“Greeny" - Peter Green/Gary Moore 1959 Les Paul - If Guitars Could Speak... #5

*READ DESCRIPTION FOR CORRECTIONS/RETRACTIONS*
Today we will examine the KING of all Les Pauls, the Peter Green/Gary Moore/Kirk Hammett 1959 Les Paul known as Greeny. Many players say this has the best tone of any Les Paul before or after.
Peter just died today June 25th, 2020. A towering figure in blues guitar, he will live on through videos like this and through the records. 😢
Some viewers have pointed a few errors and I’d like to make corrections or explanations below:
Regarding the neck pickup: there are about 10 different reports out there about the reason why the pickup is upside down and why the out of phase sound exists. All of the reports are THEORIES. No one knows for sure, Green could not remember for sure. So we will have to chalk that up to myth.
Regarding the sale price of the Guitar: several initial outlets reported that the price was $2 million, however, Hammett did do an interview later during which he reported that he’d paid “less than a million for it, and that’s all I’ll say.” So... ok!
The main point I want to make is that this guitar is swirling in rumor and controversy. There are many things online, including Wikipedia, that have bad information. It makes it very hard to do solid research. Thank you for bearing with it.
Background music:
During channel intro: Jason Velykis
During video/background:
"Nile's Blues" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons...

[@rodallcock743]

Sorry but there is so much wrong with this article. Green bought the Les Paul (from Selmer's in London) in late 1965 and used it when he joined the Peter Bs (by Christmas 1965). He did NOT have it when he played three gigs with Mayall in October 1965 during Clapton's absence. For those gigs he used his Harmony Meteor. In late 1967 Green told me that as well as the Les Paul he had a Les Paul Special and a Melody Maker. It is not thought that he used the Melody maker either with the Peter bs or Mayall.The orientation of the pickup makes NO difference to the sound. Early recordings (including part of the Hard Road album) reveal aurally that the pickups were IN phase so it was NOT a factory accident. The neck pickup failed very late October/early November 1966 and was removed and rewound by London luthier Sam Li. It was replaced briefly in February 1967 and removed again until early April. I believe that at that time it was intentionally put out of phase. Photographs exist of Peter playing the guitar at this period with the pickup removed and I personally saw it in use like this. Dantzig state all solder joints were untouched when he examined it but this cannot be true. He also did not comment on the fact that the neck pickup had its coax cable replaced by Li, instead of the standard Gibson braided coax it had been changed to grey plastic covered coax. The above information comes from personal observations and conversations with Peter.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Thank you, Rod! I guess the biggest problem is how much misinformation there is on the Internet. There’s so many articles regarding this guitar, and it was very difficult to try to ascertain which one of them were true and which one were not. I’ve had a couple of other conversations on this comment section with other folks who directly witnessed or spoke with Green and they voiced their concerns as well. I will pin the comment for a while at the top so other fans can get the truth. I am working on a part 2 for this guitar and please see my video celebrating Peter’s life and let me know how I did on that as well. Thanks again.

[@rodallcock743]

@@TheGuitarHistorian Possibly the worst 'definitive' article on this guitar is that done by Phil Harris for Premier Guitar which still crops up every now and then as gospel. About the biggest thing I learned from that article was how mediocre a guitar player Harris is! Virtually everything he said about the guitar during Green's ownership is wrong. Sorry if my previous post sounded arrogant or dictatorial, it was not meant to. I was lucky enough to see Peter several times in the 60s and talk to him a few times. On one occasion he handed me his Les Paul and said 'You can play it if you like'. I did, badly!

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

@@rodallcock743 well that could explain it. I did take a lot of information from videos and articles Phil Harris did a few years back.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

@@rodallcock743 and no, trust me I know the difference between trolls and people trying to fix the story. I’m going to love doing part 2 on this guitar (and revisiting Peters life)

[@vayabroder729]

Rod is right on. I’ve read quite a bit and have seen the photos of Mr. Green playing the guitar with no neck pickup.

[@pdive01]

RIP Peter Green and thank you for sharing....

[@rickyellison9103]

No matter the guitar , every note peter played spoke in itself. I hate drugs and pushers. Just imagine 50 more years of Peter at this best.

[@scoots8519]

I have to admit that this particular guitar and the sound it created are so different. The sound that really sticks in your mind on the old Fleetwood Mac albums with Peter Green.

[@Rikk_Klaww777]

I was very leftist about Kirk Hammett aquiring the "Guitar of "Destiny", and felt as said in this video there should only be "2 mentioned iconic" master players "Green & Moore"(no hatred towards Kirk as i loved all his playing up until the And Justice for All album), but hearing Kirk is keeping the guitar in a playing state and on the stages around the world where it should be i take my hat off to him and respect Kirk alot now...more power to it and he had earned that 3rd place now..hope he buys "Dimebags" iconic Dean from hell and does exactly that, let it "be alive" on stage...👍🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@modergav]

I do agree. Te way he maintains greenie ano respects is awesome.

