I Modified A Vintage 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom into an Insane Modern Metal BEAST!!

[@agufish]

➤ Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring today's video! The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month FREE trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/agufish07211 Serious question, though: you guys see Dean is splitting with Dimebag's estate? wtffffff??

[@TMmodify]

Yep. I'm glad that brand is finally going to stop milking his legacy and hopefully that's going to make them innovate more

[@porridgeorange]

Breh! Dope guitar!

[@dillavou444]

Yes. Dean is gonna lose on that one.

[@tygrbyt3684]

Why not compare one to a Ltd ec1000ctm???

[@asizeablebear]

Watching Wendell work is a treat. I love witnessing someone with such skill do their thing and just give life to a project. And man can he RIP as a player.

[@TheBarroomHero321]

Isn't it wild how guitar techs are always absolute shredders or they can barely play? No middle ground. Same with amp builders.

[@freebzz]

This man is a master of his craft

[@randyeppyt]

This guitar is so sick. Wendell is a champ

[@garrettboomerbender]

That brass nut really looks cool with the rest of the guitar

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

in hindsight, it probably would have been significantly faster to cut off the nibs, trim the frets to length, and fully recreate the nibs using the binding & acetone trick. Either way, excellent work by Wendell & company!

[@liquensrollant]

I was thinking the same - I guess that means that instead of shaping and polishing the fret ends of any guitar with neck binding, especially with stainless steel frets, you could just add nibs even if they weren't there originally.

[@agufish]

That’s the conclusion we came to in the end, too. It was a learning experience lol

[@fundude365]

@@agufish well, if people want this done in future they now have a reference of what to do 😅 Could watch Wendell at work all day 😁

[@MarshallGTV]

Wendell is beast player!

[@agufish]

Yeah he’s pretty nuts lol

[@justalilsumn]

Wendell looks like an uncle who just knows how to fix everything, while shredding in his free time.

[@gawydion]

I want to be this uncle when I grow up

[@Pain0nRye]

Got dayum…I can’t stress how much I love this guitar. It might be, in my opinion, the perfect Les Paul…and I’m definitely not a Les Paul fan boy. That staff (Wendel and the rest) deserve a super intergalactic high five for an amazing job. You’re pretty cool too Agu haha

[@jaxonvictoria4345]

That fret job is an absolute dream for sure, but adding Fishman Fluence to a vintage Gibson is like adding a touchscreen to a ‘67 Ford Mustang. But you do you! It’s great.

[@denverrandy7143]

Nathan's got a pretty cool channel himself!!!thanks for the Wendell introduction,fish!!! You the man...that demo is sick,time for you to start a band!!!🤘👍

[@scottstetzer]

Wendell is a wizard, rebuilding those nibs!

[@user-zr2pz8rr2l]

I will never not like seeing a beautiful vintage guitar being brought back to life.

[@denverrandy7143]

5 days,all day luthier cost!!!yeesh!!!Great outcome!!!Gorgeous work.🤘👍Thank you for letting us be a part.

[@gallowglass1594]

This channel has by far the channel with the most amount of quality and effort I've seen in every single video. I'm still surprised we haven't hit millions by now.

[@Arpeggio3]

The luthier is insanely professional 👌🏻

[@allstarvb]

Wendell killed it! That came out sweet 🤘🏼

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Home player friend attached a plate of DU to his headstock in that same brass block strategy. Dude has a certain glow. SS refret for 6, noted. Many thanks for the demo, great show.

[@mannyfallout4540]

Dude... Wendell is amazing! Your lucky to have such a great luthier!

[@RUFFLEEmusic]

It's rare to find one as knowledgeable about guitars as Wendell. I have insane ideas, and he's always made them a reality. Not to mention, he's one hell of a nice guy, too.

[@Vayth]

Wendell did an amazing job, again!👍 He is the Jedi Master among luthiers.

[@tomgeczy415]

Makes me want to do a Restomod on my 2004 LP Supreme! Haven’t played that guitar since I was 16 (21 now) but I may very well get it fixed up!

[@maxcohen9639]

Your parents handed you a Supreme at 16? Some people have all the luck.

[@juddharley1621]

This came out awesome! So glad your luthier is committed to working on these projects with you!

[@kirkwillis6943]

Wendel is awesome and I wouldn't take any of my guitar's to anyone else. I went trough 4 brand new ESP E2 Les Paul's guitar's from the custom shop in Japan and Wendel would say sorry but this one is bad too. Basically the guitar's sitting in containers over seas and cooking these guitar's and having major problems. This was about a years worth of sending back guitar's. Went back with the good old USA made 2020 Les Paul and it was Wendel approved with 2 thumbs up👍. He does amazing work and never let's anything leave his store if he's not happy with it. He is always there for me, treats me right and fair and there is just not enough good things that I can say about him or his help. Wendel's Music, the place to go.

