Does Lightning Strike Twice?

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Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby BrianD » Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:01 pm

Well, not so much lightning as static.

I would like to tell you a story so if you are sitting comfortably I will begin.

Once upon a time there was a guitarist and he fell in love with a beautiful black creation adorned with gold. Her name was Black Beauty, in her day the queen of the Gibson Les Paul family with an elegantly formed body the colour of purest ebony, her long neck abounding with mother of pearl, her head crowned with six gold studs and in the middle of her beautiful body were set three, not two, mesmeric gold boxes. Our hero lusted after this magnificent creation but for forty seven years made do with lesser creations until one day he chanced upon Black Beauty surrounded by her courtiers in a palace known as GAK in Brighton. There was a small ransom asked for the release of this fair maiden but he went home, broke open the family piggy bank and escorted his dream out of crowded store and back to his sanctuary, there to carress her and get to know her in every way. Well there the fairy story ends.

Yes, over the years I have owned many Fender, Gibson, Burns, PRS, Gretsch guitars including at least ten Les Pauls but always wanted a 3 pick-up Les Paul Black Beauty. Last December I found one at GAK in Brighton and bought it. It played very well and the tones were excellent BUT, very quickly static built up so that as I moved my hand up and down the neck I would get a crackle through the amp. At the time I also had a cherry-burst 2 pick-up Les Paul Custom as well as various other instruments, none of which crackled in this way. I assumed the guitar had an earthing problem and as i wanted it modified so that the second tone control could be turned into a third volume control to allow the middle pick-up to be independently bled in in any combination with the two other pick-ups (not the standard wiring for a Les Paul 3PU) I took it to a local luthier to "upgrade" and sort out the earthing. The wiring was done but he could find nothing wrong with the earthing. I won't bore you with the next part of the saga as it went on for two months during which time the guitar went to Gibson's Service (non-service) centre in the Netherlands and one of their recommended warranty repair people here in the UK. Everyone could see the problem in that they were able to get the static discharge through whatever amp they plugged the guitar into but short of a complete refinnish they couldn't resolve the problem. Because I had had the wiring upgraded of course the Service Centre didn't want to know. The UK man did come up with a short-term fix in that if I sprayed the areas that I touched with G-WAX (anti-static polish) the static could be reduced to a manageable level for a few hours at a time. Finally, I traded the guitar in against a different instrument, now £600 the poorer on the whole deal and very sad that the love of my life had so cruelly cheated me.

Despite this sory story I still hankered after a 3 pick-up Black Beauty and a week ago came across one at a store in Stevenage. I ordered it and yesterday this new creation of ebony beauty was delivered to my front door. With trembling hands I openned the case and gazed on this exquisit creation in black and gold. I warmed up my amp, plugged her in and sat in heaven as the sweet warm tones burst forth. After a few minutes playing I adjusted one of the volume controls and as I did so the tips of my fingers brushed the surface of her body. My heart fell with a sickening bump as the crackle of static discharge rang forth from my speakers. Still, no crackle as I moved my hand up and down her fine neck. Ok, I could live with the "body-crackle" as it only happened if I touched the body whilst adjusting the controls. Thirty minutes later the guitar was back in its case and packed up ready for collection - the neck crackle had built up on this one as well.

I was gutted and so disappointed. I can only assume there is something in the black paint finish used by Gibson as, as I said before, no other instrument or Les Paul of sunburst finish, has had this problem in my hands.

The moral of this story - never get a guitar modified and taken out of warranty until any initial faults are sorted at the manufacturer / reseller's expense.

Brian
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby David Martin » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:32 pm

Brian that's really tough... I've recently modified my Firebird VII to the spec you were looking for. Much better!

I wonder if there's some carbon black in the Gibson finish which is then in contact with the earthing round the switch, pots, and the shielding in the control cavity? Very strange... maybe worth writing to Gibson in the US...

They seem to be in some trouble at the moment.
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby BrianD » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:02 pm

You may be right, David. The static crackle only happens on the body of the guitar if I rub the surface in the vicinity of the pots, the jack socket or the selector switch, particuarly on the top edge of the guitar in the "waisting" area nearest the selector switch. This showed up literally within minutes of trying the new guitar (now collected and winging its way back to the shop). The crackle on the neck took a little longer to build up. On the original guitar I also got the crackle every time I touched the surface of the scratchplate, which it was almost impossible not to do, but that didn't happen on the new one. It might have, of course, if I had continued playing it. The supplier tells me they have come across this before and are confident they can solve the problem. I have told them that if they do I will be delighted to get the guitar back. Watch this space.......

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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby BrianD » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:06 pm

As promised, an update. The 3 pick-up Black Beauty went back to the reseller and the guy in their workshop confirmed that he got the crackle as well but was confident that he could cure it. I asked how he would do this and was told he would line all the cavities with copper shielding tape. I decided that i was no longer interested as I felt that a guitar straight from a top line manufacturer shouldn't need modification to make it workable and they agreed to refund.

I still wanted a top line Les Paul, however so decided this time to go and try some first.

Like a number of you I have bought a £5000 USA model built as a perfect replica of an iconic instrument originaly supplied to its first owner in 1959 and still in use within the same band. Here (I hope) is a picture of my new guitar.

http://www.guitar-village.co.uk/product ... nc%2E+Case

Brian
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby Geoff Alderton LH » Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:38 pm

Hi Brian. What does VOS stand for? Have to say thats a superb guitar you have aquired.
Regards Geoff.
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby BrianD » Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:51 pm

Geoff,

Thanks for the comment. VOS = Very Old Stock. As I understand it it is as though the guitar was put into stock when "originally" made, i.e.i 50 years ago, and left un touched. Therefore the gleam has gone and doesn't look brand spanking new, the metal looks aged, but there are none of the dings and scratches associated with "Relics". It is an amazing guitar.

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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby Geoff Alderton LH » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:41 pm

Hi. Brian can I ask about the set up of your new guitar when you receved it. I believe all Gibsons are now set up, prior to leaving the USA, even their custom shop guitars, via the PLEK system
Regards Geoff.
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby BrianD » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:23 pm

Geoff,

The set-up is excellent. The action is first class (set up with 10s) and the tuning spot on up the neck. The controls are smooth and clean and the frets smooth and don't have that slightly gratey new feel you get with so many instruments until they have been played in. I really cannot fault it.

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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby Geoff Alderton LH » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:14 am

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT
Hi. Just come across this guitar on eBay. What a fascinating story Tim Gentle tells us about how he obtained the guitar for his shop. If you havent allready seen the article its worth a read. Couldnt help thinking about your Gibson ZZ Top Brian and lets hope its valued at £100,000 in thirty years time. Although I dont think this guitar on eBay, the Les Paul 25/50 as its called, is a £100,000 guitar. I am interested in the Fender Strat Tim sold to John Hill of Fender UK at the same time. Tim mentions this guitar at the end of the Gibson article and says he still has the twin to the Fender guitar in his shop. Will be interesting to see what is the price put on this guitar when it comes up for sale.
Regards Geoff.
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Re: Does Lightning Strike Twice?

Postby ecca » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:01 pm

Beautiful guitar Brian.
Does the static problem go away when you play the guitar in the shower ?
Ecca
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