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Ebay wrote: GIBSON LES PAUL "REISSUE FLAMETOP" MODEL FROM 1985, STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, NO RESERVE******
I guess this is kind of an unbelievable story but it is all true. I left the house one day and my near mint 1985 Gibson Reissue Flametop was safely perched (or so I thought) on top of a another guitar case, in the corner top edge of my music room. When I returned home a few hours later I was not prepared for what I discovered. I walked into the room and the Gibson case was on the floor smelling of smoke. I looked up to see black soot marks at the top corner of the walls where the headstock end of the case had been sitting. When I turned back and inspected the case I was appalled at what I found. First off, I noticed that there were three holes directly above where the bridge would have been sitting inside the case. I proceeded to open the case with the latches, even though much of it was disassembled. Upon opening the case I realized that the guitar had been struck by lightning . How could this have happened!!? I basically screamed. It seemed impossible. I found out that when I was gone, a severe thunderstorm had come through. Outside of the House was a huge pine tree and upon going outside and inspecting the Tree there was clearly a visible line coming down the tree until it came to an area directly across from the trim of the House. The lightning had struck the huge pine tree and traveled down the trunk until it reached the nails holding the trim to house. Then it jumped across through the nails, went through the drywall, and struck the top edge of the case. It then went into the case and down the neck of the guitar, vaporizing the strings, (remnants of which can still be seen on the fretboard and frets) also apparently traveling down the Truss rod inside the neck. It then blew out the last few frets on the fretboard above the end of the Truss rod before apparently melting the insides of the pickups. It then proceeded to explode some of the bridge saddles outward through the case. Apparently they are responsible for holes I initially saw in the case, which I had no idea how they got there. I also found where the lightning had grounded into the carpet and cement floor of the room and blasted out a half moon size pocket in the cement about the size of the Silver dollar. I have posted pictures of various aspects of the Outside house damage and Pine tree. The lightning strike also killed the tree. As I said, before the incident the Guitar was in near Mint condition. It remains as I found it, the day of the incident. I have not tried to clean it up in any way. As a one-of-a-kind collectible, I would be very surprised if there is another one of these, anywhere one in the world. As a project, it will take some work but I believe it can be repaired with the proper parts and skill. I am including the frets and parts of the fretboard that blew out, as much as I could find. There is only one remaining bridge saddle. Years ago 2 of the original pots were removed, though the Original Knobs and pointers are still with the guitar. The tailpiece is gone, but the Original Bridge is still with the guitar. I have posted many pictures to try and show as much detail and information about the instrument as possible. One of the features of this Model is the "Thicker '59 Style Neck". In 1991 this model was renamed "The '59 Les Paul Fame Top". Please look at all pictures closely (click on picture to see larger image more detail) and ask any questions I may have left out. Package comes with all items pictured and all items pictured are the actual items winning bidder will receive. Shipping will be Free using Fed Ex Ground Anywhere within the Continental US. A Tracking number And Insurance is Included. International Bidders will pay a greatly Reduced shipping cost. This is a No Reserve Auction. Thanks and Happy Bidding!