Flat-top LPs family photo

[ItsaBass]

'03 LP Melody Maker, '01 LP Junior, '06 LP Special Humbucker (Faded Series).

I'm the original owner of all but the Special, which I just bought off of these classifieds. It's the only one with serious mods. Not much on it is original. The yellow one is all stock except for the tuners, which I just put on last year (one of the crummy stock Gibson tuners finally fell apart). The Junior is all stock except for the nut, which I had replaced shortly after buying the guitar. It has had three fret dressings over its 14 year life (including one right off the bat), but the frets are still original.

My total investment, including all parts and mods, is about $1,350 over 14 years, which is about a third of what I have into my two carved-top Pauls that I've owned over the same period of time. But the playing time put on these is easily three times more than the carved tops, probably more. I just prefer flat-topped Pauls for a variety of reasons.

Who else is really into flat-top Pauls? I like 'em better than carved top models, myself.

 

[Kac]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

I would probably prefer them to carved tops as well. I'm not an LP guy at all though. I love the yellow one.


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[GilmourD]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

Is it just me or does the black one not have a switch?

 

[ItsaBass]

Flat-top LPs family photo

Is it just me or does the black one not have a switch?

I just took it out for repair. The short Switchcraft toggles are not as well made as the long ones, and the solder tabs are very thin. One of them tabs broke off when I bent it slightly. I'll be fabricating a beefed up replacement contact to fix the switch, as new switches are silly expensive (and just as flimsy). Or I might just put in a newer-style sealed toggle switch - the kind that aren't made specifically for guitars.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

I like the shape of a flat top LP. I used to own a string through body flat top LP but at the end of the day I prefer a carved top myself. I love LP's though so any of them will do.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

I just took it out for repair. The short Switchcraft toggles are not as well made as the long ones, and the solder tabs are very thin. One of them tabs broke off when I bent it slightly. I'll be fabricating a beefed up replacement contact to fix the switch, as new switches are silly expensive (and just as flimsy). Or I might just put in a newer-style sealed toggle switch - the kind that aren't made specifically for guitars.

Weird... I've never had a problem with actual Switchcraft 3-way toggles.

Now, Oak Grigsby and CRL blade switches, yeah... I've toasted a few of those... But Switchcraft? Nope.

 

[ItsaBass]

Flat-top LPs family photo

The long straight ones and the angled ones are built a bit more "beefily" than these short straight ones. Everything subsurface on them is smaller and flimsier than on the long-straight or angled models. They're really no better than the open switches that come on many inexpensive or mid-grade import guitars.

Other than a busted pin on my '83 LP Custom's switch, this is the only Switchcraft switch I've personally broken. That said, I've only had one open blade switch (i.e. Fender style) crap out on me. But with the exception of the one on my Godin G4000, every last one of my sealed blade switches have needed to be replaced (pretty much all on Japanese Fenders of the '80's or '90's).

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

My first electric bought from a classmate circa 1983. LP Firebrand. Buggered the original pups about 25 years ago trying to wax pot them so I put in some Dimarzio's ...Tone Zone in the neck and Evolution in the bridge.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

tone zone in the neck eh? hows that sound?

like that sunburst jr. rock and roll guitar for sure!

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

Sound?...

Well, put it this way. Plug it in and play the intro to "Sweet Child of Mine." Now weep because Slash didn't borrow my guitar to record that bit. It's so round and buttery. It's hard to tell from the pic but the neck pup is actually about 1/8 of and inch below pup ring...far lower than most would have it.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

On single cutaway I prefer the carved top, but for double cutaway I like the flat top better

 

[Demanic]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

My first electric bought from a classmate circa 1983. LP Firebrand. Buggered the original pups about 25 years ago trying to wax pot them so I put in some Dimarzio's ...Tone Zone in the neck and Evolution in the bridge.

Now, this is my kind of guitar.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

If my SG jr build turns out, I think an LP jr is next on the docket. It was a close call on this one, as it was.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Flat-top LPs family photo

I have a 60's LP "Black Beauty".
I have genetic spinal stenosis, so before it got bad (when I was 25) I had about a third of the back taken off. That helped, took it from 10-11 pounds to 8.4. which is now unplayable. I have that yellow single cut, but painted it SG red, put in a Seth L. (barely fit) upgraded every thing, and I mean every thing. It is 7 pounds, which has been good from 2003 till now, 2015. Thinking seriously of making my 60's LP flat on top, re-finish " Slash" red Corsica or tea burst. It would be at least a pound lighter, and I would still have that unbeatable sound (in my opinion) of mahogany back and maple cap. There is a lot of maple left at ground zero.
A little more sanding, belly cut, and a couple weight relief cuts on the mahogany, could bring it down to LESS than 7 pounds. 6 would be a life saver if possible, I got a gig at a blues festival, which is rare for me these days
What do you guys think of that. It is unplayable now, unsellable really, so instead of the nice sound I get with my souped up '03 melody maker, I could get a tighter sound all up and down the auditory spectrum.
So, itsabass, you have a lot of experience in this matter, and this is your thread, so I hope you chime in, I would love to hear what you think. BTY, I got a LP Jr. pickgaurd on my 03 and it fits and looks really cool. Not sure about a P-90, but with my HBucker, it's perfect.
Thanks,
SJ