NighthawkChris

When you say CG, we are talking about Guitar Center I take it. But yeah mine near me - 3 of them - are pretty bare as well. They seem to be more warehousing and doing online stuff or whatever. I don’t do a lot of business with GC because well, I just don’t. Maybe some pro audio stuff or a steal in their used stuff, but they are what they are. You look at their Gibson Custom stuff a lot of these ML guitars and seems to be what they’re getting. Music Zoo, sure some other shops are getting the same MLs. Oh well, I’m a used guitar purchaser mostly as this suits me best I feel. Overall just wondering is this is the trend to hype these by releasing only these guitars for their Custom Shop selection. Pure speculation at this point on my behalf.

@SteveFord yeah it just seemed where I was looking around at a few different shops that sell Gibson Custom Shop guitars only were getting in all these relics only. Well I don’t think people are rushing to the stores to get these latest releases. Could be wrong but I don’t think so.

So all new Custom Shop guitars being sold at stores are these Murphy Lab guitars - so it seems. Reissues were expensive, now the only option for a reissue is to pay a relic premium... This is why I buy used most of the time. But seems today if you wanted a new 58 reissue, you’re gonna get one aged and spend in the area of $7500! Not in the market for one, but even an SG north of $5k... We’ve talked about the extra labor and costs etc with this, but not thrilled with the decision to only put out relics that cost more than the VOS Historics. Seems like a price hike of sorts if you’re a guy who goes for new.

@Dub-T-123, looks real good man well done! Nice thread too glad you’re sharing what you’re working on here - much appreciated.

I can’t believe y’all... you all know that owning a beat to hell guitar from iconic Gibson with flat frets with little to no life on them, bent bridge, broken tuners, and a broken case to transport it plays better than any guitar ever... what’s with you all! Remember, it’s vintage!

Haha you think the most inappropriate thing here is talking about fenders. Welcome to the forum and a lot of us love guitars of all makes. Oh to be on topic, my avatar is the Nighthawk I had a heck of a search to locate it. The nicest NH I own... for now haha!

Oh wow! I’m jealous 😁

@rct looks cool man and glad you got a Strat you’ve been missing for quite some time! I think Strats are one of the best guitars of all time because there’s quite a few different things you can do to them to change them up - a lot more than a Les Paul it seems. Either way man, hope you get everything you hope for out of that git right there.

Have to be honest I have no experience with those but looks pretty nice. Trems can definitely be used tastefully in a lot of music. You got some pretty nice guitars too! Question I have is if you break a string do the others go all out of whack? You know, like a floating FR will... I’m guessing no as it will only go downward.

Lol! I’m glad we had this conversation 😂

Nice! I’m sure you don’t dive bomb all over the place with those haha!

I don’t get into dive bombing haha! I don’t like the super high pitched squeals either. But in the end I hate going through the motions with these f’n things to string change and set up... Fenders are a bit better but FRs are just like F-u-*-*!!! I prefer hard tails or the like. Way easier to set up and not sabotaging yourself once a string breaks during a performance or something. Sucks to have this happen any way you cut it but you basically have to stop whatever you’re doing on stage and start fuming if you’re a floater guy haha!

That’s just the thing. Some like trems, some don’t. I just hate seeing people who use it set it up like s***. Bridges sinking in the body and stuff like that... they take extra time and care to set up properly hence why they aren’t for everyone. String changes are more work, if it’s floating and spring breaks, while guitar is out of tune... I actually bought some proper tools to set up a trem so it’s a bit easier for me these days but again, it’s not as nice to work with as a hard tail or something of the like. Ive also seen it where 5 springs in the trem and all them cranked into the body where you get strange noises when you play. That’s the springs making banjos of themselves. Just need enough tension in the springs again balanced with the strings. That’s the name of the game...

@Dub-T-123, just wanted to mention what drives me absolutely crazy when I see this with tremolos whether it be a FR, Fender, whatever... when I set up one of these I do not like it when the springs in the back of the guitar are making a “V” shape with 3 springs. I don’t know why people do this, but the spring in the middle does way less work than the outside 2 do. Literally no point in having this in there at that point. I show people that it does nothing because I cannot use my hands to remove the outside 2 springs, but I can grab the center spring and take it out with my bare hands - no tools. The right way to use 3 springs is to make them all be straight to get the benefit of each spring doing equal work. Not sure if you knew about this but wanted to share this anyhow for someone else who doesn’t know about this. My advice in this case is do it the right way, cuz now you know - lay all 3 in straight. The idea is and always has been to make each spring equally contribute to the tension on the bridge to counteract the string tension.

