Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: sambo on February 12, 2008, 12:28:52 PM

Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 12, 2008, 12:28:52 PM
Got this little beauty off ebay for silly-cheap.

It's a MIJ Signature Les Paul copy, like Dakine/Twinfan's. Basically brand new, with plastic coverings on the pickups and control cavities, literally never played by the seller, who bought it from new. One of the nicest-looking flame tops I've personally ever seen, finished in a subtle honey-burst type finish. Think I'm right in saying it's a 2-piece mahogany back, mahogany neck, with solid maple cap (although whether the top is solid or a laminate or photoflame is not clear as yet).

So far, looks INCREDIBLE, plays FANTASTIC, and sounds... pretty good. :lol:

So without further a-do, here are some pics! (Disclaimer; I couldn't stop taking pictures of the flame-top, so that's why there are so many body shots! :lol:) Tell me what you think!


(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000936.jpg)


(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000933.jpg)

(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000937.jpg)

(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000939.jpg)

(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000938.jpg)


Beautiful semi-flaming/figuring on the back...

(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000944.jpg)


And the neck... pictures don't show it too well...

(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000941.jpg)







And here's the new best friends...



(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i133/samchad27/S5000946.jpg)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Philly Q on February 12, 2008, 12:35:10 PM
Nice catch, Sam!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: FernandoDuarte on February 12, 2008, 12:40:39 PM
Beautifull!  :D
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 12, 2008, 12:47:55 PM
Top stuff Sam - glad I convinced you to buy it  ;)  They're great aren't they?

Mine has a thick maple top bit it's not a solid flame.  If you take the neck pickup out you'll see if it's solid or not.  My maple cap doesn't have a centre join so that means the top is separate.  I think it's a laminate, but in some photos in can look really 'flat' like a photoflame.  Given that all the tops of the signature guitars I've seen are different, I'm going with a laminate.

Top score, and you got it for peanuts!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 12, 2008, 12:53:48 PM
Cheers chaps! :)


Yup, even with my high expectations I was still really impressed, Dave!


:D
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Skybone on February 12, 2008, 01:14:21 PM
It's a veneered top. You get that 3D effect of "real wood" (well, it IS real wood, just a thin slice for decoration), commonly used in furniture/doors etc.

And no, it doesn't effect the tone of the mahogany base/maple top. ;)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: dave_mc on February 12, 2008, 04:40:33 PM
nice! looks "as new" too. :)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Ted on February 12, 2008, 06:07:14 PM
New set of mules for that one then?!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: 38thBeatle on February 12, 2008, 06:30:35 PM
Looks good to me Sam.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: PhilKing on February 12, 2008, 07:11:31 PM
It looks really nice - I would go with a PG Blues set to complete the look!!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Kilby on February 12, 2008, 07:15:16 PM
Hey Sam that looks excellent though it's a bit of a funny shape for a EL84 based amp !

Whats the story with the reversed bridge pickup on the blue one ?
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Skybone on February 12, 2008, 07:18:57 PM
Quote
Whats the story with the reversed bridge pickup on the blue one ?


Greeny homage methinks! ;)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: blue on February 12, 2008, 10:15:16 PM
lovely looking guitar Sam, actually it's a dead ringer for my Gibson! the figuring even looks very similar!

health to wear as we say in Ireland!  :wink:
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 12:02:47 AM
Quote from: Kilby
Hey Sam that looks excellent though it's a bit of a funny shape for a EL84 based amp !



:oops: :lol:

Don't worry, that's coming eventually... this was just too much of a bargain to miss! :)

As for the reverse pickup - you mean the polepieces being the wrong way round? Or do you mean the whole Zebra/blue vinyl paint idea for it?

Not a Greeny homage unfortunately :oops: (although it is from now on :wink: )

Although, a Peter Green set, Phil? Maybe... If I had £400 I would definitely buy a set of BKs for both of the Pauls! A set of Black Dogs/Mules/something else!


Thanks for the kind words chaps. I'm dead chuffed with it.  :)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 13, 2008, 12:16:27 AM
Mine is on a par tonally with my Gibson LP Standard, and in some ways I prefer it as it has a slimmer neck.  The whole guitar just feels really comfortable.

I thought I had a bargain at £375, but Sam has me beat.  I guess mine has upgraded pups though, so maybe I'm still ahead  ;)

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/SignatureLPbodybottom.jpg)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 12:25:40 AM
I'll settle for a draw in the price battle Dave. :)

In case anyone's interested, £285 was what I paid!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Dakine on February 13, 2008, 01:13:59 AM
result!

as usual, snap purchase not listening lol, but ya dun good wee one.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Philly Q on February 13, 2008, 01:29:39 AM
Quote from: sambo
In case anyone's interested, £285 was what I paid!

Why do I never find these bargains  :?  ?  Good work Sam.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: opprobrium_9 on February 13, 2008, 02:35:10 AM
That is one of the most gorgeous LPs i have ever seen, wowow.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: FernandoDuarte on February 13, 2008, 03:15:12 AM
Quote from: Philly Q

Why do I never find these bargains  :?  ?  Good work Sam.


