ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Non ADA Gear => Guitars => Topic started by: rnolan on December 04, 2014, 05:38:07 AM
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Played an amazing Les Paul this week apparently from Jimmy Page's guitar shop. So allegedly modded to exactly how he had his guitars done. I didn't plug it in so no idea about the PUs, but the neck was fantastic, none of those Gibson big shoulders that I don't like so more v shaped neck (my preference), really nice to play but $9k AUD 2nd hand.... drool
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So xmas for me has come early, I bought it today, just finished setting it up with some new strings, finger board took a big drink, don't think it's been oiled in a while, and neck relief almost a full turn, only bottom E intonation out a bit and I lowered the action. :whoohoo!: Only a bit over 800 of these made apparently. Phone photos are a bit crap, I'll take some better ones.
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Well Merry Christmas to you!! That is one sharp looking Axe! :thumb-up: Which pups are in it?
Ahh I can almost hear the John Sykes riffs oozing from it......... Enjoy it, she sure is a beauty.
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Good question, I don't know what the PUs are yet, whatever Page used allegedly. The neck PU looks like my Gibson 57 re-issues which are in my SG. It's certainly not a new shiny chrome model as is tarnishing (like the 57s), The bridge is 2 black coils with no cover. But I'll do some googling. Strange, I went to the shop just to get my free pack of DR strings (I buy them in box of 10, one in ten have the free set thing), but I'd been dreaming about the JPP since I played it. It was consignment from a guy who's collected allot of the really special guitars. Apparently he has cancer so is selling them, which helped me decide to buy it, also he dropped the price, though still allot of $$$s
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Where is a drool smiley when you need one ;D
Nice axe :thumb-up:
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Hey Peter, absolutely, this thing is amazing. It's hardly been played so I'm breaking it in, just played it for a few (3 ish) hours, and it's starting to loosen (become mine >:D ), got to sus the PUs and wirering, when I select middle position, it's very toppy like a humbucker coils in parallel, not like normal Gibsons. Neck to die for though lovely to play, I put 10 - 46 on it, a bit light for shorter scale length of LP, but I thought I'd start there, I suspect I'll need to throw 10 - 52's on it, but we are just becoming friends :wave: In some ways it feels a bit tight (if that makes sense?), I spose new ?, it's getting better though. I need to play it at a jam (and really take it appart >:D ). Also it's going to need it's own patches, the PUs are very different from the Ultrasonics in my Anderson. Beautiful looking guitar, but you don't see that when your playing, suddenly it's all feel. Thinking of losing the scratch plate BTW.
First comment on play-ability, its lovely in the open position, very fast, very comfortable, nice in the middle, still cooking around 12th fret, hard to get high B blues box cooking so far (but I spose in someways, that's just Les Pauls)
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Wow that looks like a killer axe,gonna ask one for my x-mas as well but i doubt i will get it. ;D
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Well. Very exciting day. Richard brought his new guitar around to meet my Mistress. :wave: Here is a photo of the two side by side. Richard's Jimmy Page custom awesome thingy is on the left, my Les Paul classic (The Mistress) on the right. They look so sweet together, don't they?. :whoohoo!:
This was my favourite shot. I think Richard prefers a different one that really highlights the stripey maple. This one sets off the Mistress best.
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Congrats, rnolan. :thumb-up: It's hard to beat a good Gibson neck, IMO.
There's actually been quite a few for sale in OZ of late. Break it in, and it will reward you.
Good job!!
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I played it for 3 hours ish last night/morning non stop, when the sun came up I decided bed was a good idea LOL. Mikes MP1 is dialed up for his LP so it sounded great there today, and had definitely started to be mine >:D . We also noticed some interesting differences in the guitars, Mikes LP seems to have less neck angle, mine seems to be the typical LP 7 degrees, the bridge PU surround in mine is like twice as high as Mikes Classic. Also I've got to sus the wiring, apart from the pull up switch (bridge tone pot) which sounds like and I assume for now is series/parallel for the bridge PU, when you combine neck and bridge you get a very distinctive Page sound (not just normal Gibson join 2 pick UPs) and if you turn off either PU vol control with both PUs selected, turns all signal off (again not typical Gibson wiring). Anyway I'll pull the back plate off and have a look, all will be revealed (though may have to take PU selector plate off as well).
Next make some LP patches in the MP2 >:D .