[@jaykay3292]

Yeah. Just look at Hammet's face in that picture. I felt the same way. Just happy that a fan got it _and_ plays it regularly. Best thing that could happen.

[@CHlEFFIN]

Lemme guess... you deserve the guitar more than a professional musician? That is utterly LAUGHABLE, to say the very least.

[@Wargasm644]

He broke it out on stage when I saw Metallica in 2018. Kirk definitely deserves that guitar. Btw, Metallica is bigger than Fleetwood Mac and Thin Lizzie combined. Hell, Kirk alone is worth more than both those bands combined. To have any doubt that Kirk shouldn’t wield this guitar is ludicrous and laughable. 👊🏻

[@glenkepic3208]

WhereEver I May Roam.

[@horseloveridge]

Gary Moore was a member of Thin Lizzy several times but only recorded the album Black Rose with the band and one song on Nightlife. He cannot be heard on all their hits as you state.

[@geoffmcmahon4453]

HahA I thought he was saying Hammett became a fan and they did the cover of Whiskey in a jar because he thought Gary Moore was the guitarist

[@rossdunning7018]

Also featured on the single, Little Darlin'.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Great video, and it's part of my life. I listened to early Fleetwood Mac, and loved Peter and his playing. And then I bought Blues for Greeny and used to juggle to it for years. And I even saw Greeny played by Gary in Montreux. What a great concert.

[@renwalda]

It's interesting, because Peter Green was influenced by Hank Marvin, who played Burns guitars, some of which were designed to suit his playing style, which uses out-of-phase effects. Most Burnses have a setting called 'wild dog" which puts the pickups out of phase and creates that cool nasal sound. Maybe Green wanted a wild dog setting on his Les Paul?

[@russmangus]

It is pretty funny that one of the most iconic museum worthy Gibson Les Pauls, Greeny, was purchased by a great guitarist, and has had more Metallica riffs played on it than your average Epiphone floor model in guitar center.

[@SIXSTRING63]

The guitar in my profile pic is another famous’59. Bernie Marsden’s The Beast. I recorded with Bernie in 2015 and he was kind enough to let me play it. Joe Bonamassa was the last to play it before me. His set list was sitting under it when I pulled it from the case. Most acoustic beautiful sound unplugged. Plugged in it was nuts. Gary Moore loved this guitar too and tried buying it from Bernie on many occasions according to Bernie. He and Gary were great friends.

[@Rikk_Klaww777]

Could not agree more.! B.M is another legend player in my eyes..🤘🤘

[@Rikk_Klaww777]

@Sixxstrings 63...checked out you're page..very kool and nice MKII mesa..👍 subscribed.. !! Good to see an old skool player play with the right technique and feel. Nothing wrong with newer players, but too many kids imitating nowdays with flappy strings...lol 😂😂 you can have all the chopz in the world but without technique and feel there's...hmmmm.🤔

[@AntarblueGarneau]

I've been a fan of Greeny since I him live in 1968 at Fillmore West SF. I tried to emulate his tone by having the Gibson "Varitone" 5 position switch from the es-345 and 355 guitars installed into my Strat in 1968. It was close to Greenie's tone on the #4 position but not exact. But the real "Peter Green mod" is like this : remove the neck pickup, flip the magnet (end over end) , reinstall backwards and voila! I've done it twice to my guitars myself and twice and have had guitar repairmen do it twice. I got it from an article that I read in Guitar Played magazine. Greeny only mentioned it when asked many years later after his mental powers had been diminished; first time he said "don't remember" and another time he said that he removed the pickup for repair and put it back in backwards by accident. Nowadays there are custom pickups available online that provide that Greeny "quacking" sound .

[@alfiehenshall688]

Yep, i did mine myself too ! Its fairly easy if your handy with a screwdriver . And mine sounds damn near the 'Greeny' sound. 👍🎸

[@rajah155]

I purchased a Gibson Gary Moore Signature Model in 2005, and by simply flipping the pickup magnet orientation (N\S, after partial disassembly of the neck pickup), the out of phase sound was instantly available when both pickups were selected.

[@JOlivier2011]

i love how famous guitars are like legendary swords haha

[@craigusselman546]

Greeny was a member of Fleetwood Mac Thin Lizzy and is a current member of Metallica and Phil Harris is not a bad guitarist either. What a story.

[@toneyisaiah408]

What a great introduction of the most iconic guitar of all time.

[@thomaspick4123]

The rhythm pickup information was interesting. Good job uncovering the details. Green and Moore were great guitarists.

