Why are so many comments on this young man so negative? His honesty is refreshing and he doesn't come off all smarmy with a know it all attitude like some of the other hot shots. He openly admits that he depends on the expertise of others to assist in his projects. Here is a fact that has been established by both the art of Philosophy and the science of Psychology, "Those who criticize, can't do what they critique." As the old idiom goes, "If you don't have anything positive to say, then don't say anything at all." Fools, jesters and critics are all of the same cloth. Then there is the other category of the armchair advisor who pitch in with, unwarranted suggestions as, "You should do this or you could do that or you should've done that or you missed that." Guess what? Humans are not perfect and it is wrong to assume anyone is or that we have the right to judge their processes, that just makes the lot of you bigots and hypocrites. I would recommend a number of you seeing a Doctor of Psychology but not I for I am retired from clinical therapy.
Mostly envy i suppose, he has amazing peaces for a very young age, i think hes is maybe 3 o 4 years older than me and has amazing guitars, i really envy this dude, but do not thorw him shit nor i think is ok, asshole being assholes
@@yosoyspider9420 yeh maybe your right there used to really annoy me until I thought about it a bit more the more I got riled up about it the more they got riled up about it and on and on it would go so now I think it is what it is and just let it ride on by. has half helped with my blood pressure lol and oh yes I am very envious too
I don't think the super tedious guitar people make art worthy of attention, so they must seek attention, authority and relevance in some other way (like posting videos on why relic guitars are 'wrong ' or just cutting up what Matthew does.) Eddie Van Halen was a gonzo guitar player / composer and also completely unpretentious about his guitars and methods of working on things, so in the balance his music continues to matter with every new decade. I think Scott is a wonderful player who still has a respect for the heritage of old guitars but doesn't get carried away beyond making them great to enjoy and play.
pro tip when re installing screws into wood or plastic, turn them counter clockwise until you feel the screw "drop" then proceed to tighten carefully. this way you are not cutting new "threads" into the wood or plastic, but re using the hole/threads that are already there... and don't overtighten!
It’s 6am and I havnt slept and I just watched a 20 minute video about a 58’ les Paul and I don’t even know about guitars and yet I am very pleased with the video please keep updating about the restoration I want to hear how it sounds too
I can’t remember the guys name right now which is terrible but he played rock around the clock he was the first guitar player that actually wrote the song with the comets add Bailey in the clock comments the guys name was very much a name that you would think a guitar players name would be but he died two weeks after the recording which was very fishy just think if that was his guitar wow that would make it worth so much more money and by the way there was never an investigation on Halle just owe died fell down the steps and broke his neck he actually wrote the song in 53 he came out at 54 with Bill Haley no need to investigate though just 30 million copies were sold that’s all
cool how one of the gnarliest guitars has the cleanest original wiring and pristine paint in the cavity, incredible. this guitar couldnt have gone to a better person
I think whoever owned this guitar had a good time with it. Yea it could of been taken better care of but I'd rather see a worn out guitar that got put through the ringer than a really nice guitar that never gets played.
Thanks for the info on goodwill, right after watching the fist video I went on there a bought a knock off strat for $20. Changing the neck, pick guard, bridge, pickups, electronics and tuners. Can’t wait till it’s done, I’m giving it to my daughter when I’m done.
I think you are doing the right thing. Leave it like it is. It's a part of history and the history is that some things were changed throughout the years. With whatever the person could find. It is Rock n Roll history and a tribute to the musician who owned this. Making it factory spec changes the life of this guitar. Don't you wish this guitar could speak. The stories it would tell.
Dude, fantastic video. There is something very pleasing about seeing a '58 Les Paul sitting on a Native American blanket. Great explanations and an absolute treasure of a guitar. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Matt, I (and I'm sure many others) are just fascinated by this guitar, and truly enjoy the journey you are taking us on step by step from its rescue to its redemption. I just wish we all knew who had this before you, the story of when/where it was purchased, what kind of music it played, what bars/bands it played at/for, etc...I am hooked, and look forward to seeing this whole trip until you plug it in and play it for an appreciative audience!
Hi Matthew I love to learn new things every dam day and just found your site and love to see you tear down the classic Les Paul. Hell i cant even play the guitar but love to see restoration. I'm rebuilding a 1935 Ford Pickup and have all those rusty metal parts and pieces here is a great Hack to handle rusty metal, copper, brass, bronze, cast iron, parts . Molasses and water soak, yes Molasses eats rust and it works great it gets in to all the places sand paper, wire brushes wont. Just mix it around 10 to 1 with water let all your metal parts soak for about 4 days , soap and water clean up and boom rust free, now you do have to use metal prep on the final rise because you parts are so dam clean. In 1935 Ford used all fine thread bolts and nuts, springs, hinges but I was able to save all of them by soaking in Molasses and water and hundreds of dollars. Wont hurt chrome or paint just eats rust its all over you tube give it a try on your metal pieces . Thanks for filming your work, very cool ..
Those old single line tuners you have are perfect on this special and look the real deal. I am very interested to see why that bridge p90 is microphonic. Great project 👍🇬🇧
Every time I come back to this video this LP Special impresses me, it's exactly my dream pawn shop find - this model and year, structurally solid regardless of worn-in looks. For a steal of course!!
You're doing the right things by it, it has landed in the right hands. I imagine that the the chap who will refret it lives an inordinate distance away otherwise I am sure that you would be driving it there personally. Worrying times lie ahead, I am sending positive thoughts for a safe return. This was a very enjoyable post, well in. 👍🤞
I'm an Antigue dealer and my father wisely taught me under no circumstances do we disturb the surface cause there in lies the objects historic identity. We call it in the business" In the black" an accounts for maybe 60 to 70 % of it's potential return.
Really hope with the exposure you're giving this beauty that someone out there will see the video and recognize the guitar, who played it, or the story behind it.
One thing though, whomever put the majority of wear on it, obviously loved that guitar! For all anyone knows, it could have been one of Johnnie Shines' guitars. He was buddies with and travelled around with Robert Johnson. Anyway, Mississippi or Louisiana is where i'd be poking around for info. It just has that feeling.
Just think if that was a Danny Cedrone‘s guitar from Bill Haley and the Comets,Danny was ahead of his time as one of the very first shredders he played a Les Paul I can’t remember what it looked like he mysteriously died two weeks after they release the song rock around the clock it only sold 30 million copies no need for an investigation as to how he fell down the steps and broke his neck
Yes, it seems there are always those who give a thumbs down to just about anything you can think of. I think these videos are very interesting as a guitar player myself, whose oldest guitar is a 1970 Ovation Tornado. So cudos to this young man for doing this and I see his activities as nothing to have a negative opinion of. Most young people his age are wasting there time on video games or drug use as I see it. I would be proud to have this young man as a son. I enjoy these videos and I learn things from them. He is taking on some fairly difficult restorations that I would probably not have the patience for.
1992 Southampton England.. TV repair shop with a Gretsch in the back.. Asked if it was for sale and the chap said yes but doesn't work.. Asked how much.. £20! Turned out to be a 63 Country Gent.. Only reason it was not working was the jack cable had disconnected.. Fixed it and cleaned it up and still have it to this day... Love the Gibbo..
That reminds of my guitar teacher in Lincoln - ever time he went into the second hand shop the high street the owner used to say oh Christ what have I underpriced now! I got a US standard strat under similar circumstances!
I agree with both y'all!! If you REALLY want to relic a guitar, then dont be a yutz for christ's sakes!!.. Just buy one,, and spend time playing it. Then after 10 years of playing it everyday, take a damn good look at it!! Is it scratched? Good! Does it look beat to shit..fanfuckingtastic!! Now...you should notice how well you can RIP on that bitch!! Congratulations!!! You are now the owner of a beautiful relic guitar!! People pay THOUSANDS to have this done to their axe. But YOU did all of that work yourself! You know the story behind EVERY nick, scratch, and gouge in it. You got them bc YOU'RE the one that done it!! Plus look how much better you can play it. Its bc you reliced it the RIGHT WAY. Not with money, but with your heart, soul, and work!!!
@@meesterdinglefritz2064 Humm. Might have some reservations about buying a "NEW Battle-worn firearm"....lol!! A guitar, you plug in, pick around on it..it either works or it dont. A NEW battle worn fire arm WILL usually work if it's a U.S. made weapon. But even then..you pull the trigger and it goes "click" like its supposed to, but doesn't fire..YIPE!! Hopefully you forgot to load it. If you did load...uh hell, now you have to unload a live dud...lol!! That's the only thing that would suck if ya know what I mean!!😁 Have a good one sir!!
I enjoy these "nerdy" videos. Always educational. I love your approach of restoring whilst keeping the soul of the guitar. I'm looking forward to seeing this in professional working condition.
Honestly, the biggest thing I'd do for the electronics is clean the pots and add some shielding into the electronics cavity. Just the copper tape though, not the shielding paint. And have some copper tape on the cavity cover as well. A lot of noise would go away immediately, just by adding some shielding.
The parts you called bumblebee caps are really carbon resistors. If they were capacitors they would be dried out and in need of replacement. Good informative video and a beautiful guitar. Good luck with it.
At 6:30 you can see how the outer shields of the bumblebee caps aren't consistent. I've noticed there is not a standard there with Les Paul guitars, but the outer shield to the tone pot has always sounded the best.
Aesthetically doesn't matter. I'd at least seal them well with glue and toothpicks to stabilize the old wood from stress and humidity changes. Better this small easy step now than it developing cracks later...
Agreed! Clean it up and get it into playable condition again certainly but leave everything else exactly as it is. If you wanted a new guitar you would have bought one but that's not what you've got there. Preserve that old beauty as close to the condition that it's in right now.
Thats amazing find. I Found a Slingerland in original condition from 1963 with everything stamp in side even pencil makings and clamps where they were 😊 two of the toms don't have air holes in them 14"112"16"20" all match it has a 1960 zildjian ride. No one can tell me how much it worth. It's is amazing condition the only thing it needs is the thin line straps around kick drum and one spur for kick drum 😊😊😊 what a sounding drum set 😮😮
This is so interesting. I don't play a guitar or any instrument and know nothing of guitars, but I love music. Thank you for sharing with us this preservation journey.
Hi Matt... Your videos are awesome! You clearly have a profound interest and passion for vintage equipment that is engaging and refreshing. I love hearing about finds like these... I have many of those stories too, but do not have the subject matter expertise that you do!!! One option for microphonic vintage pickups is to have them repotted - the coil is dipped in hot beeswax to restabilize the wrappings. I had that done on a vintage Tele back in 1987 and it has been perfect since.... Keep doing what you are doing!
Man that’s an awesome story. I found a 1923 Gibson 120 in an attic of a foreclosed house last year. Crazy! Although it has Mexican style tuners idk how they got there
Just found this video, what a great find. Me and my daughter have bought a few guitars and amps from goodwill for almost nothing. I am glad to see you will be keeping it in its current state of rock history. Keep the videos coming..Peace
Ive noticed some other channels that as soon as they get very high views they get HD cameras and a number of camera operators and push up the production. I have found this has not necessarily made the channel more watchable, in fact it often takes away the essence of what made the channel so good in the first place. When the channel has just been about one person on screen adding in more people to the set seems to change the dynamic and its no longer about the relationship between the viewer and the video maker doing their thing. Just thought it was worth mentioning. I really like the table top view with the cool mat. A very interesting video.
I love that you always do the right thing with these incredible vintage guitars. In this case, the thing I’m most interested in with this beauty is what’s going to happen with that bridge pickup. In most cases microphonic pickups are simply potted, or re-potted in wax, but it’s nigh-impossible to do that without unsoldering them, and this one seems to need a new bobbin and a rewind. That’s heresy to some, but necessary to make it playable. For me, I’ve been playing a long time, and keeping an unplayable “safe queen” is a shame. That guitar sounds *exactly* the way you want your late 50s LP Special to sound. I could live with leaving the bridge pup alone and play only through the neck, but I don’t think I could for long. I’m kinda relieved that I’m not who has to make that decision hahaa! I’m all for keeping/making it fully playable. If that means a refret, so be it. You’ll probably lose the little “nibs” in the binding, but there are *way* too many other things to enjoy about playing it! Apologies for the long comment, I just get really excited about a find like this, especially when it’s found by somebody who will treat it right.
I was never much into the "keep it all original" thinking on my old Gibsons, but I never owned one this old. I always looked for ways to improve the "usability" of my guitars ... and in tone. I took care of them and even though I played every night for many years, the finish remained looking as new. This is the second of your videos that I've watched and this one convinced me to subscribe to your channel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and equipment. Your videos are well done and informative.
I was 3 years old when that guitar was born!! If only it could talk English what stories it would have to tell!! What a gorgeous instrument never been messed with just a pick guard and a set of tuners! Wow that’s amazing!! Love your channel Matt keep doing the vids I look forward to seeing a new one as soon as it’s up on your channel. Keep safe and keep well. Love and Peace ☮️
Wow... very cool!! If it were me I would just keep the original finish, clean it up, and LOVE all the Battle Damage on it! I play bass but can definitely appreciate a 58 Gibson!
Hey Matthew, I like your videos, keep them coming! Pro tip: don’t leave loose screws or small parts and tools on your bench. They can find their way under the guitar unnoticed while you are working and cause an unwanted scratch.
Such an odd guitar. I hate to take from the mystic, but it almost seems like it could’ve been a school guitar or a church guitar, or some kind of rental? Just seems like it went through a bunch of hands, literally. Plus with the serial being scratched into the back, seems like it needed to be tracked and logged.
It last belong to hair on addict who play at jack rubys bar. He loan it to lee harvey who traded it for a rifle and handgun and lunch box at the pawn shop. It became dead pawn. Lighten hopkins bought it pawn it die became dead pawn so stevie ray bought it pawn it and wisconsin! Right! Its known as the Blonde widow Maker! Bullshit! Yes! Lol.
I appreciate your videos. Your dedication to revitalizing old guitars is grand. Some of the best sounds can come from weathered road veteran guitars. just stay true to yourself. Negative comments are sad as it seems they have nothing constructive to offer.
Just imagine how well built that thing is. Seriously, all these years later. A man/men worked on that guitar here in America and fed their family and likely took pride in their work
I've got to say if this is nerdy I'm all in. I'm fascinated by the physics and mechanics of (good) tone. I just watched Dave Grohl's documentary on Sound City Studio's and their 2 unique and amazing Neve analog mixing consoles. There was a bunch to unpack there. Anyway, Matt keep up the good work! Interesting, informative and well spoken always work for me.
I remember that TV Special on Goodwill! It's seen some smokey nightclubs. Great patina. "Johnny" ;) I like your approach and commentary to exploring under the hood. I have had 3 single and a couple of double cut 59's back in the day. I kept 1 56 LP TV special. Yours sounds great right out of the case. They are wonderful guitars. Looking forward to next installment..Thanks!
Beautiful surviver. Can't wait to see it and hear it when you're finished. The patina on the tuners you showed is perfect for this guitar. Please don't put modern tuners on it.
Your right in not meddling much with details better left to those with experience in these matters. I've heard tell of bobbin rewinding being available, but wonder if the incurred expense is equal to a replacement value using a period set of pick-ups. Originality being so important to a great many with refurbishment and replacement practices questioned by those who pour hard-earned dollars on these aging instruments. Great follow-up on the 1st video. Look forward to the conclusion of the righteous rig you've found.
@@tinyforcecorps4149 Recently, i heard they dropped the old Gibson smokestack, and were going to rebuild it. I thought that might be a story.. anyway there was interest expressed at one time here in Kalamazoo to put a resturant/beer garden in at the old iconic building, and you could dine out while watching Heritage Guitars being built. Haven't heard that in a while though.. now with the new abnormal, we likely never will.
Check under the pickguard I found a hundred dollar bill under a pickguard one day when I bought a guitar from Sam Ash weeks later I decided to clean and there was hundred dollar bill stashed under the pickguard thank you for the video good job
Nice specimen, this is what direction Gibson is going in today. They are cracking the classics open and finding out what made the classics tic. It's like an old car you never washed. Don't wash it, because it will never run right again.
Is there an update on this project? I’d love to see/hear this thing after it was restored. I’d also love to the see the process of it being restored if there’s a video for that as well! What a find man, this guitar is a dream!
Dont bridge the multimeter leads with your fingers when measuring resistance or voltage. It will throw it off. I know you acknowledged that getting the best reading is directly from the pickup leads not from the cable after the pots etc. But you should still keep the leads touching the jack without touching your fingers. Just a pet peeve that I dont think people who dont work on electronics often realize. Great video. Would love to see more.
If you do it your way, just hold one lead in place and use your hand that is idle, to hold the other lead in place. Or invest in two clips! I like that Gibson even top wrapped strings back then, with no alternative being available.
Great find, and very interesting guitar. I agree with your approach to the restoration process and can’t wait to see it when completed. One thing I would do is leave that extra piece of the pick guard screwed in. This guitar has a lot of stories and history, and the broken piece is partmof a story. As for the microphonic pickup; this was a problem with the early P90s. To combat this, the pickups were wax potted. There is a chance that these pickups weren’t wax potted.
It's great to see so much vintage gear, and in the hands of someone who loves them for what they are, and not a price tag. I've been living in the far east for the last 12 years (Korea & now India), where vintage gear is practically nonexistent. The closest thing to that fabulous Goodwill find that I have is my beloved '79 Gibson The Paul, which I bought online from an antique shop in New York for about $600 a few years back. You are none lucky dude! Thanks for the videos!
This took off so damn fast (rightfully so) on the site that everyone was watching it. The amount of research I ended up doing before it was posted, people thought I was going crazy. I had even sent a message off to Gibson trying to track the serial number, but the person wasn't able to find anything. However, they said that they would keep looking for information, which will be passed onto you if I ever do find out anything from them. Two weeks after I shipped this to you, we got a 1933 Epiphone Triumph Masterbilt from the same location. I can only assume it was from the same person. It ended up going to a restoration shop in New York. Glad to see that it made it safely, and looking forward to seeing this restored.
don't let the crusty old bastards boiling with envy get you down man, that guitar is lucky you found it rather than them, you're far more patient and careful than they would be.
Matt, that's simply one of the coolest guitars I seen in a long time. Keef's drooling as you speak, his manager will call after you finish! Take care and be well!
awesome video. i've bought several instruments from goodwill. Mostly because they are cheap and I'm teaching myself guitar maintenance, setups, refretting, etc. Seen a bunch of cool stuff there, but never seen something this cool.
Someone needs to gumshoe who owned this thing and wore it out the way they did. You just know there is an incredible history here and we need that side of things.
@@400_billion_suns Maybe, just maybe, someone will see this project and ask that previous owner “Hey, didn’t you finally dump that old thing at some Goodwill store last summer?” Then the investigation gets interesting 🤨
@@SeekerGoOn2013 I can't believe any owner of this guitar would give it to Goodwill. It has to have been family cleaning up an estate and not knowing what they had.
@@stimpsonjcat67 yeah, there's no way that someone who was even remotely astute in guitars would give this gem up. It was probably taking space up in an attic of some karen and she wanted to get rid of it to make more space for her list of managers she has to contact for complaints.😉
Well, the owner is obviously no longer with us. And judging by the love it received and the fact that it’s an entry model, or not an expensive high end Gibson, my guess is that it was a lower middle class to lower class person who rocked it. Someone who didn’t care about upgrading or any lollipops and fancy pants. Probably some old black man.
Super cool guitar! I turned down a original 1956 LP gold top in 1992 for £1200 and bought a new LP! What a mistake that was! Thanks for posting this video! Well done!
Very cool series. I did the same thing to my '76 Les Paul Deluxe when I bought it in the 80's. It had (and still has) 3 Dimarzio's with coil splitter switches put in in place of the original mini humbuckers as well as banjo pegs if you can believe that. I swapped those out for Grover heads and replaced the absent pick guard. It has served me well for over 30 years. Can't wait to see the resto vid for this.
@@deanrinehart Yes that might have been who Jason recommended Unfortunately I got no return call But this was slap in the middle of the pandemic and fortunately my guitar tech took care of it w great results Just needed leads on a 59 Dog Ear Smoking pup
A couple years ago I picked up a Peavey Patriot guitar at my county dump. It was a case of being at the right place at the right time. This is a single humbucker EVH era US made guitar. I'm going to post a video on it soon.
Those aren't bumblebee capacitors - they are carbon resistors. Color code Red Red Orange which are 22000 ohms or 22 kohms. Modern resistors are metal film and look very different. BTW in the old days, you can fine tune a carbon resistor's value by filing them. As you file, the resistance increases. Then we would use nail polish to seal the cut.
Other people have said the same thing but I would love to see all kinds of videos on this project. I am a terrible guitar player but LOVE the sound of old guitar's. Ok I love the sound of new guitars too.
I've heard that those plastic parts (tuners, pickup covers etc) might contain asbestos, it was used in old bakelite. So I wouldn't advise sanding or cutting those parts etc. Possibly that fabric wiring too and the dust inside the guitar, not wise to vacuum it or to spread those particles around the apartment. Can't be too careful with that toxic. There's also friable asbestos in the back panel of old Fender tweed amps, so from the modern perspective those vintage treasures can be quite dangerous to use and service.
Why are so many comments on this young man so negative? His honesty is refreshing and he doesn't come off all smarmy with a know it all attitude like some of the other hot shots. He openly admits that he depends on the expertise of others to assist in his projects. Here is a fact that has been established by both the art of Philosophy and the science of Psychology, "Those who criticize, can't do what they critique." As the old idiom goes, "If you don't have anything positive to say, then don't say anything at all."
Fools, jesters and critics are all of the same cloth. Then there is the other category of the armchair advisor who pitch in with, unwarranted suggestions as, "You should do this or you could do that or you should've done that or you missed that."
Guess what? Humans are not perfect and it is wrong to assume anyone is or that we have the right to judge their processes, that just makes the lot of you bigots and hypocrites. I would recommend a number of you seeing a Doctor of Psychology but not I for I am retired from clinical therapy.
its people just been people
Mostly envy i suppose, he has amazing peaces for a very young age, i think hes is maybe 3 o 4 years older than me and has amazing guitars, i really envy this dude, but do not thorw him shit nor i think is ok, asshole being assholes
@@yosoyspider9420 yeh maybe your right there used to really annoy me until I thought about it a bit more the more I got riled up about it the more they got riled up about it and on and on it would go so now I think it is what it is and just let it ride on by. has half helped with my blood pressure lol and oh yes I am very envious too
Yeah, people are very quick to judge others but they themselves lack the ability of introspection.
I don't think the super tedious guitar people make art worthy of attention, so they must seek attention, authority and relevance in some other way (like posting videos on why relic guitars are 'wrong ' or just cutting up what Matthew does.)
Eddie Van Halen was a gonzo guitar player / composer and also completely unpretentious about his guitars and methods of working on things, so in the balance his music continues to matter with every new decade. I think Scott is a wonderful player who still has a respect for the heritage of old guitars but doesn't get carried away beyond making them great to enjoy and play.
pro tip when re installing screws into wood or plastic, turn them counter clockwise until you feel the screw "drop" then proceed to tighten carefully. this way you are not cutting new "threads" into the wood or plastic, but re using the hole/threads that are already there... and don't overtighten!
Thats a good tip I always forget.. thanks!
@@MatthewScottmusic joe
@@MatthewScottmusicjoe
What a relief to hear that you aren't refinishing it. That patina is absolutely gorgeous.
That would be sacrilegious.
@@MatthewScottmusic agreed
Watching your video and comments quite refreshing. I think the Indian rugs help with the healing processes.
Matthew what did this thing cost...
Agree. Would love to own/use as some tech clean-up should solve the pick-ups and action issues...🎸🎼🎵🎶
It’s 6am and I havnt slept and I just watched a 20 minute video about a 58’ les Paul and I don’t even know about guitars and yet I am very pleased with the video please keep updating about the restoration I want to hear how it sounds too
Matt, don't be hesitant about making multiple videos on this restoration. You won't bore us. We need content in Covid World!!! 👍👍👍
Yes
For real I'll watch another 5-10 videos about this
I agree I'd love to see as you restore this.
Right i love this type of video.
I think the original dude that owned this just played and played and as long as it played he left it alone.
The wear on that fretboard is just insane.
I can’t remember the guys name right now which is terrible but he played rock around the clock he was the first guitar player that actually wrote the song with the comets add Bailey in the clock comments the guys name was very much a name that you would think a guitar players name would be but he died two weeks after the recording which was very fishy just think if that was his guitar wow that would make it worth so much more money and by the way there was never an investigation on Halle just owe died fell down the steps and broke his neck he actually wrote the song in 53 he came out at 54 with Bill Haley no need to investigate though just 30 million copies were sold that’s all
My mom was Kalamazoo High, class of '57, she might have known some of the people that built this. Groovy cool.
cool how one of the gnarliest guitars has the cleanest original wiring and pristine paint in the cavity, incredible. this guitar couldnt have gone to a better person
Lol
SIMP
Wrong! It could have gone to ME!
I think whoever owned this guitar had a good time with it. Yea it could of been taken better care of but I'd rather see a worn out guitar that got put through the ringer than a really nice guitar that never gets played.
Thanks for the info on goodwill, right after watching the fist video I went on there a bought a knock off strat for $20. Changing the neck, pick guard, bridge, pickups, electronics and tuners. Can’t wait till it’s done, I’m giving it to my daughter when I’m done.
I think you are doing the right thing. Leave it like it is. It's a part of history and the history is that some things were changed throughout the years. With whatever the person could find. It is Rock n Roll history and a tribute to the musician who owned this. Making it factory spec changes the life of this guitar. Don't you wish this guitar could speak. The stories it would tell.
Dude, fantastic video. There is something very pleasing about seeing a '58 Les Paul sitting on a Native American blanket. Great explanations and an absolute treasure of a guitar. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I really enjoy your casual style like we're sitting having coffee and a chat about a fantastic old guitar. Refreshing to see content without the hype.
I dont play guitar, I've never owned a guitar, yet I watched th whole thing
I like your sense of gratitude. Not many people take the time to thank viewers for watching. Great video.
Respect for not trying to mess with those pickups
Too late
This guitar will forever be known as The Old School Desk to me. I really love it
Matt, I (and I'm sure many others) are just fascinated by this guitar, and truly enjoy the journey you are taking us on step by step from its rescue to its redemption. I just wish we all knew who had this before you, the story of when/where it was purchased, what kind of music it played, what bars/bands it played at/for, etc...I am hooked, and look forward to seeing this whole trip until you plug it in and play it for an appreciative audience!
Hi Matthew I love to learn new things every dam day and just found your site and love to see you tear down the classic Les Paul.
Hell i cant even play the guitar but love to see restoration. I'm rebuilding a 1935 Ford Pickup and have all those rusty metal parts and pieces here is a great Hack to handle rusty metal, copper, brass, bronze, cast iron, parts . Molasses and water soak, yes Molasses eats rust and it works great it gets in to all the places sand paper, wire brushes wont. Just mix it around 10 to 1 with water let all your metal parts soak for about 4 days , soap and water clean up and boom rust free, now you do have to use metal prep on the final rise because you parts are so dam clean. In 1935 Ford used all fine thread bolts and nuts, springs, hinges but I was able to save all of them by soaking in Molasses and water and hundreds of dollars. Wont hurt chrome or paint just eats rust its all over you tube give it a try on your metal pieces . Thanks for filming your work, very cool ..
Those old single line tuners you have are perfect on this special and look the real deal.
I am very interested to see why that bridge p90 is microphonic. Great project
👍🇬🇧
Every time I come back to this video this LP Special impresses me, it's exactly my dream pawn shop find - this model and year, structurally solid regardless of worn-in looks. For a steal of course!!
You're doing the right things by it, it has landed in the right hands.
I imagine that the the chap who will refret it lives an inordinate distance away otherwise I am sure that you would be driving it there personally. Worrying times lie ahead, I am sending positive thoughts for a safe return.
This was a very enjoyable post, well in. 👍🤞
I'm an Antigue dealer and my father wisely taught me under no circumstances do we disturb the surface cause there in lies the objects historic identity. We call it in the business" In the black" an accounts for maybe 60 to 70 % of it's potential return.
Really hope with the exposure you're giving this beauty that someone out there will see the video and recognize the guitar, who played it, or the story behind it.
I hope. Nothing yet.
That would be so cool, I hope something comes up, would love to hear that story
One thing though, whomever put the majority of wear on it, obviously loved that guitar! For all anyone knows, it could have been one of Johnnie Shines' guitars. He was buddies with and travelled around with Robert Johnson. Anyway, Mississippi or Louisiana is where i'd be poking around for info. It just has that feeling.
Just think if that was a Danny Cedrone‘s guitar from Bill Haley and the Comets,Danny was ahead of his time as one of the very first shredders he played a Les Paul I can’t remember what it looked like he mysteriously died two weeks after they release the song rock around the clock it only sold 30 million copies no need for an investigation as to how he fell down the steps and broke his neck
Yes, it seems there are always those who give a thumbs down to just about anything you can think of. I think these videos are very interesting as a guitar player myself, whose oldest guitar is a 1970 Ovation Tornado. So cudos to this young man for doing this and I see his activities as nothing to have a negative opinion of. Most young people his age are wasting there time on video games or drug use as I see it. I would be proud to have this young man as a son. I enjoy these videos and I learn things from them. He is taking on some fairly difficult restorations that I would probably not have the patience for.
I'm so happy you aren't refinishing it. It's beautiful.
Great to see a young guy interested in vintage guitars. I hope you do the bare minimum and keep as much character as possible
1992 Southampton England.. TV repair shop with a Gretsch in the back.. Asked if it was for sale and the chap said yes but doesn't work.. Asked how much.. £20! Turned out to be a 63 Country Gent.. Only reason it was not working was the jack cable had disconnected.. Fixed it and cleaned it up and still have it to this day... Love the Gibbo..
That reminds of my guitar teacher in Lincoln - ever time he went into the second hand shop the high street the owner used to say oh Christ what have I underpriced now! I got a US standard strat under similar circumstances!
It is clear that you have been reading up on the history and specs of this guitar. Nice to see you have developed such an appreciation.
looking at this beauty makes me aware of the absurdity of every artificially "aged" guitar.
Yes and people who do that to their guitars are just posers
I agree with both y'all!! If you REALLY want to relic a guitar,
then dont be a yutz for christ's sakes!!..
Just buy one,, and spend time playing it.
Then after 10 years of playing it everyday, take a damn good look at it!! Is it scratched? Good! Does it look beat to shit..fanfuckingtastic!! Now...you should notice how well you can RIP on that bitch!! Congratulations!!!
You are now the owner of a beautiful relic guitar!! People pay THOUSANDS to have this done to their axe. But YOU did all of that work yourself! You know the story behind EVERY nick, scratch, and gouge in it. You got them bc YOU'RE the one that done it!!
