NEIL YOUNG "OLD BLACK" Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Standard 2017 Aged Black Over Color

This is a custom made Neil Young "OLD BLACK" replica made in Washington. We have produced a few of these and sold them here to very satisfied customers. Check my feedback. Neil will never agree to a signature Les Paul but if he did it would not have been as close to the original as the ones produced by Larry's Guitars.

Young acquired Old Black in 1969 through a trade with one-time Buffalo Springfield bassist, who received one of Young's orange Gretsch guitars ( Chet Atkins) in exchange.

That guitar has suffered from many modifications throughout the years and is Neil's main axe. He has gigged her a thousand times, recorded dozens of themes and appeared in many photos, videos, films etc.

This replica is based upon a Gibson Les Paul Standard Goldtop with a 1950's P-90 2019-2020 bought for this project. All the modifications have been hand made to make it what is probably the best possible and commercially available replica.

The scratch plate, back cavities covers, truss rod "bell", jack plate, bridge pickup ring and P90's cover are all hand made with aged aluminum.

The switch ring is also worn out, as it is in the original. The aged switch button is browner than the usual amber. Typical from Larry's Guitars

 Included is an Ace Neil Peace/Dove strap, 

 Details of the Bigsby and ABR-1 bridge. When a Bigsby B7 is used in an ABR-1 equipped guitar, usually the bridge's post wheels are special.

Headstock

The headstock has been repainted so the serial number is no longer visible. Les Paul’s from the '50s had the serial number silkscreened, not stamped as the current ones and so are the Historic Reissues like this R6. Thus, you cannot see the serial number as you cannot see it in Neil's original Old Black... just a stamped "R6" in the pots cavity as a proof of her origins.

The headstock has routing around the upper edge where the original binding is missing.

Old Black has also been customized with a small toggle switch in the front of the guitar, between original pickup volume and tone adjustment knobs. This switch is not a , as would commonly have assumed, but rather is a switch that allows Young to bypass the pedals and send his sound directly to his (a late-1950s Deluxe). Our small toggle switch is wired for the same bypass.

Schaller M6 keys and part of the white wooden stripe that runs all along the guitar's back.

 Details of the logos, roughly painted over in black just like Neil's.

Neck

The neck is fat, '50s type though not so "baseball-batish" as in other samples. The frets that, regarding the legend, Neil never allowed to change, are also '50's, thinner that current. 

With her "skunk-bar" following the body's stripe. Notice the long Switchcaft switch. The worn heel and body horn. The paint over the wooden stripe makes it an uneven width, like Neil's.

Pickups

Neck pickup is an R6 original but the bridge pickup has been substituted with a Firebird mini-humbucker, just like in Neils guitar. This Firebird pickup replica is made by Seymour Duncan. Look closely to the P90's metal cover: looks like it's badly routed or cut in the treble side so you can see a bit of the inner black bobbin. Look closely the first photo of the original Old Black up above and you'll see that it's just as it must be. Such is the detail of this replica. Ditto for the "badly" routed scratch plate.

The strap is also an accurate reproduction of the original black and white "peace dove" ACE Strap. It's attached to the guitar with the same snap on/off attachments Neil uses.

Sound

This guitar sounds 100% like Neil's for what it's worth. She doesn't sound at all like a normal Les Paul... and there's no such need for that. As she started from "good timber" you instantly feel you're holding a good guitar. The unplugged sound is very good, powerful and rich. She makes your belly vibrate when you strum a chord. The woods are good and the guitar is professionally made.

The neck pickup sounds like no other P90 I've ever heard before, much darker than usual, powerful and with great personality. The bridge pickup, as I stated before, is enormously micro phonic. It squeals like a pig but there's no doubt that Neil's sound is in there. It's amazing how much "Neilish" you can sound with this guitar, this pickup and a (Neil use to play this guitar through a late '50s Fender Tweed Deluxe amp). The sound of this pup is strident and "grumpy" and loves tube gain.

She's a "raw" and rocking guitar down to the bone and playing her you realize how much Neil's sound relies in the use of the Bigsby. That Neil's permanent bit of "out of tune" sound comes out precisely from this. What's not easy at all is to make good use of it and not sounding out of tune. Not a guitar to play soft pop tunes!

We submit this guitar as a closer replica than any ever made before. A great guitar and a dream come true for any Neil Young fan.

Comes with original Hardshell Case and Peace/Dove Ace Guitar strap. Check our feedback on from the other OLD BLACK Les Paul's we have sold.