jacco
Well-known member
I already put this up on MLP forum and forgot to post here.
Here's the review & pics;
My 1979 LS-80 is a really warm and mellow sounding guitar unplugged, my 1980 LS-120 is more bright and snappy. This one is right in between.
But when I plugged her in she was very dark sounding on all switch positions. The pickups are very articulate but have no balls whatsoever, too clean for my taste. They are non original btw and to me well known German brands; Haussel Vintage A2s in the neck position and Amber Classic Rock in the bridge position.
After playing her for a short while I realized that the neck feels different from my other LPs, very comfortable and at the same time like it almost isn?t there. Which was very strange for when I picked her up it didn?t feel like a thin neck. So I got the calipers and started measuring;
22.42 mm/0.883 inch at first fret and 24.70 mm/0.972 inch at 11th fret.
The average thickness at 1st & 11th fret of a 1959 burst (ref. BOTB) is resp. 22.40 mm/0.883 inch & 24.60 mm/0.970 inch. So that?s almost exact the average 1959 spec. I do have more guitars in that range, still this one felt different. So I used a profiler (don?t know the word for it in english) on the neck at 1st fret and surprise!; the neck isn?t profiled symmetrical, the bass side is just a tad flatter/less shouldered. I guess that?s what original owner asked Tokai to do when he ordered the guitar. And I am happy with it! I have attached a pic of the profile.
BTW she weighs 4.15 kg/9 lbs 2 oz.
Next thing I did was strip her and clean her up for she was very dirty. I noticed that not many original parts have survived over the years and has been well played. The original parts still there were tuners, TRC, pickup selector switch and jack input. Pots don?t look original but are branded CTS but strangely enough can only handle metric knobs. Maybe someone recognizes them.
One of the former owners had switches installed which have left holes in between the tone knobs which in turn have brass coloured covers now. Before I got the guitar I planned to get rid of those and have my luthier do some restoration work. But they actually look quite nice to me, like jewelry. It adds more character.
The seller told me it had 50s wiring but this wasn?t the case. And because of the dark sound I decided to treat her with a new Switchcraft switch, CTS TVT log pots, original 60s Sprague black beauty caps, Switchcraft jack input, wired the right way (please don't comment my soldering skills ). And while I was at it changed the tuners to Uncle Lou?s (because I don?t like green tuners), put on AOA pickup surrounds, jack plate, knobs & switch tip and Faber locking bridge & alu TP. And last; early 80s SD 59s.
The pickups will not stay in, still looking for a nice boutique set. I do have several Kloppmann sets, Wizz?s, Throbaks, Klein and Dry Zs of course. Have tried several other brands in the past and am now looking at Wolfetone?s.
I do not like clean sounding pickups but the highs must be creamy, mid range musical and low end not thick & pounding. I am open for suggestions!
So here are the pics, she looks way better than in the auction pics, though she really is BS finish, sometimes there?s too much red in the pic.
Here's the review & pics;
My 1979 LS-80 is a really warm and mellow sounding guitar unplugged, my 1980 LS-120 is more bright and snappy. This one is right in between.
But when I plugged her in she was very dark sounding on all switch positions. The pickups are very articulate but have no balls whatsoever, too clean for my taste. They are non original btw and to me well known German brands; Haussel Vintage A2s in the neck position and Amber Classic Rock in the bridge position.
After playing her for a short while I realized that the neck feels different from my other LPs, very comfortable and at the same time like it almost isn?t there. Which was very strange for when I picked her up it didn?t feel like a thin neck. So I got the calipers and started measuring;
22.42 mm/0.883 inch at first fret and 24.70 mm/0.972 inch at 11th fret.
The average thickness at 1st & 11th fret of a 1959 burst (ref. BOTB) is resp. 22.40 mm/0.883 inch & 24.60 mm/0.970 inch. So that?s almost exact the average 1959 spec. I do have more guitars in that range, still this one felt different. So I used a profiler (don?t know the word for it in english) on the neck at 1st fret and surprise!; the neck isn?t profiled symmetrical, the bass side is just a tad flatter/less shouldered. I guess that?s what original owner asked Tokai to do when he ordered the guitar. And I am happy with it! I have attached a pic of the profile.
BTW she weighs 4.15 kg/9 lbs 2 oz.
Next thing I did was strip her and clean her up for she was very dirty. I noticed that not many original parts have survived over the years and has been well played. The original parts still there were tuners, TRC, pickup selector switch and jack input. Pots don?t look original but are branded CTS but strangely enough can only handle metric knobs. Maybe someone recognizes them.
One of the former owners had switches installed which have left holes in between the tone knobs which in turn have brass coloured covers now. Before I got the guitar I planned to get rid of those and have my luthier do some restoration work. But they actually look quite nice to me, like jewelry. It adds more character.
The seller told me it had 50s wiring but this wasn?t the case. And because of the dark sound I decided to treat her with a new Switchcraft switch, CTS TVT log pots, original 60s Sprague black beauty caps, Switchcraft jack input, wired the right way (please don't comment my soldering skills ). And while I was at it changed the tuners to Uncle Lou?s (because I don?t like green tuners), put on AOA pickup surrounds, jack plate, knobs & switch tip and Faber locking bridge & alu TP. And last; early 80s SD 59s.
The pickups will not stay in, still looking for a nice boutique set. I do have several Kloppmann sets, Wizz?s, Throbaks, Klein and Dry Zs of course. Have tried several other brands in the past and am now looking at Wolfetone?s.
I do not like clean sounding pickups but the highs must be creamy, mid range musical and low end not thick & pounding. I am open for suggestions!
So here are the pics, she looks way better than in the auction pics, though she really is BS finish, sometimes there?s too much red in the pic.