Hey Trogley. You should definitely try to reach out to Bill Kelliher and ask him about it. He's a vey cool guy who might be down to talking about the prototype.
I meet bill at a jam session for esp. he said his experience was not good with Gibson. And the staff made changes without his permission. He just showed up one day and they decided to change it and put it out before he could say nope. Too bad too.
I remember an interview with Bill K where he explained how he'd requested the full burst on the back too - and Gibson said no, because it would be too expensive. I think that really disappointed him tbh.
If you really wanna see a prototype for his signature Halcyon les paul just type in "ember city playthrough". Theres a video by Fret12 where Bill shows how to play one of Mastodon songs using a prototype thats much different than what you included in the video - it has a perimeter burst instead of teardrop shape plus its not just black and gold, it also has some reddish fade where black and gold paint meets.
I love my Halcyon! Got mine from Chicago Music Exchange for $1900, but it didn't come with the Truss Rod Halcyon logo, so I just put on a complimentary gold one to accompany the other gold hardware.
I absolitely LOVE that teardrop burst shape of the 1982 silverburst XR-1. Wasn't a fan of the silverbursts at all until that shape change in paint angles. This would make me buy one when I am not even remotely in the market. I already have a Les Paul and SG yet I am a drummer.....
3:17 I wouldn't say no to a model like the Florantine if it appeared to me. If I could get it and have it wired similarly to the Firefly and Harley Benton versions of the SG Custom (plus swapping out the volume pots for push-pull ones to activatephase cancellation), it would cover most of what I would want from a replica of the Brian May Red Special.
Just a question, and not meant to be snarky, but are there that many collectors out there that just buy guitar after guitar at $5, $10, $15k+ prices? I have a few players, no real rare collectibles, but my head swims at the thought of having a quarter Mil- dough worth of guitars to maintain. Guess I’m just low rent.
I think it's so weird. People will pay a premium for relicing Yet authentic imperfections like delamination or finish checking is seen as less desirable.
Woah, was totally looking at the BK listing around the time you posted this video. But I remember an interview where he said that he left Gibson because they just weren’t very accommodating at the time when it came to signatures, or something like that
Bill still has a big soft spot for Gibson. Despite him being with ESP/LTD. 90% of the recent concert footage you see, studio, interviews etc. He's still playing Gibsons.
@@manfredmar Oh it looks amazing! I have no doubt it will be far too expensive for most people though. I was waiting for the new BK600 to be released, but that £2000 price-tag is way too much.
@@nastyriffs Yeah, last years prices for new LTD's were up there, as well with most companies. Hoping this year it will be better, although not counting on it XD
I like that triple humbucker custom. Too bad about the fret nib gaps. I was pretty close to buying a semi hollow custom from '97 I think. There were a few suspicious things about the listing though so I went with something else.
The Florentine Custom LP is a beauty , uh...buh...holy Goblin Shark short pants the flamed Flying -V Custom is fookin' amazing !...and I dig the SG Junior in Ebony ...Thanks Trogly !
I swear to god, i picked up my Pelham Blue Sparrowhawk and wow - I can't name one Mastodon song but damn this guitar is spot on - Perfect. HIGHLY Recommended.
I think the Florentine was D.C. Mary(?) Signature, probably gift from a significant bother. HAha. By coincidence, I am searching for a minty Firebrand, so many 2 faces out there. And I think the price went up after your episode - not saying you sway the market, not saying you don't. You might have more power than you think. Ü ♫
The Murphy Ultralight Aged guitars will ding if you look at them wrong. I still loved that CME Black '54 with P-90/Hum!! I own an R6 ML, it's fabulous but fragile.
Bill has not been shy about his disappointment with Gibson's incompetence. He kept asking for pretty simple things with the build and Gibson kept doing it wrong.
I get that a cool looking back is nice, but it’s only gravy. It’s not a make or break for me. I don’t get making such a big deal It does make a bigger difference on acoustic guitars, but even then, not as big a deal My classical has a fantastic look to the back, but normally nobody sees it
I have a factory Halcyon and it is my favorite guitar. I swapped out all the creme plastics and knobs for black and it looks awesome. Also swapped out the pickups for some Dimarzios. Killer guitar, love it.
Trogley did you sell that bad ass refinished flying V ? I didn't see it in your 2023 inventory video.. Dude how could you sell that guitar. That was Holy grail who cares if it was refinished.
I have a Studio bought as a present to me mid-eighties. T-500 and 496? Pickups. It sounds as good as any Les Paul I’ve ever heard. A few dents now but great Guitar. It’s a keeper.
If you actually did some research you’d find out that Bill played the prototype with the burst on the back. He even talks about it in the Rig Rundown video from 2014.