[@WesW3187]

I’m not a huge Metallica fan, but people calling Kirk Hammet a chump, and unworthy (as a guitarist) are talking absolute rubbish.

[@dstoyano]

He's not a "chump" per se, but he sho' don't belong in with the other two masters.....

[@richardcollacchi351]

@@dstoyano kirk is a jerk cant do ablues run id his life dependent on it

[@JerryRiceBall]

Metallica is dog shit 💩

[@DVDFHardTarget]

@@dstoyano spot on!

[@coffinshaker]

@@dstoyano Had Kirk not bought it the guitar may very well have ended up in the hands of a collector. It could be sitting in a vault overseas right now just stored as an investment but it was fortunate enough to have landed in the hands of a high-profile player. It has zero to do with blues or classic rock, it's about the current owner actually using it for what it was originally made for. This is it's current chapter, maybe someone you approve of will have it next but for now it's a hard rock/metal guitar.

[@ItsRyan265]

Fender wide range humbuckers are also great for getting that Peter Green sound. Would highly recommend.

[@robertslimm9319]

Thanks for the info! I love Peter Green's music.

[@GlenCarne]

RIP Peter.

[@markwright9352]

The neck pickup was repaired by Sam Li

[@geoffmcmahon4453]

The same guy who repaired Paul Kossoffs

[@luwullewa]

Joel Danzig was wrong, possibly examining Moore's other 50s Burst, which had almost identical finger rest wear. The Greeny les paul has been examined multiple times noting a pick up repair. Much more importantly Peter Green has stated multiple times that the pick up was repaired at Selmer's (famous music shop where Peter briefly worked)... there is a photo of Peter Green playing 'Greeny' with no pick up in the neck cavity - presumably due to it being repaired. Other first hand accounts of guitar techs who have worked on or examined Greeny, most [who have spoken about their finding] noted a repair with thicker wire to the pick up, it simply out weighs that one rogue account by Danzig. Sorry Joel, but whatever you examined was either not 'Greeny' or at the very least was during a period when Moore had temporarily replaced that infamous pick up... or maybe the pick up came with a factory magnet flip, but it was definitely repaired and noted by those who've examined it as being rewired with thicker wire. Greeny | Phil Harris on Peter Green's Les Paul kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3mylYuNgderhs0 Maybe Joel examined 'Stripe'... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fF6ycnivfp5_mck

[@stephencastro1437]

And no, Danzig was able to examine Greeney as he and Moore were well acquainted. But Moore didn't want the PU's disassembled fearing damage to the tone.Danzig may have been wrong, but Moore did not let him examine it by taking the pick-ups apart. It was a simple visual inspection. So, yes, Danzig could have been wrong.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Nice! Great information! That’s why I love opening the comments section so we can add and correct the story

[@deanladue3151]

I read that the wire used for the neck pickup was normally used for rewiring pickups on Fender guitars. Which might explain its thicker gauge, and why the magnet was incorrectly reinstalled.

[@matthewf1979]

You can find brand new Gibson guitars with a backwards magnet in one of two pickups. It’s rare but it still happens. It’s great to see Greeny on stage again. Kirk is the perfect caretaker.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

He’s getting a lot of hate on here, but I had my Metallica phase and the great thing is that Hammett is the one who brought the “classic rock” vibe to a lot of their stuff, especially in the middle period. People shouldn’t care about what band he’s in. Just care about the fact that HE appreciates the history and like you said it’s great he’s actually playing it and not hanging it behind glass.

[@matthewf1979]

The Guitar Historian if KH is getting hate, who do people want Greeny to belong to? Joe Bonamassa? So he can have an 8th burst? Kirk is the only guy that would dish out the cash and still use it on stage that I can think of. At least it’s not in the hands of a collector behind vault doors anymore!

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Matt Fields Couldn’t agree more!

[@je-2024_1]

That's because Gibson's are notorious for bad quality control they suck if they ever go out of business they deserve it

[@steveh7108]

@@matthewf1979 Joe Bonamassa is exactly the one that came to my mind. Obviously I'm just a fan of the guitar of Green and of More. I would love to hear the sounds of that guitar sing again in the hands of Joe Bonamassa. It's just a fantasy wish list but it is mine.

[@michaelr.4878]

Hammett has said on multiple occasions that he paid nowhere near the original 2 million dollar asking price. He said it was 6 figures...but didn't elaborate on the actual price he paid. I believe him.

[@toivonencresto]

This "2 million thing" started since Gary sold it, it's even in a Guitar Magazine cover. But Gary, just for the start, sold Greeny for 300k GBP

[@James-tt7vg]

Very cool that it is still being used and not stored away somewhere...Green was a special human being and he had a special Guitar...now maybe Kurt can make it even more special ! Very cool it is still being played Very Cool !!!

