2nd Jul, 2024 14:00
The John Martyn Collection - Guitars, Musical Instruments, Sound Equipment
JOHN'S GUITARS - 1954 GIBSON LES PAUL GOLDTOP.
A 1954 Gibson Les Paul 'Goldtop' electric guitar. Serial '4 3387'. Well handled with age relating splitting/cracking to body paintwork. Single coil P90 pickup. With hardcase with original travel/flight sticker. Owned and played by John Martyn.
NB - ON PROVENANCE AND PAUL KOSSOFF CONNECTION. It is known that John was gifted a Les Paul gold top by Paul Kossoff. John's ex band members and his family recall John saying on a regular basis that it was the "all gold" Les Paul that was gifted by Paul Kossoff. John had shared tour bills with Pauls band Free in the early days. Later after Free, Kossoff toured and appeared on recordings with John and his band during the early Seventies prior to Pauls sad death in 1976 aged twenty five.
NB - Due to CITES requirements, buyers outside of the UK will need to apply for an export/import licence to ship this guitar outside of the UK. In placing a bid, buyers acknoweldge that they accept this responsibility.
From 'Guitarist' magazine, 1990.
Have you given up the Gibson SG for a Les Paul?
“Oh, I never get rid of guitars unless they turn out to be awful. My favourite would have to be the Les Paul, though. It’s a ’54 goldtop and I don’t even take on the road any more, it’s just too beautiful. It’s an utterly adorable thing, so sweet to play, and you can get any noise out of it you like. It buzzes a bit, but that’s a problem with all these old things. What I really like about the Les Paul is that it’s so powerful, it’s just insane. I have it turned up very live, as saucy as possible; it’s more fun that way, and it makes you play with more precision. If there’s a chance that you might drop an enormous clanger by putting your finger in the wrong place or by using a bit too much clout, then you tend to play with a bit more control.”
Condition report:
All aspects of the instrument show heavy nitro checking. In places this has caused the finish to chip off. The rear of the neck shows notable finish wear due to the years of playing it has seen. This is most notable between frets 2-7, where the wood is exposed. The rear top edge of the headstock has notable chipping of the finish which exposes the wood, with a small amount of material missing. The hardware shows notable signs of oxidation, with the pickup switch being seized. High contact areas of the body show finish wear, most notably along the bass side waist of the rear edge where the wood is exposed. There are exposed screw holes around the lower strap button, as well as on the top, from previous relocations of the strap button or some kind of trapeze tailpiece being fitted previously. This does not appear to have been an original Gibson trapeze which would indicate the instrument being made prior to 1954. The pick guard has been attached with tape. At the edges where the tape is peeling, glue/tape residue can be seen.
Originality and Modifications:
The serial number of the instrument dates it to 1954. Being ink-stamped on the rear of the headstock with the recognised font used at the time. This, in combination with the specification of the instrument indicates its originality and authenticity as a 1954 Gibson Les Paul in ‘Double Gold’ finish.
The most obvious modification made to this guitar is the adjustable wrap-tail bridge which has been fitted. In 1954 Gibson used a non-adjustable wrap-tail, similar in appearance to the current StopBar which is fitted to current models.
The tuners appear to be correct, although their lack of oxidation suggests they may not be original. It is possible that the originals were replaced at some point for an appropriate and original looking set.
The jack plate has certainly been replaced, with a brass one which is much more practical and hard-wearing than the original plastic one would have been.
The control knobs have clearly been replaced as they appear in much better condition than would be expected. The replacements are appropriate.
The only legible pot code indicates that the pot was manufactured by Centrelab in the 19th week of 1953. (134319)
As the switch is seized, it is only possible to read the neck pickup. This reads: 7.53k
Sold for £30,000
Hammer Price
A 1954 Gibson Les Paul 'Goldtop' electric guitar. Serial '4 3387'. Well handled with age relating splitting/cracking to body paintwork. Single coil P90 pickup. With hardcase with original travel/flight sticker. Owned and played by John Martyn.
NB - ON PROVENANCE AND PAUL KOSSOFF CONNECTION. It is known that John was gifted a Les Paul gold top by Paul Kossoff. John's ex band members and his family recall John saying on a regular basis that it was the "all gold" Les Paul that was gifted by Paul Kossoff. John had shared tour bills with Pauls band Free in the early days. Later after Free, Kossoff toured and appeared on recordings with John and his band during the early Seventies prior to Pauls sad death in 1976 aged twenty five.
NB - Due to CITES requirements, buyers outside of the UK will need to apply for an export/import licence to ship this guitar outside of the UK. In placing a bid, buyers acknoweldge that they accept this responsibility.
From 'Guitarist' magazine, 1990.
Have you given up the Gibson SG for a Les Paul?
“Oh, I never get rid of guitars unless they turn out to be awful. My favourite would have to be the Les Paul, though. It’s a ’54 goldtop and I don’t even take on the road any more, it’s just too beautiful. It’s an utterly adorable thing, so sweet to play, and you can get any noise out of it you like. It buzzes a bit, but that’s a problem with all these old things. What I really like about the Les Paul is that it’s so powerful, it’s just insane. I have it turned up very live, as saucy as possible; it’s more fun that way, and it makes you play with more precision. If there’s a chance that you might drop an enormous clanger by putting your finger in the wrong place or by using a bit too much clout, then you tend to play with a bit more control.”
Condition report:
All aspects of the instrument show heavy nitro checking. In places this has caused the finish to chip off. The rear of the neck shows notable finish wear due to the years of playing it has seen. This is most notable between frets 2-7, where the wood is exposed. The rear top edge of the headstock has notable chipping of the finish which exposes the wood, with a small amount of material missing. The hardware shows notable signs of oxidation, with the pickup switch being seized. High contact areas of the body show finish wear, most notably along the bass side waist of the rear edge where the wood is exposed. There are exposed screw holes around the lower strap button, as well as on the top, from previous relocations of the strap button or some kind of trapeze tailpiece being fitted previously. This does not appear to have been an original Gibson trapeze which would indicate the instrument being made prior to 1954. The pick guard has been attached with tape. At the edges where the tape is peeling, glue/tape residue can be seen.
Originality and Modifications:
The serial number of the instrument dates it to 1954. Being ink-stamped on the rear of the headstock with the recognised font used at the time. This, in combination with the specification of the instrument indicates its originality and authenticity as a 1954 Gibson Les Paul in ‘Double Gold’ finish.
The most obvious modification made to this guitar is the adjustable wrap-tail bridge which has been fitted. In 1954 Gibson used a non-adjustable wrap-tail, similar in appearance to the current StopBar which is fitted to current models.
The tuners appear to be correct, although their lack of oxidation suggests they may not be original. It is possible that the originals were replaced at some point for an appropriate and original looking set.
The jack plate has certainly been replaced, with a brass one which is much more practical and hard-wearing than the original plastic one would have been.
The control knobs have clearly been replaced as they appear in much better condition than would be expected. The replacements are appropriate.
The only legible pot code indicates that the pot was manufactured by Centrelab in the 19th week of 1953. (134319)
As the switch is seized, it is only possible to read the neck pickup. This reads: 7.53k
Auction: The John Martyn Collection - Guitars, Musical Instruments, Sound Equipment, 2nd Jul, 2024
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