Les Paul Questions

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NL5

NL5

Unpossible!
Ok, I am not a guitar player - well, sorda, but I mainly play bass. Anyway, I want to buy a Les Paul for the studio, and for me to play around on. I am looking for an older model (used) that will hold or gain in value. What would you guys suggest? I have a budget of approx $2500 - maybe a bit more or less depending on the "deal". Is this even feasable? If not, what do you reccomend?

Thanks.
 
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$2500 will get you a SMOKIN' les paul. i'd sugest trying to get a les paul standard in the under $1500 price range. i see them all the time. i always liked standards way more than customs, for some reason. maybe it's because trapezoids are so much cooler than rectangles.

i used to have an '81 les paul standard (black) that i got for $599 15 years ago. i traded it in for $750 in 1995, which i put towards a $1000 1965 ludwig drumset. that was a 100% worthwhile trade, since i'm a drummer, but i still miss that guitar. i think the guitar probably sold for somewhere between $900 and $1100.
 
my2cents said:
i'd sugest trying to get a les paul standard in the under $1500 price range. i see them all the time. i always liked standards way more than customs, for some reason. maybe it's because trapezoids are so much cooler than rectangles.
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So, you think that will hold it's value or go up? That is kind of what I was thinking. I think the more "vintage" Pauls would be out of my league price-wise. I was just hoping there was a sleeper out there I could pick up cheap.
 
NL5 said:
So, you think that will hold it's value or go up? That is kind of what I was thinking. I think the more "vintage" Pauls would be out of my league price-wise. I was just hoping there was a sleeper out there I could pick up cheap.
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i'm not sure what is considered "vintage" these days. you're not likely to find anything older than the '80s that is affordable, unless it's really beat up. you never know, though. maybe the old lady down the street has one she'd sell for cheap. i believe virtually all les pauls will eventually go up in value, with the possible exception of the ones with '80s looking colors/finishes. stick with the classic look of sunburst, goldtop or black and you can't go wrong.
 
myself having worked with a Les Paul for a while its not that great of a guitar but... the other reason i do not like them is not really the guitar which i love the sound of! its the company that makes them... i have been in the Gibson plant more than once and every time the people who work there have been nasty and also i have seen that they do not work all that effecint in their shop, also they have been rather nasty to the guys i work with out on tour who use them every day! (i am not able to say names out here but these are guys who are known players) also the price over product is not that well balanced and as some one here would say "make sure you play it before you buy it" they are known for half jobs of setup and sometimes wiring and finish! yipes!
i myself like the Gretsch Jet for a little less money than an LP yeah its not the same tone but its most of the looks and a lot of the feel and the company has been nice to deal with so far. any way follow your heart and make good music in what ever you do.
 
Here's my standard, and, I guess, heretical position:

play 'em until you find one you like, then buy the damn thing!

Rant over.
 
The Horror!

Scroll down untill you get to the cross-sections of the neck pockets. I only know what I read in the thread, but, crap!

As for affordable "vintage," my '78 custom is a great LP. A little heavier than I'd like, but excellent overall, and you can get them all day for about half your budget. Funny thing is, when "I like my LP" threads come up, I keep seeing '78 customs. Must've been a good run in a dark (Norlin) era.

For Example
 
The Les paul is a nice guitar in general speak.
But it is not aguitar imo that warrants its hefty-ass price tag.
The Les Paul is the SPAM (yes, the food) of the guitar world...

"Either you love it or you hate it"

Now i assume, that becuase you are a bass player, you are buying this for mainly your studio, and use within it for clients.

You may be better off buying a really great amp, than a les paul guitar if your intention is to broaden your studios instrument lineup.

It seems clear that it is an issue for you to have the les paul appriciate in or hold its purchase value.

If you were to remove that as any type of buyers motivation, it might be easier to get a great Epiphone and still have an amazing amp too!

Just some thoughts...best of luck Gunnar.

-Finster
 
Chris -

Yes, that is my intent - and I do plan on buying a pretty killer amp as well. I have basically sunk a bunch of money into my studio, and have done it VERY carefully. I had money sitting in a savings account doing next to nothing. Now, that money is tied up in my "studio", but I can liquidate w/o losing any money if an emergencey arises. That is my approach on the Paul as well. It is just as much an investment, as it is a tool. I'm going to hit the Guitar shops this week, and make sure I like the guitar for me as well, as I do fool around a bit..... :D
 
NL5 said:
Chris -

Yes, that is my intent - and I do plan on buying a pretty killer amp as well. I have basically sunk a bunch of money into my studio, and have done it VERY carefully. I had money sitting in a savings account doing next to nothing. Now, that money is tied up in my "studio", but I can liquidate w/o losing any money if an emergencey arises. That is my approach on the Paul as well. It is just as much an investment, as it is a tool. I'm going to hit the Guitar shops this week, and make sure I like the guitar for me as well, as I do fool around a bit..... :D
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then get a used LP-Studio ... It does pretty much anything the more expensive one does - at half the price ... do you really want to pay $500 for binding?

- or do what the guy above said ... check out the GRETSCH Duo-Jets ... I put down my LP for one - and havent looked back

cheers
alfred
 
Heritage. The original Gibson workers, after they quit Norlin in disgust. Not cheap, but less absurdly priced than Gibson.
 
lol, actually Gibson moved all production to Nashville..they didnt quit, they were outsourced.

My 2 fat cents is this.

Ive owned a LOT of Les pauls...I've PLAYED even more that I didn't actually own. I *think* the 70's LP Customs are going to go up and up in value. But a good sample is very hard to find. I have toured with 2 different 70's LP Customs and they are cool guitars. BUT they're not the best Pauls ever made, not even close. So collectability VS playability is a big issue unless you're talking about the real high $$ pieces. A ten or eleven pound guitar isnt eberyones cup-o-tea. Although thats more of an issue live than in the studio.

Anyways, after owning several LP's from Studios to Stds, Deluxes to Customs...Ive finally settled on the one that really is better built, better playing, easier to play, and nicer sounding that all of them.

A PRS McCarty. :)

AND the Gibson vs. PRS lawsuit was just overturned and the PRS Singlecut is back in production. You really owe it to yourself to play a few of these and toss them into the mix as well. The build quality is just top notch, and they are so very easy to play on. they truly make any guitar player better just from their ease of play and great tone out of the box.

You know I'm not a Gibson hater, I LOVE my SGs. Heck, Ive owned more Pauls than most have all guitars combined. But I know when I have a superior guitar in my hands, too. Try it out.

H2H
 
Oh, and most important of all.

If you want to get your money back some day, for goodness sake buy used. If you buy a new one, you're going to have to wait on inflation growth to get your money out of it. Just wait until just the right deal comes along and snap on it. I got my mid 70's LP Custom for $1000, my 73 SG for about $650, and my McCarty 10 for $1200. These are all recent (last 2 years). Anytime you get a good deal to begin with, you've already won.

H2H
 
Lots of different opinions here - and here's another one.

If you are looking to put a *pro* studio together, you will not be taken seriously if your 'front-line' axe is a Gretsch.

It needs to be a highly-rated Gibson or Fender (or a boutique guitar like the PRS).

The best Les Paul I think you may be able to get into for your money is a used 30th Anniversary Goldtop re-issue.
Great guitars, and they will certainly go up in value.

If I was in your situation, I wouldn't get a Les Paul, however. I would get an early-80's ES-335 dot-neck re-issue. Very versatile guitars.
Now 20+ years old, nicely played in and with some mojo.
 
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