I own the very first LTD Sparrowhawk in Pelham Blue, owned by Bill. I bought it directly from him. Thats all. Just bragging. I've got his email if you want to chat with him Trogly. Also, he did want burst on the back. They said it would make it cost too much.
Hey Trogley. You should definitely try to reach out to Bill Kelliher and ask him about it. He's a vey cool guy who might be down to talking about the prototype.
Bill wrote a scathing tell all about how unsavory his experience with Gibson was. He seems very happy with ESP.
I meet bill at a jam session for esp. he said his experience was not good with Gibson. And the staff made changes without his permission. He just showed up one day and they decided to change it and put it out before he could say nope. Too bad too.
I remember an interview with Bill K where he explained how he'd requested the full burst on the back too - and Gibson said no, because it would be too expensive. I think that really disappointed him tbh.
That and he requested non weight relieved and they went ahead and did it anyway, if we're thinking of the same interview? Been a few years.
i was going to metion this interview.
@4:53 - What's to be done about fret-nib gaps?
Anyone knows what happened to the slash epiphone models? They have withdrawn them from some sites right?
what is the best way to stop the fret nib gap?
If you really wanna see a prototype for his signature Halcyon les paul just type in "ember city playthrough". Theres a video by Fret12 where Bill shows how to play one of Mastodon songs using a prototype thats much different than what you included in the video - it has a perimeter burst instead of teardrop shape plus its not just black and gold, it also has some reddish fade where black and gold paint meets.
Gibson seemed to really blow it with Bill, they just completely disregarded his specs apparently. Mastodon rips.
It's true. Crazy the way the just ignored his requests.
I love my Halcyon! Got mine from Chicago Music Exchange for $1900, but it didn't come with the Truss Rod Halcyon logo, so I just put on a complimentary gold one to accompany the other gold hardware.
2:36 oh man I lusted after that Ibanez Destroyer back in the 80s...
I absolitely LOVE that teardrop burst shape of the 1982 silverburst XR-1.
Wasn't a fan of the silverbursts at all until that shape change in paint angles. This would make me buy one when I am not even remotely in the market. I already have a Les Paul and SG yet I am a drummer.....
3:17 I wouldn't say no to a model like the Florantine if it appeared to me. If I could get it and have it wired similarly to the Firefly and Harley Benton versions of the SG Custom (plus swapping out the volume pots for push-pull ones to activatephase cancellation), it would cover most of what I would want from a replica of the Brian May Red Special.
Hey Austin, any idea what is "eXtended" about the XR-1's "Range?"
I was wondering about that too as they still have 22 frets and 24.75" scale length.
Bill has said in multiple interviews, possibly an old PG Rog Rundown, that Gibson said it would be too expensive if they bursted the back.
I have the regular Bill Kelliher LP. I got it for the rare gold burst color. Bill apparently hates this guitar. I love it tho.
Just a question, and not meant to be snarky, but are there that many collectors out there that just buy guitar after guitar at $5, $10, $15k+ prices? I have a few players, no real rare collectibles, but my head swims at the thought of having a quarter Mil- dough worth of guitars to maintain. Guess I’m just low rent.
I think it's so weird. People will pay a premium for relicing Yet authentic imperfections like delamination or finish checking is seen as less desirable.
Shout out to Diablo guitars they are a cool shop they get a lot of good stuff. I got my Les Paul modern from them.
One of the best shops in the country in my opinion
Woah, was totally looking at the BK listing around the time you posted this video. But I remember an interview where he said that he left Gibson because they just weren’t very accommodating at the time when it came to signatures, or something like that
Bill still has a big soft spot for Gibson. Despite him being with ESP/LTD. 90% of the recent concert footage you see, studio, interviews etc. He's still playing Gibsons.
Yeah, all of his single cuts are Les Pauls, his explorer is a Banker (licensed by Gibson). The only ESP guitars he plays are the Sparrowhawks.
@@nastyriffs and his custom ESP DC (likely the next signature) which looks phenomenal.
@@nastyriffs might I add, Brent has also been playing a very cool ESP custom that reminds me of the Gnarwhal from Dunable
@@manfredmar Oh it looks amazing! I have no doubt it will be far too expensive for most people though. I was waiting for the new BK600 to be released, but that £2000 price-tag is way too much.
@@nastyriffs Yeah, last years prices for new LTD's were up there, as well with most companies.
Hoping this year it will be better, although not counting on it XD
I was wondering if you'd ever do one of these. Possibly compare it to one of his ESP's?
Lol, not a very fair comparison.
