ODD DUCK OLD GIBSON FIND

[BRENTrocks]

I was browsing ebay the other day and this 1985 Gibson Les Paul DC XPL popped up as a "les paul studio" It looked like it had been sitting in the corner of a basement for about 15 years. 3 missing strings, rust, dirt, dust...nothing I can't handle!!!

The Les Paul DC XPL is a carved top double cut LP with an Explorer neck. They were only made for a couple years, 85-86, i believe.

It showed up today in one piece...shipped without a case, so i was a little worried.

It needed A LOT OF TLC!!! I pulled the factory Kahler and the locking nut off and soaked them lubricant for a while. The frets had heavy corrosion on them that had to be cleaned off and ploished. The neck pickup toggle is broke, (i didnt have the proper toggle to replace it) so i swapped the neck pickup to the middle pickup switch and pulled the middle pick completely. I rarely use a middle pickup anyway and i put an EL84 in the middle route....just because i thought it looked cool. I had to take steel wool to the fretboard and then gave it a fresh coat of lemon oil. Pulled the tuners and cleaned the headstock...and then tackled the body. Cleaned and cleaned...finally got it looking pretty good.

Starting putting it back together. Got it strung up, setup and playing really good. The bridge pickups is a Dirty Finger and the neck pickups is a really hot single with adjustable poles. The neck is a 60s slim. Ebony board. Mahogany body with a maple cap. This one is a nice weight...about 8.25 lbs.

I took a little while for the neck and the Kahler to settle in. Once it did, along with lubricating the nut slots, it started staying it tune very well. The frets are low, fretless wonder frets. It plays really well....has a great hard rock tone!!!

It has a ton of nitro checking. Actually looks really cool on this dark green metallic finish. No breaks. Has some character marks, as to be expected for a 37 year old guitar.

All in all a very fun and cool old Gibson.


IMG_4439 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4440 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4441 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4442 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4443 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4444 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4445 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4446 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4447 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4448 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4449 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4450 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4451 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4452 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4454 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4455 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

 

[blackba]

Cool guitar, never knew about that model. Reminds me of Gibson’s answer to the fender contemporary strat and tele that were MIJ at the same time. My 85 fender contemporary tele is like the same weight as the Gibson and has a locking tremelo. I swapped the humbuckers for some humbucker size p90s. ?

 

[creep66]

I always thought these were cool.

 

[napalmdeath]

Wow. When you said you put an EL84 in the middle, I thought it was a misprint.. Low and behold, it's an EL84!

I would think somebody out there would pay a good penny for it? It is unique, and quite rare. You know "RARE" over at TGP in the For Sale title automatically gets you an extra $2k!, (as long as its 8lbs. or less). ?

 

[DanTravis62]

Wow. When you said you put an EL84 in the middle, I thought it was a misprint.. Low and behold, it's an EL84!

I would think somebody out there would pay a good penny for it? It is unique, and quite rare. You know "RARE" over at TGP in the For Sale title automatically gets you an extra $2k!, (as long as its 8lbs. or less). ?

TGP weight weenies never fail

 

[Mr. Willy]

I think it’s cool.

 

[gtrwun]

I love it. Cool color too.

 

[BRENTrocks]

I re mounted the EL84. A little cleaner job. Lol.

 

[peterc52]

Did the dots move thru the years ?

Otherwise look cool!

 

[griff10672]

I'd rock it !

 

[ZEEGLER]

Weird but cool

 

[Devin]

I always wanted one of the weird one off Double Cut LP's like Pat Travers and Ace Frehley had

 

[TodNeilPage]

Very cool

I was browsing ebay the other day and this 1985 Gibson Les Paul DC XPL popped up as a "les paul studio" It looked like it had been sitting in the corner of a basement for about 15 years. 3 missing strings, rust, dirt, dust...nothing I can't handle!!!

The Les Paul DC XPL is a carved top double cut LP with an Explorer neck. They were only made for a couple years, 85-86, i believe.

It showed up today in one piece...shipped without a case, so i was a little worried.

It needed A LOT OF TLC!!! I pulled the factory Kahler and the locking nut off and soaked them lubricant for a while. The frets had heavy corrosion on them that had to be cleaned off and ploished. The neck pickup toggle is broke, (i didnt have the proper toggle to replace it) so i swapped the neck pickup to the middle pickup switch and pulled the middle pick completely. I rarely use a middle pickup anyway and i put an EL84 in the middle route....just because i thought it looked cool. I had to take steel wool to the fretboard and then gave it a fresh coat of lemon oil. Pulled the tuners and cleaned the headstock...and then tackled the body. Cleaned and cleaned...finally got it looking pretty good.

Starting putting it back together. Got it strung up, setup and playing really good. The bridge pickups is a Dirty Finger and the neck pickups is a really hot single with adjustable poles. The neck is a 60s slim. Ebony board. Mahogany body with a maple cap. This one is a nice weight...about 8.25 lbs.

I took a little while for the neck and the Kahler to settle in. Once it did, along with lubricating the nut slots, it started staying it tune very well. The frets are low, fretless wonder frets. It plays really well....has a great hard rock tone!!!

It has a ton of nitro checking. Actually looks really cool on this dark green metallic finish. No breaks. Has some character marks, as to be expected for a 37 year old guitar.

All in all a very fun and cool old Gibson.


IMG_4439 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4440 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4441 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4442 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4443 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4444 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4445 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4446 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4447 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4448 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4449 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4450 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4451 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4452 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4454 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

IMG_4455 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr

Very cool.guitar and great post. You deserve that axe.

 

[gtrwun]

I always wanted one of the weird one off Double Cut LP's like Pat Travers and Ace Frehley had

Ace had a double cut that was in a picture from the 1977 tour program that was so cool. The headstock didn’t look like a Gibson though unless a one off? I always thought it was an Ibanez maybe, since Paul was playing an Iceman.

 

[BRENTrocks]

Very cool

Very cool.guitar and great post. You deserve that axe.

Thanks bro

 

[BRENTrocks]

Ace had a double cut that was in a picture from the 1977 tour program that was so cool. The headstock didn’t look like a Gibson though unless a one off? I always thought it was an Ibanez maybe, since Paul was playing an Iceman.
View attachment 134845

I’ve seen live shots with Ace playing Ibanez guitars before. But was after Love Gun

 

[BRENTrocks]

Cool guitar, never knew about that model. Reminds me of Gibson’s answer to the fender contemporary strat and tele that were MIJ at the same time. My 85 fender contemporary tele is like the same weight as the Gibson and has a locking tremelo. I swapped the humbuckers for some humbucker size p90s. ?

Thanks bro. I’m intrigued by the Explorer neck on a Les Paul. I can’t say no.

 

[BRENTrocks]

Wow. When you said you put an EL84 in the middle, I thought it was a misprint.. Low and behold, it's an EL84!

I would think somebody out there would pay a good penny for it? It is unique, and quite rare. You know "RARE" over at TGP in the For Sale title automatically gets you an extra $2k!, (as long as its 8lbs. or less). ?

The middle pickup ring was broke beyond repair. I hate how I hit the middle pickup when I’m playing…so I was like fuck it. I took it out. Then for the hole, I was gonna put a sticker over it but then the tube idea hit me.

 

[Rla671]

The middle pickup ring was broke beyond repair. I hate how I hit the middle pickup when I’m playing…so I was like fuck it. I took it out. Then for the hole, I was gonna put a sticker over it but then the tube idea hit me.

Nice find; Im interested; if you want to flip it as is message me today as im away from the PC for the rest of the day. Thx 609-352-4268

 

[errrrrl]

Wow, I have never seen one of those before... pretty cool man!