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

A well known vintage guitar dealer in England was in a Facebook group and said he was part of putting together the sale when Kirk bought the Greeny Les Paul. I guess he was friends with Kirk and set it up from what he said. It did not sell for 2 million but only around half a million according to him.

[@a.romano6532]

You got it Kirk paid 450,000 he doesn’t pay anything for guitars. He’s extremely cheap I once sold him a 58 flying V in the 80’s. one of the first ones in the world that was later documented by Ted McCarty in the flying V book. I told Kirk pay me $6500 and you could have it. He took the guitar overnight and then called me back the next day and told me he couldn’t get the money together. It was one of the first flying vees ever made. It was a Prototype, and it was real!! Kirk would never pay $2 million for any guitar. He paid 450,000 for Greeny and he told Scott from Anthrax the day after he bought it for 450 so I know how much he paid for it. If it wasn’t 2 million the guitar has a broken head stock, it’s a cool guitar it’s probably worth $2 million now but that’s not what he paid for it. I’m a fan of Thin Lizzy! that’s what makes that guitar special to me. Just knowing that Gary Moore did some incredible guitar work on that guitar and it’s on video! that’s what makes that guitar really valuable.

[@colinmcnab6145]

The guitar was sold Kirt for £500,000 and not 2 million. This has been confirmed by Richard Henry on Facebook who acted as go between in the sale of the guitar.

[@fredgfr]

Green did NOT play a melodemaker prior to his LP but a Meteor. He purchased the LP from Selmer in London in 1966 for GBP 116. The neckpickup was modded by Sam Li (read the book: Sam LI - The guitar man), Contemporaries suspect because the neckpick sounded as if it was malfuntioning. After Green left Fleetwood Mac initially wanted to give the LP to Snowy White, who declined as he already had a LP.

[@michaelworse6034]

Thanks

[@philfrank9226]

You r wrong, the man want to sell books. It was a factory mistake.

[@24SoulDark]

@@philfrank9226 Wrong. Listen to e.g. the "Hard Road" album. No out of phase. Also, check the pictures of Green of early 1966. And contemporaries and friends of the late PG said it was a mod that produced the sound.

[@philfrank9226]

@@24SoulDark Totally rubbish. PG never said that. The soldersand electronics r "untouched, so .... Why should this Sam do something nodody knows. There r always many stories around. The same that Keith bought his first Burst in US.

[@argsigil7208]

The Peter Green Les Paul is a beautiful guitar for sure but it was in his hands that the real beauty came out. This is a great video and I'm glad that comments like that of Rod Allcock set the record straight.

[@franzwaltenspuhl8892]

I really enjoyed this as I have in so many of your videos. Thank you! Please don’t stop!

[@MIKE-D158]

What Thin Lizzy hits was this Les Paul on? I do not recall any hits from the era when Gary Moore was in the band. I’m curious and want to check them out.

[@dada1952]

My theory is that the pickup magnet was flipped intentionally to get the BB King O of P tone that Peter was emulating at this period. I saw him with FMac a few times and the trick to using the O of P is to slightly alter the tone knobs which will give varying amounts of O of P. The guitar also had a fairly strong burst when I first saw him in 1968. I've done this mod to my LP and it only takes a few minutes.

[@30smsuperstrat]

A guitar owned by two legendary guitarists and one legendary wahist.

[@diwasneupane7756]

Much LOVE from NEPAL!!!

[@agtronic]

I have never been a Kirk Hammet fan (musically), but I do have a lot of respect for him. Metallica would not be Metallica without him. And as others have mentioned here, hats off to him for purchasing Greeny and taking it on the road. Mere mortals like myself could never even imagine the implications of doing this. Logistics? Insurance? That is a major commitment, and I think it speaks volumes for the respect he has for those who came before him.

[@BOBBRADLEYCHANNEL]

A.Dumble recently examined the guitar and came to the conclusion that one coil of the neck pickup is out of phase. That's why in the out of phase position it still retains some low end. The pickup had a repair at some point and it didn't sell for 2 million.... Richard Henry is in the comments .

[@joetimilty221]

Absolutely love your videos! Thank you!🔥🔥

[@bartvisscher2647]

There’s a great short clip on KZbin with Kirk playing Greenie with Judas Priest’s version of the green manalishi (with the two-pronged crown)

[@maxwellfan55]

Remember London's (and the world's) Peter Green, 1946-2020.

[@alimostafa11268]

Rip both Gary Moore and Peter Green.

[@2010georgian1]

Lot of times people don't realize that Greeny actually used his Strat a lot of times live and studio... so ye that quacky tone is that old bridge pickup in that strat too...

[@Jovolution]

Example: Need your love so bad.

[@2010georgian1]

@@Jovolution exectamundo

[@Jovolution]

@@2010georgian1 The magic of Greeny is simply the genius of Peter Green.

