'81 Lp

JB_From_Hell

Jomo's Nimions
Was 1981 a bad year for Lesters? I'm looking at one, it's a beat up Silverburst, and from the pics it appears to be a Studio (no binding, dot inlays). Dude wants $550.

Can somebody tell me how to post the pics so I can get some input?
 
Re: '81 Lp

JB_From_Hell said:
Was 1981 a bad year for Lesters? I'm looking at one, it's a beat up Silverburst, and from the pics it appears to be a Studio (no binding, dot inlays). Dude wants $550.

Can somebody tell me how to post the pics so I can get some input?


There was no Studio in 1981, it should have binding. IMO the 80's were bad for Gibson...My Moderne is from 83 and I think the only thing that saved it is that it's a reissue from what would become the historic division. That said the things I do not like about 80LP's is the skinny necks, heavy bodies and the pickups...if you like the neck and do not mind the weight...pop in some Duncans and call it a day! I would say that the guitar is worth $550.00 easy, I would buy it for that if I were in the market for an LP and if by the grace of God it didn't weight oo much and had some what of a fat neck on it!
 
Re: '81 Lp

Here's the pics I have. I'm not buying it based soley on them. It's a local guy, so I'll get to see/play it first.

BTW, thanks to Curly for schooling my ignorant ass on how to post pics in a thread :)
 
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Re: '81 Lp

Wouldn't that be an '83 by the serial number? Anyways, I think $550 is a good deal. I've been wanting to get an old studio at a good price just so I can have it painted in some crazy haloflake paint job.
 
Re: '81 Lp

Unless the back of neck pic has a strange line on it, it looks like the head has a crack where it joins the neck
 
Re: '81 Lp

msplines said:
Unless the back of neck pic has a strange line on it, it looks like the head has a crack where it joins the neck
You're right....it does look like the headstock has been broken.
 
Re: '81 Lp

JOLLY said:
You're right....it does look like the headstock has been broken.
Yeah, I forgot, but he mentioned that in the ad. So, assuming I'm not really worried about the resale, and totally going for a player to hang onto for years to come, and assuming the repair was done well, is it still a good deal?
 
Re: '81 Lp

JOLLY said:
I think so, but $500 would be even better.;)
I was thinking about doing that, anyway :) Now I just gotta get somebody to buy all the guitars I'm selling so I can start haggling with this dude... :D

I'm hoping that broken headstock scares off everybody else in the meantime.
 
Re: '81 Lp

Looks like a Special to me. Weird control cavity cover so I am not sure. Seems cool enough $500 would be fantastic so $550 certainly isn't bad.
 
Re: '81 Lp

Wattage said:
Looks like a Special to me. Weird control cavity cover so I am not sure. Seems cool enough $500 would be fantastic so $550 certainly isn't bad.


Thats kind of what I thought, but I've never seen a Special in Sliverburst...maybe I have now!
 
Re: '81 Lp

E-mail the pics to the guys at customer support at Gibson..they can help you figure out what model it is...also include the serial number
 
Re: '81 Lp

Sadly, Gibson has no records of serial numbers (at least for shipping totals) after 1979; Maybe for more recent productions, though. Still, they may be able to identify the guitar. You might as well buy it. It seems that every piece of crud made over twenty years ago is worth some money today. 1981 though was the start of a period where it seems Gibson couldn't get any worse, and proved everyone wrong!
 
Re: '81 Lp

Its not a Les Paul. it has another name and I can't remember what it's called (although it looks like a Les Paul). I hate those old silverbursts because anymore they are pukebursts as the silver nitrocellulouse clear coat oxidizes and adds a yellowing to it, that combined with silver appears green - pukeburst :)

Gibson was owned by a south American company called Norlin during the 70's and early 80's until Henry and company bought it out (as it was dying) and revived it to what it is today. Most considered the Norlin era Gibsons crappy, but now that many have crossed the 25 year mark, they qualify for the "vintage" name and thus are costing more just for that status.
 
Re: '81 Lp

TattooedCarrot said:
Its not a Les Paul. it has another name and I can't remember what it's called (although it looks like a Les Paul). I hate those old silverbursts because anymore they are pukebursts as the silver nitrocellulouse clear coat oxidizes and adds a yellowing to it, that combined with silver appears green - pukeburst :)

Gibson was owned by a south American company called Norlin during the 70's and early 80's until Henry and company bought it out (as it was dying) and revived it to what it is today. Most considered the Norlin era Gibsons crappy, but now that many have crossed the 25 year mark, they qualify for the "vintage" name and thus are costing more just for that status.
Thanks man. Given all this info, I think I'm gonna pass. :)
 
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