His famous stripped down Les Paul was actually stolen from the back of a van in early 1977, whilst the band were rehearsing for the Dandy tour... From what I was led to believe, it was painted black and ended up in a guitar shop in London.. By the time this was discovered by Bolan the guitar was gone. I heard it finally sold in auction for £20,000 though not as Marc Bolan's guitar, just a very rare Gibson... I actually wrote a piece on this for a magazine many years ago but my memory is hazy
I’m a Bolan American fan since the age of 12 and in retrospect, Marc not being able to crack the US was not his fault. I don’t think he had any support as far as management goes. No publicity, nothing. It’s a real shame. Fortunately, my sister was given a homemade tape of The Slider and it changed my life ❤
He seemed to like to put Gibson Custom necks on his guitars rather than replace them with the original Standard necks. Probably liked the diamond effect. Just a theory. Still the prettiest guitar to suit the prettiest star. Peace out.
Before any of the neck changes came the pickup changes originally this guitar had two cream P-90s before the humbuckers , you can look up the videos of this time. It all seems to have happened within a two year period . I wish I could find a luthier to work that fast , but then he was " somebody" . God Bless us all !
the Les Paul shown at 1:47 isn't his ORANGE one, but a Gibson Les Paul Custom 'Black Beaty'!!! In fact the ORANGE had 3 replacement necks (not 2), so finally it can be seen with 4 different necks.
Marc original 1950s les Paul he used in the photo for the cover of the first t rex album in 1970 was stolen from a roadies van parked in London in early 1977 Marc spotted this guitar in a second hand guitar shop in Central London and contacted the police but unfortunately he never got it back Shaw Taylor also appealed for its whereabouts just before Marc spotted it this was on a programme called police five Marc later bought a new les Paul and used it on the dandy in the underworld tour and the Marc show does anyone know who owns this 1977 model
Sorry to be a pain. I have put on my anorak and , being the pedantic twat I am have to mention the last Les Marc used was a wine coloured aniversary Gibson standard , you have the right pic but was wine and not red. Glad to get it off my chest. Great vid though , but you hav'nt mentioned when had Konig tuners on , nice you spotted the second neck , I only ever saw it with that fret config when it had the round head like an Epiphone. Anyway. Peace out. Cheesy.
i think it is more than possible that it is a `59 Les Paul Standard. A couple of clues would be a center seam (Sunburst les paul stripped back to maple top and then stained orange. a Gold Top would be a 3 peice top. 1 black pick up(58-59) and one zerbra (white and black bobbins( late 59 when they ran out of black plastic. the two screw holes by the bridge indicate a Bisgby tremelo was fitted and removed. the gold tailpiece and Grover machine heads are non standard.they were very sought after
i went into a music shop got talking to the guy that runs the shop he said that he met marc and he owns one of marcs guitars he said i should go back so we can chat i would also like to see this guitar i wonder
I asked Tony at his book signing at Harrods and his reply was that he had not noticed. The last appearence with the original neck as far as film goes was at the Wembley concerts, it then was not seen again until Children of the Revolution on TOTP in Sept 72 with the new neck. I asked Millar Anderson whom said that Marc told him that he had paid £1000 for it, a lot of money back then but which would explain that had Marc got someone to replace the broken neck with a custom Gibson Les Paul neck.
He gave the guitar 🎸 a Bowie after recording the last MARC show, this is well documented and there’s even film many many years later of Bowie talking about it and Reeves Gabrels of Tin Machine using it on one of their albums.
He speculates that the custom neck on the orange one could be the one of the 50's black beauty - which is bullshit, because the custom neck on the orange one clearly was a 70's neck with volute and the ugly 70's gibson logo inlay.
Interesting video, well done! I stumbled across a Face Book page all about Marc's Les Paul. Can't find it now!!! If anyone knows it, please let me know. I am very honoured to own an ex Marc guitar .Type in "Mike Oldfield / Marc Bolan Tele" and you can see it on You Tube. Thanks for the post. Keith
Where is it now? Apparently Gibson must have gotten hold of it to do the the new replica they are selling.......hang on a second.....isn't a replica meant to look like the guitar in its last seen stage of development? Then Gibson better do a call back of all the (3) Marc Bolan replica's they have sold as looking at this vid the new replica is way off mark (no pun intended)
His famous stripped down Les Paul was actually stolen from the back of a van in early 1977, whilst the band were rehearsing for the Dandy tour... From what I was led to believe, it was painted black and ended up in a guitar shop in London.. By the time this was discovered by Bolan the guitar was gone. I heard it finally sold in auction for £20,000 though not as Marc Bolan's guitar, just a very rare Gibson... I actually wrote a piece on this for a magazine many years ago but my memory is hazy
I’m a Bolan American fan since the age of 12 and in retrospect, Marc not being able to crack the US was not his fault. I don’t think he had any support as far as management goes. No publicity, nothing. It’s a real shame. Fortunately, my sister was given a homemade tape of The Slider and it changed my life ❤
Marc took it with him to entertain the Angels.... thats why Heaven is Rockin tonight!
I've got the Les Paul now actually! Then I woke up!
