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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 4, 2018 8:55:48 GMT -7
I'm going to look into commissioning Gibson to make me a guitar that they released as a limited run of 300 this year. , the 1968 Les Paul Custom. Those have all sold. Black with gold, Kluson waffleback tuners, and I'll ask them to make it lightweight. I can't find one anywhere, and I'm hesitant to buy used. I had one when I was young and stupid, and I lost it in a very unfortunate series of life events...which I've always deeply regretted. My parents bought it for me when I was 18 and I played it till I was 35. I really miss that guitar. Does anyone have experience with working with Gibson like this?
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Post by LT on Dec 4, 2018 9:12:41 GMT -7
I don't Dave but the person I just bought the R9 from ordered it from the Custom Shop. He sent me a photo of the maple blank that he picked for the top:
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 4, 2018 10:07:05 GMT -7
Well, Glory Be!!!
I've got a friend that manages the GC in my town and yesterday I had put a feeler out to him about the exact guitar that I was talking about. He just called me and has found one in Nashville, a cancelled lay-away that is brand new in box. It's going to be here in a few days!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 10:28:19 GMT -7
Well, Glory Be!!! I've got a friend that manages the GC in my town and yesterday I had put a feeler out to him about the exact guitar that I was talking about. He just called me and has found one in Nashville, a cancelled lay-away that is brand new in box. It's going to be here in a few days! That's some good fortune there!
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Post by LT on Dec 4, 2018 11:22:50 GMT -7
Well, Glory Be!!! I've got a friend that manages the GC in my town and yesterday I had put a feeler out to him about the exact guitar that I was talking about. He just called me and has found one in Nashville, a cancelled lay-away that is brand new in box. It's going to be here in a few days! You're livin' right brother Dave! Congrats!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 4, 2018 11:45:56 GMT -7
I'm really happy about this. The only thing that I might not love is the "VOS" finish. But from what I can glean from the various internet stars is that VOS can be polished to High Gloss if I want.
What do my trusted brothers here know about this finish? Even after 18 years my old guitar had a good gloss to it. I hope Gibson didn't over do it on this one.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 13:28:28 GMT -7
Try Tim or Barry or Jim or Vic at Guitar Gallery in Canonsburg, PA 724-746-9686.
Almost positive they have one hanging on the wall.
Hopefully, still there.
Best
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Post by Russell B on Dec 4, 2018 14:03:53 GMT -7
Dave, Congrats!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 14:11:10 GMT -7
I'm really happy about this. The only thing that I might not love is the "VOS" finish. But from what I can glean from the various internet stars is that VOS can be polished to High Gloss if I want.
What do my trusted brothers here know about this finish? Even after 18 years my old guitar had a good gloss to it. I hope Gibson didn't over do it on this one.
Comes right off.
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Post by KeithA on Dec 4, 2018 14:34:26 GMT -7
I'm really happy about this. The only thing that I might not love is the "VOS" finish. But from what I can glean from the various internet stars is that VOS can be polished to High Gloss if I want.
What do my trusted brothers here know about this finish? Even after 18 years my old guitar had a good gloss to it. I hope Gibson didn't over do it on this one.
Comes right off. Lol...exactly....it really means that the guitar is not buffed to a sheen !
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 4, 2018 15:17:22 GMT -7
Ahh, thanks fellas. That's what I was hoping. Now as long as the gold hardware is nice and new I'm going to be one very very happy man! Postofficepete, thanks for the tip. I've already got one coming into the local store in a few days, new in box.
So this VOS...is it just that it wasn't given a final polishing job, or did they spread some goop on the guitar?!? I'm hearing it both ways.
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Post by KeithA on Dec 4, 2018 15:24:35 GMT -7
Ahh, thanks fellas. That's what I was hoping. Now as long as the gold hardware is nice and new I'm going to be one very very happy man! Postofficepete, thanks for the tip. I've already got one coming into the local store in a few days, new in box. So this VOS...is it just that it wasn't given a final polishing job, or did they spread some goop on the guitar?!? I'm hearing it both ways. It may be a little of both, but I have seen pics in the past of VOS polished to a sheen. I suspect you can get her shining pretty good and I doubt the hardware is relic'd. Funny, I'm like you, when I bought my 58RI it had to be a gloss version...I passed on so many VOS 😎
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Dec 4, 2018 15:36:59 GMT -7
Hey DAve,
regarding the finish... don't sweat it. But, if you do, wipe it down afterwards.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 4, 2018 15:58:38 GMT -7
Hey DAve, regarding the finish... don't sweat it. But, if you do, wipe it down afterwards. Sage advice...thanks, Big Water Daddy!!!
