A piece of Gibson history

I recently picked up a piece of Gibson history. One of the first Epiphone solid body guitars made in the Gibson Kalamazoo plant in 1959. This guitar is mind blowing and explains a lot of the desire to own an old electric. Originally it was a single pickup Coronet but over the years many people messed with it. The finish was stripped and several different pickups were installed. It was a mess.
 
My buddy found it in Buffalo NY at a flea market. We have a mutual friend that is a wizard with guitar restoration, and he's had it for about 10 years. Yep 10 years. The restoration was amazing. He converted it to something like a Wiltshire with 2 pickups and the stock wrap around tailpiece. The center of the guitar was a mess from several hobbyists hacking into it with chisels and screwdrivers. To fix it properly he routed out a block and replaced it with old growth Mahogany. This was then properly routed for the humbuckers. IT was refinished like a vintage Gibson. Cherry dye on the wood and then a clear coat.
 
I've been adding the finishing touches and just installed some great pickups made by MJ at the Duncan custom shop. They look just right and sound great. The luthier made a pickguard that's similar to an original but not exact. The only part I'm still looking for is an original metal badge "bikini" logo. They're incredibly hard to find at any price.
 
It's not an original guitar by any measure, but it's sweet and I really dig it. A Brazilian rosewood board and unique neck carve that fits like a glove. Weighing in at 6.5 lbs, it makes my Goldtop feel like a boat anchor. I wanted to provide some pictures but I've had no luck getting them into my post.

I'm very curious to see it!
 
For pictures, you'll have to find a site to host them and post links here. These days, imgur works best for me.

I just saw what those old Coronets are going for on eBay... Wow....Good investment!

I'm guessing anything which allows you to link the image directly.
 
Speaking of Coronet, this KISS fan couldn't NOT mention that Ace Frehley used to play one. :P
 

 
 
 

Great news!!! Thanks for sharing your excitement John!!!

DOH! Stupid forum software. I give up.
 

Okay pal I'll send them to you.

Isn't she sweet?
 

Merci Rain,
 
That is my pride and joy. I just sent my 57 Goldtop RI to the sales depot. The guitar is not valuable to a collector because it has been refinned and modified. But for a player it's all there. It just rings for days and intonates surprisingly well. Best guitar money I've ever spent. The real kicker is that it's a way better guitar now than it was. The original pickups were "New York" mini humbuckers that didn't sound good, and the original finish was black. Sorry Rain but the wood had to be viewable, hence the trans red.
** I forgot to mention that the bridge is ALuminum and the electrics are based on a 59 Les Paul. The people at Seymour Duncan did a great job at making the pickups look and sound right for the guitar.

Very nice indeed, very nice indeed! Love the red (I've had several double cut Jr's, always '60's and I "tire" of the thin neck).
Did your R7 play worth a damn?
I had a brazilian 2003 (you know, "we finally got it right!), nut was a mess.
How does something like that pass QC; Custom Shop? Really?
But I digress (and on a Gibson forum no less, yikes!)
What's the owners name? He needs to know!
T

My guess is there was a "flaw" in that top somewhere, that's why it is gold.
Tobacco burst; again something wrong popped up when the top got carved.
Just my nickle98.
If that R7 was "right", you should of kept it; I would have!
 
T