Guitar God Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Hey guys. My dad's friend has a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom for sale and he might hopefully be getting it for me. He's wanting $2,000 and it's in fantastic shape for it's age aside from the gold hardware being worn, but that's really no biggie, since you're gonna find some wear on old guitars like that. But, I have a questions. He sent some pics of it through text on my dad's phone and on my dad and mom's e-mail and I noticed it said 2nd on the back of the headstock on one pics he sent. Since it said 2nd on the back of the headstock, is $2,000 a fair price? Judging on the pics he sent, it's in fantastic shape. Gonna get to check it out and play it and make everything is ok on it tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 you'll know if it's "worth it" after you play it a while...... a big point would be "why" was it a factory 2nd? something minor/non critical...or something big? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horand Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Hey guys. My dad's friend has a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom for sale and he might hopefully be getting it for me. He's wanting $2,000 and it's in fantastic shape for it's age aside from the gold hardware being worn, but that's really no biggie, since you're gonna find some wear on old guitars like that. But, I have a questions. He sent some pics of it through text on my dad's phone and on my dad and mom's e-mail and I noticed it said 2nd on the back of the headstock on one pics he sent. Since it said 2nd on the back of the headstock, is $2,000 a fair price? Judging on the pics he sent, it's in fantastic shape. Gonna get to check it out and play it and make everything is ok on it tomorrow. Normally the "second" marked wasnt 100% perfect finishwise so they were a bit cheaper from the start. It can still be a good guitar though. About the price: Sounds ok to me if its all original and you like it. Post some pics when possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 A 'second' was usually stamped as such if the instrument was found to have some minor cosmetic flaw on final inspection. Often it would be hard for anyone to see what the problem was without knowing exactly where to look. There will not be anything really 'wrong' with the guitar otherwise. But play it first and make sure you like it. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 Thanks for the info. Judging on the pics, I didn't see anything major that makes it a 2nd, so it has to be very minor, because I didn't notice anything at all that would make it a 2nd.I'm gonna be playing it and checking it out late in the day. My dad and his friend are both truck drivers, so they don't get home to late. I'll keep you guys posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 A second is(most of the time) bought and returned for some perceived warranty purpose. Crappy tuner, pickup don't work, dead pot, that stuff. Gets fixed, stamped a second, out it goes again. Can be great bargains, you see them at shows a lot. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I have a 1980 LP Custom and watch the prices from time to time, and $2,000 seems reasonable to me if it is in excellent condition. It will probably be a "fretless wonder" with low flat frets, so make sure you are OK with that before closing the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I have a 1980 LP Custom and watch the prices from time to time, and $2,000 seems reasonable to me if it is in excellent condition. It will probably be a "fretless wonder" with low flat frets, so make sure you are OK with that before closing the deal. Gunner, I too have a 1980 Les Paul Custom ("Plain Top" Cherry Sunburst), but it came stock, with the more "Standard" (higher) frets. So, now I wonder if you could get it "stock," in either version? I remember being "glad" it had the higher frets, as I used to own a '68 (Black) LP Custom "Fretless Wonder," that I had refretted, for the "fatter/higher" frets, and liked it, a LOT better, after the refret, for what I was doing. Interesting... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 My dad's friend is brining it over today, so I'm gonna play it and check everything out. I can post the pics on here he sent to my dad and mom's e-mail. Just gotta forward them to mine. I know this is a dumb question, but how do I post pics on here aside from the attachment file? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 GG, put your pics on an image-hosting site like Photobucket, then use the links they provide for "forums" and just paste the links in your post. CB, that is very interesting. Mine is Tobacco Sunburst. I had my local music store in St. Louis order it from Gibson. No one asked me what kind of frets I wanted, and I probably wouldn't have known how to answer anyway as I was a relative beginner at the time. I later discovered I prefer beefier frets and have thought of having them replaced, but just have never done it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 GG, put your pics on an image-hosting site like Photobucket, then use the links they provide for "forums" and just paste the links in your post. CB, that is very interesting. Mine is Tobacco Sunburst. I had my local music store in St. Louis order it from Gibson. No one asked me what kind of frets I wanted, and I probably wouldn't have known how to answer anyway as I was a relative beginner at the time. I later discovered I prefer beefier frets and have thought of having them replaced, but just have never done it. Well, I only noticed it, on mine, in the store where I looked at, and later bought it, in Seattle (Kennelly Keys Music), when I was living there, at that time. I noticed it more, because of my past experience, with my '68, having the very low frets (until I had it refretted, that is)! I couldn't say the stock LP Custom frets, on mine, are AS high (though, they might be, for those of the time period), as a Standard...but, certainly a LOT higher, that my '68 had...Thankfully! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 Cool. Thanks. Getting ready to try and uploading pics now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 Here's a few of the pics my dad's friend sent. <a href="http://imgur.com/wO5XoS5"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/wO5XoS5.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com"/></a> <a href="http://imgur.com/CY3Zr1y"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/CY3Zr1y.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com"/></a> <a href="http://imgur.com/0G1TvbL"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/0G1TvbL.png" title="Hosted by imgur.com"/></a> <a href="http://imgur.com/WlrK7fD"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/WlrK7fD.png" title="Hosted by imgur.com"/></a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I'll bet you that guitar has Shaw pickups in it. They sound great. A little darker than the new '57's and a little more of a metallic sound. If they are Shaws, they should have a rubber stamp on the bottom unless they are the very earliest ones. Those pups were one of Gibson's first attempts at recreating vintage PAF pups, designed by a guy named Tim Shaw. This is the bottom of the pup in my 1982 Les Paul 30th Anniversary. The last three digits, 682 mean it was made in June 1982. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horand Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 THAT is a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I've just checked and for those of us in the UK $2,000 = £1,266 and change. If it were for sale over here it would be at least 50% more expensive. And it's a beauty! If it plays as nice as it looks I wouldn't hesitate for a second... P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Here's a few of the pics my dad's friend sent. Fixed! Oh, and what a looker. Are you gonna buy it? Can we hear a recording? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Well. I got it. My dad's friend brought it to his and my dad's work place yesterday and my dad bought it home last night after he got off work so I can play it and check it out. Plays and sounds AMAZING!!!! I took it to two of my local music stores today to get it appraised, since it is a 2nd by 4 different people and they all said that it plays amazing and since it's a second, that it would be worth and a fair price would be $1,500 - $1,700. and if it wasn't a 2nd it would be worth around $2,500 in the condition. My dad called his friend earlier and made that offer and he wouldn't take $1,500 - $1,700, so my dad told him the judging on the info that the best, top dollar he'd offer is $1,800 and he took the deal. So, I got it and I am VERY pleased with it. Will post pics a little later. Oh, and it's actually an '82 model. Not an '81. He said it was an '81, but when he sent the pics and when dad brought it home, the serial number said that it was an '82. Little mistake on my dad's friends part, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug.J Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 That looks a fine guitar you have the congratulations :-) Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 That looks a fine guitar you have the congratulations :-) Doug Thanks, man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 I'll post pics in just a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Here's me with it: Here's me with it and my 2 other Gibson's, which are an '07 Les Paul Studio and an '85 Explorer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Even as a second you got a bargain! Congrats on such a nice score! I think the "2" adds character! Regards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Congrats man excellent score I think its awesome! Triburst is my favorite color. Thanks, man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar God Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Even as a second you got a bargain! Congrats on such a nice score! I think the "2" adds character! Regards! I know I did, haha. I do, too. Thanks, man! I am extremely pleased with this guitar. I absolutely love it. Another little cool story about this guitar, when my dad was talking to his friend about this guitar and getting some info about it before him and my mom bought it for me, his friend said he got it from a guitar player who used to play for Gloria Estefan. The case even has a sticker on the handle from where it's been on a plane as luggage. I don't know who the guitar player is and my dad's friend said he doesn't remember his name. I think that is cool as hell that a pro used to my guitar two own owners before me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.