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No fake or sprayed fades here!

In order to create the true look of a vintage guitar is was important to understand how they were painted in the 50's. Because the original Gibson Les Pauls were sprayed with un light fast aniline dyes they would literally fade in the windows of the music stores, However it took years for the clear top coats to amber.

In order to recreate this same effect we spray the burst, Mock the guitar up with parts, Then fade. Once the fade is to our customers desired look we then apply our top coats of clear and amber to create the true 50's Burst look.  Here is an example of a Historic Makeover that was sprayed with Old School Nitro mixed with un light fast aniline dyes.

We are currently at the stage were the clear and amber lacquer coats are going to be applied. Stay tuned for this masterpiece:

Vintage Royalite binding material

We are finally able to offer binding that is chemically identical to that used in the late 50's.

The binding has been matched to samples of original binding for both plastic type, and exact color.

Royalite binding is offered as an add on during a neck reset.

Be sure to ask about the availability.

Retrospec Historic Cut Inlays installed

8 6459 Returns home this week.

This goldtop started out as a Historic R8 plaintop. It received a Package "A" with a top carve. Just prior to assemble our customer sent in a set of Tom Holmes pickups.  Even though the guitar received no distressing,  The top carve, Brazilian board,Cellulose nitrate inlays,Correct silkscreen logo and Gold color really gave this guitar a sort of NOS vintage look. The Holmes pickups sounded fantastic as well!

Removing the factory finish

Left handed Historic Les Paul having the original finish removed.

As you can see this factory lacquer has something holding it together.

We suspect that it's the plasticizers added to the lacquer.  Great reason for refinishing with our "Old School" lacquer.

Retrospec Does it Again!

It has been and always will be our quest to refine our processes and materials so your Historic Makeover will be second to none. Good just got better. We are very excited to now use the Retrospec Celluloid Nitrate Inlay material in all of our Historic Makeovers™. Working directly with Mazzucchelli (the original Italian manufacturer of the cellulose nitrate material Gibson used in the 50's), Retrospec was able to refined the inlay color using their own vintage 50's Les Pauls as reference to achieve the correct warm, ambered hue as well as the pattern from the late 50's. Inlays can be acquired in individual sets direct from Retrospec by clicking their Logo:

Historic Makeover

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