I like that triple humbucker custom. Too bad about the fret nib gaps. I was pretty close to buying a semi hollow custom from '97 I think. There were a few suspicious things about the listing though so I went with something else.
The Florentine Custom LP is a beauty , uh...buh...holy Goblin Shark short pants the flamed Flying -V Custom is fookin' amazing !...and I dig the SG Junior in Ebony ...Thanks Trogly !
Oh brother! That custom V is awesome
I swear to god, i picked up my Pelham Blue Sparrowhawk and wow - I can't name one Mastodon song but damn this guitar is spot on - Perfect. HIGHLY Recommended.
i picked it up yesterday *
His 2023 ESP signature Eclipse has the burst on the back & neck, very cool.
Love that Paul Stanley V. I could see that make production. If only Kiss were interested in making money... oh well.
🤑😂 (Love ya, Paul.)
I'm not a collector, but have you ever noticed how often you "almost" bought a guitar?
It's too bad Gibson dropped the ball so badly on how they treated BK.
The old management failed for a reason
I think the Florentine was D.C. Mary(?) Signature, probably gift from a significant bother. HAha.
By coincidence, I am searching for a minty Firebrand, so many 2 faces out there. And I think the price went up after your episode - not saying you sway the market, not saying you don't.
You might have more power than you think. Ü ♫
The Murphy Ultralight Aged guitars will ding if you look at them wrong. I still loved that CME Black '54 with P-90/Hum!! I own an R6 ML, it's fabulous but fragile.
The silverburst XR guitars look great
I didn't know dirty fingers also come in zebra format.
👍
Trogly: I belive that last case in the video was specifically made for the Robot.
One reason Bill was unhappy with Gibson is he requested no weight relief, but they did it anyway.
holy shit, different paintjob on the back, no way!!
Thanks for sharing.
Gibson chambered Bill's signature Les Paul even though they explicitly agreed to his desire and directions not to do so.
A tobacco gold burst would be epic.
You collector guys are silly.
Oh man,I love goldburst
Les Paul and Leo Fender hated distortion.
Time to ROCK!
If anyone is selling one of these, I’ve been trying to get my hands on one!
The ebony R4 with p90 and humbucker combo was nice. But I’d never buy a murphy lab aged guitar.
Bill has not been shy about his disappointment with Gibson's incompetence. He kept asking for pretty simple things with the build and Gibson kept doing it wrong.
Trogdaddy is on! ❤
I get that a cool looking back is nice, but it’s only gravy.
It’s not a make or break for me.
I don’t get making such a big deal
It does make a bigger difference on acoustic guitars, but even then, not as big a deal
My classical has a fantastic look to the back, but normally nobody sees it
Yo
I want the explorer!
I have a factory Halcyon and it is my favorite guitar. I swapped out all the creme plastics and knobs for black and it looks awesome. Also swapped out the pickups for some Dimarzios. Killer guitar, love it.
Evening all!!!
That Flying V Custom was my favorite tonight! Cool episode Trogly!
Trogley did you sell that bad ass refinished flying V ? I didn't see it in your 2023 inventory video.. Dude how could you sell that guitar. That was Holy grail who cares if it was refinished.
Hey I live 10 minutes from New Bedford
✌️
I always look forward to your plugs! Your knowledge and investigative prowess has fed the guitar geek within me. Big Ups! RESPECT
DC Marry or Marty seems to me
> Austin, Wheelin' and Dealin'
Damnn trogly back at it again with the daily uploads
Prototypes are some of the coolest guitars. I’d love to own something that they stopped making before mass production.
First!
Noice
I have a Studio bought as a present to me mid-eighties. T-500 and 496? Pickups. It sounds as good as any Les Paul I’ve ever heard. A few dents now but great Guitar. It’s a keeper.
interesting guitars for sure. loved the video and thanks for sharing
Another Les Paul….yawn.
If you actually did some research you’d find out that Bill played the prototype with the burst on the back. He even talks about it in the Rig Rundown video from 2014.
The Pauls’ are lame! Don’t you dare document another one of those…
You still haven’t gotten back with me over my reverb find that I sent you a few months ago lol, hoping you would’ve talked about it by now
Sorry, I just can't do yet another Gibson video.
Your channel's getting stale.
I don't like going to the beach, too much sand.
@@jabarborsor camping....to many trees.
Or living ...to much life
Coolio
These are some great designs with these. A pleasure to view. Guitar porn!!!
I own the very first LTD Sparrowhawk in Pelham Blue, owned by Bill. I bought it directly from him. Thats all. Just bragging. I've got his email if you want to chat with him Trogly. Also, he did want burst on the back. They said it would make it cost too much.
TROG-ZILLA
👍