Author Topic: There's gold in them thar hills! (Read 217 times)

jalevinemd · « **on:** April 17, 2006, 05:57:44 PM »

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Les Paul Goldtops. I had to sell one about 15 years ago to pay off a $2000 phone bill I'd accumulated on my dad's card, calling my girlfriend from Greece.

Anyway, a buddy that I've done a bit of business with at Guitar Center told me about a dead mint 1957 Historic that some guy just sold. So I traded my Les Paul Standard and one of my Ric 330's for it. The neck is HUGE...like someone cut down a tree and put frets on it! It's a great guitar and I think a got a good deal.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2006, 05:59:43 PM »

Oh, here's a picture...

tom_z · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2006, 06:21:05 PM »

Wow - congratulations Jonathan!
She's a real beauty.
Enjoy!

Tom

zuperdog · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2006, 07:29:39 PM »

That's a great lookin' Paul, alright! I have a bit of a soft spot for 'em too, but can't bring myself to like that tree-trunk neck.

2400wattman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2006, 08:13:26 PM »

I would tend to think that that huge neck would facillitate a better point of balance and would lessen hand cramping on the gig. Also, I have been told by Paul nuts that a fatter neck means better tone, so rock on!

studiorecluse · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2006, 08:34:26 PM »

Is that one of those VOS models?

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2006, 09:32:06 PM »

Thanks guys.

Cary, not sure what you mean by VOS. It is, however, one of their Historic re-issues, though it's not Murphy aged or anything of the sort.

studiorecluse · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:41:15 AM »

VOS is a new series of guitar that the Gibson Custom Shop started this year- stands for Vintage Original Spec. They go through unreal efforts to copy a vintage instrument. I played a VOS 59 Les Paul reissue and was more than blown away by it.
This is a beautiful instrument that you just bought, congrats and enjoy. And those big necks... ooh la la.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2006, 08:34:50 AM »

Cary,

No, it's not a VOS. Just one of the Historic's.

kmh364 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2006, 10:29:24 AM »

Very nice, Jon!

jalevinemd · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2006, 11:39:09 AM »

Thanks Kevin. You know...I love my Alembics as much as the next guy. But there's still something about a Paul.

palembic · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2006, 11:47:23 AM »

***snif*** thanks Jonathan ...I'm moved!

Paul (one of them)

foth · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2006, 12:01:38 PM »

I always liked gold tops, so much so that in 1973 I bought a left handed one and played it upside down. That trick didn't last very long! :-)
I looked at the '56 P-90 reissues, but stayed away because of the baseball bat necks. I ended up with a PRS McCarty soapbar instead. There's just something about gold tops though... nice acquisition Jonathan!

jalevinemd · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2006, 12:07:58 PM »

This morning, I switched between the Goldtop and my Little Bear (which has the nicest, most comfortable neck dimensions I've come across). Without doing any precise measuring, the neck on the GT seemed almost twice as thick. My hands aren't huge and I definitely can't play as fast or as accurate on the GT.