[@wendellwalker7695]

Thanks, Kirk! Always a pleasure working on your stuff. By the way, that Duncan pickup you want is a 1-3 week lead time right now. :-)

[@oblivionzerokyle]

Straight up started power stomping in my kitchen. You write sick riffs.

[@joshvandruff1790]

She rips for sure! Damn it sounds amazing.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I love Norlin era Gibsons, especially the volutes! Sweet custom. That turned out great! 👍👍

[@hussledupgamejam]

*_Reject Dad Rock. Embrace Mindless Chugg._*

[@johnnysguitarcorner5510]

Awesome overhaul. What an amazing guitar repairmen and such good players too. Those Willie Adlers are bonecrushing I love'm in my PRS guitars so much

[@hunybadgerbill]

During my last vacation I ended up buying a guitar from a charity shop my wife volunteers at for 5 bucks. The guitar was in dire condition and super dirty, the varnish was caked and cracking all over the place. But when I tried it, the neck felt really good and the wood was resonating great. I was baffled. Bought it, brought it home and gave it a better look. It ended up being a Flamenca guitar built in 72 in South Spain, all solid wood, one piece top and back, two piece side and solid neck with a heel piece. Tuning machines were broken too. I stripped all the varnish off and sanded the neck to flatten huge dings that were there affecting playability and refinished it with luthier oil. The thing plays and sounds like a dream now even though it looks rugged as fuck. Called it "La Rubia" because of the natural blond wood it's made of and it's origins.

[@XxSypherxX91]

My buddy is re fretting my 1970 black beauty. I’m so ready to get it back. I’ve been playing a fretless wonder for about 4 years.

[@edwinstovall3334]

Hunter, I've dipped my toe into the waters of guitar maintenance and I stand in awe of Wendell's superb skills. I will probably never be ready to take on any project HALF as tough! As for that guitar, it has about the best sustain I've heard, and I've had really good results with some of mine. I will put in my two cents on where that sustain comes from. First, I think that brass block is the source of much of the sustain, as it adds (a great deal of) mass. Mass enhances sustain in guitars and many other instruments. The brass nut might have added a bit more sustain. Same theory, of course. I think that the real star of the sustain triad is the (no doubt) masterful fretwork done on that guitar. I say this because I learned huge from the first guitar I ever modded. I replaced the bridge (vintage Strat vibrato) and the nut, and both increased the sustain and improved the tone noticeably, but the sustain REALLY took off when I did the fret job! I'd advise you to keep those (and ALL your) frets polished. The stainless steel ones will look better, and the regular ones will WEAR better! Slick surface, less friction, less damage!

[@TheGhostGuitars]

Thanks for the idea of the brass block under the bridge! Methinks I'll add this one to the must do list for resonance and sustain. I have a guitar that are prone to head dives anyway that needs a bit help in the R & S department (an Epi 2013 L.E. Genesis DX Pro). This guitar has gold hardwares so a brass block and nut wouldn't look out of place on it! SS Jumbo refrets is something I already do on my guitars, LOVE them!

[@prmedia4446]

Fantastic video! Enjoyed watching the entire process from start to finish.

[@gagagaga8703]

Wendell is a legend for this

[@isaacroche3223]

At the end now we know why a Gibson LP Custom is worth the price...is a Lifetime friend!🥰

[@jameslewis2635]

I guess the good news for Wendell is that by the time this guitar with the jumbo stainless frets needs re-fretting again, he will probably have retired. Also after seeing Wendell and his staff playing this I suspect that any adds he puts out for new employees has on the list of requirements 'the ability to shred is a must'.

[@AHGrayLensman]

I have to admit, I'm a little tempted to do something like this with my '90s(?) Greco LPC copy, but it sounds so good and plays so well as is that I'm not gonna.

[@michaelwepunkt4204]

Wendell is an awesome luthier and guitar player! He always tries to make everything possible. Loved to work with him at Sam Ash Altanta! Greetings from Germany!

[@wendellwalker7695]

Hey, Michael. Hope all is well in your world!!

[@vampeiyre]

So happy for you dude. It is sooooo rewarding to have dialed-in instruments that resonate with you and become an extension of you as a musician.

[@matthewf1979]

Early 50’s spec Fender Telecaster/Broadcaster. They....uhhh, don’t do twang. It might as well be a freaking P90 in the bridge if you find the right one.

[@kotymccallister5150]

The pups definitely make it have a lamb of god vibe with the tone

[@firdeye2681]

Love watching people who can work on guitars well! cool guitar

[@boomtap7554]

Amazing craftsmanship. Cool guitar man. Congratulations!

