Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

[Swampy]

Decided to give my Studio a makeover. Originally I was going to just go with the poker chip and pickup rings (Thanks to metlking for the hookup on the rings!), but I decided to throw on a pickguard as well. This guitar looked good without one when blacked out, but I think it ties it all together. While I was at it, I also put on a black Tusq nut.

Knobs will be next. Thinking gold metal insert Top Hats. That would leave the stop tailpiece the only thing stock on this guitar.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Looks nice. What is the neck pickup? It would be cool if you could find a matching double cream SD bridge pup, but I do like the zebra/cream setup too. Have you changed the bridge on your Studio? It looks like a Nashville style still, but I could be wrong. Also, no need to change the tailpiece if you're happy with the sound. I've found that an aluminum tailpiece will add some clarity and top end sparkle to the sound.

I really like the contrast of black and cream, a lot. I typically have not been drawn to black LP standards, but a black/cream setup is really pushing my buttons lately.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Yeah, I put on a TonePros bridge a couple months ago.

The neck is an old 70’s Dimarzio PAF. WLH in the bridge.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

I like it.

I swapped the black rings and knobs on my 2013 70's Tribute when I swapped pickups. Didn't add a pickguard. Thing that bugs me is the black nut, only because of the color. Pretty sure it's a year when Gibson epoxied the damned things in. I think I'd have to cut it out. I'd replace it with and aged white Tusq XL but the stock nut doesn't bind and have no tuning issues from it. Too much hassle to mess with it.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

I ran over to WD Music Friday for the pickguard ,chip and nut, and all they had in stock was white and black. Was wanting an aged cream, but decided on black.

Oh, and I threw these on as well.





While watching Dave.....”It’s GOOTCHED!”

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

The black nut works fine on that guitar, even with the cream trim. Cosmetically, it probably looks ok on mine because of the black headstock, but it just ain't "right", which is meaningless anyway.

I like the vintage style machines. But if I install vintage style machines with the aged buttons, then I'd have to have an aged nut. mg:
Two of the Grover machines are sloppy too, so I'm going to have to do something sooner or later. Probably go with Gotoh's if they drop in. Or swap those wonky grovers with a couple from one of my imports that I don't play as much.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

I like the vintage style tuners as well, but when I put them on I like to use the locking versions. Someone used to make a locking Kluson type tuner with an internal locking cam, like the Grover 106, but I can't find them anymore. I bought a set where the top of the post screws and unscrews to lock the strings, and it's ok.

Some of the older 70's Dimarzios can sound really good, so glad to hear you like it. I also like the Tone Pro's hardware, my Gary Moore LP Standard came with the locking bridge and tailpiece. I originally changed the hardware to all Callaham, but it proved too bright, so the Tone Pro's tailpiece is back on, and it helped. I've just never cared for the Nashville bridge so I switch them for ABR's, but that is as much cosmetic and historically accurate on Lester's than anything else. The Nashville works just fine.

Any other planned changes?

 

[Swampy]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Any other planned changes?

Knobs. Maybe something like these.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

I like those. Speed knobs look good in certain applications but I generally prefer top hats and I like that cream reflector knob look. I really enjoy making all of these changes that make the guitar "our own thing". It's part of the fun for me.

Nice work on your LP.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Looks great. Nice job.

Oh dang now I want one. :bigthumb:

 

[Aceman]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Nice

 

[BTMN]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Knobs. Maybe something like these.

View attachment 88986

I would put these on.

https://www.allparts.com/PK-0142-022-Set-of-2-Bell-Knobs-0-11-Amber_p_2829.html

 

[AxlOz]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

That guitar looks hawt!
I really dig the cream plastics and zebra pups on the raw black finish. Chrome/nickel hardware is also the way to go here, gold would look weird..
Personally I wouldn't bother going as far as changing the nut - unless the current nut was needing replacement.

Nice work!

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

Well done! It's officially a Rocker Axe now.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

I love cream on a Les Paul; it just seems right. Cream reflector knobs would look perfect on that.

I used to dig those DiMarzio PAFs back in the 70s. The newer ones aren't quite the same. I have a 36th that's okay and a VPAF that's okay, but I'm not convinced they're a real improvement over the old design. Of course I haven't actually tried 'em side by side, and the old ones might seem better in memory than they really were- the 70s was a long time ago. I sure got some great tones out of them in a Les Paul though, running a cranked MusicMan head through 4 JBL K120s. Back when rock was played loud, and drummers had to work hard to be heard.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Gone Cream on the Les Paul.

The Dimarzio PAF you have is IMO not a real good neck pickup..it's too dark and bloated in the neck. The Paf Pro is a time tested neck pickup if you like the sound of th bridge Dimarzio PAF.