Freshly inspected and set up in-house by our esteemed Guitar Tech. In Good Vintage condition with moderate wear for an instrument of this age, including scratches, dings, and natural aging of parts and finish. Many mods and repairs have been made and we don't know the provenance of some of the parts, but we'll outline what we do know below. At the end of the day, it's a very interesting conversion project with bones from a 1953 Les Paul.
This guitar was previously owned by Joe Bonamassa. The pickups and conversion were done by master luthier Jim Weyandt of JamCity Guitars. Jim is well known in vintage guitar circles for his quality workmanship and expertise in Gibson Les Paul conversions. JamCity Guitars’ Les Paul conversions are highly sought after by collectors, with numerous reviews and forum posts praising their authenticity and craftsmanship.
The guitar has a 1953 Les Paul body and neck which have been "converted" to a 1957 style Les Paul. The 1953 body was routed for humbuckers and a set of vintage PAF humbuckers of unknown provenance was installed. There are a number of other repairs and mods. The neck was previously reset. The treble side headstock wing was repaired at some point. We added a period correct Toggle switch and wire because the existing switch was not functional. The frets are low but were dressed in our shop to improve playability. The pickup covers were removed and reinstalled. The jack plate has been replaced.
Please feel free to contact us for an in-hand description and to ask any questions you may have before making a purchasing decision. See below for more details and specifications.
TESTIMONIALS FOR JIM WEYANDT/JAMCITY GUITARS:
From Ed King (Lynard Skynrd, HOF Inductee): "I was doing some research on conversions, wondering if they were really worth pursuing. A few months ago, I ordered a 1952 Les Paul from Jim Weyandt @ Jam City Guitars and kept it. I'm really impressed by Jim's woodworking abilities & the time, detail & attention he puts into these. Since then I've purchased a 2nd conversion from Jim & put a deposit down on a 3rd. They're works of art that sound, feel & play great."
From J.D. Simo (Nashville Session Guitarist): Every once in a blue moon I come across something or someone that is special in my ongoing and compulsive vintage quest. In this case, it's someone. I first was turned on to Jim's work by my good friend Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame. (Jim's) technique's, materials and talent are supreme! Never have I been so impressed. Also he happens to be one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet."
SPECIFICATIONS:
Single Line Kluson Deluxe Tuners
1 11/16” Nylon Nut
Original 1953 Mahogany Neck with 24 3/4” Scale Length
Neck Thickness .87" at First Fret and 1.02" at Twelfth Fret
Brazilian Rosewood Fingerboard with Trapezoid Inlays and 12" Radius
22 Narrow Frets in Good Condition
Two PAF Humbucking Pickups (Pot Code LRC6150689E)
'54-Style Wraparound Lightweight Aluminum Bridge
Original 1953 3-Piece Offset Seam Maple Top on Mahogany Body in Natural Refinish
Weight 7 lb 15 oz
Non-Original Hard Case
Serial Number 32295
NOTE TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS:
We want you to be happy with your purchase and we try to represent the condition of all used and vintage guitars as accurately as possible in our listings. Every used guitar shows some signs of play wear and vintage models even more so. We call out all areas of damage or unusual wear, and describe the overall condition based upon what is "normal" for the age of the instrument. Expect to see minor dings, finish checking, or other evidence of normal use and aging which may not be captured by photography or explicitly mentioned in the listing.
We recognize that everyone has their own personal standard of what constitutes acceptable wear and tear. If play wear is especially critical for you, please contact us for a complete in-hand description and to answer any questions you may have. Your satisfaction is of paramount importance to us.