This Les Paul was originally built in 1952 and did not have any serial number stamped in the back of the headstock as many others from that year. It was refinished completely (front, back and neck) in the early 80s, supposedly by the Gibson factory. Dean Gagliardotto bought it from a Minister in Tenessee and had it converted to 1957 specifications by Terry Mueller. Dean supplied all the original / period-correct parts for the conversion.
Tom Murphy painted an invented 1957 serial number (7 5225) with a font that looks identical to the original one.
The guitar has no breaks and includes the following parts:
Unopened double black PAFs (obviously with their original covers). Charlie measured the bridge pickup at 8.0k, and the neck one a little less.
Pots & caps are period correct for 1957:
o Neck volume pot 134623 (1956) 456k
o Neck tone pot 134738 (1957) 436k
o Bridge volume pot 1346043 (1960) 586k
o Bridge tone pot 134738 (1957) 603k
Wiring harness/switch/jack connector are original from 1952.
Tuners are single-line, single-ring ("sealed" tuners) with the small lubrication hole.
ABR-1 is period-correct from the 1950s.
Tailpiece is period-correct from the 1950s.
Neck reset to accomodate the correct angle was done by Terry Mueller.
Angel Parts pickup rings.
The pickguard that came with the guitar was recut from old plastic by Terry Mueller. I installed a period-correct one from the 1950s, recut for a guitar with humbuckers.
The case is a 1990s Gibson Custom Shop one.
Weight is 8 lbs.
Toggle ring is not original nor period-correct.
Switch tip is original from 1952.
Backplates are original from 1952.
Truss rod cover is original from 1952.
Knobs are period-correct from 1950s.
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