1970 Les Paul Deluxe

[Lester B. Flat]

This is my '70 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. It was my only electric guitar for many years so, as you can see, it got played alot. It has a few regrettable mods that were done back when I was young and stupid (now I'm old and stupid) and has suffered a headstock break which fortunately didn't involve the neck.

It had a refret in the late 70's around the same time the pick-up and bridge were changed, otherwise its mostly original. My father bought me this guitar in 1971 a couple of months before my 17th birthday, so it's with me for life.

If this guitar could talk I'd need a lawyer!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/ralphoto/01_RT8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/ralphoto/02_RT8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/ralphoto/06_RT8.jpg


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/ralphoto/09_RT8.jpg

[Lester B. Flat]

Another pic showing the volute and headstock break.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/ralphoto/Untitled-1-1.jpg

[Robert1950]

Hey, it's unique. Besides, I'm told the mini makes a better neck pup than bridge. At least you didn't sand it down and paint it fluorescent orange way back then,.... like I did with my Fender Mustang.:frown:

[mario]

Beautiful Goldtop Lester! Great photos. I'll have to get some pics of mine up. That is a wonderful looking instrument. All the bumps, scratches came from you. It is truly a part of yourself, not some custom shop relic.

[Lester B. Flat]

Yeah, my body has some wear from this guitar so it works both ways. :D

[davetcan]

man, I really like the look of that. Beautiful. :bow:

[PaulS]

Lovely looking guitar Lester, a guitar with a bit of character....

[Cross]

Lester, needless to say that I dig the guitar, but what I'm even more impressed with is the photography! :eek: I'm guessing that to get the solid black background you may have used photoshop to paint the entire area surrounding the guitar, but how did you manage to get so close to the edge of the guitar AND get it to be so clean? I've seen some really sloppy work when it comes to getting that nice sharp edge around the guitars (have you SEEN the annual guitar price guides on the magazine stands? YECH!)

So let's hear it, what's your secret? :tongue: I didn't mean to hijack the thread, you could PM me if you'd like, I'd be real interested to hear from you. :rockon:

[Lester B. Flat]

Lester, needless to say that I dig the guitar, but what I'm even more impressed with is the photography! :eek: I'm guessing that to get the solid black background you may have used photoshop to paint the entire area surrounding the guitar, but how did you manage to get so close to the edge of the guitar AND get it to be so clean? I've seen some really sloppy work when it comes to getting that nice sharp edge around the guitars (have you SEEN the annual guitar price guides on the magazine stands? YECH!)

So let's hear it, what's your secret? :tongue: I didn't mean to hijack the thread, you could PM me if you'd like, I'd be real interested to hear from you. :rockon:

I am a photographer/darkroom technician which nowadays means photoshop flunkie, so yes, I blackened the background. The trick is to put a black layer beneath the photo layer with a mask on it and tediously paint it in manually. The quick selection tools don't do the best job unless the background is contrasting with the guitar all around. I'll PM a more detailed instruction.
:rockon:

[dwagar]

The checking on that is just awesome, what a great guitar.

[Lester B. Flat]

The checking on that is just awesome, what a great guitar.

I actually witnessed the checking event. It happened the first or second winter I had it. It had spent the night in a van after a gig. The next morning I brought it into the motel room and opened the case. I saw and heard it happen. A faint tinkling/crackling sound and it was over in 2 or 3 seconds, top to bottom, front and back. I was heartbroken until people told me "they all do that".

You can imagine the kick I get out of hearing about people trying to check their guitars with razor blades. That makes a crack, but this was initially caused by compression. If you think about it, the finish wants to expand when heated but it can't because it's attached to the wood, so it has to expand inwardly, causing compression lines. At first it's completely smooth to the touch. Eventually, as the finish expands and contracts, ridges form along the checking lines and as those ridges wear down it forms a crack at the top of the ridge. When you run your finger over this guitar you feel ridges, not cracks. Some have not cracked and are still clean so they are still invisible from some angles.

[nine]

I actually witnessed the checking event. It happened the first or second winter I had it. It had spent the night in a van after a gig. The next morning I brought it into the motel room and opened the case. I saw and heard it happen. A faint tinkling/crackling sound and it was over in 2 or 3 seconds, top to bottom, front and back. I was heartbroken until people told me "they all do that".

The exact same thing happened to a friend of mine with his Rickenbacker 4001 bass while on tour.

[torndownunit]

The checking on that is just awesome, what a great guitar.

I was just about to post the same thing. It's a great looking guitar.

I remember the first time the nitro finish on my 1981 Dean checked too. It was a similar situation. It was in the car a little too long in the cold weather.

[nine]

It was in the car a little too long in the cold weather.

Just so you know, it's not the cold that does it. It's opening the case to expose the cold guitar to warm air. That's why you should always let your guitar sit in its case, closed, until it warms up to room temp before you try to take it out if it's been in the cold.

[Yerffej]

the years have been kind to that one. The aged finish looks terrific; nice piece

[fret15]

Amazing looking guitar - definitely a vintage. Really nice aging. Unfortunate about the headstock, but it almost adds to the appeal in a way - shows the war wounds! :)

[Four play]

I have to agree the checking on the guitar is quite nice and the headstock repair was done by an extremely talented , good-looking , considerate and caring old man who falls down allot !!!!!!!!!!!!! To bad it outweighs you ! :banana:

[Lester B. Flat]

I have to agree the checking on the guitar is quite nice and the headstock repair was done by an extremely talented , good-looking , considerate and caring old man who falls down allot !!!!!!!!!!!!! To bad it outweighs you ! :banana:

Ha Ha! It's about time you got here. By the way, the guitar is now worn enough that I outweigh it.
:food-smiley-004:

[GP_Hawk]

Is that a Dimarzio in the bridge position? I've got the old Dual Sound in the bridge position on my 74 and a Super Distortion at the neck position. Wish I had a digital camera otherwise I'd post a pic.

[Lester B. Flat]

Yes, its a DiMarzio SD I think.

[faracaster]

Lester.......that is one handsome guitar.
Honest wear.......what a concept.
Good for you for hanging on to it so long.

[Marnacious]

It's seen a lot of action, but like Pete says, it's honest wear. Real nice guitar.

[Alistair6]

i bought a 75 deluxe off ebay a few years back.. it had a refin in black but everything else seemed original on it (tail piece might have been a new one as well). it had been a gold top though that was sprayed black.. i always wanted to have the black removed and back to original..
unfortunately i was playing live regularly at the time and SGs suited my playing needs and back alot more so the deluxe got traded away fairly quickly.

[davetcan]

I love it. :bow::bow:

[Budda]

a players' machine right there!

nice pics, nice guitar! how's she sound?

[Lester B. Flat]

a players' machine right there!

nice pics, nice guitar! how's she sound?

Sounds fantastic. Very edgey on the bridge pickup (even with minihum) and dark and round on the neck position. Very versatile.