That +/- 70 year-old P90 sounds amazing. so much musical clarity all the way through the volume range. Thanks for sharing this journey with us, and I hope it's not the last we see of this guitar.
Brother get a syringes for the fine cracks you can get those at a woodworker or antique repair store. I use those when I restore antiques and they work really well to get glue deep into cracks. Appreciate the work of restoring these wonder instruments.
This is what guitar ownership is all about . Not just a collection of the most expensive stuff you can buy, but passion and restoration and appreciation 💪 best series yet brother.
I always find it deeply gratifying when a guitar so old and battered can be resurrected and made to sound simply glorious (for lack of a better term). Sweet!
I can't help wondering about this guitars back story. When the story is forgotten it gone forever. It looks like someone was repairing it, and forgot about it. Maybe they decided it was time for a new one.
I really appreciate how you structure these videos. No filler. You do an explanation after you show what you're doing. No needless talking and talking. Just perfect.
If I may humbly suggest a few tips for next time… -All that titebond in the grain on the back may show through any potential future refinish. Wiping away rarely gets it all. -Hot hide glue would have been advisable for all the glue up, or at least the neck mortise, as it is easier to reverse and reglue - should it ever need it - and it is period correct on a 1950s guitar, and finishes better -Laying titebond on top of a crack isn’t always going to get glue into the crack itself and may separate in a few years while not providing much structural strength -Heating up the joints a bit, and wicking / injecting in slightly thinned HHG to the body cracks and clamping up tight prior to ramming in the plugs would have produced great results. I’d have done one crack at a time. -Use wax paper between your glue surfaces and your clamping caul, like on the back of the headstock, so you don’t glue it all together.
Yes, good tips. Syringes are often used to get glue deep into cracks, it works quite well. I also would have glued and clamped the body before drilling out the holes and putting in the plugs.
When you were strumming acoustically just after the restring, I knew that guitar was ready to live again! I'd name that guitar Lazarus! You are a great player as well. Carry on brother.
There’s a bond between you and this beautiful old LP Jr - almost as special as your favourite Stratocaster. Sympathetically breathing new life into this old guitar will reward you tenfold Matthew - and you’ve done a great job with restoration… retaining the history and ‘personality’ of the guitar. Sincere congratulations… there’s no greater feeling than bringing something deemed to be a ‘write-off’ back to life. Enjoy it and play it like crazy…😊
I've always been more of a modern metal guy. I've heard lots of blues and rock style music in my life and ive always liked it enough, but something about the way you play resonates with me way more than anything else in that style thay I've ever heard! Absolutely incredible and these guitar restorations are amazing!
At the sound of the first acoustic strum I knew this thing was a real winner! The old dry wood is what I think is one of the main contributors to that singing tone.
Just a joke. Matthew S. I can't stress enough how great it is that you play guitars so well AND you know or figure out ways to restore and bring them back to life. Someone hopefully cherished this guitar back in the day and you're giving it a new life again 🎉 Thanks alot for being a kickass"guitar doctor"
I am a luthier. Some of this work is making me recoil in terror, but I'm sure it will hold. You're playing is incredible Matthew. You're way better than I'll ever be an I'm 50 years old. Let me add the fact that that thing is incredibly acoustically resident and sounds great plugged in❤
@@MatthewScottmusic it plays Matthew it turned out. I'm happy that you're interested working on guitars it's a very rewarding job. You did the best that you could do with what you know and it plays so good for you man!
@@pdub4600 At the moment I don't have any favorite music to play, but I put the single coil on so I don't need a strat to play the songs I like, But what I like to play most is not a whole song but part of it, the solo by Dani california from red hot chili peppers
Blown away. The one thing that was missing from The Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," was a guitar that really wept. That beautiful old piece of wood and bone can weep. So beautiful. Well done brother and many thanks for this.
Blown away by the sound and VIBE of that thing man! Risen from the ashes. It was meant to make its way to you! You brought it back from the end of its life- that’s a pretty special connection. Enjoy this thing!
That's a great look it has. That could be a signature of it's own. It may not be a 100% but you played every bit of it. Sounds great. In '54, I was 7 and listening to my family's music on the redio. GOO, memphis and nashville. Be interesting to know where that old guitar been played. Old enough to have been down at the crossroads. I like your restoration work. Thanks for keeping that Les P alive.
That sounds so good! An authentic vintage sound that is hard to find today. Enjoy that thing Matthew! And thank you for sharing the journey of the repair with us. I look forward to the continued repairs you make to this beauty.
These videos are great man. Good job getting that old guitar back up and playing again. Those neck screws were brutal. Much better now and u can still see where the old screw holes were so it still has that character/story to it. Just not the old clunky metal screws there. Good job!!!
