Specs 1980 Les Paul Custom winered? Help needed!

[blacklabelsam]

Hey guys,

 

At the moment I am thinking about buying a 1980 Les Paul Custom (winered). I know the seller personally and, for that matter, trust him. However, I have a couple of questions about the specs:

 

Do 1980 customs have the 3-piece maple neck? (I'd love the Zakk Wylde-ish overtones)

 

Is it a maple top? I have seen a couple of pictures and I'm not sure whether it is a maple top. This is quite an important question, since I don't want an all-mahogany one (I like the overtones too much ;-). It looks like it a 2 or 3 piece top. I'm not sure though.

 

Any other specs that are special (apart from the strengthened volute)?

 

The serial number would be 8073615

 

And here would be a link for some pics:

http://www.jazzduo.ch/Gibson%20Les%20Paul%20Custom%201980.htm

 

PS: I know that the bridge most probably is not stock. Doesn't matter though.

 

Thanks!

[blacklabelsam]

Sorry,

 

The serial number is of course 80730615. My bad.

 

cheers mate!

[freak show]

Welcome to the forum!

 

Looks like a nice guitar. As you already mentioned, the stopbar probably isn't stock, and I don't think the tuners are either. I have a Custom from 1983, and they are different. And I'm sure you know that the case isn't the original.

 

Of course none of that matters if you just want to play it! I love mine.

 

My only concern would be the price. I don't know how things are in Switzerland, but you can get a new Custom for 2800 EUR from Thomann or a Plaintop 1958 Standard for 2600 EUR. Those are new guitars with warranties.

 

And since this Custom you're looking at isn't ever going to have value as a collector's object due to it not being stock, I would think you should either pay less than 2400 EUR or buy a new guitar.

[blacklabelsam]

The prices of instruments in Switzerland are unfortunately insanely high due to taxing. So the price isn't actually too bad. A new one would set me back at least around 3250 Euro. And if I bought it in Germany I would still have to pay a shitload of tax, so it wouldn't even be that profitable. Another probelm is that the Euro is a bit weak in comparison to the Swiss Franc at the moment (I personally blame the bankers ) The other guitarist of my band has just bought a 1972 Les Paul Custom in ebony and paid around 3'100 Euro and it isn't completely stock either (but one hell of a guitar!). And I'm giong to test it first, of course. I ain't paying 2'400 Euro for a guitar which I haven't played and may not like. But thanks anyway.

 

Just to come back to the actual questions:

Is it correct that a 1980 Les Paul Custom has a three peice maple neck and a maple top? That's actually all I need to know. But if there are any other concers, feel free to let me know.

 

cheers

[CajunBlues]

I can usually tell the wood by just looking at the finish.. But, it appears to me visually that the neck (by looking at the headstock) and top are both mahogany... But I can't say for sure.. It appears that the grain is all stratified in nature...

 

Regardless, it is a stunning guitar... absoulute beauty.. They certainly got the finish on this one correct...

[80LPC]

Yes, for this era the specs are 3 piece maple neck, 3 piece maple top and one piece mahogany body. You can see the 3 pieces on the rear of the headstock. (5 including the 'wings').

 

Some Customs made later have 3 piece maple necks with ebony strips (banding) - effectively 5 piece necks and even stronger.

 

Just noticed this guitar is advertised as having a mahogany neck. The mahogany necks didn't reappear until 1983, and when they did, they were one piece.

[blacklabelsam]

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it. Once I've tested the guitar, I'll let you know how it plays.

 

Cheers and thanks again.

[pippy]

PS: I know that the bridge most probably is not stock. Doesn't matter though.

 

I think the Nashville bridge, TP-6 tailpiece and Schaller tuners were all original fitments on LP Customs from the late '70s and early '80s.

 

Nice instrument.

[80LPC]

Pippy, the TP-6 was fitted to the special editions of the Les Paul from 1977 such as the Artisan, 25/50 Anniversary, and 'The Les Paul'. It's possible some regular Customs came with a TP-6 (in fact in the info for the guitar above, it claims the TP-6 is original). However, all the Customs I saw during this time had the normal stop bar.

 

blacklabelsam, it's a great looking Custom - look forward to hearing more about it.

[Kevinooo]

Hello, first time poster here so bare with me please.

 

I have a 1980, 82100561 LP Custom that I purchased brand new back in the day.

 

The Tuners look identical to yours, but say "Gibson". The bridge and tailpiece are exactly the same as the one shown in your pictures, so if the previous poster is confirming that the tuners are stock, and I concurr on the appendages, I would think that your intended is still a virgin.

 

Ps, I'm playing the actual guitar back in '87 in my profile picture.

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin