Luthiers who build a Gibson Vintage style solid body?

[PDeville]

Has anyone heard of a luthier who builds one of these vintage instruments:

Thanks
PD

[neatomic]

john bolin...more than a few of the classic guitars you see the big rock guitarists using are actually bolin repro's...he makes'em better..has amazing list of clientele..check his gallery

Bolin Guitars: Hand-Crafted Guitars, Bass, Boise, ID

cheers

[jads57]

You are always better off just trying to find a CS Gibson you bond with.
1.) Resale
2.) Resale
3.) Did I mention Resale!

[marcwhy]

Do you mean a gold top w/ P-90s in particular, or just a classic LP?

This Forshage is pretty sweet.

[neatomic]

gibson has made quite a few variations of the goldtop-p90 lp in recent years...so not at all unobtainable...

and one of the most respected copies is by tokai...a fave of many west coast jump blues guys

cheers

[jads57]

If you can't find a CS Gibson that is wonderful! You don't want a Les Paul!

[Hammertone]

There are many excellent independent guitar makers who build superb instruments based on Les Pauls.
Most of them would be happy to configure an instrument to your request - a wraptail, gold-top instrument with 2 x P-90s. Of course, these will not be reproductions, as that would violate trademark law. Are you looking for a reproduction or simply a good guitar based on the '53/'54 Les Paul Goltop?

[fws6]

Maybe not what youre looking for, but Daniel Slaman does a nice LP/ES150 hybrid....

[icr]

"Build a Vintage Instrument"

You mean a fraudulent guitar? There are plenty of people doing that. Otherwise, if it is built-new, it is not vintage.

[PDeville]

There are many excellent independent guitar makers who build superb instruments based on Les Pauls.
Most of them would be happy to configure an instrument to your request - a wraptail, gold-top instrument with 2 x P-90s. Of course, these will not be reproductions, as that would violate trademark law. Are you looking for a reproduction or simply a good guitar based on the '53/'54 Les Paul Goltop?

Thanks Hammertone. Yes, "a good guitar based on the '53/'54 Les Paul Goltop?"

I know Gibson reissues them. Unfortunately they are mostly too heavy, with plow-handle necks.

[jads57]

You might consider an Eastman version. Reasonable in price,well built, and can be Custom Ordered.

[Jabberwocky]

You could take an R4 Goldtop, send it to Historic Makeover for its neck carve modelled after a particular comfortable 1959 Les Paul, get a Brazilian rosewood fretboard, Hyde glue, vintage correct bronze powder gold nitrocellulose, roulette wheel recurve, purge the truss rod sheath, and you would have a legitimate Gibson. The Historic Makeover Real Deal package costs $4000 for pre-2013 R4s. Buy a used R4 for about $2200, $6200 nett nett.

Luthier fakes would cost you about the same and you won't get the Gibson logo and headstock.

If you are in Europe, the go-to guy is Florian for a makeover.

[Jabberwocky]

Most Historic Le Pauls weigh between 8 and 9 pounds these days.

Check out Historic Makeover. Those guys could even age it for you with lacquer checks and verdigris.

[Jabberwocky]

A 3rd way is to look for a Tokai, Edwards, Crews Maniac, Bacchus, Momose LP copy and modify away.

[Hammertone]

There is a broad range of pricing among the luthiers who can make you a good guitar based on the '53/'54 Les Paul Goltop. As well, there are many companies that make or made excellent Les Paul-like guitars, some for more $$$, some for less. IMO, used Gibson Custom Shop R4 goldtop guitars are an excellent value.

Some of the smaller makers:
-Tom Bartlett
-John Bolin
-Fibonare Guitars
-Johan Gustavsson
-Frank Hartung
-Nik Huber
-Doug Kauer
-Saul Koll
-Brian Monty
-Juha Ruokangas
-Daniel Slaman
-Michael Stevens
-Gil Yaron

Brian Monty is a friend, and his Bluesmaster is a superb Les Paul-like instrument. Unlike many of the other custom builders, his pricing is quite down to earth. I'm sure he'd be perfectly happy to build you a wraptail, goldtop Bluesmaster wih two P-90s if that's what you want.

My Bluesmaster, with a figured birch top:

[jasonmi3]

Do you mean a gold top w/ P-90s in particular, or just a classic LP?

This Forshage is pretty sweet.

+1 ... I have 3 Forshages (not a Les Paul style...a ergo, a tele and a 339ish style) and they are fantastic instruments. I play them more than my Gibsons.

[doc w]

Thanks Hammertone. Yes, "a good guitar based on the '53/'54 Les Paul Goltop?"

I know Gibson reissues them. Unfortunately they are mostly too heavy, with plow-handle necks.

I have a 1952 and I always wondered why people thought LP's were heavy until I did an actual comparison with a few 70s and 80s models . Real boat anchors. My 52 was a featherweight by comparison.

[Joeontheguitar]

Check out the Eastman SB56. They're incredible, like the SB59. Also, they use relatively lightweight mahogany, so no boat anchors.
Eastman may not be a boutique luthier, but the people that work there are luthiers.