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Dec 4, 2018 19:37:33 GMT -7
Dave, glad you found one. Hope it fits the bill and brings back the GOOD memories!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 7:39:01 GMT -7
I'm going to look into commissioning Gibson to make me a guitar that they released as a limited run of 300 this year. , the 1968 Les Paul Custom. Those have all sold. Black with gold, Kluson waffleback tuners, and I'll ask them to make it lightweight. I can't find one anywhere, and I'm hesitant to buy used. I had one when I was young and stupid, and I lost it in a very unfortunate series of life events...which I've always deeply regretted. My parents bought it for me when I was 18 and I played it till I was 35. I really miss that guitar. Does anyone have experience with working with Gibson like this? Back to the original question. Anybody have experience w Gibson Custom's timeline?
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Post by pcns on Dec 5, 2018 8:01:06 GMT -7
I'm going to look into commissioning Gibson to make me a guitar that they released as a limited run of 300 this year. , the 1968 Les Paul Custom. Those have all sold. Black with gold, Kluson waffleback tuners, and I'll ask them to make it lightweight. I can't find one anywhere, and I'm hesitant to buy used. I had one when I was young and stupid, and I lost it in a very unfortunate series of life events...which I've always deeply regretted. My parents bought it for me when I was 18 and I played it till I was 35. I really miss that guitar. Does anyone have experience with working with Gibson like this? Back to the original question. Anybody have experience w Gibson Custom's timeline? I'm curious too Eric
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Post by digs57 on Dec 5, 2018 8:17:09 GMT -7
I ordered some of that guitarscratchremover from eternashine products...after reading some pretty favorable reviews...might be a thought dave...glad it was in the stars for you...enjoy!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 8:24:09 GMT -7
I suspect the Made2Measure program at Gibson Custom is set up specifically to get cork sniffers to pay absolute top dollar for the new guitars.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 5, 2018 8:37:34 GMT -7
I suspect the Made2Measure program at Gibson Custom is set up specifically to get cork sniffers to pay absolute top dollar for the new guitars. Probably true. I was really happy when my pal at GC phoned me and said he had found one of the 300 limited release builds of the 50th Anniversary Les Paul Custom. I figured that Gibson would see me as low hanging fruit and hook up an IV line direct to my bank account. I'd still like to hear of anyone's experiences with them on custom builds though. I bet it doesn't come cheap. They realize that they have a driven buyer already on the hook and I bet they'd set the hook hard.
I'd sure be interested to see an inside view of the Custom Shop's process. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw the build options spreadsheet was that the guitar is going to be painted black so they could use any wood they want and I'd never know the difference.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 8:47:55 GMT -7
Here's a bunch of info on Gibson's Made 2 Measure from The Music Zoo
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Post by nicholas on Dec 5, 2018 9:12:32 GMT -7
Hey Dave. It really depends on the model. For instance I had a R9 with VOS finish. It was like what has been mentioned above. It seemed like fresh spray that wasn't totally polished out on the buffing wheel. Sort of satin rather than gloss. It looked nice though. It can be buffed to a gloss, I've done it in the past on one.
I have a reissue 57 custom in ebony. Mine is the true historic model and has a VOS finish. This finish is different than the other Gibson NOS finishes I've had in the past. It is very thinly applied and then wet sanded rather than using a buffing wheel because they didn't use one in 57. According to Gibson they say a finish 3x thinner can be applied because of the control of wet sanding over a powered wheel. That's their story anyway. So mine is slick and glossy ebony. But looking closely it just looks like an old guitar. Hard to put into words. Also to get the aged binding they spray tinted clear over the entire instrument. So there is the same yellowing on the body as on the binding. It's hard to see the yellowing because it's black. But under lights it glows in a cool vintage way.
So in this case, on the TH anyway,the NOS is pretty much "baked in" for lack of better words. However it doesn't really stand out as being a "relec" or anything like that. Black guitars are so tough to take care of, so I'm actually glad the finish is the way it is because I don't worry about it like I would if it was perfect brand new ebony.
