1959 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst - The Morgan Burst - Not A Reissue

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While I do get regular offers to play rare and exotic guitars I am not so jaded that the thought of spending quality time with an original 1959 Gibson Sunburst Les Paul won't get the blood pumping!
In this video I take a look at The Morgan Burst - an exquisite instrument owned by the late James Llewelyn Morgan with the deeply groovy Marc Allum who you may recognise from The Antiques Roadshow who tells us the story of the guitar.
After that it's time to unleash the beast through an old Cornford amp and some exotic pedals - it is mighty. I'm still shaking, my ears are ringing and I feel joyously alive.
Thank you, to each and every one of you for watching my videos. It means a great deal to me.
Until next time, stay tuned!
Michael
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This video was inspired by a lot of things from the Justin Hawkins Rides Again to Rick Beato and his amazing work, Tim Pierece - all those great guys sharing incredible content! I'm not a massive fan of Justin Beiber, Pewdiepie or ninja and I think Logan and Jake Paul are a disgrace but there you go...
#1959GibsonLesPaul #GibsonBurst #VintageLesPaul

[@MichaelWatts]

I hope you like this video of me barely handling my shit when confronted with this extraordinary guitar

[@andrewbowen6875]

Oh my the sounds emanating from that combination was super nice and not in the least bit too heavy in your capable hands.

[@_ThierryAndre]

@@andrewbowen6875 Agreed!

[@crystalgaynor9708]

A guitar is just a piece of wood until someone picks it up and breathes life into it! You could tell that this guitar, was as grateful to be played, as you were to play it! Truly a holy experience! Thanks for sharing Michael, it was BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you so much Crystal - there is a lot of music in that instrument!

[@RickMcCargar]

No magic instruments, only magical players.

[@Dad-Gad]

Playing an original 59 Burst through all those pedals !!!!! Heathen!!!!!

[@EarthAltar]

No doubt. I was like, "WTF?"

[@MichaelWatts]

Oh no! A purist!

[@MichaelWatts]

It’s surely not that big a stretch of the imagination… especially for an electric guitarist

[@EarthAltar]

@@MichaelWatts Like any of us could have bought it anyway. Lol. At least you got to play it. I would have played my most epic version of Since I've Been Loving You and cried like a baby when security pried it from my hands two hours later. Standing there alone with a melted wah pedal and a fried Marshall.

[@andrewbowen6875]

Oh Michael Watts was this video such a pleasant surprise esp in such uncertain times, this unexpected combination fulfils my image of Americana and that guy who plays Kostal guitars and speaks so eloquently 👏

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Andrew!

[@_ThierryAndre]

Like! Wow! Thank you Michael for this...Truly have enjoyed your playing and energy! Very best,T.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you so much Thierry!

[@jacsvihus]

Haha, I got big and small in that few minutes down the rabbit hole with you Michael. Today I can do that just by listening.

[@MichaelWatts]

What a superb comment! Thank you so much Jeff that means a lot to me 🙏

[@jez6345789]

Lovely playing, nice to hear you on Electric we know you are a mean shredder at heart. thanks

[@MichaelWatts]

Ha ha! Thank you very much!

[@TonchoBluegrass]

I don't know if your familiar at all but your middle part of experimenting reminded me of the very excellent soundtrack of the last of us done by Gustavo Santaolalla. A gorgeous and evocative piece, thank you so much for the video, love all of them, cheers!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you very much! I do love The Last of Us and I’ll take that as a massive compliment!

[@gianfrancoviola9868]

Extraordinary!

[@MichaelWatts]

Grazie mille!

[@gui-texzan7477]

Glad you got a chance to see and play that LP. The first portion of your "exploration" reminded me of early-90's Course of Empire ("God's Jig").✌️

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you very much!

[@pasinomariamocellin6894]

You are a gorgeous Burst player.

[@creamroller]

thanks for sharing man wow

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you!

[@michaelr.4878]

For a 65 year old guitar..I'd say that is a step or two above 'player's grade', as the host suggested...

