ksdaddy Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 I know I said I'd get one and I failed. The lust is active again. Might be acute. Might last until an old Jazzmaster steps into my path, who knows... Missed out on a freakin' disaster of a 1940 L-5 this morning. It had many horrible cracks, all repaired but highly visible. It had been refinished in some kind of maroon/brown stain that looked hideous. It had an opening bid of $1000 and a buy-it-now of $2500. He must have received an offer because he stopped the auction, relisted it with a buy-it-now of $2000 and it got bought up. To be able to OWN an L-5, I was willing to take it warts and all with no intentions of restoration. I just didn't move fast enough. There's an L-7 on ebay with the finish stripped completely. I'm watching that with one eye. I guess I could buy another Epi Emperor for $500 or so. I had a '99 a while back, sold it to help my daughter buy a new laptop. Freakin' flawless piece of work. Just not the same bragging rights as a 60-70 year old Gibson. I had thought about an L-48 or L-50 but I don't see where it makes economic sense. People are asking $1500-$2000 for an L-50 and an old L-7 can be often had for $2000-$2500. A Chevy Impala shouldn't cost 90% of what a Cadillac sells for. This panic may pass. It's like herpes, it lays dormant and flares up sometimes and causes trouble. No, I don't know firsthand.
BigKahune Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 ... It's like herpes, it lays dormant and flares up sometimes and causes trouble. No, I don't know firsthand. . . . . . . . . . Good luck in the hunt !
L5Larry Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 As one that's been afflicted with archtop lust for many years, I feel your pain. A couple of words of advise (I know you didn't ask). If you want a high-end archtop such as an L-5 or L-7, you will NEVER be happy with a L-50, 48 etc, don't even bother with a "student" model, you'll just be re-selling it to buy the one you really wanted in the first place. I looked at the sanded down L-7 you mentioned, it's a MESS, I personally wouldn't touch it. There are a ton of 40's/50's L-7's out there in original (or originalish) condition for around $2000. The market for high-end archtops is virtually non-existent right now, it really is a "buyer's market". Keep an eye on the auctions and the "make offer/best offer". Speaking of archtop lust, I would love to own an acoustic L-5, and my L-7 is certainly the next best thing, BUT.....if in your searches and travels if you come across a '47/'48 L-5P, let me know. Just to rub salt in the wound, here's my 1947 L-7. It's probably the sweetest archtop I've ever laid my greasy little hands on, and man you should hear it. Bought it off the original owner during the peak of vintage archtop prices for under $2K.
BigKahune Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 Larry - My oh my, that is a beauty. And wow, love the burst color. Gorgeous.
Johnt Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 I know I said I'd get one and I failed. The lust is active again. Might be acute. Might last until an old Jazzmaster steps into my path, who knows... This panic may pass. Scott you know better than most that this panic will NOT pass you must have and you will have knwoing you you'll buy it froma farm in Idaho in seven bits and turn it into something George Grunn would be pleased to see Methinks KSD protest too much......!! :lol: :lol:
ksdaddy Posted February 1, 2011 Author Posted February 1, 2011 Somewhere there's one for me. Seems like every Gibson archtop I've owned had something horrible wrong with it and I either didn't like it enough to pursue the 'fix' or I was distracted by something else or I chose to flip it and make money. 1934 16" L-7: Bought it as a refinished basket case in 1985 for $100. Robbed it for parts in 1988 (see below). Sold the husk in 1990 for $50. 1935 17" L-7. Bought from Elderly for $475. All hardware was non-original. Stole parts off aforementioned '34. Sold it on consignment a couple years later. X-braced and the top was caving in. 1941 L-7 style custom order or something. Birdseye maple with banjo type inlays. Bought from Gruhn for $1750. Sounded like a wet Cheerios box. Returned it. 1941 Gibson L-7 custom order or something (verified by someone who had access to the factory ledgers). Bought it for $700, flipped it on ebay a week later for $1900. Money talks. 