[@2010georgian1]

@@Jovolution i mean.. ye.. it's him hahahahhahahaha

[@vanderast1]

Now a music journalist called Tony Tyler who told me he sold the guitar to Peter Green in 1966.

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

If this guitar could talk it would say get Kirk’s hands off me!!!

[@3radHill]

The picture of it with Moore the pickup is right side up.

[@Rehtakul66]

"....in all of Thin Lizzy's hits." Umm.........no. Gary appears on one song from 74's 'Night Life", but it definitely was not a hit. He would not appear on record with the band again until 1979, on the 'Black Rose' album. Long after the band's most successful period.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Thx for the tip

[@bobolsen8067]

”Succesful period”where?In the States maybe but who cares.They were bigger in rest of the world after Black Rose.

[@mfmishere]

Gary played on Still In Love With You as well.

[@regev1970]

One of the most underrated rock bands in history!

[@bathtubgeorge]

Ya, err Black Rose produced three hit singles, all three feature that guitar on them. And given that the album produced three hit and charted very, very well in Europe(the album weNt to No 2 in the UK) Black Rose with Gary Moore on board, is PART of the successful era of the band before the 80s wane.

[@mitcharney1]

The picture in this vid of Gary holding the guitar shows the front pup installed correctly with the adjustable screws facing the heel of the fretboard. The later pictures show the neck pup flipped around and the adjustable screws facing the bridge pup. What is the missing information? Someone had to have flipped it when Gary got it and then did Hammett flip the pup over again?

[@grorob52]

Hmm at 4;32 with Gary holding guitar the pickup is in factor type position not reversed

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

The thing that doesn't sit right with me is that headstock repair gheeesh! I'm trying to find photos of that repair job

[@SDPickups]

Gibson's winding machines didn't wind backwards. The magnet was installed backwards is all. I asked about this by one of the guys who had that guitar apart who wrote a book, magnet was just reversed. There are alot of speculations about the neck pickup, that it was "rewound, with formvar." This is likely not true, because formvar is a very dark insulation, and was only really ever used on Leo's single coils, which is where that wire works the best to kill some of the treble. Peter at one point removed the neck pickup entirely and played it that way for a long time. Now, Peter was no tech and my guess is when he removed it, he just cut it out of the guitar at the neck rout. So then he couldn't put it back in because he'd cut the cable. So, this is where the "rewire" comes in. He took it to a well known shop where Sam Li, put a new cable on it, this has been confused over time to it being "reWOUND," which it just wasn't, because it sounds exactly like any vintage PAF in neck position, no magic. But Sam used readily available audio cable, with plastic insulation, and you can see this in any photo of it out of the ring and rout. Its out of phase because the magnet is backwards, and actually any '57 Les Paul with black rings and guard, this was done on purpose. But, there are other later Les Pauls where the magnets were just mistakenly installed backwards. The Black Beauty early LP's also purposefully had the bridge magnet installed bacwards on purpose and middle switch position is bridge and middle pickup out of phase; a truly awful sound ;-) I worked on one of those, and for sure the magnet was installed reverse.

[@scottmclennan6114]

Interesting that at 3:06 the pic shows the neck pick up with the poles closer to the bridge while at 4:29 when Gary Moore is holding the poles are closest to the fretboard.

[@davebasch5995]

It had been removed and reinstalled backwards later by Green, who had no knowledge of phase

[@guitarrantsandstuff6986]

This was a great video! I really enjoyed it!

[@adamwatson6916]

Simply turning the pickups around does not put the pickups out of phase Joel danzig did not see the internals of the pickups and did not confirm the magnet was installed incorrectly he only guessed the magnet was backwards. He thought the pickups was undisturbed becuase the solder joints on the cover looked original so he guessed the pickup was never rewound and that it must be the magenta. Just because the solar mounts appeared to be original means nothing . How would you tell the difference between the original solder joints and newer ones . The neck pickup was rewound on one coil becuase one coil failed and when it was rewound it was rewound in reverse. It was Al's rewound with formvar magenta wire . One of paul kossoff main bursts has a bridge pickup repair the same as on the neck pickup on greenie and the repair was done by the same person. One coil failed and it was rewound with formvar wire except it was not wound in reverse

[@billbrasky1288]

I just saw an interview with Kirk where he said the rumored asking price before he bought it was $2M but he implied that he didn’t pay that much.

[@raymondvaughan6262]

This guitar seen some life been around the world played on classic tracks wouldn't like to think the cost of it classic

[@JonniVanPlatoni]

"The recognisable tone was apparent on all of thin Lizzy's hits" - Maybe when Moore was covering them but he played on very few originals. While he was Lizzy's most persistent guitarist - having the spot no less than three separate times he also a cunning knack of not being there when Lynott wrote the really big songs. Whisky in the Jar (Eric Bell) being a personal favourite but there are many more examples. ...It's not like you can't just look this stuff up on Wiki?