(There's actually been quite a few for sale in OZ of late) what kind of prices ?
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From AU $8,800 for a 2012 '59 reissue (R9) Yamano source, to AU $24,000 for a 1953 Custom :o!!!
Both way to rich for me. There were two others I saw recently, but I can't find them again (meds are messing with me), but I think one was a '71 Goldtop with full size PUs for AU $3,200, and the other, if I remember right, was '73 Custom for around AU $5,000.
All out of my league. It's great you got a nice LP. :thumb-up: I've got a '72 goldtop that I bought in 1981, originally a special order from Sam Ash in New York with full size humbuckers. When you find a LP that fits your hands, they are hard guitars to beat.
Enjoy it!!
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My understanding is this is a replica of the 59 that Joe Walsh gave Page (adopted as his #1), the neck is shaved (mmm) and all the specs are Pages, PUs etc, made in 2006 according to the doco/certificate it came with. Took a bit of playing to bring it to life but is cooking now >:D . First guitar I've bought to come near my Anderson although, it's a super strat, so quite a different beast :whoohoo!: .
Your gold top sounds great, I always had a soft spot for gold tops, and I'd want full size humbuckers.
I've always wanted a LP, it just it had to find me :metal: .... Next to buy it it's own strap, forgot to get one before I left the store on Saturday :facepalm: or maybe it can inherent my oldest strap, thick leather I bought when I was 18 (37 years ago LOL), cost $20 AUD back then, they said it would last a lifetime and after a gazillion gigs still good as new.
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Next to buy it it's own strap, forgot to get one before I left the store on Saturday :facepalm:
Ohh yeha I get that! It has happend to me too that I could have left the store without my pants just thinking of the gear I'm buying! jeje
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Absolutely El, man I was just 5 mins from the store doh. :facepalm: .. But I'm just about to try it with my oldest strap (which is now as long as it goes), interestingly, although it's heaps heavier than the Basswood Anderson, it doesn't fell unconformable.
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rnolan,
Sorry for the confusion caused by my misleading statement, "There's actually been quite a few for sale in OZ of late." By this I meant unusual LPs in general, not specifically the Page replicas. Sorry about that.
That's cool you got one, the #2 reps. are supposed to be very nice, and from your pics and description it looks and sounds like you got a good one. :amaze:
I mentioned the '53 Custom cause I was just talking unusual LP's in general that have come up for sale in Australia. This one is unusual as the Custom wasn't released until '54. The owner states that it was a prototype built in '53, hence no serial #.
He might be right.
Anyway, here is that link, just offered for curiosity:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953-Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-/221629723704? (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953-Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-/221629723704?)
I mentioned the 2012 R9 (Yamano) because "made for Yamano" LPs aren't real common in my neck of the woods, but probably are more common in Australia, though the seller claims they are rare in Australia; I have no idea. (Yamano is a large Japanese reseller, and Gibson only sends pretty much flawless builds to them, or so it is said!!). Here's the link for curiosity's sake:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2012-GIBSON-CUSTOM-SHOP-LES-PAUL-HISTORIC-59-R9-SUN-TEA-BURST-YAMANO-/261695182913?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item3cee3f9841 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2012-GIBSON-CUSTOM-SHOP-LES-PAUL-HISTORIC-59-R9-SUN-TEA-BURST-YAMANO-/261695182913?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item3cee3f9841)
Enjoy your new axe, it looks great!
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Finally finished deleting spam and associates users so I can finally reply.
Wow the 53 looks nice, big price tag though. The 2012 '59 Yamano looks allot like mine, though not Page'd LOL. And it's here in Canberra, so if you wanted I could probably check it out for you ?. Apparently mines a #1 rep not #2 and only 850 made, RRP new was $16k, I think (and the more I think about it the more sure I am) I saw this guitar in Adelaide back in 2006/7 as it was sold by the guitar shop I went in for a look back then to this collector. I remember it was in locked in a glass case and had big price tag (I just drooled :P ). And it found me LOL.
Didn't get to sleep until 4am (again), I can't stop playing this thing >:D
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"Didn't get to sleep until 4am (again), I can't stop playing this thing"
Ha. :lol: I know what you mean. The Yamano does look similar to yours, but I like the flame and finish on yours better. I had no idea the original pricing on the Page reps. were that high. Crazy! It's always real nice when a guitar finds you for half the new price. :amaze:
Thanks for the offer to check out the Yamano, but I'm gonna be pushing my budget just getting new tubes and having my frets leveled and dressed.