1944 L-7. Bought on ebay for $1950. Bought something else on ebay while the L-7 was still in the UPS truck, panicked because I was broke, flipped it and got my money back. Never gave it a chance; it was doomed before it arrived due to money. There have been L-50s in my checkered past as well. Thinking back, I probably got the most enjoyment from the basket case '34 L-7. I wanted to have it restored and in fact that's how I met Bob Benedetto (over the phone anyway). We chatted archtop for a good 45 minutes. Helluva nice guy. The '34 was in horrid shape cosmetically, having been spray painted orange, then black, and the center seam had been patched with what looked like drywall mud. It had a massive V-neck with a wide fretboard and the 16" body felt nice, not awkward. I'll whine until I get one I guess. I've sold a dozen instruments in the past month. I just reached the boiling point as to having too many that don't get used. Most were cheapies that I was culling, save for the kramer I got $1000 for, which promptly paid off a credit card. I will likely sell off more in the next month or so. It's not a money thing, it's just trying to get down to my fighting weight. And an acoustic archtop is needed. I know I built one from scratch a couple years ago and it's okay, but there's several things about it I wish I had done differently. And I need an excuse to buy an old Gibson. Or a brand new L-7C. Boy, THAT would knock the snot out of my MasterCard!
Red 333 Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 I guess I could buy another Epi Emperor for $500 or so. I had a '99 a while back, sold it to help my daughter buy a new laptop. Freakin' flawless piece of work. Just not the same bragging rights as a 60-70 year old Gibson. Here's a new/used on at Musician's Friend for $559, including shipping. It looks like it's in very god condition. Click on the "Buy Used" tab towards the upper right to see it. Used Epi Emperor at MF Red 333
retrorod Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 As one that's been afflicted with archtop lust for many years, I feel your pain. A couple of words of advise (I know you didn't ask). If you want a high-end archtop such as an L-5 or L-7, you will NEVER be happy with a L-50, 48 etc, don't even bother with a "student" model, you'll just be re-selling it to buy the one you really wanted in the first place. I looked at the sanded down L-7 you mentioned, it's a MESS, I personally wouldn't touch it. There are a ton of 40's/50's L-7's out there in original (or originalish) condition for around $2000. The market for high-end archtops is virtually non-existent right now, it really is a "buyer's market". Keep an eye on the auctions and the "make offer/best offer". Speaking of archtop lust, I would love to own an acoustic L-5, and my L-7 is certainly the next best thing, BUT.....if in your searches and travels if you come across a '47/'48 L-5P, let me know. Just to rub salt in the wound, here's my 1947 L-7. It's probably the sweetest archtop I've ever laid my greasy little hands on, and man you should hear it. Bought it off the original owner during the peak of vintage archtop prices for under $2K. Man Larry, That looks so fine....it hurts
zombywoof Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 It's like herpes, it lays dormant and flares up sometimes and causes trouble. No, I don't know firsthand. Sounds like a Preparation H commercial. Me, I got a bad case of mandolin fever again.
ksdaddy Posted February 2, 2011 Author Posted February 2, 2011 I went and blew the dust off the Gretsch and that is putting the fire out for tonight anyway. Funny, I have the house to myself and can crank it up a little and I don't suck as bad as I thought.
Gilliangirl Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 Sounds like a Preparation H commercial. Hey don't knock it. That stuff is great for getting rid of bags under your eyes.
gearbasher Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 Hey don't knock it. That stuff is great for getting rid of bags under your eyes. I'd like to meet the first person that tried it. Or maybe I wouldn't. ...Oh, and where do they apply their mascara?