[@lustycourtier2425]

There’s oh well footage with the PU hanging out before it was repaired. It had been out.

[@michaelgallagher3640]

He said "undisturbed", it means it was not unwound to switch the magnets.

[@edge1289]

Interesting comments and some really good clarification on Greeny/Moore. I’m not for or against Hammett owning the guitar, if you can afford it, go for it. My personal felling Peter should have got the guitar back from Moore. After Peter’s passing, I feel the guitar should be in Jack Moore’s hands. Just a personal take on it. It’s been said that Jack has Gary’s other 59, the one with zebra pickups as the covers were removed. It’s also been said that that is the guitar that the studio version of “Parisienne Walkways” was recoded on. The obvious tonal qualities of the guitar are one thing, the tone generated by the player is another. Both Peter and Gary coaxed those tones from the axe with their hands. There are KZbin videos of Gary playing Gibson Gary Moore models and his tone is quite similar. At any rate, both players were phenomenal and are sure missed.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

It’s not just that Kirk can afford it; he plays it. So many collectors put guitars in a glass case never to be played again. At least it’s out there making music.

[@edge1289]

@@TheGuitarHistorian I can agree to an extent, however there is no way that I would take a guitar I paid $2 million for. I remember July 9, 1990 when SRV played the Garden State Arts Center not far from my home town when stage rigging fell and broke the neck on Stevie’s Number One. Recording in the studio is different, but for a $2 million instrument I trust no with that guitar on the road.

[@edge1289]

On the road

[@michaelworse6034]

Wow , Kirk Hammet . One who deserves this kind of guitar . Good night everyone, I‘ll be sleeping well tonight .

[@redshredder1021]

I love your channel! Thank you keep them coming!

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Much appreciated sir! I intend to!

[@mrjohnp555]

not all 59s were cherry sunbursts, there were dark bursts, too

[@deanladue3151]

And a "Blackburst" which is owned by Bonamassa.

[@guismth]

The red violin

[@leftygeezer]

I wish more people got your comment. 100% true. Good comparison.

[@petermontagna3461]

The pickup was repaired. The proof is the lack of factory braided wire replaced by grey plastic insulated wire. At one point Green took the neck pickup out completely! There are photos of him playing it with an empty pu cavity. The guitar sounded the way it did because Peter Green was playing it. I saw him several times in the early seventies and he also played a strat and he sounded the same! Your video sheds no more light on this guitar than any other info out there.

[@toivonencresto]

Moore Played Grenny for 34 years, and played MAGIC. The pickup was repaired but not touched in the very interior of it, he was fully analyzed and was found to be stock. The out of phase came from the inverted magnet from factory. And even the "Sunday guitarist" get Greeny's trademark tone with both pickup selected. Extracting pure magic is from finger, but it's another story.

[@jmanzemail]

That was enormously interesting!

[@guitarsofold100]

I might suggest it was shipped with a middle LP Custom in the neck as all are out of magnetically out phase.I have also heard there are others that left the factor with this anomaly..

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

That is a good point! I forgot they were doing the 3 pickup customs at this time. It would certainly explain why someone at the factory would’ve gotten confused.

[@AndrewKahnn]

I have known about the Greeny it has amazing history it is awesome Kirk Hammett is the newest owner.

[@ronmoseley7970]

Love stories like this! Thanks!

[@CocoKoi321]

*Most interesting tone* the pickup and magnet was just backwards

[@gudgeonsales2000]

$400k would be a bargain for any '59 burst, let alone this particular one. Before Hammett bought it, when it was known to be 'available', people were talking about £1M, that would have been somewhere around $1.3M. I suspect some of the cost of this guitar passed off the books.

[@lamportnholt9509]

THAT IS NOT THE GUITAR LOOK AT MOORES PIC ( OPENING AND 4:25)...THE POLES ARE TOWARDS THE NECK.....

[@1994renny]

Gary had the pickup flipped back. It is the Greeny burst.

[@StevieSmith77]

For me, that is 'the one' seems like KZbin knew it too. great vid. subscribed

[@leftygeezer]

Great channel and series! Lots of squabbling here in the comments, but one thing is certain, it will only increase in value over time.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Ain’t that the truth. The problem is that there are so many “theories” and stories about how the tone got to where it is... but when you listen to Hammett play it, to my ear it sounds like a damn Les Paul. Maybe we should give Green’s HANDS more credit for making it sound the way it did?

[@scottanderson6807]

Hammet did not pay $2 million for it. He said that they asking that for it but he paid much less.