Plus look how much better you can play it. Its bc you reliced it the RIGHT WAY. Not with money, but with your heart, soul, and work!!!
It’s like buying brand new jeans with holes in them or a brand new “battle worn” firearm....
@@patrickmollohan3082 absolutely
@@meesterdinglefritz2064
Humm. Might have some reservations about buying a "NEW Battle-worn firearm"....lol!! A guitar, you plug in, pick around on it..it either works or it dont. A NEW battle worn fire arm WILL usually work if it's a U.S. made weapon. But even then..you pull the trigger and it goes "click" like its supposed to, but doesn't fire..YIPE!!
Hopefully you forgot to load it. If you did load...uh hell, now you have to unload a live dud...lol!! That's the only thing that would suck if ya know what I mean!!😁 Have a good one sir!!
I think it was a great video. Good job.
I enjoy these "nerdy" videos. Always educational. I love your approach of restoring whilst keeping the soul of the guitar. I'm looking forward to seeing this in professional working condition.
Honestly, the biggest thing I'd do for the electronics is clean the pots and add some shielding into the electronics cavity. Just the copper tape though, not the shielding paint. And have some copper tape on the cavity cover as well. A lot of noise would go away immediately, just by adding some shielding.
When you put those old Kluson's on there my brain said an Ace Ventura "Like a glove!"
Yes. There is still good in the world.
Alrighty then.
⁹⁰⁰
The parts you called bumblebee caps are really carbon resistors. If they were capacitors they would be dried out and in need of replacement. Good informative video and a beautiful guitar. Good luck with it.
They are old school bumblebee caps. Yes they would most definitely be leaking and dry.
More nerdy videos please, I’m loving being able to see the journey you’re taking with this guitar! I can’t get over the finish, it’s awesome!
At 6:30 you can see how the outer shields of the bumblebee caps aren't consistent. I've noticed there is not a standard there with Les Paul guitars, but the outer shield to the tone pot has always sounded the best.
4:43 I wouldn't fill the holes. I'd leave em as "battle scars," but that's just me. :)
Aesthetically doesn't matter. I'd at least seal them well with glue and toothpicks to stabilize the old wood from stress and humidity changes. Better this small easy step now than it developing cracks later...
@@j_freed that's a fair point.
@@92908777 Very true!
Probably will as long as its not a structural issue! Necks can crack there at the wing joints.
Agreed! Clean it up and get it into playable condition again certainly but leave everything else exactly as it is. If you wanted a new guitar you would have bought one but that's not what you've got there. Preserve that old beauty as close to the condition that it's in right now.
Thats amazing find. I Found a Slingerland in original condition from 1963 with everything stamp in side even pencil makings and clamps where they were 😊 two of the toms don't have air holes in them 14"112"16"20" all match it has a 1960 zildjian ride. No one can tell me how much it worth. It's is amazing condition the only thing it needs is the thin line straps around kick drum and one spur for kick drum 😊😊😊 what a sounding drum set 😮😮
This is so interesting. I don't play a guitar or any instrument and know nothing of guitars, but I love music. Thank you for sharing with us this preservation journey.
....it actually sounded really... really cool. You damn right it does.
I was 6 years old when that guitar came out when I first started playing as well. Guitar aged better than I did for sure.
Hi Matt... Your videos are awesome! You clearly have a profound interest and passion for vintage equipment that is engaging and refreshing. I love hearing about finds like these... I have many of those stories too, but do not have the subject matter expertise that you do!!! One option for microphonic vintage pickups is to have them repotted - the coil is dipped in hot beeswax to restabilize the wrappings. I had that done on a vintage Tele back in 1987 and it has been perfect since.... Keep doing what you are doing!
Thank you for a nice genuine comment. We did get the pickups settled👍🏻
Really glad you took off that little pick guard piece between the pick-ups. It was driving me crazy
Man that’s an awesome story. I found a 1923 Gibson 120 in an attic of a foreclosed house last year. Crazy! Although it has Mexican style tuners idk how they got there
I would kill for that guitar, that thing is a dream come true it’s literally worn perfectly
Yeah I was SO relieved when he said he wasn't refinishing it. That would have been heartbreaking and an abomination to the guitar gods.
@@insufferablethrashelitist9305 amen to that
I would still restore it.
People need to stop saying "literally" ... !!
@@wolfey41 it’s a word for a reason, to be used into a sentence and I used it literally properly lmao
So cool! Every scroungers dream find! I watched the first video but missed the story on how such a gem was found at Goodwill. What luck!!
That braided cable is pretty nice inside with the pots.
Just found this video, what a great find. Me and my daughter have bought a few guitars and amps from goodwill for almost nothing. I am glad to see you will be keeping it in its current state of rock history. Keep the videos coming..Peace
Really like the Navajo rug as a damage negator, grew up in Az, caught my eye immediately. What a find!
Very cool! Yes I am from OK/TX area and have lots of Native American history here.
Ive noticed some other channels that as soon as they get very high views they get HD cameras and a number of camera operators and push up the production. I have found this has not necessarily made the channel more watchable, in fact it often takes away the essence of what made the channel so good in the first place. When the channel has just been about one person on screen adding in more people to the set seems to change the dynamic and its no longer about the relationship between the viewer and the video maker doing their thing. Just thought it was worth mentioning. I really like the table top view with the cool mat. A very interesting video.
I love that you always do the right thing with these incredible vintage guitars. In this case, the thing I’m most interested in with this beauty is what’s going to happen with that bridge pickup. In most cases microphonic pickups are simply potted, or re-potted in wax, but it’s nigh-impossible to do that without unsoldering them, and this one seems to need a new bobbin and a rewind. That’s heresy to some, but necessary to make it playable. For me, I’ve been playing a long time, and keeping an unplayable “safe queen” is a shame. That guitar sounds *exactly* the way you want your late 50s LP Special to sound. I could live with leaving the bridge pup alone and play only through the neck, but I don’t think I could for long. I’m kinda relieved that I’m not who has to make that decision hahaa! I’m all for keeping/making it fully playable. If that means a refret, so be it. You’ll probably lose the little “nibs” in the binding, but there are *way* too many other things to enjoy about playing it! Apologies for the long comment, I just get really excited about a find like this, especially when it’s found by somebody who will treat it right.
i agree with every point you made
@@greg7656 cool, thanks!
