94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

[richard parker]

I'm sure I remember reading that the early nineties LPs were some of the best made 'modern' Gibsons.

What do you think of thus for $2500 ?

http://www.oldschoolguitars.co.uk/shop/view_product.html?prod=2684

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I've heard only good things about the early nineties Gibsons, but I think this one has a little too much buckle rash to go for $2,500.

 

[formula73]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I'm with him. I know it's the UK and all, but that's still a bit steep, imho, especially for plain-jane black.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I have a '96 Standard (my #1) and a '91 Classic and they are both excellent.

I'm not really up to date with used Gibson prices, haven't bought one for a while, but that does seem a bit expensive to me, especially considering the amount of wear and tear. You've got to play it to decide whether it's worth it to you, but I would definitely go in low on the price and cite the condition.

If that guitar is stock it will have 490R/498T pickups and 300K linear volumes - first thing I would do is fit CTS 500K audio pots all round plus better pickups.

I love my 90s LPs though!

 

[Bludave]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I have a 1990 Le standard. I love the guitar especially since I put Alnico II Slash pickups in it. Its a great playing & sounding guitar. $2500 is way too much for that. I bought mine used in 91 & paid $600.00 for it!

here it is after I blacked it all out.

Here it is (right) before I changed the pickups & the blackout.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

Hell ****ing no! Try half that, at most. They were good guitars, but come on! They are no more valuable than any other LP Standard built within the last 25 years. I say $1,500 to $1,600 for a very nice one, and go down from there. I'd probably offer $800 to $1000 for that one if it had turned up on Craig's List (where it would have been listed for $1,200).

 

[JOLLY]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I'm with him. I know it's the UK and all, but that's still a bit steep, imho, especially for plain-jane black.

That's pretty much what I was going to say.

 

[metlking]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

Paid $1300 for a black Standard last year.........

 

[JeffB]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

My best production standard was a 1989 or1990. Far better than any production i had previous or since. Price sounds high though. You can buy a used r7/8 for that.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

$1500 tops.

$2500 is twice what it's worth.

In any case try it before you buy it. There is a lot of wear and that headstock has been banged around a lot. Check for cracks.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I think that if you could get them down to $2000 it would be a good deal.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

Bear in mind guys that this is the UK and we do pay more for American-made guitars here than you do in the USA.

My '96 Standard was £1000 ($1580) new in Jan '97. My '91 Classic was an eBay bargain at £850 ($1350) in 2004. I was really lucky with that auction - I expected it to go over £1000.

Like I said, I'm out of touch with current prices but I wouldn't expect to pay less than £1100 ($1740) for a USA Standard. Also, this is a shop, not a private seller and they are always more expensive.

Having said that, I think £1549 is too much. Given the current economy (it's gotta be a buyers' market!) and the condition of that guitar I wouldn't be afraid to start with an insultingly low offer and see how desperate he is to shift it. Also keep on the look out for others to compare it with.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I think that if you could get them down to $2000 it would be a good deal.

That's £1265, and I think you're right.

 

[richard parker]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I didn't realise that guitars of that period came with the 490/498 pups. If I buy a guitar for anywhere near that price I would definitely get Bare Knuckle pups for it which would set me back another £200 or more so it's starting to look considerably less attractive.

 

[Varg]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

Man if that was a good deal you would be so Orpheo'd (did you not learn any lessons from that thread?)

 

[d1dsj]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

It does seem on the high side and as you say you'll throw some BKP's in... I'd forget that one and wait.

 

[oilpit]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

They are THE best modern Gibsons...

Excellent deal...

 

[JOLLY]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

I didn't realise that guitars of that period came with the 490/498 pups.

The Standards did. The Classics didn't. Also, those Standards have the fatter, somewhat 50's type neck as opposed to the Classics having the slim taper neck.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

Way to much for the basic LP.

Also, we really need to get over the "Is this a good year" thing. Any three LP's from any year/period will vary in sound. The only way to know is to listen to it. The year only tells the most general of info regarding construction.

There are Swiss cheese that slay any solid you'll find, there are Norlins that are just amazing, there are all sorts.

But any standard that +20 years is a < 2k guitar no matter what. Especially a black one.

 

[lex666]

Re: 94 Les Paul Standard - good deal ?

No, I wouldn't buy it. For that kind of $$$ you can get a new one.

This one has too much wear on the back for my taste. And it looks like it might have had a headstock repair (above the S-O-N in Gibson).

Plain color, too much buckle rash. I'd pass. YMMV.