[@mrjackbagginz]

This vs slash derrig les paul are arguably the most famous les pauls

[@johnbeloe]

Great vid. Couple of corrections tho. Not all 58-60 Les Pauls were bursts. Plenty of 58 goldtops. Also, not all bursts were sunbursts, some were sprayed tobacco burst. Rumour has it by one guy who didn't like the sunburst look and wanted a more traditional burst finish, so just went ahead and did it. But I think that's largely conjecture. Regardless tho, def a few tobacco bursts, it's not just the fading of the finishes that varied, but the finishes applied in the first place

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Thanks for the clarification! The problem with these guitars (Greeny included) is that there is so much damned contrary information on them. You read one article, then you can read another that says the exact opposite LOL. It makes it very hard for a “guitar historian” (cry me a River I know 😂)

[@johnbeloe]

@@TheGuitarHistorian haha! Very true! It does make it hard for sure!

[@charlesbolton8471]

Great comment. I’m sure that not all of the 58-60 Les Paul Bursts were Cherry Sunburst. Also, the very first sunburst Les Paul was actually a custom ordered Tobacco Burst on a 55 or 56 (I don’t remember which year) Les Paul with P-90s.

[@jasonzajac1819]

Closes the book? These guys didn't know

[@stephencastro1437]

There is an article with Joel Danzig, formerly of Hamer Guitars, where he relates the time he met with Gary Moore and inspected the guitar. Gary was meeting with Joel to get some pick-ups that Danzig had made and which Gary really admired.They were friends and on this occassion Gary brought the guitar and Joel examined it. I believe he measured the output of the pick-ups and determined that the tone was acquired as a result of the pick-up being turned around due to Peter Greens error in reinstalling it. I don't believe he found any other modifications to the guitar. This is based on my memory of the article. My apology here, as I typed my comment before you got to the part about Danzig in your video! Ooops! Thanks for a graet video!

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Hi, Stephen! What I dug up was that Danzig did say that it did not look like any modifications had been done to the pickup. But most luthiers would agree that simply turning the pickup around wouldn’t be enough to get that thin out of phase tone. The magnet had to be upside down. And then there were reports that there are other ‘59s with the same magnet “problem.” Somebody must’ve been new at the Gibson factory that day haha!

[@stephencastro1437]

@@TheGuitarHistorian Hello- I don't disagree with that. I was relating from memory the Joel Danzig article with Gary Moore. I don't recall that Danzig did any more than that as Gary was reluctant to, and wouldn't let him tear it apart (if I'm recalling it correctly). Nor would Gary allow others to examine it too closely.I was always sure that there was some additional mojo to it I just hadn't seen/read anything else other than speculation. FYI, I do build guitars, but I hate to speculate on these things in a public forum, lest I get ny butt kicked. LOL. Thank you for replying to my comment. It's nice to hear from content providers as I always learn something new.

[@stephencastro1437]

@@TheGuitarHistorian Want to hear a true story on a different artist, Kurt Cobain? I went to The Evergreen State College in Oly WA. and knew Kurt. I wasn't friends with him or the band but my best friend was, as he played drums occassionally when they needed a drummer (more on that in a few). I was at the Halloween party in "K" dorm when he smashed his guitar for the first time. There's a picture of this floating around, and I'm to the right just out of camera shot. He smashed the guitar at the end of the set and let the pieces fly. I grabbed the neck as I assumed he didn't want it (right). He came over and said "Steve can I have the neck back?" I said why the hell did you smash it for and toss it if you wanted it (my reasoning)? He said he was in the moment, but he needed to put the guitar back together as it was his only one at the time (he wa also fucked up) lol. That neck later sold to the Experience Museum in Seattle for over a $100K. It was in my hands......argh! lol. I have a few more stories like like the time he was tossed through the glass window at our dorm party. The band wasn't much to speak of at that time. lol. My friend the drummer I mentioned, was actually asked to join the band before Grohl was asked, but he didn't do it for personal reasons. Many things came out of Evergreen at that time including Sub Pop records, Matt Groening. Seeing the Soundgarden in their infancy. Fun time. Just wanted to relate that story. Keep up the great vids! just some memories here. Peace

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Stephen Castro Wow! That’s amazing man. Just missed that one. Guess he really liked that neck lol. I just made a video about his Martin from Unplugged selling for over 6 million dollars. It seems like the Cobain collector market is just off the charts. He definitely elicits a strong response in people, especially those of our age who “grew up” with his music. You actually grew up with HIM! That’s incredible man thanks for sharing!!

[@stephencastro1437]

@@TheGuitarHistorian Yes I saw that. I still can't believe 6 mill. He wasn't Hendrix. lol. Some people: too much $, not enough sense (IMHO). Yes it was an interesting time being there "As the seeds of Grundge were sprouting". lol. I remember hanging with The Young Fresh Fellows (Scott McCough went on to be the 5th member of REM).Seeing the Replacements many times. Doing absolutely no homework for college! lol. Richie Havens played the opening of our newly built auditorium and sitting on the floor front row watching his amazing performance. JUST AMAZING. Then making him dinner after the show at the restaurant where I worked and haging with him and his band. He was a beautiful man, so nice, and a real gentleman. Great memories.