ksdaddy Posted March 16, 2011 Author Posted March 16, 2011 Still shopping. Most of the ones I see on ebay have opening bids close to what they should be selling for at a brick & mortar store with all ebay paranoia applying. I did find a super clean '38 L-7 that can be had for $3K, which is at the top end (top extreme end) of what I am willing to pay for an archtop period. It looks to be in excellent condition and I am obviously paying for that fact; no missing pickguard, no cracks (repaired or otherwise), orignal red line case, blah blah blah. The plus on that one is the coolness factor, playing a 30s Gibson and transporting myself back in time WHICH IS PURE BULL____ but it's made me buy a LOT of guitars. Another one that has caught my eye is an early (1986) Heritage Golden Eagle for $2700. I'm not sure what (if any) advantage that would be over the old L-7. Sure is a beauty though. Electronics mean nothing to me; I have no intention of plugging it in on a regular basis so the Heritage has no advantage there. In either case, I'd be married to it because there's no wiggle room to resell. The L-7 does have a 48 hour return policy and I assume the Heritage would have something similar. I would just need to make up my de-cides quick like. A Montana L-7C is out; street price is $5500 and I haven't seen any used ones under $3500 (sorry Bozeman). Life was a lot easier when I was shopping for $50 Ovations.
BigKahune Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Yummy ! A couple of beauties there Scott. I like the 38 L-7 burst.
stein Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hey don't knock it. That stuff is great for getting rid of bags under your eyes. LMAO!
stein Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Dude..I read your stuff here and you obviously have had enough of them to know what is a good one verses settling, and it sounds like you are jonesing for the real deal. And, as you know, the real deal is the sound that comes out, that they CAN produce when the guitar is right. I get that you are aware that perhaps more than any other type of guitar, an AGED and properly built archtop is a far, far cry from even a new one of excellent build. Forgive me, but I say pull the trigger on that $3000 l-7 there. I don't think it is overpriced, but even if it is by 500 bucks, it may be worth it to you to get what you want and is hard to find.
grampa Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I just scored a pristine Harmony archtop, the basic model from the mid 60's, and it is a GAS. I'd been looking for one for a while and this one showed up at a local pawnshop just for me.
BigKahune Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I just scored a pristine Harmony archtop, the basic model from the mid 60's, and it is a GAS. I'd been looking for one for a while and this one showed up at a local pawnshop just for me. Doggone it Grampa . . . . . . how about a couple pics. B)
grampa Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Doggone it Grampa . . . . . . how about a couple pics. B) As soon as I get unto the 20th century.
grampa Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Doggone it Grampa . . . . . . how about a couple pics. B) As soon as I get unto the 20th century.
onewilyfool Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 KsDaddy gotta love that archtop sound.......hmmmmm KS here's one!!! http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/2268381449.html Although I don't know what model it is http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/2268381449.html
L5Larry Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I did find a super clean '38 L-7 that can be had for $3K, which is at the top end (top extreme end) of what I am willing to pay for an archtop period. The "asking" prices for Gibson L-7's and L-5's on e-bay at the moment is ridiculous. You'd think the sellers would figure it out when they get "0" bids. I've even seen declined "best offers" that were at the high end of what the guitar was worth (take a look at "completed auctions", nothing but RED numbers). The prices seem to generally be about 30% over value. I guess they're in no hurry to sell. Edit: It took me about three years to find my L-7, and about not much less to find my L-5. You must be patient grasshopper.
ksdaddy Posted March 16, 2011 Author Posted March 16, 2011 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/2268381449.html That same guitar was on ebay recently but supposedly located in Ohio. Smell fish? Wartime L-50
ksdaddy Posted March 16, 2011 Author Posted March 16, 2011 So has anyone had any first hand exp with Heritage? The Golden Eagle seems to be comparable to an L-5C at about 1/3 the price (used).
onewilyfool Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 So has anyone had any first hand exp with Heritage? The Golden Eagle seems to be comparable to an L-5C at about 1/3 the price (used). KSdaddy, I've considered this way myself.....Eagle and sweet sixteen.....make sure they have good flame in the maple, i've seen some sub standard flame on some heritages.....they sound great though AND I like the headstock design.
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