Thinking of selling my R7 LP and buyin a late 70s Custom...

[MrDan666]

I think mine was Dunlop 6105 fret wire, didn't want them too big.
The thing with old Customs is that the binding can shrink when you take it off mine was really yellowed and even that had come off through to the layer underneath again so was starting to be white again .. haha .. My tech did a great job of leaving the binding on and pulling the frets, no splits or anything, and he replaced them and trimmed the edges perfectly.
At the end of the day my 79 is my workhorse, it's beat to shit and the saddles are so corroded i doubt it'll ever intonate ever again so I ain't bothered about value or resale.

I have the 6105 fretwire on my GMW Superstrat, and it is very comfortable!!

Yeah the binding situation can be tricky.. but after leaving it with a good tech, they can usually take care of most of the problems and get the guitar back to you sounding and feeling great

 

[blackba]

I love 70s Customs...plus they sound way beefier and less honky than Standards.

I agree Ed!

I understand the beefier comment, but what do you guys mean by less honky?

 

[MrDan666]

I understand the beefier comment, but what do you guys mean by less honky?

Its in the mids.. the LP Standards have this sorta trademark honk in the midrange! Its kinda hard to explain

 

[blackba]

I understand the beefier comment, but what do you guys mean by less honky?

Its in the mids.. the LP Standards have this sorta trademark honk in the midrange! Its kinda hard to explain

I think I know what you are saying. Could it be heard in a 90's era Gibson Les Paul Studio with 490R/498T or is it only a LP standard thing?

I have a '95 LP studio, that is why I am asking. My LP custom is much beefier and meaner than my LP studio.

 

[MrDan666]

I think I know what you are saying. Could it be heard in a 90's era Gibson Les Paul Studio with 490R/498T or is it only a LP standard thing?

I have a '95 LP studio, that is why I am asking. My LP custom is much beefier and meaner than my LP studio.

Absolutely! When i say standard.. i just mean basically the usual Les Pauls with Rosewood board/Mahogany neck and body. The late 70s Custom's have the maple neck, which gives it a more unique tone than the usual all mahogany Les Paul

 

[blackba]

I think I know what you are saying. Could it be heard in a 90's era Gibson Les Paul Studio with 490R/498T or is it only a LP standard thing?

I have a '95 LP studio, that is why I am asking. My LP custom is much beefier and meaner than my LP studio.

Absolutely! When i say standard.. i just mean basically the usual Les Pauls with Rosewood board/Mahogany neck and body. The late 70s Custom's have the maple neck, which gives it a more unique tone than the usual all mahogany Les Paul

Good to know. So would a '73 LP custom also have a maple neck? Sorry for all the questions, I just frankly don't know that much about Les Pauls....

 

[MikeT]

Both mid to late 70's Standards and Customs have the three piece glued maple neck. I would guess Gibson/Norlin made this change around 74/75. The only significant difference between the Custom and Standard as I can tell is the ebony vs rosewood board. I think in general Customs have a snapier sound due to the ebony. The 3-piece glued maple necks of that era are strong!

Mike

 

[blackba]

Luthier said that refretting my '73 LP custom would be about $450. I know its difficult in that you have to deal with the binding, but is this about what a refret on an LP custom should cost? Is it worth doing?

 

[MrDan666]

Luthier said that refretting my '73 LP custom would be about $450. I know its difficult in that you have to deal with the binding, but is this about what a refret on an LP custom should cost? Is it worth doing?

Hmm that may be about right for US prices, but im really not 100% sure... here in the UK, i can get a decent re-fret where they keep the binding nibs intact all for about £180