[@MichaelWatts]

Ordinarily I’d be the first to agree with you but when it comes to original ‘bursts the rules are different

[@andrewbowen6875]

I wonder if Mike Bloomfields claim about him getting onto these Gibson sunburst before the British blues explosion was true? Only one voice or trick question two voices come to my mind re this instrument and for me Peter Greens Fleetwood Mac with Danny Kirwan is etched into my being. For those who love Green and that haunting sound then Fleetwood Mac’s collaboration with Otis Spann titled the biggest thing since Colossus will instantly become your go to album for vintage Peter Green and Kirwan

[@robertnewell5057]

It is certainly true that M Bloomfield was using a Les Paul Standard in 1967. This is documented in a few sources. Before that, I don't know. P Green was using one earlier than that, since around 1965, before he joined the Bluesbreakers, which I guess counts as the band that really led the British blues boom, in '66. I think it's more a question of a guitar whose time had come.

[@frankcousins6479]

Marvellous! 😊

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Frank!

[@jasoncolley4102]

You want to get in touch with joe bonamassa about that burst he loves them

[@MichaelWatts]

I’m pretty sure Joe knows about this one already, don’t you worry!

[@DrustIV]

That brought a smile to my face, what a fantastic sound, inspirational playing. Imagine playing that Jazz motif on neck pickup with flat wounds, just as it would have been back in 1959 .....

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you for watching! It was an unforgettable experience that’s for sure!

[@BillZad]

Strings are top wrapped over the tailpiece, I have a 59 also, this Sound is Captivating........

[@MichaelWatts]

Well spotted Willy, that’s right

[@MAP448]

Sorry I just realized this is 2 yrs old...Volume & tone pot values? Also, capacitor values?

[@MichaelWatts]

Ha, yeah sorry, absolutely no idea! Thanks for watching though!

[@MrJackrockerman]

That's a real 59 Les Paul. The body is not too thick like a new Les Paul nowadays ..

[@MichaelWatts]

Absolutely right! And it roars!

[@paternuin]

nice playing

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you very much!

[@ralvknights]

With eyes close sounds just like any good LP. Sweeter on the high frequencies maybe, but I personally wouldn´t spend too much money for a guitar. There are soo many good guitars with more reasonable price tags. We humans hype things and our brain falls into fantasy of relic stuff. There must be some great vintage instruments sure, but it all depends on how people hype certain instruments without any sound superiority really proven. I believe in the sound qualities of a good LP custom with the proper pickups vrs say a newer Studio Lp with the anemic pickups. The pickups play a huge part in tone. Ebony fretboard feels great under the fingers imho.

[@MichaelWatts]

It’s funny, I really haven’t got on with any Les Paul reissue I’ve played - past 1961 - but the 58s and 59s work for me every time!

[@danielsguitars1659]

@@MichaelWatts you obviously haven't been playing the right guitars.

[@MichaelWatts]

@@danielsguitars1659 well I tried a Murphy Lab today to see… but it was nothing like this

[@danielsguitars1659]

@@MichaelWatts I had a guy say the same thing about a Murphy lab, you need to try some handmade, completely different ball game, I've compared to real 58 and will be doing so again, it's a nice benchmark but not the holy grail imo.

[@MichaelWatts]

@@danielsguitars1659 when you say handmade? I’ve played Gustavsson, Huber, all that sort of thing

[@NeilD-qq5np]

Wonderful guitar and great playing Michael, thank you. Just wondering, was the ‘warm up’ straight into the amp or with pedals? I’m a fan of the pure tone of these instruments without effects and would be interested to know.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Neil! The warm up was straight into the amp, no effects and no amp reverb either and my goodness it was exceptional!

[@NeilD-qq5np]

Thanks Michael, that’s impressive. Your amp should also get some credit for that great tone!! I’ll be watching the upcoming auction with interest and envy .

[@akfisher7138]

I do not play electric-just classical, though I do appreciate and admire good electric guitar players. Forgive my ignorance but am intrigued as to why this particular guitar and vintage is so special? Is it the rarity or the wood or the electronics. What makes this special? Do other guitars sound like this and if not why not? Cheers

[@MichaelWatts]

These are all good questions. The 1959 Les Paul is a holy grail electric guitar like a 1952 telecaster or a 1954 Stratocaster. For many it is because of the classic recordings that featured these guitars. There is a magic to them.