[@clanofhousecats8079]

This is a good lesson to just refret when needed and live with no more nibs

[@AlbertoBacchinChicco]

WOW !!!!!!! AMAZING WORK !!!!! amazing LP !

[@gergoretvari6373]

That's just wholesome

[@bloomhobby]

Petition to name a video "Luthers' nightmare" everytime you guys wanna restore a guitar

[@jeyolangcayplayshizz]

That sustain just crazy!

[@Jason_TCR]

dudes an artist... the entire time saying things aren't worth the effort, then puts in even more effort to make it better

[@MetalLeo30]

STAINLESS STEEL REFRETS FOR THE WIN WOOO

[@sb632]

Super cool pair of Les Pauls now. For me the bare knuckles in the 74 just speak to me more tonally. Great video as always!

[@philfrank9226]

I love my fret edge bindings. Most comfort.

[@ryancapen4187]

Wendell is a frickin artist! And to top it off he’s a badass guitarist as well. Save some talent for the rest of us bro!!! 😂

[@1972LittleC]

You should do an interview with Wendell, call it Meet Wendell. He looks and sounds like he can tell us a lot.

[@SixString_J5]

I had SS frets installed on my 1997 MiJ ESP Horizon a few years back and I gotta say, It's been so amazing to play. I am the original owner and for the first decade I lived in the first 4 frets and it showed. It was way over due for a fret level. I decided I was just going to go all in and go stainless on my baby.

[@thetoneknob4493]

the way Gibson dose its fret boards with nibs actually saves time and effort..the binding shaping eliminates having to shape the fret ends. the frets are cut to a precise length and the ends as to fit flush with the binding...the binding is pretty soft and with files and scrapers it dose not take long to remove 80% of the access binding then its time to shape the nibs. rosa string works explains it better than i did. he did a video wear he made a new neck for a fender acoustic guitar and did nibs on the binding.

[@jasonaustin3270]

The aged look of that headstock is so killer!!!!

[@megawega6370]

Norlin Era Les Pauls are awesome. Lots of hate to them but they just play and sound so nice.

[@rodrigopalla]

Killer guitar sound, my black beauty also have stainless steel frets and EMG ZW 81 85

[@drmagex]

Yamaha AES 620 with Fishman Fluence modern! It was a custom guitar originally, with custom pickups and locking tuners.... but I hated the pickups.... Love it now! nows all it needs is a fret job and routing for the battery

[@maxcady5287]

So sick! congrats on the proyect. Sounds amazing. The only thing that i dislike about gibson is the fretboard radius, but that's just me. Amazing upgrade!

[@roscoepcoltrane23]

Stainless frets are a must for me. I hate fret wear. Everybody always says there’s no way you can wear frets that fast but I can. It really sucks. Congrats on the guitars.

[@rexnhogz]

amazing fret job holy crap

[@277southtombob]

I think the 70’s Les Pauls are great. Some people have a lot of hate for them but I really like the ones after they started the maple necks and volutes. It fixed the biggest weakness of LPs, the headstock. I even like the low wide “fretless wonder” frets.

[@armandolopez180]

I'm * this * close to flying to Atlanta every time I need guitar work done.

[@intoit1074]

Not my favorite mod on a vintage instrument, but glad you’re enjoying it. That’s the main thing

[@chrisstrong3748]

10/10 segue Hunter!

[@Kamil92Zgon]

One of the best sound I ever heard

[@z6nestudio]

For all of that $600 was a steal! I want to do this same thing to my SG once it needs a new set of frets. Which isn't too far away. I wanna keep my fret nibs too if it's within my budget.

[@KakuraZenom]

You make me want a black les paul custom so much dude stop

[@agufish]

But you need one, bro 😎

[@MrRafaztar]

Love these resto mods , also good shout with the sponsors hello fresh and skill share

[@tkdchief6294]

What beautiful guitar

[@matthewtiner7485]

Nice! I’m in Woodstock, gonna have to give Wendell a shot

[@Paindriller]

it's gorgeous

[@everybodylovesgav]

Jesus, Hunter you tortured that poor luthier. Your a God damn sadist XD

[@amalgam5107]

Enjoyed watching the work on the guitar. Still learning to set up and repair my own instruments so I love this kind of content. Also enjoy the tasty riffs!

[@隠れた]

Awesome job Wendell

[@thetoneknob4493]

man ide kill to have my old lp custom back..i miss it alot more than i thought i would. and ill probably never be able to afford to replace it. sigh....sad face..you did a great job restoring this one!

[@Terry3Gs]

Yes that came out awesome hunter !!

[@tavicotavio]

man, if youre measuring things with fractions of 64, just use the metric system

[@Kylora2112]

Subdivisions of an inch are powers of 2 down to 1/64" (.015625"...typically down to .0156" because you almost never go beyond 3-4 decimal places). It actually works really well in practice. Your standard tolerances on manufacturing general dimensions are down to the nearest 1/8" or 1/16", with a ±1/64" tolerance.

