2nd Jul, 2024 14:00
The John Martyn Collection - Guitars, Musical Instruments, Sound Equipment
JOHN'S GUITARS - 1954 GIBSON LES PAUL GOLDTOP.
A much loved and stage used original 1954 Gibson Les Paul 'Goldtop' electric guitar. Serial '4 2131'. Grover tuning pegs. Extensive wear to paintwork, chips, dings. With hardcase adorned with flight/travel and tour stickers including a pass for a concert on 24th Feb 2001 (Dublin) in which this guitar will have been played.
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:
Heavy nitro checking is apparent to all aspects of the instrument, and is most pronounced to the top. Moderate amounts of finish are missing from the top, having flaked off due to the heavy nitro checking as well as through heavy play wear. This is most notable around the lower bout edges, as well as beside the bridge and control knobs. A previous headstock break is apparent to the treble side rear of the headstock, which has been repaired and is stable. The top edge and corners of the headstock show notable chipping, with some material missing from the corners and rear top edge. Notable chipping of the wood is apparent to the rear of the neck in the lower register between frets 1 & 3. Heavy finish wear is apparent to the rear of the neck, exposing the wood consistently across the register but most notable to the centre behind frets 5-12. Further similar wear to the finish is apparent to the rear of the body, consistent with heavy play wear. The wood shows moderate chipping to the bass side rear edge of the lower bout. The bridge position produces no output.The pickup cover shows shrinking and cracking, with the pole-pieces being exposed and heavily oxidised. The bridge itself is heavily oxidised with the gold plating flaking off consistently across the entire surface.
Originality and Modifications:
The serial number of the instrument dates it to 1954, and is ink stamped on the rear of the headstock with the recognised font of the era. This, in combination with the specification of the instrument indicate its originality and authenticity as a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top.
The bridge is the most obvious modification on this guitar, with the original non-adjustable Gibson wrap-tail having been replaced for an adjustable wrap-tail bridge.
The tuners have been replaced with a set of Grovers, with the screw holes and impression markings of the original Kluson tuners visible to the rear of the headstock.
The original cream ‘Poker Chip’ has been replaced with a black one. The switch itself appears to have been replaced at some stage due to its smooth action.
The control cavity and switch cavity have been treated with shielding paint.
Unfortunately the pot codes are illegible. Due to the application of shielding paint and the more modern look of the wiring, pots and capacitors, it is unlikely that they are original. The control knobs also appear to have been replaced as they lack the ageing and wear as would be expected.
The jack plate has clearly been replaced for a metal one, more practical than the original plastic one would have been.
Without wishing to remove the pickups and risk disturbing the finish, it is difficult to say definitively whether they are original. The condition and appearance of the pickups present no indication that they they have been changed.
As the Bridge pickup produces no output, it has not been possible to read this pickup. The neck pickup reads: 7.54k
Sold for £25,000
Hammer Price
A much loved and stage used original 1954 Gibson Les Paul 'Goldtop' electric guitar. Serial '4 2131'. Grover tuning pegs. Extensive wear to paintwork, chips, dings. With hardcase adorned with flight/travel and tour stickers including a pass for a concert on 24th Feb 2001 (Dublin) in which this guitar will have been played.
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:
Heavy nitro checking is apparent to all aspects of the instrument, and is most pronounced to the top. Moderate amounts of finish are missing from the top, having flaked off due to the heavy nitro checking as well as through heavy play wear. This is most notable around the lower bout edges, as well as beside the bridge and control knobs. A previous headstock break is apparent to the treble side rear of the headstock, which has been repaired and is stable. The top edge and corners of the headstock show notable chipping, with some material missing from the corners and rear top edge. Notable chipping of the wood is apparent to the rear of the neck in the lower register between frets 1 & 3. Heavy finish wear is apparent to the rear of the neck, exposing the wood consistently across the register but most notable to the centre behind frets 5-12. Further similar wear to the finish is apparent to the rear of the body, consistent with heavy play wear. The wood shows moderate chipping to the bass side rear edge of the lower bout. The bridge position produces no output.The pickup cover shows shrinking and cracking, with the pole-pieces being exposed and heavily oxidised. The bridge itself is heavily oxidised with the gold plating flaking off consistently across the entire surface.
Originality and Modifications:
The serial number of the instrument dates it to 1954, and is ink stamped on the rear of the headstock with the recognised font of the era. This, in combination with the specification of the instrument indicate its originality and authenticity as a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top.
The bridge is the most obvious modification on this guitar, with the original non-adjustable Gibson wrap-tail having been replaced for an adjustable wrap-tail bridge.
The tuners have been replaced with a set of Grovers, with the screw holes and impression markings of the original Kluson tuners visible to the rear of the headstock.
The original cream ‘Poker Chip’ has been replaced with a black one. The switch itself appears to have been replaced at some stage due to its smooth action.
The control cavity and switch cavity have been treated with shielding paint.
Unfortunately the pot codes are illegible. Due to the application of shielding paint and the more modern look of the wiring, pots and capacitors, it is unlikely that they are original. The control knobs also appear to have been replaced as they lack the ageing and wear as would be expected.
The jack plate has clearly been replaced for a metal one, more practical than the original plastic one would have been.
Without wishing to remove the pickups and risk disturbing the finish, it is difficult to say definitively whether they are original. The condition and appearance of the pickups present no indication that they they have been changed.
As the Bridge pickup produces no output, it has not been possible to read this pickup. The neck pickup reads: 7.54k
Auction: The John Martyn Collection - Guitars, Musical Instruments, Sound Equipment, 2nd Jul, 2024
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Viewing by appointment 1st July