He seemed to like to put Gibson Custom necks on his guitars rather than replace them with the original Standard necks.
Probably liked the diamond effect.
Just a theory.
Still the prettiest guitar to suit the prettiest star.
Peace out.
Very nice video and great to see such an original approach.. Well done
Thanx for your input!
Great vid
Les Paul is a gret guitar in Marc Bolans hands
Before any of the neck changes came the pickup changes originally this guitar had two cream P-90s before the humbuckers , you can look up the videos of this time. It all seems to have happened within a two year period . I wish I could find a luthier to work that fast , but then he was " somebody" . God Bless us all !
Afaik Marcs P90 Les Paul was a Gold Top, not his stripped one.
I am not musician, but it is interesting. This year was 40th anniversary of another Gibson guitar used by Marc too - Flying V
the Les Paul shown at 1:47 isn't his ORANGE one, but a Gibson Les Paul Custom 'Black Beaty'!!!
In fact the ORANGE had 3 replacement necks (not 2), so finally it can be seen with 4 different necks.
i can remember going to see him at the empire
Thanx for commenting!
by 1975 the original neck on the orange Les Paul had been replaced twice
Marc original 1950s les Paul he used in the photo for the cover of the first t rex album in 1970 was stolen from a roadies van parked in London in early 1977 Marc spotted this guitar in a second hand guitar shop in Central London and contacted the police but unfortunately he never got it back Shaw Taylor also appealed for its whereabouts just before Marc spotted it this was on a programme called police five Marc later bought a new les Paul and used it on the dandy in the underworld tour and the Marc show does anyone know who owns this 1977 model
2 minutes too long and had to turn the sound down....WTF
Sorry to be a pain.
I have put on my anorak and , being the pedantic twat I am have to mention the last Les Marc used was a wine coloured aniversary Gibson standard , you have the right pic but was wine and not red.
Glad to get it off my chest.
Great vid though , but you hav'nt mentioned when had Konig tuners on , nice you spotted the second neck , I only ever saw it with that fret config when it had the round head like an Epiphone.
Anyway.
Peace out.
Cheesy.
i think it is more than possible that it is a `59 Les Paul Standard. A couple of clues would be a center seam (Sunburst les paul stripped back to maple top and then stained orange. a Gold Top would be a 3 peice top. 1 black pick up(58-59) and one zerbra (white and black bobbins( late 59 when they ran out of black plastic. the two screw holes by the bridge indicate a Bisgby tremelo was fitted and removed. the gold tailpiece and Grover machine heads are non standard.they were very sought after
Chrometoes tells me he heard that Marc removed some of the windings from the neck p/u. Other than that I believe they were stock PAF Gibsons.
you're welcome
If you could find that piece you wrote Andy-and email it to me I'd appreciate it! Thanx for your insight as well!
i went into a music shop got talking to the guy that runs the shop he said that he met marc and he owns one of marcs guitars he said i should go back so we can chat i would also like to see this guitar i wonder
Looking for factual information regarding the Les Paul guitar Marc Bolan played through most of his career!....Thanx
I asked Tony at his book signing at Harrods and his reply was that he had not noticed. The last appearence with the original neck as far as film goes was at the Wembley concerts, it then was not seen again until Children of the Revolution on TOTP in Sept 72 with the new neck. I asked Millar Anderson whom said that Marc told him that he had paid £1000 for it, a lot of money back then but which would explain that had Marc got someone to replace the broken neck with a custom Gibson Les Paul neck.
He changed the neck to that of a custom when he broke it, so what?
if you caht with him....let me know too please
He gave the guitar 🎸 a Bowie after recording the last MARC show, this is well documented and there’s even film many many years later of Bowie talking about it and Reeves Gabrels of Tin Machine using it on one of their albums.
The last pic is a 1977 pic so how can it be stolen in 1976?
Les Paul THE number one stolen rock star guitar
He speculates that the custom neck on the orange one could be the one of the 50's black beauty - which is bullshit, because the custom neck on the orange one clearly was a 70's neck with volute and the ugly 70's gibson logo inlay.
toni visconti would know!
I recall that it and his stratocaster were auctioned after his death.
Sure Marc himself did change the neck? It's not the easiest thing to change a LPs glued-in neck!
exactly..............changing a neck on a Les Paul is MAJOR SURGERY.........................;)
I don't think anyone is suggesting he did it himself. No doubt he paid a professional to do it.
Interesting video, well done! I stumbled across a Face Book page all about Marc's Les Paul. Can't find it now!!! If anyone knows it, please let me know. I am very honoured to own an ex Marc guitar .Type in "Mike Oldfield / Marc Bolan Tele" and you can see it on You Tube. Thanks for the post. Keith
Where is it now?
Apparently Gibson must have gotten hold of it to do the the new replica they are selling.......hang on a second.....isn't a replica meant to look like the guitar in its last seen stage of development?
Then Gibson better do a call back of all the (3) Marc Bolan replica's they have sold as looking at this vid the new replica is way off mark (no pun intended)
He gave it to Bowie after they appeared together on the MARC SHOW 77.