Vintage62 Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I could buy me a new usa traditional or a used '95 wine red standard for about the same price. What would you do? And why? Grtz
Big Bill Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 The price of a new Traditional for a used 95 Standard is a bit high.
Vintage62 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 The price of a new Traditional for a used 95 Standard is a bit high. Could be but those are the prices here in Belgium!
Big Bill Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Could be but those are the prices here in Belgium! If that's the case I would certainly would go with the Traditional.
Vintage62 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 If that's the case I would certainly would go with the Traditional. The guy who's selling the '95 is claiming that the quality of his one is much better then the current traditionals. Agree with that?
Xinnix Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I could buy me a new usa traditional or a used '95 wine red standard for about the same price. What would you do? And why? Grtz I'd put my money into the Traditional. The reason is purely financial. If you spend the same on the Standard you won't have a warranty and you could have gotten the same guitar for less somewhere else. Basically thats it. I have an 05 Standard and I wouldn't sell it for anything. But I also know what its worth! I'm sure the 95 Standard is a good axe, but it is used and should be sold that way. To ask for the same price as a new Traditional is ludicrous and the owner is just being unrealistic.
Vintage62 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 ok, but why? What makes the trad a better deal? The rumor goes that the traditionals are Gibsons anwers to the economic crisis and so they made a low budget version of the older version of the standards. I guess that if I get the '95, I always get the same price if I should sell it in a couple of years. I'm not sure if that also goes for the traditional.
Vintage62 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 I'd put my money into the Traditional. The reason is purely financial. If you spend the same on the Standard you won't have a warranty and you could have gotten the same guitar for less somewhere else. Basically thats it. I have an 05 Standard and I wouldn't sell it for anything. But I also know what its worth! I'm sure the 95 Standard is a good axe, but it is used and should be sold that way. To ask for the same price as a new Traditional is ludicrous and the owner is just being unrealistic. All the standards and classics are about that price on the second hand market! Another question: what is the reasen that the traditionals are about 400 usd cheaper than the standards if the trads are basicly the old standards?
Big Bill Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 As far as the Traditional being a budget Les Paul, nothing can be farther from the the truth. In the mid 2000s a lot of changes were made to the Standard, like chambering of the body, asymmetrical neck, strap locks, and pickups, just to mention a few. A lot of your old school Les Paul owners did not like these changes and preferred the more traditional build, thus the name Traditional. The Traditional is more of an old school Lester compared to it's current form. This also explains the price difference. To sum it up, there is not much of a difference between the 95 Standard and the Traditional. In your case the seller stands to make a lot more money from you off the sale of the used 95. The quality is practically the same.
BillyGibson Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 +3 There is nothing budget oriented about the Traditional. It's a real Les Paul with all the vibe you would expect. AA maple top that looks like AAA it has so much flame. Two piece back (that could be where the savings come from) Short neck tenon - another savings point. It's up for debate on how much sustain difference there is compared to a long neck tenon. Late 50's style solid, one piece mahogany neck. Deluxe kluson tuners. For the features it has, it's a bargain. The prices on these will surely go up, like everything else does. So, if you want a Les Paul at a great price, this is the one to get. I recommend Ice Tea. It really quenches your thirst:
Vintage62 Posted January 26, 2011 Author Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for giving some feedback. I will give it a few days for me to do a little more research:-)
Xinnix Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 All the standards and classics are about that price on the second hand market! Another question: what is the reasen that the traditionals are about 400 usd cheaper than the standards if the trads are basicly the old standards? It would be nice to know the exact pricing on both in your area. Have the prices been posted? Am I missing something? I assumed you were talking about a New Traditional which I believe you can get here for $2200 or $2300, verse a Used 1995 Standard which can be had for $1300 to $1800. I don't know why the Traditional is 400 usd cheaper. Its not here.
Guest BentonC Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 Get the Traditional! Then you can wear it out all by yourself rather than allowing someone else to get a head start on it!
Dr. Gonzo Posted January 27, 2011 Posted January 27, 2011 If you're looking at the same price, I would absolutely go with the new Traditional. You're getting the warranty and a new axe, instead of a used one with no warranty and only the sellers word. I too find it hard to fathom how a '95 is the same price as a new one, but if that's how the market is there, you're stuck with it. It's going to be a LONG time before '95's reach collectible/vintage status, if ever, so you really can't justify it as an investment. Go Traditional and choose your color. If the truss rod cover screaming "Traditional" bothers you, buy a blank one like the 'old' Standards had. Most of all, enjoy!
