Re: If you had the money, would you spend it on a Les Paul Custom ?
The answer is yes. Or no.
Look....if you're pulling money out of an IRA, or you don't even HAVE an IRA...forget it. If your kids are going hungry and without shoes then prepare to be *****-slapped. If you have ageing parents that are going to need expensive in-home or nursing home care--hell no. If you're not sure where next month's rent check is coming from because of your crack habit--well, probably not.
My name is Bill and I am 64 years old and I am a guitar addict. ("Hello, Bill!")
I have been playing since I was 15 years old, and made my living as a professional musician for many years. I have no children, and my parents are deceased. I have no retirement fund other than my guitars. Guitar is my only vice--I don't fish, hunt, ski, or drive a muscle car, I don't ride a Harley, or own a sailboat, or collect Patek Philippe or vintage Rolex watches.
I currently own 54 guitars, and eleven of them are Les Pauls. I would say that my favorite Pauls are the four Custom Shop Historic models I own. I have a new 2005 R8 Gloss Plain Top, a used 2006 R9, and two of the 2009 Guitar Center 1960 VOS Plain Top Tobacco Bursts, bought new. My Number One guitars though, are G&L Legacys. The most I have ever spent on a Les Paul is $2,400. The most expensive guitar I have ever bought was a nearly new blonde ES-335 at $2500. I take fastidious care of my guitars, and I prefer new guitars over vintage or "relic-ed" instruments.
I do not own a Custom, though I do own two similar LP Supremes that were new guitars with headstocks broken in shipping. I was able to buy them from Guitar Center years ago for pennies on the dollar. These Supremes have similar necks, appointments, and pickups as the current Customs, but they have a chambered body with a 5A flame maple top front and back. So they are noticeably thicker than a regular Paul.
I owned a Norlin-era LP '55 Special Reissue and while that was a decent guitar, count me among those who do not care for the Norlin-era Gibsons. I think for the most part, Gibson has been building some of their best instruments even over the last 15 years or so.
I have always loved the look of a Custom, but I have never found one that I've bonded with. I have a couple of issues with the Customs. They do sound different than the Standard and the Historics; a more focused and sustaining tone, rounder and less dynamic than the airy resonance of my Historics. I don't like the 490R/498T pickups...my Root Beer Supreme sounds so much better with Seth Lovers. The Supreme has the same rounded neck profile of the current Custom model, and while it's not my favorite, I can work with it. And the other issue is weight.
None of my Pauls weigh over 9.3 lbs., but I have consistently seen Customs weigh over 10 lbs. That's a big difference when it's hanging around your neck all night. The chambered Supremes are under 9 lbs. Guitar Center had a run of Customs a few years ago--1968 Reissues with 1960 Slim Taper necks and Classic '57 pickups in the Tri-Burst finish and I wanted one SO BAD--but every one I played was well over 10 lbs.
Over the years, I have bought a lot of used instruments. I save my money and wait until the right thing comes along, and bargain as hard as I can. I've gotten some really great deals over the years--there's something to be said for letting the original owner take the depreciation hit. I have been very lucky in finding some very beautiful instruments, and hopefully over time, they will appreciate. Buy low, sell high.
There is certainly something to be said owning and playing a high-quality instrument--otherwise you could buy a Stradivarius violin for 50 bucks, and the orchestra players would be playing on bluegrass fiddles. Playing a great guitar can be motivating--both in technique and spiritually. You don't see Carlos Santana playing an Epiphone--he plays an instrument befitting his skill, his wealth and his talent. I don't think it's a matter of endorsement money, either. I think he is really bonded with his signature PRS guitar--it gives him the tone and playability he needs, and I think he takes great joy in playing that particular guitar. So a PRS Santana costs what, $5-6 K? How can that be a great value? Well, to Carlos--it is. He's EARNED it.
So I would say that if you really want a $4,000 LP Custom and you can truly afford it (please re-read my first paragraph!), they yes, go for it. If this is the instrument of your dreams, and you have played enough guitars over the years to really understand your needs; if you are mature enough to make a responsible, adult decision based on something other than, "I want that.", then go for it.
If you can't wait to get it home to sand off and shave the neck...don't do it. If you're planning on adding a Floyd Rose...don't. If you are constantly swapping pickups on every guitar you own trying to find "your tone"...don't. If you're going to whining in six months that it doesn't sound like a Strat/Tele/D-28/Gretsch/Rickenbacker/Jazz Box...you're not ready. If you think that owning a $4,000 guitar will get you a gig on David Letterman or an invitation to Daryl's house...don't. If you think that once you get this guitar, you'll be a better player or get more girls...don't. If you're only playing cowboy chords in the first position and think scales are something you scrape off a fish--wait a while for the guitar, but do spend some of that money NOW on lessons.
You are the only one who knows if this is the right decision for you. For myself, I would probably look to buy another Historic with that kind of money in my pocket. (Heck, I'd love to have one of the $9,000 Joe Walsh Sig. Les Pauls, but I probably wouldn't take it to my gigs, LOL!) I do think your best value lies in either a used Custom in the $2,200 to $2,700 range, or a used Historic Flame Top R8, R9 or R0 Paul. And no way would I spend that kind of money on a one-of-a-kind guitar from a custom no-name builder--absolutely not.
No matter what you decide, enjoy the journey. You're probably going to learn a lot about yourself as you go through this process. Hopefully, you'll come out of it a better person with a much better understanding of yourself and your needs. Good luck.
Bill
If I had the dough though, I wouldn't think twice. 'T would be MINE!