Have fun!!
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Tubes you have to buy, frets level and dress you can pay for or do it yourself, happy to talk you through it (yes experience helps, but you have to start some where, as I did years ago LOL), hey it's not that hard... and start conservative!! Thing I always found, is I know what I like/want, conveying that to a guitar tech/Luthier it's easier to do it yourself and not that hard (so if you want, happy to talk you through it) :thumb-up:
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That would be great! Thanks for the very generous offer!
I have looked at a lot of tutorials on the net, and it doesn't seem to be a big deal. But then I look at the prices of some essential tools, like a radiused sanding block, and wonder if it's worth doing it myself.
Of course, in the long run it would be best to buy the essential tools, improvise the rest, and get good at it. My LP still plays nice, no buzzing or choking, etc., pretty amazing considering it sat in a closet for almost 16 years -- and I haven't even tweeked the neck yet. :lol:
Right now I'm still wiring up the last of my gear and getting my room set up -- should be done by tomorrow. :whoohoo!: And today was the first I've played since the dog incident :( , so I'm in no hurry 'cause my fingers are far behind my guitars' abilities right now :lol:; I just know all my guitars will need some attention once I get rolling.
I'll definitely let you know which way I go. Right now I'm tending towards doing it myself, and if I do I would greatly appreciate your advice. :thumb-up:
I want to hear your Page rep. in middle position!! 8)
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I'll post a sound clip soon :thumb-up: . You can buy all the new(er) paraphernalia like radius ed sanding block, but you don't "need" it.
Here's what you need (old school):
A dead flat (12" ish) bastard file, so take a straight edge and check all the files in the hardware store until you find one that's dead flat. But this is if you need to level frets (get the dips out etc) and then you need to to fr-round the frets so there is just a thin (flat across all the frets) ~1/32" in the centre of the fret (old schools use slim taper rat tail files and mask the board in case you slip LOL). But lets leave fret leveling to another conversation. The bastart file is also good to file down your nuts so only half the string sits in the slot (or you lose sustain from to much nut) (I've got a very old Ibenez set of fret/nit files to do the fret rounding but they are fixed widths)
Some 1200 wet/dry paper (you can use 000 steal wool but mask off PUs as the metal shavings end up there), I prefer 1200 paper (wash you hands a bit LOL)
Decent fingerboard oil (I use the Jim Dunlop, it's ok there used to be better but no more it seems), DON'T use lemon oil on rosewood/ebony (unfinished boards), it has water in it and makes the grains lift, also leaves a horrible white residue on the board (although it's good to clean the lacquered parts of the guitar, I don't use polish, just lemon oil to clean it).
Trus rod adjuster (Gibson socket for LP, appropriate allan keys for other guits (& bridge saddle bits)).
New strings, good tuner (preferably strobe (e.g. Peterson Stroboclip (best $75 AUD I ever spent BTW)), small flat blade and small phillips head screw drivers. 10 mm ring spaner (or small shifter (tighten top nuts on machine heads (gentle BTW l!!!)))
A cloth for the finger board oil, a cloth for polishing, string winder and side cutters. That's it for setups.
A basic set up that doesn't involve fret level:
Prepare to do set up (most of these adjustments are to taste/playing/what you! like):
Measure the neck relief (all necks need a little bow as the strings spin in a circle), press down bottom E at fret where it joins the body and 1st fret, (this makes a straight edge between the tops of those frets) check hight above 5,7, 9 frets, should be no more than a businesses card above the 7th fret (now this is taste/playing, I like my boards very flat (so half a business card), if you play hard hitting bluegrass you need more clearance). BTW this measurement has to be done at full tension, so do it first. (you can adjust the neck relief now if the new strings are same gauge) loosen strings a bit before tightening trus rod and bring back to pitch and meaure, go no more than 1/4 turn each time till is right (this is IM Experience unusual, but if the neck needs to go the other way loosen the trus rod (BTW all fret leveling is normally done with trus rod totally slack and no strings))
Diss-guard old strings (I loosen them (leave the machine heads perpendicular/vertical (so they don't foul the stringwiner) and the string holes ready for new strings (aimed to the respective nut slot)) and cut them around the 10th fret so they are easy to get off, and enough to coil tidily for the bin).