[@tavicotavio]

@@Kylora2112 yes you could say 0.015625 inches, or you could just say 0.3 mm

[@wendellwalker7695]

I'm measuring in thousands of an inch this stuff. So it ends up being a number that is as relevant as anything metric. Not a fraction. At these tight tolerances, either system works as well as the other. Neither make the job any less of a pain in ass! LOL There are a few things I do in the shop where I prefer metric over imperial just for the sake of easy math though. Making tapered neck shims for example.

[@liquensrollant]

​@@tavicotavio That's not much of an argument. The problem with the imperial system is it's more difficult to do conversions, it has nothing to do with whether or not it gives nice round measurements in metric units, which are based on an equally arbitrary standard length. There's actually something neat about being able to deal with powers of two - indeed, any programmer who's had to deal with machine precision can attest that decimal can be a pain sometimes.

[@tavicotavio]

@@liquensrollant não perguntei macetei tua mãe

[@Bearded_SARTECH]

I brought back the very first guitar from Fluffies Ridiculous Reverb Listings...1st guitar in part one of the series...the beat up Zakk Wylde LP. Frets were jacked as well as a host of other issues. It now has a brass nut, resomax bridge and tail, triple shot rings, a set of Dimebuckers, and CTS pots. Why not add some glow in the dark fret markers while I'm at it? Definitely my number one now. Weighs a ton, but I love the maple neck and the tones I can get out of one guitar.

[@WickedFesterBand]

That is amazing. Didn’t realize you bought it when you did and in the state it was. Thought you had become a vintage guitar collector or something. lol. It is perfect!

[@lennyluzitano8920]

Congratulations young man...best wishes from Lenny Luzitano...

[@wilsonkok4754]

Wendell's a really good luthier, great stuff!

[@wendellwalker7695]

Thank you!

[@theairsoftcurmudgeon8579]

@@wendellwalker7695 What is the name of your shop, Mr. Walker? my apologies if it was mentioned during the video and I missed it.

[@unmike19]

Dude, so awesome!

[@Carlvincent100]

That's the best of yesterday and now.

[@Datimdavis2900]

I love the fact you are saving great old guitars - Wendell, please relocate to Jax, Fl….we need ya here!

[@wendellwalker7695]

I have had people come up from the pan-handle to bring me work. C'mon up!

[@nathansguitars328]

Doing the frets that way is EXTREMELY impressive. Most luthiers I know would rather just remove all the binding, redo the frets, and recreate the nibs with the new binding. Way way way way way easier.

[@wendellwalker7695]

Yep. And I’ve done them that way too. But if you are trying to do a try restoration of the frets on a really vintage guitar with real vintage value, you try to keep the original nibs. But there again, you would be putting in frets that were period correct as well and the new frets would marry up to those original nibs a lot better. We wanted to do a “save the nibs” video for the sake of good content, but on the end, we did the nib rebuild method anyway. Normally I’d just mop lose the original nibs and rebuild them. For that matter, normally I’d do the fret ends like the video of the ‘74. Thank you for the positive comment. Much appreciated!

[@nathansguitars328]

@@wendellwalker7695 "for the sake of good content" and man did you deliver. It's always cool seeing things done differently than expected, much less to perfection like this. Keep up the top tier work!

[@Oilid]

Wonderful.

[@stefanosella5719]

Great tune!

[@transmundanemusic]

WENDELL IS A BADASS

[@Crantrex]

I’d love to see a Glarry guitar High Intergrity project

[@neilomac]

High Interglarrty

[@Cerberus4982]

The work that goes into it with the quality you personally received was worth $600 of investing in the classic guitar.

[@kilmerval]

Wendell has to dread seeing hunter's name come up on his phone at this point lol

[@wendellwalker7695]

Nah. We good!

[@Tripple-L432]

Awesome video. It is knwon that Brass carries frequencies longer than other certain types of metals.I think its Badass and could only dream of owning one like that. Been following you a long time, 3 or 4 years, looks like your playing has improved or you just hold back alot,lil of both. anyway great job, your lead was great on that chapman vid you jus did, way to go Hunter, Big fan.Thanks for sharing, stay cool and keep on keepin it real.

[@andyj6384]

That’s fucking perfect! Sometimes the vintage feel is on point, but the guitar still isn’t 100% there. Now it absolutely is. Great work Hunter! Side note: do you know if Maybach offers customer service for those in the US? Part replacements and whatnot.

[@timothyvaher2421]

A great Journeyman Luthier on stainless steel. It's a way greater effort to cut, shape and polish! Every Les Paul is worth it.

[@MrKichtopher]

get it Wendell!

[@mtempz3165]

Wendell is badass