Gibson can not be topped - this guitar got balls - point. I am a traditional player, so Goldie is perfect for me. I have taken some crappy pix, of course I will post a video asap. This guitar looks very beautiful in nature.

[marnold***]

Awesome, Jimi! I look forward to hearing her rip!

[Algonquin]

Very sharp looking guitar I love the look of a gold top.
Congrats

[Blaze]

Bravo Jimi just like my dream set up here http://www.thefret.net/showthread.ph...081#post134081

Well , Now I'm envious !

Congrats

[mrmudcat]

Woohoo brother...........im on one after a raw sg but might go used 70's with mini's:

Yep a G.T. is @#$%#$% jimi im so envious and thats hard to admit!!!!:


Hey brother if that has the metal mounting plate for the pots I have long shaft sets of gibby and cts 500k range ........no charge...........pm if needed:

[bigG]

Jimi, man, that is awesome! What a beauty! A keeper for a lifetime, no doubt! Congrats!

[markb]

Fine guitar, Jimi.

[oldguy]

Should we share the secet now???????

[M29]

Oh man that is sweet!! Congrats Jimi

M29

[mrmudcat]

Not sure how many on thefret have tried a plekked neck Jimi how do you like it??? I had mr roboto plekked(not at factory) and two carvins I like it but undecided if a good tech or myself could come close by hand on a fret job(doubt it but it is good debate material): I do like a plekked neck though fo-sho The weight is nice since it isnt chambered but weight relieved a little, drilling out a few holes but ya know this!!!

Jimi check this link on xray chambered and 9 holes for your weight relieved:

http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=18137

[Jimi75]

Should we share the secet now???????

???Yes please???!

[Lev]

Congrats Jimi, I'm delighted your plan came together. She sure is a beauty!

By the way, what's a plekked neck?

[markb]

Plek machine setup.

[mrmudcat]

Mark thanks for that awesome vid I think it is the first time seeing it!!!


I humbly take back what I said about coming close on a fret job:

Maybe a great great tech,can just not me

[Jimi75]

I was delighted to hear that the Traditional series is pleked. It's a great concept. You can plek your guitar afterwards, but you have to pay around 200-400€ here in Germany, I always thought about it and now I got it on the Gibbie...

[markb]

Charlie Chandler offers the service for about £150 in the UK. I don't know of anywhere in NZ that has it.

[Kazz]

Pleked - There is nothing that cannot be done on a computer these days...wow.

Jimi glad you found your dream and are living it bro. The gold top just does not do anything for me personally....I prefer Les Pauls where you can still see the wood grain through the finish. It makes me think that the gold top may have originally been used to cover up flaws in the tops. Probably not, but that is what went through my mind when I seen the first one in person. Frank has one that his wife Christy bought him a few years back for a Christmas present.....she picked it up because her dad, The legendary Dickey Betts had played one for years and Frank always wanted one because of that.

The first night he gigged that guitar in Northern Cali he told the story with such a huge smile on his face.

I do have one question for Jimi.....you say you are going to put a bone saddle on Goldie? This would be the first time I have heard someone mention using bone on an electric....pretty widely used in acoustic guitars but I had not heard of it on an electric until now. Would a bone nut help with sustain any like it does with an acoustic?

Can't wait to hear you playing some killer blues on that new guitar...and congrats again.

[just strum]

I could have sworn this is the model that Spud posted the article about a recall.



















Just kidding of course - congrats.

[street music]

Congrats Jimi, nice LP