The Makeover of 8 6800

This page will be dedicated to the Historic Makeover of a 2006 R8

For me the Historic Makeover will capture the truest Tone, Look and Feel of a real Les Paul Burst without spending $450,000

I like to think of it as a bridge to the classic late 50’s sound that has made rock and blues what it is today. Construction techniques, finish materials and period correct dyes are used to bring the Les Paul back to the standard it had during this time period.

The Historic series by Gibson are some of the finest electric guitars on the planet. Once you pick one up and spend time with it, you may never go back. But Gibson makes them with currently available nitro finishes that don’t crack or check and dyes that do not fade. This is because Gibson wants to produce a product that is superior in quality and not “over the top” in manufacturing costs.

But something strange happened. the very things that Gibson wanted to avoid have now become very desirable; especially by collectors.

The last 15 years or so have seen an increase in the popularity of aged, worn looking guitars, Fenders and Gibson’s being in the fore front, being rock and roll icons of course. Its one thing to “age” a guitar so that it looks old but it really is new, it is a completely different thing when you begin to change woods to their correct dimensions and types to try to recreate the very spirit, tone and quality, of the manufacturing practices and materials of a time long gone. Then to accelerate the hands of time ahead 40 years to give the appearance of an instrument that was either toured with and used extensively or a “closet queen” that sat in its case in grandpa’s closet and pulled out on special occasions. Either way The Master Craftsmen at Historic Makeovers will bring this dream to vivid life.

Please Visit them at Historicmakeovers.com

The photo diary below documents the process on my 2006 Historic Reissue or R8 Serial # 8 6800 (Cool Serial Number huh)?

Quick Serial number breakdown 8 = 1958 Les Paul Standard. 6= the year of manufacture or 2006 and 800 = the 800th Reissue made that year, and this could be any reissue guitar, not unique to the Les Paul model. In other words 799 could have been an SG model or a Flying V.

The picture titled “As the camera sees it” is the guitar as it looked three or four days before it was packed and sent.

The additional pictures are of  the same guitar, same picture but edited for color in Photoshop. These are my doodles I will probably do more, nothing carved in stone, just doodles…..Stay tuned for more of the Make over process!

Kim was able to find me a dynamic looking fretboard that has much wavy grain. Just to be a little different I chose to go with this because the guitar is not a flame top but a plain top. Most fret boards from this period are very a dark rosewood. It will however darken with finishing oil,with natural age and a lot of playing. It will be more subtle when finished.

 

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