Gibson Les Paul dating?

B

B2D

SDUGF Riffologist Supremö
I found a really cool old oxblood-color Les Paul Custom for about $2000 in the local boutique shop. It's very worn and the tuners and knobs have been changed (and a mini-switch added) but the guitar sounds awesome and plays REALLY great.

the serial number was 514120... Made in USA was stamped on the back of the headstock. Can anyone tell me how old it is? Or if the guitar is worth $1999 w/case included?
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

I wouldn't date any guitar over the age of twenty.... Then they get out of my age bracket... :smack:

(consider this a bump :laugh2: )
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

darkshadow54321 said:
I wouldn't date any guitar over the age of twenty.... Then they get out of my age bracket... :smack:

(consider this a bump :laugh2: )
Click to expand...

beat me to it
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

hahaha
if it was using the epiphone dating system it would be a '52.
first and fifth numbers.

How unfrortunate.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

bryvincent said:
between 1974 and 1975 according to this site:
http://www.rexc.com/services/gibson_serial.htm
Click to expand...

That's about what I thought as well.

As far as the actual value of the guitar... as I said it's an Oxblood colored Les Paul custom. It's got a pretty good amount of wear on it... probably 5 out of 10 cosmetically but it still looks classy. The tuners have been replaced with Grovers (I always thought Customs came with grovers anyway; there's empty mounting hold from whatever was on there before... maybe someone tried a different kind and put grovers back on... they're not new, old and worn) and the knobs have been replaced as well but I'd want to change them to amber barrel types. The pots need a thourough cleaning too as some of them are stiff and crackly. Plus it looks as if the guitar was rewired at some point. only one tone knob work (the other is a master) and there's a now-defunct mini switch in there.

From a close inspection there's been no major breaks or cracks (plenty of dings and chips though) and it looks as if the guitar has been refretted once. The neck plays nice and the frets are very good... The neck plays niiiice! As for the tone itself... round and smooth and fat; very voluptuous. One of the nicest tones I've ever gotten out of a Paul. I compared a brand new Custom and it sounded a very close but not as buttery and a 1960 Classic model was thin-shounding by comparison. I played this old '70s custom thru a Vibro King and it just oozed warm jazz tones.
But based purely on the amount of wear and the rewiring mod, is the guitar worth $2000 with the case? It's not like I'm not gonna grind anyway but what do you think would be a fair price?

Lets see what Gearjoneser has to say here... ;)
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

Unless it sounds and plays like a monster it isn't worth 2k. You're talking some of the weaker years for Gibson (funny how it mirroed the US car industry isn't it). Straight value I would guess $1200-1400 if the oxblood isn't a refin, $1000-1200 if it is.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

It's definitely not a refin... and seeing as the hardware and electronics have been fooled with wouldn't that lower the value even further? I'm seeing similar guitars on ebay that are in much better shape with all original hardware and electronics going from anywhere betwee 1200-1400 bux.

However, the thing IS one of the nicest playing Pauls I've ever encountered and the sound is gorgeous.

But judging by what people have said here I think I shall move on and leave this one alone. :sad:

Normally most of the reason i do not like Les Pauls stems from the thicker , finished necks and the low frets but a lot of older LP's I've tried have nice BIG frets and slimmer necks, which I dig. The LP standards of today are nice sounding but the necks and the frets don't do it for me. New LP customs are better but still don't feel as good to me as older ones.

Now that I think about it I don't really know LPs history like i do Strats. Can anyone tell me or give me any resources as to what "good" years for post-1969 Les Pauls are or give me some things to look for/avoid?
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

B2D said:
However, the thing IS one of the nicest playing Pauls I've ever encountered and the sound is gorgeous.

But judging by what people have said here I think I shall move on and leave this one alone. :sad:
Click to expand...

Make them an offer of what you think it's worth. They can only say No. :)

The advantage to you with this guitar over the ones on Ebay is that you've played it and you know you like it. (This advice comes to you from someone who's nervously awaiting the one he just bought on Ebay.... :nervous: )
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

B2D said:
Seriously? Got pics?
Click to expand...

Yeah....

http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-536F.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-537F.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-539F.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-540F.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-541F.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~iandove/MVC-542F.JPG

Right now, it is "non stock" in appearance, which I can easily change. It has had about $500 worth of setup work done by the very best guy I could find in Nashville (new nut, new Dunlop 6105 frets, etc). It would come with the original bridge, knobs, switch ring and tip. I have the original neck pickup that can be set up covered or coverless. The price includes one of the following Duncans in the bridge (your choice): Custom, CC, C-3, C-4 (assuming I can buy a mag off Lew), C-5, Screamin' Demon, Pearly Gates, or I might let you have access to my coveted 8.7k double creme Antiquity with any magnet of your choosing. :)
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

*Head spins* ...:eyecrazy:

gimmie some time to study this at home, k? (at school right now) ;)
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

You could find a nice used Historic '57 RI for $1700, maybe $1600 from a motivated seller. Best bang for the buck if you want to stay with a Les Paul.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

Tweed said:
You could find a nice used Historic '57 RI for $1700, maybe $1600 from a motivated seller. Best bang for the buck if you want to stay with a Les Paul.
Click to expand...
Good tip... but I'm actually a Strat kinda man. :laugh: ;)

I've spent some time with the '57 RIs and while they're very handsome guitars the neck is too big for me... i have small hands and those bigger necks are REALLY uncomfortable for me.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul dating?

Yeah, big necks for the most part. I got lucky and found a R7 with a neck very close to a friend's real '59 burst. Very comfy, but unusual to find. Hey, if the guitar you found really speaks to you, go for it. Otherwise, it's waaay overpriced.
 
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