Get a bit of 1200 paper fold it up and dress the board (if you have mapple board, mask it off with masking tape as it's lacquered...), just run it up and down to polish the frets and (to some extent the board). Idea here is to dress/polish the frets a bit and clean crap off the board (go with the grain BTW, nut to body, not side to side).
Wipe off with cloth (wood/metal dust). Oil board and let it drink (my new JPP LP took 3 long drinks), when the board is oiled (doesn't want any more), whipe it off with FB cloth (I also use to spred oil into as close to fret etc to get best coverage).
Clean guitar (I use lemon oil sparingly on cotton cloth). You can do this while the FB oil is soaking in.
For LP (Floyed stringing is in other thread), by now the string end block is probably off the guitar (clean/polish). If it wasn't all the way to the body, now's a good time to wind those screws down as far as they go (better string break over the saddles = more sustain (though some like it spongy :crazy: ), & same for the nuts string break (reason why fenders got string trees LOL)).
So whack all your new strings into the end block (much easier when it off the guitar), re-fit it and string it up (on LP I go first turn over the top, and three turns (for bottom strings, more for top)) under (helps string break over nut). This also clamps the string to stop slip.
So tune up, stretch strings etc, check neck relief again, if it feels nice (regardless of action at this point), good ball park. Otherwise gently adjust (small, 1/8, 1/4 turn).
Then adjust action (you can measure (with 6 inch metal ruler with /64ths), 3/64 treb, 5/64 bass), I wind them down till they buzz to much and then take them back up till it's acceptable (so as low as I can get it for my playing style, and I play quite hard BTW).
Then Intonation, you need to re-tune between all these steps (I'm sure you've realised), so open note (or 12th fret harmonic (open note is better BTW)) compared to 12th fret (fretted note) (adjust bridge saddle horizontal position with screw driver), longer string lowers 12th ft note, shorter string = higher 12th fret note, so intonate each string until they are good (same/in tune) (so will now play in tune in the 12th position and above..)
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Wow - that's beautiful axe, Richard. Merry Christmas to you!
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Hey Dante, thanks, and so good to hear from you my friend, (you buggered off and didn't tell us :facepalm: , how the relocating going ??).
Man this guitar is something else, haven't got to bed before 4 am for over a week, can't stop playing it..mmmm
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Wow! That is one pretty guitar! I am glad that you are enjoying it!
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Hey Zilthy, the last thing I did after bringing it home and it was now the next day sunrise (need to go to bed LOL) was to take off the pick guard, and what a moment, the tiger stripes mmmm. Funny, when I'm playing it I can't see any of that, JPP #1 shaved neck, very (very) nice to play.
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Man, that's nice... I have a love/hate relationships with Les Pauls. :lol: But I have a real soft spot for figured tops and just naturally beautiful wood on a guitar. That one looks really nice and I'm sure plays just as well.
I've owned several LP's and sold them. The tricky thing about them is the neck profiles, and they can vary so much between guitars even within the same model. My feelings toward a guitar can live or die with how the neck feels. Where I live, there isn't much opportunity to try out very many in person, so when I get the hankering to actually buy one it has to be pretty much sight unseen and you're relying on the sellers description and pictures, etc.. More than once I've been disappointed when it arrive, and didn't keep it long.
Nice guitar there though, and with the shaved neck I'm sure the profile is to die for. :thumb-up:
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I like it more and more each day. I'm the same with LP necks, this is the first LP I've liked the neck on. It has such a slim neck it doesn't feel like any other LP I've played. I wasn't in the market for a new guitar, this one just became a have to have. I didn't even plug it in until after I'd got it home and set it up.
So it's a 59 reissue of the JP#1 which page bought from Joe Walsh and has a slimmer neck (from what I've read) than the later JP#2. So I think you'd like the neck profile though they're not cheap, I saw one on evil bay with dings going for $14,500 US ouch. And it's no ware near as pretty.
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I've owned several LP's and sold them. The tricky thing about them is the neck profiles, and they can vary so much between guitars even within the same model. My feelings toward a guitar can live or die with how the neck feels.
I couldn't agree more. Each guitar - regardless of brand or model..not just LPs - is subject to this. If it feels good, buy it. I hate buying guitars sight-unseen, but I have been pleasantly surprised by a couple of online purchases too, one of which is my Les Paul copy Ibanez that weighs as much as my car :thumb-up:
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Hey Dante, nice axe :thumb-up: I was expecting weight to be an issue with the JPLP but it's been very comfortable (surprisingly) and I've been playing it standing up for long periods.
