Gonna need a big assist from Murkat and Stike. I have the patient on life support

[BadgerDave]

Gibson Les Paul Signature. Gutted, stripped and butchered. Saw it on ebay and it called out to me like a starving three legged puppy.

I've always had a strange attraction to this model, so much so that I designed my goldtop Monaco around it. The chance to take one that's already been messed with and make something special out of it is irresistible.

The first step is to get it to Jay. We've talked, he's willing. Then, I'm hoping Stike can put something sparkly on the top.

Photos - warning - not for the squeamish:

[bubs_42]

Interesting, i've never heard of it. Looks Cool

[murkat]

yeee ah babay!

schweet ride.

[Bobby Marshall]

Looks like those t-tops with the Gibson covers. Seen a pair sell for big $$$. If those are intact bet you got a good deal on her.

[Stike]

Sure but only if you promise you replace that ugly ass bridge!

[dgstandard]

Is that BB King's signature?

[hamerhead]

That's gonna be great. Something about those remind me of the Mirage..........

[velorush]

Oh, but it has to have the harmonica! Don't remember seeing one with a TP-6 though. All the low-impedance weirdness has been gutted, so you can fill it to your liking! I really like T-tops (if that's what's under the covers).

Love the LPS in Goldtop, but doesn't an HFCer have [like, the only] one in ebony? I think I'm remembering that correctly. That was my favorite finish ever on a LPS!

[morningstar]

I was wondering the same thing... whether that is B B King's signature.

That poor thing was brutalized.

morningstar

[veatch]

To whoever did that - Shoot that man and hide the body...

I will be very interested in how this one turns out. I've always *loved* the look of these, but have only been able to play 3 of them, and all of them were, "meh". I have confidence that Jay and Stike will make it a keeper.

[Steve Haynie]

Looking at examples of B.B. King's autograph makes it apparent that is who signed that guitar.

[Hackubus]

Oh wow. This is gonna be cool.

[BadgerDave]

The seller claimed it was BB King's autograph, but I was skeptical, based on the general squirreliness of his description of the guitar. I like BB, but the autograph is going away.

The good news is that the guitar seems to be fully functional, sounds strong acoustically and doesn't have any critical damage. The neck is medium to full with a very comfortable slight V profile and I was happy to find that the nut isn't the skinny (1 1/2"?) width that Gibson used a lot in the 70's. With a bit of Murkat magic, this can be a great guitar.

I'll pull the pickups tonight to see if they are real T-tops. I'm not counting on it, but it would be a nice bonus. The guitar also has the somewhat rare double ring Kluson "Gibson Deluxe" tulip tuners and they are in excellent shape.

The TP-6 tailpiece is going away. Not original to this model and it holds the strings too high off the body for an optimal break angle behind the bridge.

I hadn't thought of black, but I can see this done up in a Les Paul Custom Black Beauty theme (no gold hardware, though). Multi-ply top binding?

This photo that I lifted fromStike's website is my initial thought on the top color:

[Bobby Marshall]

Black beauty with nickel hardware would be nice. My LPC is like that. It would look original.

But that red sparkles stike finish would be super cool on stage. Green or orange sparkle would be my suggestions.

[BadgerDave]

It was origianlly a gold top, so I'm also considering doing the top in gold, but a big metalflake gold rather than the standard bullion. Sort of a tribute to its heritage with extra bling.

[Stike]

It was origianlly a gold top, so I'm also considering doing the top in gold, but a big metalflake gold rather than the standard bullion. Sort of a tribute to its heritage with extra bling.

What about a stock Goldtop base and spray some big stuff on the lighter side where it doesn't go to full coverage so you get some of both?

[crunchee]

That guitar is gonna be KILLER when it's done!

It must be the heat, that picture of the sparkle Tele makes me wanna run out and get a Black Cherry Slushee at the Drive-In.

[JohnnyB]

Gibson made a Les Paul Signature Bass as well.

Jack Casady liked the form factor but didn't like the pickup either, so it lives on as his signature bass (Epiphone), shown here in gold top:

I always liked the LP Signature's form factor--a more ergonomic thinline than the ES-335/EB-2 models.

[MCChris]

One of dem guit fiddles is prominently featured in this show:

http://youtu.be/Zy_u-FYbDvo

[mc2]

Dave.....

I saw that on Ebay. Nice score. I LOVE Les Paul Sigs...and have both bass and 6 string versions.

......AND SPARE PARTS, if you run into problems.

I have a NOS top, necks and original pickup covers (the creme ones with raised "Gibson" on top.)

- mc2

[tbonesullivan]

What the heck happened to it? looks like it was dropped, sanded, overbuffed, etc. Gonna be a fun time getting it back to 100%, that's for sure.

[BadgerDave]

The pickups are '76-'77 T-Tops. Stamped backs. OK pickups, but not the versions that get crazy prices on ebay. I like the embossed covers though.