GibsonTalk.com

Comment from Sean
Date: March 28, 2008, 11:48 pm

What can you tell me about a “The Paul”? From the serial # and things I’ve read, it seems they only came out in 1979 and 80. Are these sought after? Are they considered “good” or more like “the blue collar mans Les Paul” (meaning: cheap POS)?
I just gave mine to my godson, but fear I may have made a bad decision.

Comment from Steven D. Bryan
Date: April 3, 2008, 12:27 pm

I own a 1979 Les Paul Silverburst. I would like to have some discussion on what causes the greening of some of these instruments with age. I have heard many opinions on this so I will give some background to my question. I have owned my guitar for many years. I also work in material science. I decided one day to take a small scraping of the silver paint from the inside of the control cavity a place it in a scaning electron microscope for examiniton. The primary metallic element I found to be Aluminum. This suggests to me that contrary to popular views this does’t seem to be an oxidation issue. Oxidation of aluminum is either white or black in color. I’ve also heard oxidation of silver paint discussed. Silver which is not present in the paint from my analysis does not form oxides easily. Usually sulfides form which are black in color i.e. tarnish. I am begining to think this is more of a degredation issue having to do with many other factors other than the metallic elements of the paint used.
I have been told also that this greening effect is also present in other guitars, goldtops and fender silver anniversary.
if anyone out there can shed some light on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.