Hi @bd24 welcome to the forum. Nice to hear you like your new LP and hope for many years of enjoyment playing it. What kind of effects are you particularly interested in and what kind of amp do you have? A good amp is the most important thing because of you are lacking here, it’s going to be tough to make everything work. This is definitely a good way to step up your game. Of course the amp you get should complement the types of music you play.

You’re gonna have to be more specific than 2014 Gibson Les Paul... you should learn what you have first before you start to value it. And this isn’t a great place to get a starting price for your guitar. Look for listings of the same guitar you have on reverb, eBay, Craigslist, etc. not trying to be a jerk but really seems common sense that if you are worried about selling anything in life for too little or too much you have to know what you’re selling and compare to the market to understand the whole supply-demand part of this. To add you could post pictures of your guitar here to know what kind of Les Paul you have (Classic, Standard, etc). Condition will also affect your price and does it include a case - which again it’s condition may play a factor in the final price. There’s no real price to list guitars I’ve learned over time. It usually depends on what you are comfortable selling it for and what someone is willing to pay. But again, knowing what you have and comparing to other listings at stores, online, etc is the best way to get started. If you sit on it for a while, drop the price a bit and see if you get any response to that.

Yup and if anyone has seen what they do to relic these guitars it takes more time and such. Labor is usually the most expensive part of any business typically... But as I have said, not my thing and I like poking fun at them. I’m in the camp where I understand the cost but I’m saying that I just don’t have it in me to muster up the dough for one. It wouldn’t be worth it to me in other words.

@Dub-T-123, ask away haha! A lot of people have their issues with the floating trems but if one has patience to set it up with the right tools and understand how to balance the strings with the springs, you got it from there on out. Anyhow don’t hesitate to ask would be a pleasure to help 😀

The CST3s are ebony. The one with the trem is RW as it is an ST3.

That’s the limited run 2009. I’ve seen a few of these recently but I haven’t had bad enough GAS to pull the trigger on it. Then again, I have enough guitars and more guitars means more maintenance haha! Although I’ve been debating what guitar I might want next - that GAS bothering me again... It’s a disease 😂 only cured with a nice purchase or four

Bring back the Nighthawk - not just the Epiphone NH. I'd be geeked to buy a new NH, but probably will never happen in the Gibson lineup. And if they were brought back, do it like they were in the 90s. I don't like those 2011 or 2013 models and I don't like the Epi-hawks. While they're at it, bring back the Blueshawk. It's a love it or hate it guitar, but I know the used market is pretty hot for NHs - if they're priced right. The rare ones go very fast. I was lucky when I bought my CST3... Literally SCOURED the web to find a shop that had one. I ended up finding one backwoods shop in Montana that had a CST3. Total luck, but glad I found it It's my avatar FYI. Here's a better image of my 3 NHs. Hard to see the figuring on the one in the middle because the red is so dark, but up close it has some nice patterns going on like it does in the amber finished spot. The one with the trem is pretty plain, but still it is a nice player. The one on the left has a flamed top like CSTs do, but it's one of those flames that only comes out in the right lighting. This one is a little bit more beat up than the other 2.

Mur-fee lab guitars

OK, maybe not a belt sander, but clearly parts of the guitar where they wear away finish to the bare wood - and clearly noticeable dings on various locations (heavy aged especially). This is a relic... I see TONS of these now on Reverb and you pay a few K more for this labor to relic. Belt sander, whatever, there is finish missing around the headstock edges, worn finish on the backs of these guitars, etc. Chemicals... what then I wonder... It is mechanically wearing down a finish prematurely. I'm with you on the immaculate guitar bit though. That's my flavor of new guitar. Always has been, always will. I own 2 R9s, 2 R7s and a 68RI. Love their Historics, but none are Gibson issued relics. The VOS is typically the way these Historics come but the finishes are perfect on these with some crap on the HW to make it look old. You can even polish that crap out if you so choose. And with you on the cases. They aren't as protective as they could be IMHO. This is why I have a dedicated non-Gibson case to transport to wherever when the need arises.

To the point of buying relics, but used... better prices and you deal with someone else's fu**ery. Dings, scratches, etc at a discount because you know how bad people are hurting for money these days... Screw buying a $7k reissue that was put in Gibsons freezer and razor bladed “strategically”... You know the guys relicing these guitars probably laugh hysterically when they make these haha! They’re like, “Can you believe someone’s gonna buy this s*** for more than I make in a month!” Then they continue to take the sanding belt to that beautiful base finish on some beautiful flamed maple...

Wow that’s a real nice strat right there! I’m jealous haha! Congrats and enjoy for many years!