lp_custom_72 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hey all looking for a guitar that will age/price well in the future, will only play a little but really looking for a bit of an investment. I have been offered a friends sun burst 1972 custom les paul that he has owned since new. The deal was almost done when 2 people i spoke to warned me of an apparent inferior quality of 1970's gibsons in general. Having played and been around guitars for a while i have never heard this before. Question is, is this true? would love to hear some qualified comments from you guys. thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I think the way it works is guys that own them, love them. Guys who own '50s LPs, hate them. That guitar was built during the Norlin era. It'll never be worth as much as, say, a '59 LP...but then again, neither will any other. You really should play the guitar and form an opinion on it after you play it. It may be a great guitar but you won't know until you play it. No Gibson guitar is a good investment. They all lose money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I think the way it works is guys that own them' date=' love them. Guys who own '50s LPs, hate them.That guitar was built during the Norlin era. It'll never be worth as much as, say, a '59 LP...but then again, neither will any other. You really should play the guitar and form an opinion on it after you play it. It may be a great guitar but you won't know until you play it. No Gibson guitar is a good investment. They all lose money.[/quote'] +1 The cork sniffing investors put the 70's LP's in a lower band as it was believed Gibson was using inferior woods at the time.... Bet there are plenty of folk out there with excellent 70's LP... Gibson's are just great guitars.... I think the days of buying them for future investments is not as lucrative as it used to be, however a GOOD Gibson will HOLD its value... Regards Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrplayr1976 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I had a 72 wine red custom that was great. I did see some quality control issues with a 75 standard I had, but it was mostly cosmetic. Make sure the custom is original, unless you're getting it cheap. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp_custom_72 Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 I have been offered it for $5,000 Aus and had planned to put it under the bed for a while, i don't realy play much. It has all original gold hardware and case and the guy who owns it bought it new in '75. Has original receipt . Is the price a bit high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I have been offered it for $5' date='000 Aus and had planned to put it under the bed for a while, i don't realy play much. It has all original gold hardware and case and the guy who owns it bought it new in '75. Has original receipt . Is the price a bit high?[/quote'] At $5000 it should be very minty and 100% original.... If it is its worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 My '70 Norlin s are absolutely the best players out there IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 The '70s Les Pauls are not held in such high regard because they differ from 1950's specs. The headstock angle changed from 17 to 14 degrees, and the neck became 3 piece maple. But the purists sneer at the laminated body made up of mahogany pieces with a central maple layer (hence the term 'pancake'). These bodies were introduced in 1969 - before the Norlin takeover of 1974, and lasted until 1977. It could be a great sounding guitar, but if you aren't intending to play it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slab man Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 dude , thats harsh. In the right hands that guitar will play and sound good. Whether or not to buy is a gamble. I am not a custom man but I do own 1 . It is a 82 black , no volute awesome guitar. I`d look in the 80-82 era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callen3615 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 You should buy it for me. After the 70s werent made as well...errr whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Personally, I think there are better investment than guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrplayr1976 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I have been offered it for $5' date='000 Aus and had planned to put it under the bed for a while, i don't realy play much. It has all original gold hardware and case and the guy who owns it bought it new in '75. Has original receipt . Is the price a bit high?[/quote'] I'm not sure what $5000 AUS is equivalent to in US$. My question is, if he bought it in 75 new, and it is a 72? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrplayr1976 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 The '70s Les Pauls are not held in such high regard because they differ from 1950's specs. The headstock angle changed from 17 to 14 degrees' date=' and the neck became 3 piece maple. But the purists sneer at the laminated body made up of mahogany pieces with a central maple layer (hence the term 'pancake'). These bodies were introduced in 1969 - before the Norlin takeover of 1974, and lasted until 1977. It could be a great sounding guitar, but if you aren't intending to play it... [/quote'] Not all those years were pancake bodies. I have had a few of those years. My 72 custom wasn't pancaked. My 75 standard wasn't either. I think they only did that for a short period because they thought they were saving wood, or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 dude ' date=' thats harsh. In the right hands that guitar will play and sound good. [/quote'] Yes, I agree. I was just pointing out that these guitars are perceived by some as being inferior, and that hurts values. I think the 3 piece maple neck with volute and 14 degree headstock angle was a definite step in the right direction. The laminated bodies were a cost-cutting move - for a prestigious company to do this knocked confidence in the product, even if they sounded great. http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson5.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slab man Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Right on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp_custom_72 Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 $5000aus is about $3500us He bought it new in Australia so im assuming transport time and how long it stayed in the shop accounts for the 3 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I have been offered it for $5' date='000 Aus and had planned to put it under the bed for a while,[/quote']Please don't. I hate people who do that. You're the reason I have to pay $5,000 for a new guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp_custom_72 Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 But im also the reason that when you go to sell that $5000 guitar you get $8000.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossroadsnyc Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 But im also the reason that when you go to sell that $5000 guitar you get $8000.... No offense, man, but I think you're going into this for the wrong reasons. If you are anticipating making this purchase and then watching the price skyrocket, then you're going to be in for a pretty sad waiting period. The fact is, you'll never get $8,000 for that guitar (unless you can find someone who doesn't know any better). Frankly, I think the price he's asking is high. Like Rich said, there are far better investments than a guitar (particularly something widely unpopular such as a Norlin) unless it's just for your own personal well-being and growth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp_custom_72 Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Im intrigued now at what would be a far better option of investment? The reason i jumped on here was for the gibson community feedback. I do play a little guitar and was in a rage against the machine cover band for a while, I was looking for something that i could play every now and then but would make a few $$$$ down the road, my budget is about $3500us. Im open to suggestions, but always liked the lp customs. Whats a "69 worth? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossroadsnyc Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Im intrigued now at what would be a far better option of investment? The reason i jumped on here was for the gibson community feedback. I do play a little guitar and was in a rage against the machine cover band for a while' date=' I was looking for something that i could play every now and then but would make a few $$$$ down the road, my budget is about $3500us. Im open to suggestions, but always liked the lp customs. Whats a "69 worth? John[/quote'] For $3,500 you won't find anything that will appreciate much, if at all, in value. They will hold their value, but not increase proportionally to one from the 50's (which I'm guessing you have done most of your research on). So yeah, if you're doing it for an investment I'd say scrape together a few hundred thousand more and get something that will appreciate in value. If you are doing it for the purpose of playing, you would be best served looking into the custom shop historic reissues ... the prices start right in the ballpark of what you have to spend, it will last you a lifetime, and will hold it's value better over the course of time should you wish to sell it (they are also the best of what Gibson has to offer right now). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Im intrigued now at what would be a far better option of investment? I'll bet if you stuck that money in a simple savings account with a poor interest rate' date=' you'd have more money in 10 years. I was looking for something that i could play every now and then but would make a few $$$$ down the road' date=' my budget is about $3500us. [/quote']I think the only ones that will go up in value are the early 2000's with Brazilian rosewood. The only thing with those is you'll pay top dollar for them now. Why don't you find a used 1958 reissue for around $2,000US. They're incredible guitars and at $2,000, it's basically already hit rock bottom. Im open to suggestions' date=' but always liked the lp customs. Whats a "69 worth?[/quote']http://cgi.ebay.ca/1969-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-CUSTOM-BLACK-BEAUTY-100-ORIGINAL_W0QQitemZ290309696392QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item290309696392&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1309 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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