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Topic: Gibson Console Grande question |
Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2006 3:41 pm |
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Hi Guys,
I'm new to the forum. I came across this and had to join. A forum for steel players!
I have the good fortune to own a double neck blonde Gibson Console Grande. I can't tell you how much I love this guitar. The tone is just so thick and the instrument is beautiful to boot.
Anyway, on the front of the steel in big letters is written "LEE". It looks as though it was put on in the Gibson factory as the font and color is identicle to the Grande Console logo. So, is this a brief edition that Gibson put out or is this just someones name they put on the front, maybe customized by the factory? And, btw, how do you date these things?
Any info would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Denis Atadan |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2006 4:52 pm
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| Dennis, can you post some photos of it? Or send me some photos and I'll post them for you, that way we can see what you have and probably give you the low down on it. |
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2006 5:02 pm
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Hi Andy,
I'm a little computer challenged. Although I have a .edu e-mail address college was a long time ago for me and I never really got into the computer thing. If I can get a friend to take a picture and upload it for me I'll try that. If not I'll send some pictures out to you. Thanks for the suggestions!
Denis |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2006 11:20 pm
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| Lookin forward to it. I just bought a 53' sunburst flame top Console Grande in very nice condition and will post some pics tomorrow. [This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 20 September 2006 at 12:22 AM.] |
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2006 10:56 pm
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Gibson Steel
[This message was edited by Denis Atadan on 18 October 2006 at 11:58 PM.] [This message was edited by Denis Atadan on 19 October 2006 at 03:55 PM.] [This message was edited by Denis Atadan on 19 October 2006 at 04:08 PM.] |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 1:37 am
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Denis,
where you're hosting the pictures has a "Data Transfer Limit" and with the amount of views you're likely to get from the members here, you'll easily exceed your limit.
At this point in time the Geocities site referred to in the html in your post, is displaying this message and NO PICTURES are visible :-
quote:
Sorry, this GeoCities site is currently unavailable.
The GeoCities web site you were trying to view has temporarily exceeded its data transfer limit. Please try again later.
Are you the site owner? Avoid service interruptions in the future by increasing your data transfer limit! Find out how.
Learn more about data transfer.
Also, read this :- How to post pictures on the forum.l
I'll host the pictures on my server no charge and no transfer limit.
E-Mail them to me.
Basil[This message was edited by basilh on 19 October 2006 at 02:43 AM.] |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 1:47 am
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We really would like to see the pictures !!
Baz
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Max Laine
From:
Pori, Finland
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 1:57 am
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| I can see them ok... |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 6:16 am
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I can't.  |
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Max Laine
From:
Pori, Finland
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 6:40 am
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| Hey, where did they go?! |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 7:47 am
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Geocities (his ISP) has a transfer limit for images such as these, and that transfer limit is exceeded. Usually it clears up in a day or so and then is exceeded again later in the day.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2006 11:58 am
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Well it looks like my friend who posted the pics is a little computer challenged himself. I'll see what I can do- but don't hold your breath!
Denis |
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2006 12:55 am
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Hi Denis; Welcome to the Forum.
Yessiree ...you are indeed quite fortunate to have such a fine instrument! 
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Here's my take on the "LEE" decals:
The art of lettering, signage, logos etc. has been quite technical for about 70 years: For instance, every bit of lettering's visually apparant solids and space-in-between, and the form, lines, curves, exagerated points / corners, etc, are designed to perfection, ...at least for businesses that realize that importance ...and those that don't stand out like sore thumbs.
The individual letters in the "LEE" decals show such good design qualities, ...BUT their hand-applied layout (centering, alignment and air balance) is quite amateur. So I seriously doubt any professional ...much less the Gibson factory... applied that LEE lettering.