Ahhh the magic combo of 70-year old wood and a vintage P90! Only a lunatic would put 4 screws straight into any guitar, let alone a Les Paul.. it's a miracle it didn't crack the whole thing up!
I have the same guitar 1954 Les Paul jr. It had a broken/missing headstock. The neck was glued in. Rose wood fretboard solid mahogany body stripped. I sanded it and stored it in a case a couple years ago. Neat!
Sounds so amazing almost like there is an Octave Fuzz on it in the higher registers but its not too nasty such a unique tone hard to describe. The tone has a hint of buzz and the playing and technique is superb!
I would love to play this! I really am glad to see your love and appreciation for these ol' hunks of wood, this would be more valuable to me than a brand new 10 Top!! Keep the tradition alive Matthew!! Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Soul 🎶🎶
Good evening sir what you've done with this is so far Is fantastic the rewards of your efforts are not just your own this is a piece of guitar and music history. Thanks for bringing this to us
Your renovation videos are so great Matthew. It’s a beautiful thing that you give back life to old instruments. I would love to be able to make such a finding but it’s a tad harder in Europe. Thanks for the video in all cases and looking forward to the next!
This guitar, born in 1954, obviously hasn't had much luck in its life when you see the wreck it was then... Until the day it met you: Unlucky -> Lucky! 😊 You have talent ! Both as a luthier and a guitarist... I'm amazed. In my opinion, you represent what America does best today. Your humility honors you: No high-tech, no showing off, the passion that drives you will push you to the firmament, I have a feeling it's not over! If I listened to myself, I would leave Paris right away to come and listen to you in Oklahoma! Well done Mathiew. Keep it up, don't change anything
Man…I love the editing in this video. All the angels of you repairing the instrument are really fantastic. You must have went to a lot of effort to make this video for us. Thanks! The aesthetic has really levelled up. Been following for ages. Thanks again!
Wow that pickup has some amazing crunch to it. Love watch your videos where you bring classics back to life. With the flame yellow paint and you bringing back to life, this 54 Les Paul is now a true "PHOENIX" Cheers!
Despite the shortcomings (bridge-lead, frets played out, etc) it still sound great,. It yet again proves that it is the player not the instrument that matters. I envy your talent and ability. Thanks for the vid.
you could tale the volume pot apart and use silver solder to add a new stem, silver solder is harder eand more durable then normal solder. Since you were going ro need to disassemble anyways, that way you keep it the most original. Thanks for sharing this labor of love with us.
I’m so glad you got the neck glued in and got rid of those (obscene lol) wood screws ! Keeping the history of an individual guitar is cool, but there are limits, and you showed good discernment on where the line needs to be drawn. Wow, a 54 Jr. ! I hoard guitars, If I found that thing, I’d keep it forever.
I am so glad this guitar fell into your hands. So glad you are restoring its total originality and not sanding away its origin, well done thus far. A good OLD p90 is in and of itself a great find, this one seems to be very good. With new original size small frets is the way to go as you’re probably not going to be wearing them out as this will be a real addition to anyone’s Gibson history collection. Stay original, keep the patina and watch that headstock crack, keep her tuned way down while on the wall and it will truly be a treasure. I’m not sure if the tailpiece posts should be re-done with later model deeper bushings as this would be another step away from originality. It is possible to re-set the original bushings straight but I suspect pulling them might damage the wood and thus resetting them into a damaged hole won’t likely hold up but….. if it’s not strung with medium or heavier strings (stay light or extra light) and if you keep it tuned down while not being played, it should hold true and play well from time to time. Just my 2-cents, it’s a cool find with no doubt someone out there who will probably offer you some good money given the investment thus far. BUT I’d politely refuse any offers, at least while I’m alive. If you do re-set tailpiece posts, pull originals, plug and redrill bushing set point holes, use a good hardwood plug and DONT USE EPOXE. If you use a drill press or other press, you can level and square the press to table and use it to push bushing straight into new hole, starting straight will go a long way to remaining straight over time.
Matthew, apart from your amazing playing, this is really amazing to see. Saving an old instrument and giving it new life. Play it! And love it. It suits you just as well as your Strat does :)
So much mojo! 🤩🎸 I'm so invested in this restoration 😂 it's great to see the level of care you put in, this guitar definitely went to the owner it deserved 😎
You are a natural at the guitar. You also have a gift. You are going to move a lot of people with your playing! I know what I’m talking about too. Also, as soon as you strung that up it sounded alive acoustically! I thought “This thing really wants to be played”. Good work and have a great gig in January.