[@EarthAltar]

They are rare because Gibson only delivered 650 or so Standard bursts in '59. Speculation by collectors has driven the price to ridiculous amounts. You can indeed buy an exact replica from the Gibson Custom Shop for around $8,000.00. A bargain compared to the millions an original would cost. It should be noted that with extreme valuation comes counterfeiting. Not that this is, but a notable example is Slash's lemon burst. The one Gibson used to make his signature model. What you have there is a copy of a '59 copy that was so good Gibson couldn't even tell the difference. They are iconic though, and every classic rock lover knows the sound of one. Just about any picture of Jimmy Page holding a Les Paul is of his '59 he got from Joe Walsh. When he dies, and is his '59 hits the auction block it will shatter the world of guitar collecting.

[@akfisher7138]

@@EarthAltar Thank you. Very Interesting. The bit about the Slash copy is fascinating. Mr Watts maybe you could do a tour of the 59s! You are respected and trusted-I reckon you do it

[@stuartpenney6829]

A great video, thank you. I lived in the same London house as a guy named James Morgan in 1971/72. He was a serious guitar collector even then with around 7 or 8 vintage Gibsons and Fenders (including a reverse body Firebird, white 3 pickup SG Custom, Les Paul black beauty etc). I was wondering if it could possibly be the same chap. He was originally from Cardiff and I believe he had a connection to the Morgan department store there.

[@willwye410]

Yes, that's the same James. I'm his brother. Where did you house share? I have pictures of some of the guitars you mention but I'm not sure where they were taken.

[@stuartpenney6829]

@@willwye410 Thanks Will. The house was in the Kensal Green/Willesden area. I remember James had the guitars hanging on the wall of his room. I have a photo of James and I playing guitar together if you'd like it. James is playing a Fender Precision bass, but not the one in the sale. I recall James had a new Triumph TR6 at the time and he took me out in it a few times tearing around the streets of NW London

[@willwye410]

@@stuartpenney6829 I have a couple of photos from that era of James playing bass with a guitarist I've never identified. He's wearing a T-shirt with a Mickey Mouse logo and playing a black SG = is it you? I also have a photo of the guitars hanging on the wall, including the Precision bass you mention which was bequeathed to a friend when he died.

[@stuartpenney6829]

@@willwye410 Yeah, that's me on the SG Special, except it was the usual cherry colour. The photo was taken at my flat in Linden Gardens, Notting Hill in December 1970. James used to visit my girlfriend and me a lot around that time. I have another photo of James and I in Kensington Gardens around the same time, if you'd like to see it. I'd love to see the photo of the guitars if we can find a way to do it.

[@willwye410]

@@stuartpenney6829 Exchanging photos would be good if we can work out how.

[@francissalva9307]

very much sounds like and looks like Bernie Marsden's "Beast"

[@MichaelWatts]

Ah, now that is another special guitar!

[@francissalva9307]

Whats the weight on this one?

[@MichaelWatts]

@@francissalva9307 it was not unheavy…

[@IvayloNikolov]

You lucky one :-)

[@rooster4906]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MichaelWatts]

🙏

[@jcsk8]

What place is that? A gothic cavern?

[@MichaelWatts]

Something like that…

[@landguitar]

Very cool, but didn’t you want to crank on some Free, blues or Zep? Seems like the guitar for real Rock!

[@MichaelWatts]

Well the first thing I played was Good Times Bad Times but then I remembered that it was recorded on a telecaster… so I did whatever felt natural!

[@fretboarder4752]

This has to be the worst demo of a 59 les paul ive ever heard in my life..

[@MichaelWatts]

I’m delighted to hear it

[@castorkat4868]

I have an early 90s les paul , honeyburst..Set up to perfection , plays itself . Jim Wagner Crossroads pickups ill put it up against any 59 out there Looks , tone and play ability can not be topped

[@gaiaarmyofgaming6782]

hi Mr????? please a little time to see n react cover gitar by Alip_ba_ta......

[@Ks-zz9lh]

It’s a fake

[@Ks-zz9lh]

What blasphemy pushing this thing though all that modulation. Sounds like ass. Just put in the amp and let it sing.

[@MichaelWatts]

But you said it was a fake… I screenshotted that comment for later. So if it’s a fake why does it matter to you what I used? And if your ears can’t discern the difference between modulation and reverse delay then I would suggest there are more pressing matters at hand… still, the internet is full of videos, I hope you find one you can enjoy.