Is the one you ordered solid mohagany? I've totally fallen in love with mine. It was worth every penny. It's the best guitar I ever played or heard. It sounds glorious. I weighed mine and its 8.5 lbs. I can't possibly express how much I love it.
I'll put some close up finish pics if you'd like?
Congrats man!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 5, 2018 9:29:54 GMT -7
Here's a link to the exact guitar I've got coming...click for details. I feel like I'm 18 again! Nicholas: The body is a 2-Piece Maple Top, 1-Piece Mahogany Back, the neck is solid Mahogany with Ebony fingerboard (long tenon for the perfectionist).
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Post by lowbudget on Dec 5, 2018 9:42:19 GMT -7
Ahh, thanks fellas. That's what I was hoping. Now as long as the gold hardware is nice and new I'm going to be one very very happy man! Postofficepete, thanks for the tip. I've already got one coming into the local store in a few days, new in box. So this VOS...is it just that it wasn't given a final polishing job, or did they spread some goop on the guitar?!? I'm hearing it both ways. Dave, many years ago someone who actually toured the custom shop posted a picture of a bucket full of what looked like pine tar and I believe they labeled the pic as "VOS" goop" or something like that. Ever since then it has become an internet meme that the VOS "finish" is actually some slop they apply to the finish to dull it down and that with some work it can be removed. Nothing is further from the truth, but even highly respected and knowledgeable folks will argue you down that this is the gospel. They point to remnants of the so-called goop or gunk left on their guitars as evidence. Basically, the VOS finish treatment is nothing more than Gibson leaving off the final stage of polishing, as Keith pointed out. Simple as that. The residual substance sometimes left on the finish is just rubbing compound from the previous polishing stage they weren't careful in getting off. So you can absolutely easily make a VOS finish look just like a gloss finish; just select the right product and put some elbow grease into it. Information as to which polishing products to use is all over the internet, especially on the Les Paul forums. If I were you I'd start with the lightest cut product I could find (believe it or not, plain old Gibson Pump Polish may do the trick) and work backwards to progressively heavier cut products until I got the desired results, then I'd seal it with a good quality wax or polish. Automotive products can work well in this case. Meguiar's Swirl Remover works pretty well, as does the Virtuoso guitar polish system. It helps to strip the hardware off first, and do resist the temptation to use any kind of a machine. Do it all by hand. Remember to go slow and never forget that a black guitar is like a black car: it will show every little swirl mark you put on it. I don't mean to make it sound harder than it is; there's really nothing to it that a little common sense and Google can't overcome. Good luck and be sure to show us the results!
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Post by nicholas on Dec 5, 2018 9:48:25 GMT -7
Ah. The 68 Custom. Nice. I see one for sale on REVERB.COM right now. It looks to have a similar finish to mine. VOS but glossy. Congrats! I'm not sure what the 68 custom humbuckers are that it lists in the spec sheet, but if they're anything like the CustomBuckers in mine- you'll love em! I'm sure they are great.
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Post by digs57 on Dec 5, 2018 10:23:02 GMT -7
Certainly one of the holy grail guitars of my youth...
