jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Hello All; I have been looking at a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom. It appears to be all original with 57 classic pickups and the original case. What is a fair price for this year and model? The guitar is in really nice shape normal wear for a 35 year old guitar. It is wine red if that would matter. I do not know much about Gibsons, I collect Fender Startocasters but this beauty has really caught my eye... I have read that 77 is not a desirable or collectable year. I have also read that even more expensive orinally purchased that the customs are not as desired as the standards. Any help especially on a fair price and collectabilty (I will be playing it regularly) would be greatly appreciated. I need to make a decision and get back to the seller by the end of the weekend. Thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marius Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 if it has 57 classic pickups,then its not fully original. should have been t-tops pickups(am i correct?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 This is why I posted here before I went any further..I knew that you guys would know if this was right or not. Any other information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 They would be t-tops for sure. '57 classics were no where near being made yet. But the t-tops could be long gone from an "upgrade" and '57 classics could have been put in to "restore" the guitar. If you can, you might post some pics on here if you want some advice or guesses as to the guitar being a genuine Gibby or a fake, if you are unsure. Usually, if the pics are good, you can get an accurate and definitive answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 I am adding the link for the ebay sale. I emailed the seller asking to verify the pickups for me and he did. They are T-tops it was a typo in the listing. Thanks http://www.ebay.com/itm/280790531545?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 It looks genuine to me, that is not a copy or forgery. Also, it looks like it should for that year. The tuners, bridge, and knobs look like the correct type. The tailpiece looks a little unskuffed, but it doesn't matter I don't think. I don't know enough to be able to say if the electronics with the plate inside is what it should be, but I have no reason to think it isn't except to say I didn't know they were doing that yet. The pups, no one can see what they are as there are no pics of the backs. Overall, looks like it has been unmodified, or has been restored with the correct parts. I see they are a "store", that has other instruments, which also from what I checked are genuine. Their prices seem high (including this one) and the advertising and info they put in their ads seem a little over the top (by that I mean, not entirely accurate for the particular pieces, but more for "sales"). Also, for some of the descriptions, they say "new" or "new other". In the case of Gibson, dealers are forbidden from selling new Gibby's on EBAY, and would loose their dealership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 It looks genuine to me, that is not a copy or forgery. Also, it looks like it should for that year. The tuners, bridge, and knobs look like the correct type. The tailpiece looks a little unskuffed, but it doesn't matter I don't think. I don't know enough to be able to say if the electronics with the plate inside is what it should be, but I have no reason to think it isn't except to say I didn't know they were doing that yet. The pups, no one can see what they are as there are no pics of the backs. Overall, looks like it has been unmodified, or has been restored with the correct parts. I see they are a "store", that has other instruments, which also from what I checked are genuine. Their prices seem high (including this one) and the advertising and info they put in their ads seem a little over the top (by that I mean, not entirely accurate for the particular pieces, but more for "sales"). Also, for some of the descriptions, they say "new" or "new other". In the case of Gibson, dealers are forbidden from selling new Gibby's on EBAY, and would loose their dealership. Thank You stein What do you think a fair price would be? What about collectability for the future. I am not as familiar with Gibson Les Pauls as I am with Strats. It would seem to reason it could only go up over the years. I plan to play it and hold onto it and someday my son would get it along with my Strats. Now that the 60's LPs are getting in the price range that the normal guy can't touch it would seem logical that the 70's decade would go up. Thoughts? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thank You stein What do you think a fair price would be? What about collectability for the future. I am not as familiar with Gibson Les Pauls as I am with Strats. It would seem to reason it could only go up over the years. I plan to play it and hold onto it and someday my son would get it along with my Strats. Now that the 60's LPs are getting in the price range that the normal guy can't touch it would seem logical that the 70's decade would go up. Thoughts? Thanks I have not shopped for a few years, so I can not say with any REAL knowledge what a fair price would be. I would guess you can get one for about 1700? But most will be altered, modified, etc. The only real way, is to find a blue book, which is made from a group of participating dealers who use actual selling prices. As one who has knowledge of Strats, just look at the prices he is asking for those. Don't they seem high? As for going up in price, don't count on 70's guitars doing that like the 60's ones have. For one, it is generally thought the quality was not as good as the 60's, and also it is pretty easy to find newer ones built more like what people believe (and I use that term loosely) should be better than the 70's. Also, unlike the numbers of guitars built in the 60's, there were a LOT of guitars built in the 70's-they are not rare. There are many (like me) that feel that some of the Norlin LP Customs are great guitars, and have some things about them that make them cool. So, on the one hand, they are different and thought to be not as good, and on the other hand, there are fans who like them for what they are. But, generally, not enough to effect the price. They should be priced the same and considered the same as any other used Gibson. If you don't already know, that guitar will differ in the ones made new (or the 60's) in that it has a 3 piece maple neck (instead of mahogany), that volute behind the headstock, a shallower headstock angle. Also, don't be surprised if it isn't the heaviest guitar you even held. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 I have not shopped for a few years, so I can not say with any REAL knowledge what a fair price would be. I would guess you can get one for about 1700? But most will be altered, modified, etc. The only real way, is to find a blue book, which is made from a group of participating dealers who use actual selling prices. As one who has knowledge of Strats, just look at the prices he is asking for those. Don't they seem high? As for going up in price, don't count on 70's guitars doing that like the 60's ones have. For one, it is generally thought the quality was not as good as the 60's, and also it is pretty easy to find newer ones built more like what people believe (and I use that term loosely) should be better than the 70's. Also, unlike the numbers of guitars built in the 60's, there were a LOT of guitars built in the 70's-they are not rare. There are many (like me) that feel that some of the Norlin LP Customs are great guitars, and have some things about them that make them cool. So, on the one hand, they are different and thought to be not as good, and on the other hand, there are fans who like them for what they are. But, generally, not enough to effect the price. They should be priced the same and considered the same as any other used Gibson. If you don't already know, that guitar will differ in the ones made new (or the 60's) in that it has a 3 piece maple neck (instead of mahogany), that volute behind the headstock, a shallower headstock angle. Also, don't be surprised if it isn't the heaviest guitar you even held. Thanks Stein I was thinking if I had about 2000 in it I would be alright with that. The prices are a little high as all the 1977's that I have seen on the web... I am not expecting it to ever increase as a 60's but I guess if it doesn't go down and keeps up with inflation I would have something cool to pass on to my son someday... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpish Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thanks Stein I was thinking if I had about 2000 in it I would be alright with that. The prices are a little high as all the 1977's that I have seen on the web... I am not expecting it to ever increase as a 60's but I guess if it doesn't go down and keeps up with inflation I would have something cool to pass on to my son someday... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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