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That's good! My Lester is a one-set guitar :)
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Yeah but my memory of LP's is they weigh a tonne (like you're s and your car), but this one is no problem.. at all, quite the contrary, very comfortable..
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Love the new axe!!!!!!
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Whats more unusual is that after owning it for a month(ish) I've burnt the strings out, I just play it so much, when I'm giging I'd change strings every second night, but I'm not so they tend to last much longer... But I noticed the other night, the strings could use a change... I'm loving this thing...
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....but I have been pleasantly surprised by a couple of online purchases too, one of which is my Les Paul copy Ibanez that weighs as much as my car :thumb-up:
Yeah, my keeper LPC was bought online and I absolutely love that guitar. It's got some heft, but not too heavy and the neck profile is good for me.
Now, the local music store has a really nice LPC that just plays killer and has a great neck on it but the darn thing weight feels like it weighs 15 pounds.. LOL
And rnolan, that guitar must be a keeper if you've worn the strings out already!
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Absolutely, there are now 3 guits (of only 9) that I've told my daughter that are not (never!! ever !!) to leave the family, my Anderson, the acoustic I built from scratch and now this JPLP. Just burnt in another 3 hours on it.... this time turning on the IPS33 smart shift, f##k me this guitar is good.... Again time for bed...
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So for the first time in years my left finger callouses are like when I was playing 5 nights a week LOL (I spose it's coz I am :whoohoo!: ). And it almost needs a new set of strings (already...) While they're not cheap, if you come accross one of these JPLP #1 re-issues, they are definitly worth it :thumb-up:
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Just had a great jam with MikeB (LP classic > MP1 rig, ADA csb sim into studio monitors), when you get up close to his LP Classic "mistress" (note little m Mike LOL) it's very beautiful, not as 3D as my new JPLP but (as Mike and I enjoyed, when some one else is playing your guit you can see how it looks (coz when we are playing them we see the top edge)).
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Just had a great jam with MikeB (LP classic > MP1 rig, ADA csb sim into studio monitors), when you get up close to his LP Classic "mistress" (note little m Mike LOL) it's very beautiful, not as 3D as my new JPLP but (as Mike and I enjoyed, when some one else is playing your guit you can see how it looks (coz when we are playing them we see the top edge)).
TRUE! I was watching a guy playing my small semi-hollow axe and the wood looked like it had been touched by GOD - the wood grain looked sooooo deeeep, I was entranced :banana-trip:
It sounded great too - the desert island guitar for sure (if I'm ever stuck on a desert island and can only bring one guitar....). She's the one on the left side, I know, you can't really see the grain in this pic. I'll get a shot in the sun, that's where you can see it like a stage light hitting it :thumb-up:
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Hey Dante, Nice :thumb-up:
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Congratulations on a great score, Richard! I have also made it clear I wish to be buried with my '59 LP :banana-dance:
Warning: Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT plug this LP straight into a Marshall Plexi SLP-1959 (Super Lead) and play it at max volume!! You will forever be drawn to the Dark Side and abandon your ADA......... :lol: :lol: :lol:
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That's a good point, I haven't tried it with my 72 Marshall 50 yet >:D LOL
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Shall I bring over the JCM 900 on Wednesday?? :banana-guitar:
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Maybe not this Wednesday but be good to give it a go sometime >:D LOL
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That LP is so lovely, it is making me want to actually get a real LP!
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Hey Zilthy, from all the research I've done since getting it, it's one of the best looking I've seen, caught my eye at the music shop, then I played it, mmmm such a lovely thin neck (my preference) and sooo much sustain (reminds me of spinal tap LOL). I hadn't heard it plugged in until I'd set it up with some DR 10-46, then played until dawn. I thought the weight would be a problem but it's not at all, it's very comfortable to play (for hours on end). And I love the '59 PAF in the neck, the burst bucker in the bridge is growing on me. Also PUs are wired out of phase at the selector switch, so Led Zep tones abound. Only small criticism is it's a bit hard to play in 19th position due to the neck join bulk (as are all '59 LPs). I now get some insight into why Page was very much a 3 finger(ed) lead player as it's very hard to get your 4th finger in there up that high.