Hello from Ontario, Canada! Ft. my Burny 1989 Firebird V

[Sunnys141]

Hey folks, I've read the posts on the forum here and there but nice to finally join

I've recently started the search for one of my dream guitars - an MIJ Goldtop with P90s and a lacquer finish. It's gonna be a long one probably but I'm hoping I can learn more about MIJ guitars here.

Image of my Firebird below (I'll probably be selling it to fund the Goldtop. Hate to see it go cause it's sooo cool)

 

[Sigmania]

Welcome. And as far as the all gold Tokais go, the LS 75S I believe had a polyurethane finish. I don’t know of any Tokais that are all gold that had a lacquer finish. But I could be wrong.

 

[Sunnys141]

Welcome. And as far as the all gold Tokais go, the LS 75S I believe had a polyurethane finish. I don’t know of any Tokais that are all gold that had a lacquer finish. But I could be wrong.

Honestly, I'm re-evaluating the All Gold thing cause the lacquer finish is more important to me. I just love the way lacquer can age and check. I'm also looking into a Greco Super Real from 1980 - EF800GS.

What I really wish I could find is an MIJ Goldtop that looks like the image below but I doubt anything made back then would age and check like this. Might just have to find a nice gold top and get it refinished...

 

[Sigmania]

Recent related thread:

Any evidence of natural relicing of Love Rocks?

 

[Sunnys141]

Recent related thread:

Any evidence of natural relicing of Love Rocks?

Yes, been following that one and the older one mentioned in the thread. No pictures in that one unfortunately

 

[Sigmania]

I need to try to find the source that mentioned that some lacquer finishes were lacquer and poly and some were all lacquer finishes.

 

[Sunnys141]

I need to try to find the source that mentioned that some lacquer finishes were lacquer and poly and some were all lacquer finishes.

I have actually seen some burny and Greco goldtops with lacquer but many without… there’s definitely some other variable in play.

 

[eborej]

Honestly, I'm re-evaluating the All Gold thing cause the lacquer finish is more important to me. I just love the way lacquer can age and check. I'm also looking into a Greco Super Real from 1980 - EF800GS.

What I really wish I could find is an MIJ Goldtop that looks like the image below but I doubt anything made back then would age and check like this. Might just have to find a nice gold top and get it refinished...

Nice Burny FIrebird. Here's a guy in Finland selling a 1980 Greco EG800 GS for a crazy price:



Your search for a vintage MIJ LP gold top with checking & P90s will indeed be a long one. I have a 1980 Tokai LS80 GT with checking and lightweight @ 8.4 lbs.:

 

[Sunnys141]

Nice Burny FIrebird. Here's a guy in Finland selling a 1980 Greco EG800 GS for a crazy price:



Your search for a vintage MIJ LP gold top with checking & P90s will indeed be a long one. I have a 1980 Tokai LS80 GT with checking and lightweight @ 8.4 lbs.:

View attachment 58035

That is a very nice example! And yes, it's gonna be arduous but I'm not opposed to finding something close (a good gold top with humbuckers that I can get refinished). How did yours age like that?
Oh and that Facebook link isn't working.. anyway you could share the price and a picture?

 

[eborej]

That is a very nice example! And yes, it's gonna be arduous but I'm not opposed to finding something close (a good gold top with humbuckers that I can get refinished). How did yours age like that?
Oh and that Facebook link isn't working.. anyway you could share the price and a picture?

The Tokai LS-80 GT already had the worn top when I bought it used. I suspect it's regular wear & tear from being heavily played for the past 43 years.

Looks like the Facebook link has been taken down. I recall he was asking $3K EUR for the Greco EG800 GS.

 

[Freebird]

I used to own in 1980 Greco EG 800 GS. Don’t know if it had a nitro lacquer top or not. It was pretty but I’m not sure it’s the same lacquer formula. Seemed different to me than the nitro I have on my old Gibson.

 

[Sunnys141]

I used to own in 1980 Greco EG 800 GS. Don’t know if it had a nitro lacquer top or not. It was pretty but I’m not sure it’s the same lacquer formula. Seemed different to me than the nitro I have on my old Gibson.

How did it play compared to the Gibson?

 

[Freebird]

How did it play compared to the Gibson?

I’m saying the nitro is different. The Gibsons I have are not like the gold top model