Vintage62 Posted January 27, 2011 Author Posted January 27, 2011 I went to one of the biggest guitarshops here in Belgium today and hold a traditional for the first time AND played it for a few minutes (unplugged). First impression? Whoaaaw!! The weight indeed is much more than a strat! But I liked it very much. The chunky neck feels very comfortable, cause I like a big piece of wood in my hands. My usa'62ri vintage hotrod strat also have a thick neck so it feels very right for me to play. The strings where a little thin (10's I think) because I'm used to use 11 or 12's on my strat. Also the action was to little for my playing. But I guess that's all fixed after a decent setup. The only bad news! Not available there in desert burst and six months waiting if ordered:-( Tomorrow afternoon I go to another big guitarshop and guess what..... they have one in desert burst!!! I made an appointment to bring my Fender amp along an do some serious testing!! to be continued..... ps, reason I wanna have a lp?? Lately I've listened to much to Peter Green and Gary Moore's blues for greeny!! Great tone!!!
dylanita Posted January 27, 2011 Posted January 27, 2011 Hi. I was in the same doubt two years ago. I tried al least 5 new 2009 les pauls (standards and traditionals...) and I didn´t feel too impressed by them. I don´t know why but that is the true.. I don´t want to say that they were bad guitars but I didn´t fell what it´s supposed to feel with the guitar of your dreams... But at the corner of the store I saw a second hand standard in wine red (1989) and when I tried it I inmediatly fell in love! It was quite diferent.. The neck was smoother than the new ones (maybe cause it was well used..)and the sound was really wonderfull. I looked to me like a "real" guitar, not a toy.. The weight was higher too (4,4kg). I know I paid too much for the guitar (almost 2000 euros) but I felt that I need to carry it home and I have never felt sorry. My only advice is: Try carefully both guitars and feel then (sound, playability, your sensations..) and decide for yourself. Each guitar is different. Don´t trust in "this year is better than other" and try for yourself. This is the guitar I fell in love with
Vintage62 Posted January 27, 2011 Author Posted January 27, 2011 That is indeed a good advice cause I did not had the chance to play the '95! After looking and playing the desert trad tomorrow I will probably have to think it over a few days and in the meanwhile it is wise to contact the guy from the '95 standard and test his guitar. Thanks!!
Dr. Gonzo Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Sometimes the used ones just grab you and refuse to let go. The '95 may indeed feel and sound better, that's the natural aging/sweetening of the wood. Even the pickups will age, some get better, some lose power. I recently came across a '78 LP Standard in Tobacco 'burst, 100% original, with original case. I normally avoid late '70's axes like the plague, but this one kept drawing my attention away from the PRS's I was looking at. It was heavy, and had some nasty buckle rash on the back. But it SANG like an angel and played like buttah! I got it for $1700 US. It wouldn't let me leave the shop without it! I'm currently having the back fixed up a bit, but everything else on it is in perfect working order. And I learned a lesson on judging a guitar strictly on it's year of birth! Take the guitar that speaks to you, and thru you.
charlie brown Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Hi. I was in the same doubt two years ago. I tried al least 5 new 2009 les pauls (standards and traditionals...) and I didn´t feel too impressed by them. I don´t know why but that is the true.. I don´t want to say that they were bad guitars but I didn´t fell what it´s supposed to feel with the guitar of your dreams... But at the corner of the store I saw a second hand standard in wine red (1989) and when I tried it I inmediatly fell in love! It was quite diferent.. The neck was smoother than the new ones (maybe cause it was well used..)and the sound was really wonderfull. I looked to me like a "real" guitar, not a toy.. The weight was higher too (4,4kg). I know I paid too much for the guitar (almost 2000 euros) but I felt that I need to carry it home and I have never felt sorry. My only advice is: Try carefully both guitars and feel then (sound, playability, your sensations..) and decide for yourself. Each guitar is different. Don´t trust in "this year is better than other" and try for yourself. This is the guitar I fell in love with Looks like "Lucy," without the off-center top seam. COOL! Congratulations! CB
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