Although the instrument looks superb and "any" Steeler would be delighted beyond measure to have it; Unless it can be ascertained that LEE had particular fame or other particular valuable meaning, ....those decals probably detract from the instrument's general monetary value, but not neccessarily from it's personal value (to Lee or his Friends, associates, or people that like personal touches, for examples). ...ie. If an identical twin were placed beside it, both for sale at the same price, more people would pick the one without LEE over the one with LEE (unless "Lee" is of a particualr value), ....although a few folks might prefer the one with LEE on it. If I had to place a figure on it, I would venture to say that side-by-side, the one with LEE would be worth about 20% less to the "market" at large.
Those LEE decals are not all that difficult for a profesional or talented craftsman to remove ...in a manner probably minimally intrusive upon the instrument's finish; But I personally sure wouldn't remove LEE until I was quite sure there is no particular monetary or personal value to LEE ....since I have a mushy heart for an instrument's Soul and history, in that order  (....but ain't no dummy about balancing-in monetary value either). And I surmise we'll see some differing opinions that will afford good brain food for your perspectives about what to do or not-do about "LEE". 
.....imho's 2 cents worth.
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 20 October 2006 at 01:57 AM.] |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2006 6:36 am
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Denis,
That is a nice looking Console Grande!
I have one very similiar to yours but it is older, how much older I'm not sure.
I notice that yours has 4 legs, mine has three. Also, your pickups are of a later style than mine.
It was my understanding, when I bought it, that is was a 1948 model.
I would guess that yours might be from the early '50's.
Erv |
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William Clark
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Posted 20 Oct 2006 9:38 am
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| Really a beautiful piece. I have never seen a Blonde one before. Only Sunburst. |
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Colm Chomicky
From:
Kansas, (Prairie Village)
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Posted 20 Oct 2006 3:31 pm
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| Some like blonde, others Sunburst. I seem to recall that there was a slight extra charge for the blonde option ? |
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2006 5:53 pm
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That's interesting about the blonde option being more expensive. You would think that putting a decent sunburst on an instrument would be a bigger deal. Anyway, I love the blonde thing.
And thanks for the assessment as to the "Lee" lettering. That all makes pretty good sense to me. I don't think I'll be peeling it off though. It's kind of neat to have a bit of the personal history intact. I think it makes it unique and who knows I might meet the original owner or someone that knew him because of it and that would be great.
You know I still can't get over how much I love the sound of this guitar. I play it through a twin reverb straight with no volume pedal most of the time and I just don't want to do anything else to the sound.
Another thing about this was that I got it for free. I was visiting an old girlfriend of mine at her parents house. She knew that I loved all kinds of musical instruments. So she goes to a closet and pulls this case down from the top shelf, gets it on the floor and opens up the case and says to me "Do you think you want this?"--You know it's just one of those moments you never really forget.
Denis |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 21 Oct 2006 1:31 am
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Nice Guitar Denis, it's from around 1954 IMHO.
Baz
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Oct 2006 4:34 am
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That's a beauty Denis.
Have you thought about changing your name to Lee? |
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John Rosett
From:
Missoula, MT
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Posted 21 Oct 2006 9:56 am
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Denis- Where do you find an ex-girlfriend like that? The only things I've ever gotten from an ex-girlfriend is a punch in the mouth or a bad credit reference. And now that she's given you a console grand, why is she an ex?
Seriously, it's great when a musician has that kind of good fortune. Enjoy! |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2006 11:28 am
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| Denis, beautiful guitar. I've got a 53' sunburst flametop CG and after I dialed in the tone on both guitar and amp it sounds awesome. |
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Paul Warnik
From:
Illinois,USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 3:04 am
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| Natural blonde maple console grande Gibsons are considerably rarer than sunburst ones-this is one of the very few natural finish ones I have ever seen |
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Denis Atadan
From:
Delaware, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 5:12 pm
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How are the 3 volume/tone controls configured? The controls have always acted in a somewhat mysterious manner.I'm thinking that the caps needs replacing. Does anyone know what value and what type caps should be used? I'd of course want to put whatever was closest to the original stock.
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 7:43 pm
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Denis, the controls are, left to right:
Volume, Bass Tone, Treble Tone.
The cap values are:
Bass: .02 mfd
Treble: .001 mfd[This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 22 October 2006 at 08:45 PM.] |
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