Please please please....do coverage in restoring this masterpiece. Amazing.
I was never much into the "keep it all original" thinking on my old Gibsons, but I never owned one this old. I always looked for ways to improve the "usability" of my guitars ... and in tone. I took care of them and even though I played every night for many years, the finish remained looking as new. This is the second of your videos that I've watched and this one convinced me to subscribe to your channel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and equipment. Your videos are well done and informative.
I was 3 years old when that guitar was born!! If only it could talk English what stories it would have to tell!! What a gorgeous instrument never been messed with just a pick guard and a set of tuners! Wow that’s amazing!! Love your channel Matt keep doing the vids I look forward to seeing a new one as soon as it’s up on your channel. Keep safe and keep well. Love and Peace ☮️
I hope you keep this series going or at least give an update on what the future holds for this beauty.
Wow it's so clean in that cavity with the pots. I was no expecting that at all. It looks like mint condition
I can only imagine the stories of this guitar , just like every scar has a story.
Wow... very cool!! If it were me I would just keep the original finish, clean it up, and LOVE all the Battle Damage on it! I play bass but can definitely appreciate a 58 Gibson!
Man that things got vibe! Awesome!
Hey Matthew, I like your videos, keep them coming! Pro tip: don’t leave loose screws or small parts and tools on your bench. They can find their way under the guitar unnoticed while you are working and cause an unwanted scratch.
I should say I’m not a pro, just watched a few on youtube.
You're very right John. Thanks!
Sucks that the Bridge P90 is broken.
So cool that you have an original wiring harness that would have gone into the Grail Burst. That's sick!
the pickup lifting moment was the most tense moment in youtube history, thanks for some of the best guitarcheology
Such an odd guitar. I hate to take from the mystic, but it almost seems like it could’ve been a school guitar or a church guitar, or some kind of rental? Just seems like it went through a bunch of hands, literally. Plus with the serial being scratched into the back, seems like it needed to be tracked and logged.
Not sure that takes anything from the mystic.
I could believe it sat around a church or bar for decades being thrown around.
It last belong to hair on addict who play at jack rubys bar. He loan it to lee harvey who traded it for a rifle and handgun and lunch box at the pawn shop. It became dead pawn. Lighten hopkins bought it pawn it die became dead pawn so stevie ray bought it pawn it and wisconsin! Right! Its known as the Blonde widow Maker!
Bullshit! Yes! Lol.
I appreciate your videos. Your dedication to revitalizing old guitars is grand. Some of the best sounds can come from weathered road veteran guitars.
just stay true to yourself. Negative comments are sad as it seems they have nothing constructive to offer.
Just imagine how well built that thing is. Seriously, all these years later. A man/men worked on that guitar here in America and fed their family and likely took pride in their work
Amen.
Strip it refinish it paint it Burgundy purple complete the restoration & have fun with it
I've got to say if this is nerdy I'm all in. I'm fascinated by the physics and mechanics of (good) tone. I just watched Dave Grohl's documentary on Sound City Studio's and their 2 unique and amazing Neve analog mixing consoles. There was a bunch to unpack there. Anyway, Matt keep up the good work! Interesting, informative and well spoken always work for me.
I remember that TV Special on Goodwill! It's seen some smokey nightclubs. Great patina. "Johnny" ;) I like your approach and commentary to exploring under the hood. I have had 3 single and a couple of double cut 59's back in the day. I kept 1 56 LP TV special. Yours sounds great right out of the case. They are wonderful guitars. Looking forward to next installment..Thanks!
Beautiful surviver. Can't wait to see it and hear it when you're finished. The patina on the tuners you showed is perfect for this guitar. Please don't put modern tuners on it.
I like the patina of those single line tuners as well, they honestly look classic. I have a good feeling about your choices on the final results.
Your right in not meddling much with details better left to those with experience in these matters. I've heard tell of bobbin rewinding being available, but wonder if the incurred expense is equal to a replacement value using a period set of pick-ups. Originality being so important to a great many with refurbishment and replacement practices questioned by those who pour hard-earned dollars on these aging instruments. Great follow-up on the 1st video. Look forward to the conclusion of the righteous rig you've found.
This is sweet. I live within a few miles of the building that guitar was assembled at. They still make guitars. The Heritage.
Factory Order Number (FON): X2454
Production year: 1954 Sequence number: 54
Manufactured in Kalamazoo
@@tinyforcecorps4149 Recently, i heard they dropped the old Gibson smokestack, and were going to rebuild it. I thought that might be a story.. anyway there was interest expressed at one time here in Kalamazoo to put a resturant/beer garden in at the old iconic building, and you could dine out while watching Heritage Guitars being built.
Haven't heard that in a while though.. now with the new abnormal, we likely never will.
Kalamazoo guy eh? Me too, you're talking 225 Parsons St.
I’d put a correct pickguard and knob. But that’s just my opinion. Thanks for another cool project.
Boring doesn't describe this video, AMAZING FUN INTERESTING that's much more accurate!
That thing has been in every honky tonk, flop house, blues house from New Orleans to Chicago! I want one!
Check under the pickguard I found a hundred dollar bill under a pickguard one day when I bought a guitar from Sam Ash weeks later I decided to clean and there was hundred dollar bill stashed under the pickguard thank you for the video good job
Any white powder residue?
Nice specimen, this is what direction Gibson is going in today. They are cracking the classics open and finding out what made the classics tic. It's like an old car you never washed. Don't wash it, because it will never run right again.
I had a great time watching this video, can’t wait for the next one, I would not have the confidence to restore a guitar but I do love watching.
I don't play but your video caught my eye love to see young people in to old stuff keep it up great video's
Is there an update on this project? I’d love to see/hear this thing after it was restored. I’d also love to the see the process of it being restored if there’s a video for that as well! What a find man, this guitar is a dream!
I imagine it’s not back from the shop. These things tend to get delayed.
@@tysonking1805 There is an update, that's how I got here!
Did you catch the latest video? March 22.
So cool! I excited to see how everything turns out. Thanks for sharing this beautiful old Les Paul Special!
Dont bridge the multimeter leads with your fingers when measuring resistance or voltage. It will throw it off. I know you acknowledged that getting the best reading is directly from the pickup leads not from the cable after the pots etc. But you should still keep the leads touching the jack without touching your fingers. Just a pet peeve that I dont think people who dont work on electronics often realize. Great video. Would love to see more.
