A Letter from Keith Page, Gary Moore's Guitar Tech & The Caretaker of Greeny for many years...
Gentlemen,
My name is Keith Page and I was Gary Moore's guitar man for several years back in the 80's. In fact, I was involved with the repair of Greeny after it had been involved in the now infamous car accident. Over the years I repaired, set-up and played some of the most iconic guitars belonging to the most famous of players, it would be easier to make a list of players that I didn't come across. Back in the late eighties I had Greeny in my care… mostly she was in my bedroom on a stand, almost talking to me as I played her every day. Now looking back, it all feels slightly surreal, as it truly was… what joy!
It's not very often that I see something that gets my juices flowing, but the Tom Doyle Time Machine Les Pauls did exactly that. After seeing TM #72, I thought I had to go for it. Frankly, I couldn’t get my head around how anyone could replicate on any level, the vibe and feel of a 60+ year old les Paul burst. As it turns out, I was wrong! Tom Doyle and his team are true artisans, and have many years of experience which they bring to bear on these amazing Time Machine Les Pauls. I can hardly get my head around how great they look, feel, sound and play… they are nothing short of astonishing!
I was in London on business and found Time Machine #54 in a well-known guitar shop, just by chance. Keep in mind that I had already purchased TM# 72 and was just waiting to take delivery, being that I’m here in the UK. What I did next was a little risky… possibly nuts. But you guessed it, after putting my hands on her, I loved it so much that I did a deal - and #54 was mine! The tone and feel was spot on, I couldn't believe it. Time Machine #72 arrived about a week later and she’s fantastic too. So, now there’s two Time Machines in my possession and I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself. I'm very, very happy that these amazing guitars… each have their own personality with subtle differences, just like the original Bursts do. The Doyle Coils PAF's are absolutely remarkable! With the original PAF's being a little hit or miss (and very expensive), you can trust the Doyle Coils will deliver every time... NO QUESTION! The Tom Doyle Time Machine is the closest to the Real Deal by some distance that I have ever played. I find it difficult to refer to them as Relics because they have their own vibe… and that's down to Tom, Max, and their team. Man do they know their stuff. I guess 50 years of experience directly with Mr. Les Paul himself will do that!
I'm sure if Gary was still with us, he would take the roof off with one of these beautiful beasts. For me the price tag is irrelevant, a guitar can either deliver or not… and these things deliver! I have not been inspired like this for many a year. Both TM #54 & #72 have the ability to “talk” to you just like the originals do. They are actually works of art in their own right. I think it's safe to say that I will be adding another Tom Doyle Time Machine to the collection in the near future. To be clear, I have never sent a message about any product before, but I feel that you guys go above and beyond the level… and that's a rare thing in today's market. Back in the day it was all about the passion & love for what we all did. I'm glad to see that the passion & love is still alive and kicking with you guys, and in what you do.
Well, life is still full of surprises and like I said, I'm inspired big time by these Time Machine Les Paul creations. Please keep me in the loop as to what you guys are up to, so I can get another one.
Cheers!
Keith Belassie-Page
Guitar Tech (UK)
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The Tom Doyle TIME MACHINE is "THE ULTIMATE LES PAUL GUITAR EXPERIENCE"
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN PART OF THE ACTUAL LES PAUL LEGACY...
Every single part, piece, widget, screw, and molecule of this guitar has been meticulously aged, relic’d, antiqued, and worn down… EVERYTHING! The Doyle crew does this not just for aesthetic reasons (although it does look mighty cool!), but to make the entire guitar “open up”, resonate, vibrate, and sing. No razor blade checking here, baby… it’s all REAL actual hot/cold weather checking and spider cracking that releases this vintage monster from its “shell”. The wood of the guitar comes alive, and the Doyle Coils PAF Humbucker pickups let you hear the very essence of the structure of the guitar itself… that’s why old, played down, vintage Les Paul guitars sound so damn amazing, and why these do too! It’s just like a REAL Vintage heavily played ’59 Burst… even the expert players and collectors agree.
We painstakingly age, wear, breakdown, and antique every single part, piece, component, nut, bolt, and screw. Everything on the guitar gets aged… just as 60+ year old guitar would get aged by time, use, wear, smoke, weather, sweat, bumps, and bruises… and just plain being played and played. No razor blades ever touch these beauties. We've been doing it this way 25+ years, way before any "Lab" finally decided to put down the razor blades and try to do what we've been doing all along.