Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Dmoney on August 30, 2013, 12:55:42 PM

Title: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Dmoney on August 30, 2013, 12:55:42 PM: So a while ago I picked this up dirt dirt cheap. It had a couple of holes in it that had been repaired somewhat, no paint, and some weird kind of oil finish, no case, and since the lacquer had been removed the old serial decal had gone too. Electronics had also been replaced with 90's date coded pots and the original pups with 490R 498T combo.

Since it was how it was, I decided to get it painted and use it as a main guitar for some plans i have coming up. The holes got fixed, and the top (which was very boring) go paint gold, and the whole thing lacquered with nitro. As I was taking the guitar apart to send away for painting, i found the original serial number stamped in the control cavity. A repro serial decal was made to replace the old one, which includes the correct serial taken from inside the body. It's a bit weird that it looks and feels brand new, but its actually a 1976 Norlin era Les Paul Standard.

Pickups in there now are the 490R neck, and BKP Alnico Nailbomb bridge. the tone control are wired up to work in future for 50's wiring but right now they are not connected. The volumes pots are 500K and bypassed with 180pf caps a la PRS. All in all a good score. Plays real well. I think these are my favourite spec les pauls.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/20130828_115310_zps910f2642.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/20130828_115329_zps5cb7b81f.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/20130828_115244_zps0806b76b.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: bucketshred on August 30, 2013, 01:30:04 PM: Nice one! Looks the tits. I've always wanted a GoldTop.

Paddy
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Dmoney on August 30, 2013, 01:40:40 PM: Same here.
Old goldtops look super awesome once they start to wear on the surface and the lacquer checks and the gold oxidizes. I need to play it as much as possible to get that workin'.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: PhilKing on August 30, 2013, 01:41:03 PM: I have a couple of goldtops and really like the look. One of mine has the dark back which I really like too. I still need to get a Les Paul with a maple neck - I've played a few but don't own one. All of mine have mahogany.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: gwEm on August 30, 2013, 01:41:18 PM: nice job you've done on that!

any "before" shots?
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Dmoney on August 30, 2013, 01:50:28 PM: Here is some before shots.

Top is dull. Next to no kind of lacquer, you can see some marks in the headstock and a little dowel between in the volume pots.
The wiring was horrid so I've made that much neater.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/IMG-20130605-00836_zps0dd08cd8.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/IMG-20130605-00838_zps47851b9a.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/IMG-20130605-00843_zpsbd35145f.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: gwEm on August 30, 2013, 01:52:54 PM: i don't know what possesses people to do modifications like that! (not you, the previous owner i assume)

its not the worst, but it is was grim and a little depressing
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Plenum n Heather on August 30, 2013, 02:01:15 PM: Looks killer!
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Philly Q on August 30, 2013, 02:55:28 PM: Excellent new acquisition, and quite a story! Did it cost a fortune getting the refinishing done?

I've got a Goldtop too, but no interesting stories to tell about it.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Dmoney on August 30, 2013, 03:11:01 PM: The lacquer was the thing that was most expensive. It was a few hundred. it wasn't a cheap job but if its come out really well. The cost of the guitar itself might have made it worth doing i think. To have the correct serial back on the headstock is a plus, and I guess a sort of period correct 'refin' is better than a junked up les paul. The pup cavities are the correct size. it's not a routed out mini humbucker deluxe. So, I think in the long run it'll be worth it should i want to sell it on in future.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: blue on August 30, 2013, 04:01:16 PM: I like that a lot, looks great. Health to enjoy ;)
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Brow on August 30, 2013, 04:55:44 PM: I really like that, good score!
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: juansolo on August 30, 2013, 05:12:59 PM: Nicely done sir!
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: dave_mc on August 30, 2013, 06:37:26 PM: nice :D
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Andrew W on August 30, 2013, 07:08:31 PM: I really like what you've done there. Definitely breathed new life into a sadly abused geetar.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: rotpunkt on August 30, 2013, 07:26:26 PM: Veeeerrrry nice, I really like that.

Doesn't help my G(oldtop)AS though...
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Telerocker on August 30, 2013, 07:31:07 PM: Goldtop-fan likes this very much. Well done!
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: 38thBeatle on August 30, 2013, 07:45:55 PM: Excellent - I really like the look of that guitar.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Mr. Air on August 30, 2013, 08:25:50 PM: Not jealous... No not at all, sir...

Very nice looking guitar. Gold tops are just sexy!
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: gordiji on August 30, 2013, 08:45:14 PM: Loooks great, good to see someone improving the bodywork rather than destroying it :lol:
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Afghan Dave on August 30, 2013, 09:45:42 PM: I've always wanted a Gold top.. Jammy b'stard.. Good one. :P
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Philly Q on August 30, 2013, 11:46:53 PM: Just looking at the pictures again, is it a one-piece mahogany back or is it from the "pancake" body period? I know they stopped making those around 1977.
Title: Re: NGD - New Goldtop Day
Post by: Dmoney on August 31, 2013, 11:59:11 AM: Cheers guys! I've wanted a nice goldtop for ages. I used to have the goldtop double cut classic (carved top job), and i missed it, but this fills that gap.

It is indeed a pancake body. two bits of mahogany with the maple through the middle.