If you do it your way, just hold one lead in place and use your hand that is idle, to hold the other lead in place.
Or invest in two clips!
I like that Gibson even top wrapped strings back then, with no alternative being available.
Great find, and very interesting guitar. I agree with your approach to the restoration process and can’t wait to see it when completed. One thing I would do is leave that extra piece of the pick guard screwed in. This guitar has a lot of stories and history, and the broken piece is partmof a story. As for the microphonic pickup; this was a problem with the early P90s. To combat this, the pickups were wax potted. There is a chance that these pickups weren’t wax potted.
This dude is so lucky to find a 1958 les at goodwill
It's great to see so much vintage gear, and in the hands of someone who loves them for what they are, and not a price tag. I've been living in the far east for the last 12 years (Korea & now India), where vintage gear is practically nonexistent. The closest thing to that fabulous Goodwill find that I have is my beloved '79 Gibson The Paul, which I bought online from an antique shop in New York for about $600 a few years back. You are none lucky dude! Thanks for the videos!
This took off so damn fast (rightfully so) on the site that everyone was watching it. The amount of research I ended up doing before it was posted, people thought I was going crazy. I had even sent a message off to Gibson trying to track the serial number, but the person wasn't able to find anything. However, they said that they would keep looking for information, which will be passed onto you if I ever do find out anything from them.
Two weeks after I shipped this to you, we got a 1933 Epiphone Triumph Masterbilt from the same location. I can only assume it was from the same person. It ended up going to a restoration shop in New York.
Glad to see that it made it safely, and looking forward to seeing this restored.
So this was actually an online auction? From a good Will ? Do we get to find out how much he paid for it ?
@Fleadog Green Yeah, I was wondering the same thing!
@@fleadoggreen9062 www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/101875392
@@dreams4263 www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/101875392
I just saw your first video on this. It literally brought a tear to hear it played.
Saw this on Trogly and wanted it immediately, very cool guitar
Same
Samesy! I can’t stand when he says welcome back troglodytes I always mute lol am I the only one?
@@bradybishop3273 lol
@@bradybishop3273 yeah it's a bit cringey
@@bradybishop3273 yeh, he does that to ‘eff with you....
don't let the crusty old bastards boiling with envy get you down man, that guitar is lucky you found it rather than them, you're far more patient and careful than they would be.
"keep the use, heal the abuse" is a good mantra for restoration.
Thanks man, you are very right!
Matt, that's simply one of the coolest guitars I seen in a long time. Keef's drooling as you speak, his manager will call after you finish! Take care and be well!
awesome video. i've bought several instruments from goodwill. Mostly because they are cheap and I'm teaching myself guitar maintenance, setups, refretting, etc. Seen a bunch of cool stuff there, but never seen something this cool.
Someone needs to gumshoe who owned this thing and wore it out the way they did. You just know there is an incredible history here and we need that side of things.
totally, this guitar has clearly seen a LOT Of honest use!
@@400_billion_suns Maybe, just maybe, someone will see this project and ask that previous owner “Hey, didn’t you finally dump that old thing at some Goodwill store last summer?” Then the investigation gets interesting 🤨
@@SeekerGoOn2013 I can't believe any owner of this guitar would give it to Goodwill. It has to have been family cleaning up an estate and not knowing what they had.
@@stimpsonjcat67 yeah, there's no way that someone who was even remotely astute in guitars would give this gem up. It was probably taking space up in an attic of some karen and she wanted to get rid of it to make more space for her list of managers she has to contact for complaints.😉
Well, the owner is obviously no longer with us. And judging by the love it received and the fact that it’s an entry model, or not an expensive high end Gibson, my guess is that it was a lower middle class to lower class person who rocked it. Someone who didn’t care about upgrading or any lollipops and fancy pants. Probably some old black man.
Super cool guitar! I turned down a original 1956 LP gold top in 1992 for £1200 and bought a new LP! What a mistake that was!
Thanks for posting this video! Well done!
had the same guitar but traded it at a music shop. owner said take any guitar you want. stupid me. Paid 150.00 for mine in 1967
Very cool series. I did the same thing to my '76 Les Paul Deluxe when I bought it in the 80's. It had (and still has) 3 Dimarzio's with coil splitter switches put in in place of the original mini humbuckers as well as banjo pegs if you can believe that. I swapped those out for Grover heads and replaced the absent pick guard. It has served me well for over 30 years. Can't wait to see the resto vid for this.
Send the pickups to Jason Lollar. He does a great job restoring the old P-90's.
Sorry Jason doesn't do that anymore I tried a month ago He will give you a name though
Try Curtis Novak
@@deanrinehart Yes that might have been who Jason recommended Unfortunately I got no return call But this was slap in the middle of the pandemic and fortunately my guitar tech took care of it w great results Just needed leads on a 59 Dog Ear Smoking pup
I have the feeling he wants to restore the pickup without unsoldering the original lead?
PS Lollar pickups sound killer in my Tele. ✅
My first thought also. Maybe he’ll make an exception.
A couple years ago I picked up a Peavey Patriot guitar at my county dump. It was a case of being at the right place at the right time. This is a single humbucker EVH era US made guitar. I'm going to post a video on it soon.
Those aren't bumblebee capacitors - they are carbon resistors. Color code Red Red Orange which are 22000 ohms or 22 kohms. Modern resistors are metal film and look very different. BTW in the old days, you can fine tune a carbon resistor's value by filing them. As you file, the resistance increases. Then we would use nail polish to seal the cut.
Very cool, thanks!
Yeah I didn't think they were capacitors with the coloured rings
Other people have said the same thing but I would love to see all kinds of videos on this project. I am a terrible guitar player but LOVE the sound of old guitar's. Ok I love the sound of new guitars too.
I've heard that those plastic parts (tuners, pickup covers etc) might contain asbestos, it was used in old bakelite. So I wouldn't advise sanding or cutting those parts etc. Possibly that fabric wiring too and the dust inside the guitar, not wise to vacuum it or to spread those particles around the apartment. Can't be too careful with that toxic. There's also friable asbestos in the back panel of old Fender tweed amps, so from the modern perspective those vintage treasures can be quite dangerous to use and service.
If thats true, putting on a layer of coating after clean up would be ideal.
some other channel disclosed the selling price. nice of you to have given goodwill so much for it