If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

[El Supremo]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

I remember 15 years ago when I started getting interested in Les Pauls, the Norlin-era ones were considered pure garbage but some foretold (I believe I was one of them) that "age" would turn things around and they'd start being highly regarded just because they'd get older... guess we were right.

Really? Over here, I notice people generally preferring late 80's and 90's LPC's and they tend to sell for more than a Norlin-era LPC. I just happen to prefer Norlins for the maple neck and the slight difference in sound it makes to me.
I remember people complaining how CBS-era strats /w the big headstocks were crap too, but I've heard guys pull off some very nice tones playing those as well as some guys playing Norlins.

 

[AlexR]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

In the last 10 years, I've seen 70s Gibsons nearly double in selling prices. This was largely motivated by the "pre-Norlin" guitars going higher and higher. People want a used LPC, but the pre-Norlins are out of reach, so they start bidding wars for Norlins. More people want one, so bids go higher and higher. Eventually that's the new selling price, which was what they were willing to pay for pre-Norlins, but wouldn't give you half that for a Norlin.

Suddenly, Norlins aren't that bad.

A bad guitar is a bad guitar, even if it says Gibson on the head.

Today's crap is always crap, and old crap is always better. It's still crap, but it's old, so that, by virtue of age alone, makes it not as crappy as the new crap.

And a heavy guitar is not always the best for tone. Mass = sustain, but a heavy guitar also has a thinner tone. But as long as you're happy with it.

All of this theoretical stuff is great, but I'd like to augment my previous post with some practical experience I've had

.......and my experience is that the three Norlin era Gibsons I've bought (74LP custom, 80 Deluxe, 85 SG) have all been superb guitars, and have great tone. You'll notice my spread is from the three main construction eras. Both the LP's are right on 10lbs, which are on the heavy side, but not excessive either for now or the 70s/80s.
This contrasts with the Henry J ones I have/ have owned in the past (92 Standard, 99 SG, 2006 Studio, 2012 Trad+, 2011 SG 60s Tribute, 2011 LP 60s Trib). Of these I will certainly keep the 2006 Studio as I bought it with a neck crack and resale would be poor regardless. Of the others they have either already been sold or are getting sold off...... the standard really had very poor drive and sustain, the 99 SG was just a dud, the 60s Trib SG was dark and a bit dull, the 60s trib LP lacks mids and push, the 2012 trad+ has great sustain but has a dull neck/bright bridge tone no matter what you do.

So, have I just managed to get lucky/unlucky about 10 times in a row (and before you ask I'm lefty so I have to take what I can get, and the Norlins were all purchased sight unseen from halfway across the world after I had the Henry J ones).

 

[El Supremo]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

All of this theoretical stuff is great, but I'd like to augment my previous post with some practical experience I've had

.......and my experience is that the three Norlin era Gibsons I've bought (74LP custom, 80 Deluxe, 85 SG) have all been superb guitars, and have great tone. You'll notice my spread is from the three main construction eras. Both the LP's are right on 10lbs, which are on the heavy side, but not excessive either for now or the 70s/80s.
This contrasts with the Henry J ones I have/ have owned in the past (92 Standard, 99 SG, 2006 Studio, 2012 Trad+, 2011 SG 60s Tribute, 2011 LP 60s Trib). Of these I will certainly keep the 2006 Studio as I bought it with a neck crack and resale would be poor regardless. Of the others they have either already been sold or are getting sold off...... the standard really had very poor drive and sustain, the 99 SG was just a dud, the 60s Trib SG was dark and a bit dull, the 60s trib LP lacks mids and push, the 2012 trad+ has great sustain but has a dull neck/bright bridge tone no matter what you do.

So, have I just managed to get lucky/unlucky about 10 times in a row (and before you ask I'm lefty so I have to take what I can get, and the Norlins were all purchased sight unseen from halfway across the world after I had the Henry J ones).

Right on! :beerchug:

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

I would never pay that for a new one.

I would buy used.

Or even better, an Historic.

Or even better better, a used Historic.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

For 4k you could go to a well known luthier and have one made any way you want.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Yep. I sure would. Only if they still offer the silverburst finish though.

There you go...

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/products/cs201826.php?CategoryID=52&n=7

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

The regular custom model is swiss-cheesed with a Nashville TOM.

I'd rather spend the money on a historic.

+1. If you're gonna spend that kind of money, go big.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

There you go...

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/products/cs201826.php?CategoryID=52&n=7

Two things wrong with that. First of all, a Les Paul Silverburst should have either chrome or nickle hardware. Second of all, a Les Paul Custom Silverburst should have an ebony fretboard.

This is why we can't have nice things Gibson.

 

[Securb]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Nope, I would buy two Traditionals instead.