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Post by nicholas on Dec 5, 2018 10:47:17 GMT -7
Ahh, thanks fellas. That's what I was hoping. Now as long as the gold hardware is nice and new I'm going to be one very very happy man! Postofficepete, thanks for the tip. I've already got one coming into the local store in a few days, new in box. So this VOS...is it just that it wasn't given a final polishing job, or did they spread some goop on the guitar?!? I'm hearing it both ways. Dave, many years ago someone who actually toured the custom shop posted a picture of a bucket full of what looked like pine tar and I believe they labeled the pic as "VOS" goop" or something like that. Ever since then it has become an internet meme that the VOS "finish" is actually some slop they apply to the finish to dull it down and that with some work it can be removed. Nothing is further from the truth, but even highly respected and knowledgeable folks will argue you down that this is the gospel. They point to remnants of the so-called goop or gunk left on their guitars as evidence. Basically, the VOS finish treatment is nothing more than Gibson leaving off the final stage of polishing, as Keith pointed out. Simple as that. The residual substance sometimes left on the finish is just rubbing compound from the previous polishing stage they weren't careful in getting off. So you can absolutely easily make a VOS finish look just like a gloss finish; just select the right product and put some elbow grease into it. Information as to which polishing products to use is all over the internet, especially on the Les Paul forums. If I were you I'd start with the lightest cut product I could find (believe it or not, plain old Gibson Pump Polish may do the trick) and work backwards to progressively heavier cut products until I got the desired results, then I'd seal it with a good quality wax or polish. Automotive products can work well in this case. Meguiar's Swirl Remover works pretty well, as does the Virtuoso guitar polish system. It helps to strip the hardware off first, and do resist the temptation to use any kind of a machine. Do it all by hand. Remember to go slow and never forget that a black guitar is like a black car: it will show every little swirl mark you put on it. I don't mean to make it sound harder than it is; there's really nothing to it that a little common sense and Google can't overcome. Good luck and be sure to show us the results! Lol. That's funny about the "goop". I never heard that one before! In any case I did polish out a VOS finish and also a "faded" series LP which is basically the same thing. It required a complete disassembly and proper protection for working with water on a finished guitar. Then I wet sanded it with micro mesh in various grits from 1800-15,000. Then a polish w/ 3m machine polish on an orbital with foam pads. It was a labor of love and took extensive work. They both came out beautiful though with a mirror like finish. However, judging strictly from my current Black Custom and the previous transparent NOS finishes that I've had, the Ebony Custom finish is different. It's glossy rather than satin. I would compare the ebony VOS more like a Murphy Aged Gibson. Again just speaking about mine. Not sure about Dave's incoming. On mine there are cloudy spots where your arm would rest and around the knobs. There are swirl mark's and "stains" for lack of better words. The finish is settled into the pores in spots in the mohagany (mine is all mohagany ). It generally just has an old look. But from 2 or more feet away it looks super shiny and all glossed out. It's unique. I think Dave's is similar.
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Post by nicholas on Dec 5, 2018 11:24:58 GMT -7
Dave, You seemed worried about the Ebony VOS finish. It's hard to tell from most pics online. I took a few for you to get a better idea. I tried to take them at angles that most showed it. It's tough because it's so shiny unless you really get the light on it in just the right angle, it just a looks black, shiny, and reflective. Mine is a 57 TH VOS Ebony. So not the same model as yours. But I think the finish will be similar. From a few feet away it looks perfect and shiny. Sorry about the photobomb from Chester he he. Up close is when you notice the VOS treatment. This is by the TOM. You can see how the thin finish sets in the grain a little. Mines all mohagany which has more open pores than maple like yours. So you might not see any of this on the front anyway. Here's a shot by the knobs. And one more. No dents/dings/scratches. Just looks old. Like I mentioned before. I like it cuz I don't even think or worry about marking it up. Kinda like it for that reason. I guess you could say that if you kept the guitar, and took real good care if it... it would probably look like this now!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Dec 5, 2018 12:12:19 GMT -7
Very cool, fellas! I had also seen pics of that bucket of goop that looks like road tar and figured it to be an internet myth. I'm really glad to hear that it's just a polishing issue, that's no problem.
Thanks for the pictures, Nicholas, it's a beauty and I'm happy to hear about the new pickups too. My '02 LP Premium Plus has the original Burstbuckers in it and my Explorer has Burstbucker 2 and 3 models in it. They're all quite nice, and I love the 490 and 498 combination in my SG. Looking forward to hearing the '68 Custom Humbuckers.
Keith, no doubt about it, black guitars are hard to keep looking great. They show every fingerprint or speck of dust. Just like my old '77 Trans Am. Black with Black interior, T-Tops and gold wheels. Special order without the Screaming Chicken. That car looked fabulous when I had just spent a Saturday waxing it, but on Sunday it looked...well...dirty! I sorta wish GM would reproduce that old muscle car. It was Smokey and the Bandit in spades. I wish I could have kept that one too. So much fun but my left leg got pumped up from working that clutch! I bet it was over 20 pounds to depress that pedal, and no way I could drive it in Michigan snow. That thing's positraction rear end chriped the rear meats when I'd turn a right hand corner, it would be nuts on icy roads!
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Dec 5, 2018 12:22:46 GMT -7
Beautiful guitar Nick!
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