Thoroughly enjoyable in every respect. Clearly this lovely old LP Junior is coming through bigtime, and it couldn't happen to a nicer or more talented guy. Top man! 🎶🎄⭐👍
Killer work Matthew! Great stuff. Love that you filled the screw holes - the right decision in my opinion. This will be a great guitar again one day. ps. The crumbly body and neck finish is giving me deep anxiety - can’t wait until you seal that somehow! Looking forward to the next episode already ❤
I think like you, but I think the wood itself has been damaged past just the surface, so sanding it to "clear" wood might be too aggressive a fix. Maybe talk to a couple of experienced luthiers and get their thoughts. If nitro isn't the best choice, maybe linseed oil or gun oil, it might penetrate further into the wood than clear nitro. I bet Matthew has done his homework, and will make a good decision on the finish. The guitar sounded amazing, congrats on the gig, i wish i could be there.
I respect your hands on approach to not only repairing this guitar, but your organic playing style. As I am over twice your age, Matthew, and don't have to much more time...watching you work and play, I feel so much better knowing there are young like you to carry on. Thank you sir.
Just found you today. I'm a former musician (piano, violin, guitar) and love watching this loving restoration. I subscribed! I agree w the comments, you make great videos between the commentary, the filming, editing & playing. I personally would love to see the wood parts cleaned, repaired and then just lacquered or something because I just love the natural grain of wood. And 70-year old mahogany is something you don't see every day. I know from cleaning and polishing my instruments back in the day, they benefit from such maintenance. I'd love to see this piece shine w its new lease on life--this new chapter. I understand that isn't the original "look" of the piece, that's just my personal preference. I'm sure there are "must do" & "must not" rules for purists in guitar restoration, especially for such a special find. These I am blissfully ignorant of! My son just had to repair his double bass. Neck issues... I'll be watching! Love from Vermont!
I’m not a musician of any form and have very little understanding of guitars but that this sounds amazing to me. Sounds like 60’s and 70’s rock (the best era of music in my opinion).
Wow, I know you have some effects on, but that tone is coming from that Amazing pickup. You will never find that sound ever again, purely unique Great find and restore.
I absolutely love this style of content. As a luthier I really enjoy watching Matthew taking apart and repairing these incredible vintage guitars, keep up the good work!
I JUST Both Liked and Subscribed to Your Channel because of this Superb Video; I am 71 who began Playing in 1964 exactly one week after I saw The Beatles in Boston my Hometown (But I had Avidly begun listening to Rock in 1956 when I was 4 years old and had just caught Elvis on The Ed Sullivan Show and was so fortunate to have an older Brother who had a Record Player with the fat spindle you could stack 45’s on that he let me use anytime I liked to Plus he had ALL of Elvis’s big Early Hits and all the Early Founders of Rock; Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Duane Eddy, etc, etc and I never allowed myself to get stuck in one Era to this day I still listen and seek Great Guitarists🎶♥️🎶 But your Video taught me a Valuable Lesson; Over the Years I learned the Basics of properly maintaining my Guitars and Basic Upgrades however I never even thought of repairing a broken Set Neck so transfixed with as close to Perfect Repair especially with a Set Neck Guitar; I owned a Gorgeous 2008 Quad Flame Front and Back Les Paul Supreme that suffered a Bad broken Neck but the Headstock was undamaged so I took it to the East Coast’s number one Luthier who is a personal friend of mine and has his own Line of Guitars who many Top Guitarists not only purchase but also bring their own most used Guitars to when they require Work Knowing the absolute Perfection I sought to repair my LP Supreme he got directly in touch with Gibson USA who came up with a price of $2,000+ to repair it Thus I very sadly Sold it as a Project Guitar which I regret to this day ! But as old as I am should Any of my other Guitars suffer major damage Your Video has lit the Fire of Inspiration to Advance my Guitar Modding and Repair Skills; Thank You from an Old Time Rock n Roller 🎶♥️🎶‼️‼️‼️
I never thought I'd even see a '54 in a vintage guitar shop. I am simply amazed. I knew it'd sound great as soon as you stroked the strings, and it resonated against the butcher block table, and it obviously only got better. my hat is of to you, Matt. who's idea was it to ask "is this real?" HA! yeah. someone snuck into a barn and installed a GIBSON logo on the head stock of a guitar that had all but fallen apart.
I have a personal preference for older guitars...especially player grade and unique items that have had a life. They end up with their own stories and unique looks. The Japanese call the wear and tear "Wabi Sabi"....the unique features that show the individual path of the object through it's life cycle. This was a joy to watch. Looking forward to the next chapter, and more of these finds. Thank you.
You gave the guitar a new life. Everything you do is just another chapter in it's life and if it was mine I wouldn't over fix things like the plugs. It reminds me of an electric version of Trigger.
