The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum

I've been fan of Dan's 1953? Gibson Les Paul Goldtop for some time now, but I just started searching for some pics of him playing the guitar. Apart from a couple of photos posted on the forum, I've had a hard time finding images through searches. What with their recent rise in popularity and the numerous guitars Dan has played out since Attack & Release era shows, I've had a hard time coming upon any pics.

Anyone want to show some love and post some Goldtop pics? I would much appreciate it.

@jmjohnson40 - I wasn't sure what goldtop Dan had used during the A&R tour. I saw a quote of him saying he used a '53 during the recording of El Camino and wondered if that may be it. Nevertheless, the guitar during the A&R tour has a Tune-o-matic and '53 Goldtops typically have a wraparound tailpiece, so I thought they may be different guitars too. I do remember the A&R Goldtop having a lot of crazing on the finish though, and I doubt Dan would be into heavy relicing.

Any info or photos of either guitar would be awesome.

Here's my favorite shot of it. It's from the Keep It Hid era. And just for the record, I want that guitar more than anything in the world. Also, I'm not sure it's a '53. I always thought it was a '56. But I don't know... you know who would know though? Dante from Hacienda. He's spent some quality time with that axe.

Go this link it has pics of him playing it live at coachella a few years back

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=The+black+keys+coachella&f=hp

In the majority of the pictures of him using this guitar, he looks to be using the bridge pickup. This normal for him?..would have thought he use the neck more, for that thicker bluesy sound.

In that recent Dan's Gear video with Dan's tech, he hinted that Dan really only uses the bridge pickup on his big hollow Harmony whateverthefuck with the 3 foil pickups. Sounds like he might be a bridge pickup kind of guy.
You can eq or boost a bridge pickup to add much more lows and thickness. My DAM Red Rooster clone is great for that - it's a Rangemaster pedal but with a tone knob so you can do a treble boost, flat boost, bass boost, or anything in between. It can give any bridge pickup some serious balls.
Plus Dan's fingerstyle playing definitely helps thicken things up. When you use a pick it's a sharp attack on the strings but fingers are much softer attack.

Who knows. I'm just speculating. What I do know is that Gold Top is the cat's pajamas, and I wish I had one just like it. (speaking of wanting rockstar's guitars... someone just stole a bunch of Tom Petty's guitars a couple days ago, very uncool)

I'll confirm that Dan seems to mainly use the bridge pickup on all his guitars. With the amount of amp distortion and fuzz he uses, I would think he needs a defined tone from the guitar so it doesn't become mud. Especially with his fingerstyle as Mirby mentioned.

@Mirby - Didn't you use to own an Epi '56 Goldtop? Apart from the lathered on gloss finish, I thought it was a pretty decent guitar worth keeping around and upgrading. Nevertheless, I ended up with a Gibson Studio 60's Tribute, which has me more than satisfied. The main differences being a lighter chambered body, very thin nitro finish, a shallower neck, and a little hotter and sharper output from the stock pups.

@tbkmagic - You'll be glad to know my other 2 electrics are Teles (Modded Squier Classic Vibe Teles to be exact). A CV 50s turned Esquire with double-tapped Mare and a CVC with a mini-humbucker on the neck. They are pretty fun to play and they were much better finished than lower end Fenders and even American Standards, I thought.

Mr.ssippi - 18 hours ago  » 
So when exactly was this guitar used Live?.. What era/tour?

Dante used it during the Keep It Hid tour. Dan probably did too. In fact, I seem to recall a chick from Those Darlins using it (or a very similar guitar) during their set too (they opened for Dan & The Fast 5 at the Metro in Chicago).