[@johnheart6890]

Fascinating!! So cool!!!

[@mwilson308]

i saw an interview with Kirk where he stats several times he didnt pay any where near 1 million dollars for the guitar let alone 2 milliom. Might wanna due a bit more research on that point.

[@5150show]

Awesome video

[@davehoward22]

4:29 the pickups round the other way

[@martinconcannon7140]

Gary Moore changed the knobs to ease hand technique, watch him on video he constantly adjusts as he drags the tone out the guitar, dude you research is a bit thin.

[@what1864]

the magnet was installed wrong end to end ,not upside down, incase someone wants to do the mod ...

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

Yes a lot of people get that wrong

[@smedleybutler8787]

I love 🎸 i believe they're alive.

[@craighill388]

Ok, sure I understand the history involved in the guitar that was sold for a cool 2 mil. BUT, what I don't understand...why the hell if the sound is so alluring (maybe not to all guitarists) but to those it does, why can't Gibson replicate that 'mistake' and put the damn magnet upside down just like what gave Green's guitar it's sound. Someone explain this to me.

[@captainamerica9353]

Craig Hill , the actual selling price was more like $300,00 , according to reputable sources. Anyway, the PG sound is not what everyone wants, so Gibson leaves it to the owner to mod or not. Some Les Paul's have come from the factory with a Phase Switch, or you can do that mod also, then you have a choice of sounds.

[@m.norhishamm.radthi9768]

If only Kirk would follow Gary's step :- a straight blues solo album... 😩

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

He totally should!!

[@bluesewitz]

@@TheGuitarHistorian he is not to be able in any way.

[@coffinshaker]

Or he should just be himself and play whatever he wants.

[@barryvallen1072]

That photo of a young Garry More has the front pickup back in normal position WTF?

[@lotuschile]

IS KIRK GOING TO PUT OUT AN ALBUM.....'' BLUES FOR GARRY'' ??

[@tedwrink]

lotuschile in his dreams

[@davidblake5415]

There was a tribute concert for Peter Green’s era Mac in early 2020. The album of it due out in March 2021. Apparently Kirk plays Greeny on The Green Manalishi on it , and was so good in rehearsal they moved it to the end for the show. Got the album on preorder and can’t wait!

[@christianboddum8783]

Whiskey in the jar - not Gary Moore - Eric Bell FYI

[@GetawaysandGuitars]

And with a Stratocaster!!

[@Verylukyguy]

Adam Jones from Tool may have just acquired it.

[@JAFOpty]

I think Slash also has a reversed neck PU, right?

[@guitarcohen2224]

Man I’m glad Kirk has it it deserves to be used and played

[@joecrowaz]

If guitars could talk... It would scream GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!

[@brucecronin6396]

Good stuff !!

[@craigpoole2602]

If that guitar could speak it would be screaming "save me from this hack that owns me now!!!". It's sad that beautiful '59 is dying a slow horrible death in the hands of Kirk Hammett.

[@incognitoguitars9999]

Terrific!

[@jebusgod]

could I ask where or what the source is for the sale price of the guitar, I listened to his podcast with Dean Del Ray earlier in the year and Kirk kinda intimated that he didn't pay a what you would think for it and that he's seen other bursts sell for a lot more than what he paid for his.

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

I believe it was Guitar Player magazine that had that price. I did hear after I made the video about the podcast. Because it was technically a private sale they don’t have to disclose the number like other guitars.

[@TweedSuit]

Green never liked the LP. He described it as having a tree trunk for a neck and that EC's burst was so much nicer. He really only purchased one because of EC.

[@HarrisArt]

FYI... few facts are wonky. Listen to Dean Delray's podcast with Kirk Hammett. Kirk didn't even pay a million for it. The price is undisclosed but it was only 6 figures... not 7.

[@frankdiscussion2069]

Actually I believe Gary Moore had the neck pickup "repaired" and it doesn't have that out of phase tone anymore. He also added the mismatched control knobs. He owned the guitar longer than anyone.

[@dewayne-un7ei]

Guitars can speak you just got to be able to make them

[@echandonut]

Can't imagine how much price jimmy page les paul gonna be one day

[@jerryyeaaah15]

it is unimaginable for sure，but I think pagey is gonna keep it tho（but he is selling his black beauty i believe ，its hard to believe the price of that is gonna be）

[@echandonut]

@@jerryyeaaah15 he's not gonna live long enough to keep it..I believe it gonna be the most expensive guitar to be put on auction one day..