Is this cheap?? Worth it?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tokai-ALS38-love-rock-Les-Paul_W0QQitemZ350024083680QQihZ022QQcategoryZ112670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Would be very expensive to send it to Brazil, probably... you can take it... :D
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: ailean on February 13, 2008, 06:33:43 AM
If thats a MIJ then it's a very good price, but I suspect it's a korean build, which is still good (and a good price), but not quite as good as a Japanese build.

EDIT: Nice catch Sambo!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Philly Q on February 13, 2008, 08:07:54 AM
Quote from: FernandoEsteves
Is this cheap?? Worth it?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tokai-ALS38-love-rock-Les-Paul_W0QQitemZ350024083680QQihZ022QQcategoryZ112670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Would be very expensive to send it to Brazil, probably... you can take it... :D

It's a Chinese one, but still probably not bad for the money!
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 13, 2008, 08:36:00 AM
Quote from: opprobrium_9
That is one of the most gorgeous LPs i have ever seen, wowow.


Yeah, and Sam's ain't bad either  ;)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 11:37:36 AM
Quote from: Dakine
result!

as usual, snap purchase not listening lol, but ya dun good wee one.


I know I know :oops:

But kinda listening since you first told me about the Signatures!!! And I AM going to get a PRS- but this was a steal. So PRS is delayed a little while. :)


Quote
Yeah, and Sam's ain't bad either Wink


:lol:


And Phil, who needs a bargain when you can have a Mira!!! :D
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Philly Q on February 13, 2008, 11:58:27 AM
Quote from: sambo
And Phil, who needs a bargain when you can have a Mira!!! :D

You're right of course, Sam, and I didn't mean I would have tried to gazump you on the Signature!

But I'm forever buying things and finding someone else has got the same thing much cheaper.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 12:02:56 PM
Quote
But I'm forever buying things and finding someone else has got the same thing much cheaper.


Yeah I guess I got lucky this time! Some people have a knack for finding great deals. Ask Nick- that man is a some kind of human bargain-magnet. :? :wink:
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: gwEm on February 13, 2008, 12:04:38 PM
sambo: bargain of bargains mate!


Quote from: Twinfan
Mine is on a par tonally with my Gibson LP Standard, and in some ways I prefer it as it has a slimmer neck.  The whole guitar just feels really comfortable.

I thought I had a bargain at £375, but Sam has me beat.  I guess mine has upgraded pups though, so maybe I'm still ahead  ;)


sorry twinfan - i think some people might have missed that picture of the flame on your les paul.

i think you should post it a few more times just to be absolutely sure ;) ;)
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 13, 2008, 01:40:04 PM
:lol:

Any excuse, huh?  It's my prettiest guitar.  Sorry   :oops:
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 02:17:02 PM
^:lol:



Cheers gwem!



Only problem now is, after some more playing, I'm running out of reasons to keep the Burny... hmm.

Oh and I looked in the pickup cavity- (should've taken a photo, doh!) and (not that I know what a veneer top looks like) I THINK I can see what I imagine is the veneer.

But also, a long tenon? What exactly defines a long tenon? :? :oops:
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 13, 2008, 02:25:23 PM
They're long tenon Sam.  In the base of the neck pickup cavity you can see the neck joint.....
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Dakine on February 13, 2008, 02:56:41 PM
Quote from: sambo
^:lol:



Cheers gwem!



Only problem now is, after some more playing, I'm running out of reasons to keep the Burny... hmm.

Oh and I looked in the pickup cavity- (should've taken a photo, doh!) and (not that I know what a veneer top looks like) I THINK I can see what I imagine is the veneer.

But also, a long tenon? What exactly defines a long tenon? :? :oops:


They are ALL long tenon Sam, not enough were ever even built for them to have changed the design process.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 02:58:05 PM
Ah, thought so. :)

EDIT: ahh I see Nick.

One thing I did notice though- yours was a 1-piece back right?
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Twinfan on February 13, 2008, 03:04:32 PM
Mine's a two piece - centre join...
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 03:06:24 PM
^ Yeah same as mine.

But I'm 99% sure Nicks (a plain-top), was a 1-piece back. Perhaps that was a difference between plain-top vs. flame-top?
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: Kilby on February 13, 2008, 04:58:29 PM
Quote from: sambo
As for the reverse pickup - you mean the polepieces being the wrong way round? Or do you mean the whole Zebra/blue vinyl paint idea for it?

Not a Greeny homage unfortunately :oops: (although it is from now on :wink: )

Thanks for the kind words chaps. I'm dead chuffed with it.  :)


Wrong pickup for Greeny anyway it was the neck pickup.

Though the Peavey Wolfgangs also have a reversed neck pickup (no magnet mods though) and it does seem to improve the sound of the neck pickup.
Title: New guitar day- MIJ 'Signature' Les Paul!
Post by: sambo on February 13, 2008, 05:01:03 PM
Yeah I just flipped them round to see what (if any) difference it made to the sound after reading a quote in the BK FAQ I think. Or somewhere like that anyway.

I didn't notice anything significant, but it's hard to say...