Early 1950s Gibson Les Paul Standard '59 Conversion electric...

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Estimate

£25,000 - £30,000

Fees

Early 1950s Gibson Les Paul Standard '59 Conversion electric guitar; Body: faded burst finished two piece maple re-top upon original mahogany body (finish by Martyn Hewitt), old Bigsby holes present (top holes plugged), buckle scratches to back, light checking and other marks; Neck: mahogany, blemish behind 11th fret, further minor marks, '59 range serial stamp, new head face veneer and logo; Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood with original inlays; Frets: good, refret; Electrics: working, 'Patent Applied For' humbucker pickups, later potentiometers, switch tip possibly correct; Hardware: repro tuners, repro bridge and stop bar, repro pickguard, OTP 'M-69' white plastic pickup rings, repro control knobs; Case: '59 period five latch Stone hard case; Weight: 3.79kg; Overall condition: good

* Purchased by the vendor from an Internationally recognised successful record producer whom acquired the guitar from a musician colleague. Sold with a signed letter from the previous owner stating 'To whom it may concern, I have enjoyed collecting vintage guitars throughout my career in the music business and have owned many rare and valuable examples. I acquired this converted Les Paul in 1989 whilst I was working in USA .... Although at the time the guitar had been refinished red, I recognise that the guitar would have started life as a 1952 or 1953 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top. The guitar had been routed to accommodate humbucker pickups and a Tune O Matic bridge and stop tail, assembly had also been installed. At this time it did not a bare a serial number. It was a fantastic instrument! Over the next twenty eight years I used this Les Paul on various recording projects. In 2017 I sold The Les Paul (to the vendor) a vintage guitar collector local to me. (He) explained that he intended to give the Les Paul to vintage guitar expert Gary Winterflood, owner of Guitar Avenue Ltd. to coordinate it's conversion to '59 spec Les Paul Standard by their guitar Luthier of high repute known as 'The Stigg'. I kept in touch with (the vendor) during the process of witnessing my old guitar going the various stages of it's progression. (signed) Regards'

**Sold with laminated photographs showing the previous owner holding the instrument in the studio 1980s and a photo of him holding the guitar as it is now. Also including photographs showing the guitar alongside other guitars in his collection, one showing the guitar stood next to the Duggie Lock burst. Other photos show close ups of the fretboard inlays when the guitar had it's red finish, showing a 'fingerprint' match to the guitar as it is now.

The early '50s to '59 spec conversion was coordinated by Gary Winterflood and carried out by the guitar luthier known 'The Stigg'. Whilst most of the hardware and electrics on the guitar are repro it is appears that the pickups are probably original PAFS, and are the pickups that came installed when acquired by the vendor.

***Sold with Cites A10 certificate no. 618536/01