I would go this route as well.

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Two things wrong with that. First of all, a Les Paul Silverburst should have either chrome or nickle hardware. Second of all, a Les Paul Custom Silverburst should have an ebony fretboard.

This is why we can't have nice things Gibson.

I completely agree. Who thought it was a good idea to put gold hardware on a silver guitar?

 

[uOpt]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Two things wrong with that. First of all, a Les Paul Silverburst should have either chrome or nickle hardware. Second of all, a Les Paul Custom Silverburst should have an ebony fretboard.

This is why we can't have nice things Gibson.

This is outrageous.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

. . . i'm listening

Bottom line is that IMO new guitar in general are a bad deal...

Buy used and the the fool that bought new take the hit.




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[mojosman]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

I'm more of a Les Paul Classic or Standard guy. Customs aren't my thing. Of course I really can't afford either. The only Les Paul I have is a Studio model, but it is modded to my tastes, and I love it.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Ok, being a primarily Strat/Superstrat guy I can't really talk in depth about the differences between the LP Traditional, Custom and Historic but I do believe I CAN talk about spending 4K on a guitar which is a lot but not CRAZY lot.
That said, HELL NO. Based on the facts that (in order of importance IMHO):

- For 4K you can get a top-notch luthier/boutique builder to build you a one-off instrument to your EXACT specs. Just not with "Gibson" written on the headstock (unless you cheat of course which you can but that's beyond the scope of this mental exercise).
- You can buy an off-the-shelf guitar with pretty much the same specs and of the same quality for half that (or even less, depending on the manufacturer and country of origin) as long as you're ok with it not having "Gibson" written on the headstock.
- You can buy a used/lightly used/as new Gibson LP Custom for appreciably less (still more than #2 but if you want "Gibson" on the headstock, well, there you have it).

So, that said, yeah, why?

 

[Ascension]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Really? Over here, I notice people generally preferring late 80's and 90's LPC's and they tend to sell for more than a Norlin-era LPC. I just happen to prefer Norlins for the maple neck and the slight difference in sound it makes to me.
I remember people complaining how CBS-era strats /w the big headstocks were crap too, but I've heard guys pull off some very nice tones playing those as well as some guys playing Norlins.

Norin era guitars were really hit or miss as quality control was just bad in that era.
I worked for a dealer and personal 2 saw guitars with bridges so far off it was imposable to get them to play right.
Also the multi piece bodies and other factors make that era the worst for quality in Gibson's history.
Are there some gems that made it through "accidentally" yep but for every good one 10 were dogs because they flat did not care about anything but $. The picture you get today of that era is not accurate as many of the real POS guitars from that era are gone today and the better examples are the ones that have survived.
It was the same thing that Harley Davidson when through when AMF owned them and you today rarely see an AMF era Harley on the road today.
Today for the kind of $ we are talking for a Les Paul Custom I would find a used one or go somewhere else and buy something like a Heritage, Carvin or PRS. The higher end Gibsons are just overpriced and there are better options on the bang for the $ and quality fronts.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Norin era guitars were really hit or miss as quality control was just bad in that era.
I worked for a dealer and personal 2 saw guitars with bridges so far off it was imposable to get them to play right.
Also the multi piece bodies and other factors make that era the worst for quality in Gibson's history.

The pancaked bodies were discontinued in '77 (if I remember right) and the volute dissappeared in '82 (which was also the last year that featured the maple necks).
Just out of curiosity, what other factors are we talking about? Cosmetics, wiring, pickups?
The one thing that does bug me, is that bridge isn't grounded. Should go and get that fixed one of these days.

 

[DTrane]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

buy a cheep klone and spend the rest of the money on a good amp

 

[brunogio]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

For that money I would get a mid 90s Standard (which I have), put Seth Lovers in it and be happy. Actually I did that.

But if I could snag a mid 90s Custom, I would love it too. I've never been a fan of the gold finish hardware though.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

A LP Custom USED to be my dream LP. The look just oozes class and all my life Ive seen so many great things played on them. However.. Quite a few years ago, when they were still running about $1999 (20 yrs prolly), I did some back to back testing and found that other than looks, they just didnt have anything special over some other models to justify the price. Im no longer sure I would buy one unless I got an older one at a great deal. Id go either historic or look for a purple widow..

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?

Bottom line is that IMO new guitar in general are a bad deal...

Buy used and the the fool that bought new take the hit.

Yep. You don't have to be rich to own good things. You just have to be diligent enough to figure out how to get it. You either want it or you don't.

I want a new house and a sports car. Just because I can't sign my name for them today doesn't mean I'm not taking steps to put it into action. I'll find a bank foreclosure fixer upper and salvage title auto if I have to.
I don't just give up because I think only rich people can have those things.