25 Sep 1969 Gibson SG Custom
This one is definitely an issue guitar. While I hadn’t purchased it “broken” yet, it did break during shipping. It came broken in two as shown in this earlier post.
The guitar was fixed in one day at my friend Luca’s Cloe Guitars where it also was PLEK’d. Frets were left on, as they still had quite some life in them.
This guitar seems to have an older Di Marzio in the bridge position, and it sports a complicated circuit with a microswitch visible on the main body among the volume/tone knobs that can select single coils/humbuckers. It’s such a useful characteristic that it has stayed. Also, while I thought the guitar wasn’t wired ’50s wiring, it is. It was a mistake of mine: the bridge pickup volume can be perfectly rolled off while retaining clarity (an audio and video sample of this guitar is here). It will depend on the amp used the effect. Also, the bridge pickup needed to be raised up as it has lost – due to time and usage – some magnetic properties and high output.
ar2619Rob
Posted at 08:29h, 25 SeptemberHow much approximately does the Plek set up cost? I’m assuming a couple of hundred euros?
I bought my ’70 SG about two years ago and as I’m keeping it for good am thinking why not get the very best from it.
Although, this feeling is tempered by the fact that it plays well anyway and the age old lesson of ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ rings in my ears.
I would probably have to post it (couldn’t sleep with that) or travel to London as Charlie Chandler’s seem to be the only one’s offering this service.
btw I drove 16 hrs to collect it when I bought it as the postal service terrifies me.
SoloDallas
Posted at 08:41h, 25 SeptemberSir, yes, exactly, in that “200 euros” range.
I do like you: if it works as intended fretboard – I am not pleking it. I might, but it may also be wasted money. In fact, on some of my most recent purchases frets are wonderful, no buzz, no neck issues, so I am not going to do it. And I don’t ship these either, I drive to the plek shop just like you. Postal services here are pure scam 🙂 I wish I could see/hear your guitar Rob 🙂
ar2619Rob
Posted at 08:49h, 25 Septembertry YouTube ar2619 then cut off your ears and remove this comment!
I’m not bothered about wasting a small amount of money and assume that Pleking couldn’t make it worse but… I’m a coward!
SoloDallas
Posted at 08:51h, 25 SeptemberI am a coward just as much as you are. I only probably have more guitars than you, so I feel protected. I wonder daily about the fact of having just one. If I had just one, you can bet I wouldn’t be so daring with all these experiments. Courage is in awareness of danger, not in taken un-needed risks (smiles at Rob). Going to the channel now 🙂
ar2619Rob
Posted at 08:10h, 25 SeptemberI remember asking ‘how long before it will be playable’?
just a couple of weeks then 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 08:14h, 25 September‘morning brother Rob. I know, I remember that question! Your question was more into the subject of “how long for glues to solidify and such” I had guessed. You know what? I asked your same question to the luthier. He said, 24 hours and it’s done. Hide glue, naturally. Some say that even Slash commented that “broken and fixed” guitars may sound even better. While I leave those type of considerations to others, I must say this “thing” sounds excellent.