Is this a good deal for a used Les Paul?

tomkatzz · #1 02-03-2007, 02:15 PM

There's a guy advertising the following:

1994 Gibson Les Paul - Black Gold Hardware + Case

Quote:

$900 plus shipping. 95%+ condition. GREAT shape, plays great! has brand new Gibson factory hardshell case, gold hardware, rare ebony fingerboard, beautiful white trapazoid fret inlays. Early 90's Les Pauls are coveted! Hate to sell!

I'm new to this, but someday want a Les Paul. What questions should I be asking? Like, "Are the frets new or worn?" Or, "Is this an American made Les Paul?"

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

the.godfather · #2 02-03-2007, 02:30 PM

You should just be asking the usual questions in regards to a secondhand guitar. Nothing specific in relation to Gibson tbh. You could ask if the headstock is in good condition, as they have a tendency to snap at the headstock often. You could ask for an exact model name/number, and maybe even a serial no. so that you can check it.

If it checks out though, for $900 its a good price.
For that price, if you dont like it, someone else probably will when you sell it on.

tomkatzz · #3 02-03-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the.godfather

You could ask if the headstock is in good condition, as they have a tendency to snap at the headstock often.

What's a "headstock" and is it obvious it's weakened before it snaps?

Quote:

You could ask for an exact model name/number, and maybe even a serial no. so that you can check it.

Check it with whom?

thanx.

the.godfather · #4 02-03-2007, 02:44 PM

Thats a Gibson Headstock.
Its where the guitar machineheads/tuners are to string/tune the guitar.

And you could check the serial no. with Gibson themselves I think, by sending them an email. Or you could ask on the Gibson forums, someone on there will know for definite. Just post a message asking to recognize the serial no. and I'm sure some guys on there could help you out.

tomkatzz · #5 02-03-2007, 02:50 PM

Thanks.

humpy · #6 02-03-2007, 06:27 PM

I'd be worried that the guy is over selling the guitar. Words like "rare ebony fingerboard" & "early 90's are coveted" bother me. What model is it? Custom, Standard, Studio??? I would want to play before I paid.

Good luck.

**elcid** · #7 02-03-2007, 07:07 PM

Trapazoid + Ebony + Black with Gold Hardware = Les Paul Studio, way overpriced. A used studio shouldnt be too far from the $650 range.

The fact that it's an early 90s, he probablydidnt pay $900 for it new. I remember back in the late 80s/early early 90's GC and places were selling Les Paul Studios for around $400.

T.B.A. · #8 02-03-2007, 08:57 PM

I was thinking "ebony" would be pointing towards a Custom.

**elcid** · #9 02-03-2007, 09:05 PM

Nope Customs never had Trapaziods, but for a while at different times Studios had ebony fretboards. Standards rarely come with gold hardware, and even more rarely have ebony fretboards.
I'm 100% certain its a studio from the description given.

Dave67 · #10 02-03-2007, 10:11 PM

Don't forget the neck. Some of LP necks are loke baseball bats. I think they offer the 50, 60 and 70 style necks.

tomkatzz · #11 02-03-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcid

Nope Customs never had Trapaziods, but for a while at different times Studios had ebony fretboards. Standards rarely come with gold hardware, and even more rarely have ebony fretboards.
I'm 100% certain its a studio from the description given.

Yes, it's a studio. He amended the description. Is Studio the bottom of the line? Is it, Studio, Standard, and Supreme? Supreme being the best?

tomkatzz · #12 02-03-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave67

Don't forget the neck. Some of LP necks are loke baseball bats. I think they offer the 50, 60 and 70 style necks.

What are the differences? I'm currently playing an American made Stratocaster. Which Les Paul neck might be similar? Or, most similar?

Dave67 · #13 02-03-2007, 11:19 PM

I could not answer that, I own Jacksons and Ibanez. I have try them before, I think the 60 are thinest and 50 are the thickest. If you have never tried a Les Paul, try it before you buy it. The necks are not for everyone.

**elcid** · #14 02-04-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomkatzz

What are the differences? I'm currently playing an American made Stratocaster. Which Les Paul neck might be similar? Or, most similar?

None

Technically the Studio is the low model, but it mainly doesnt have the cosmetics that a Standard, Classic, Custom, etc. would have, it has the same pickups as the Custom. The Supreme is a completely different animal, it has a chambered body, and a carved top and back.

They have a couple different 50s style necks, the 60s is the thinnest, early 50s is the widest, rounded 59 seems to be the thickest. There is no 70s neck.

Studios now have the 59 Rounded, not sure about the neck in the 90s, I have a 93 Standard that has a different neck profile from my 05 Deluxe (Rounded 59), 05 Standard (Slim 60's), 76 Custom, 07 R7, and 61 RI SG.

**elcid** · #15 02-04-2007, 12:57 AM

Also man, you may want to point out that *************** was selling their Studios for $1,000. They are a little more now, but you can get a Vintage Mahaogany Studio for around $800, same as a regular Studio, it just has a Satin finish. As for the 90s LPs being desirable, that's just a flat out lie. People complain about the quality of the 90s LPs, just as much as they whine about new ones, and the Norlin era guitars. A 90s Studio is nothing special, or rare. I'd offer him $700 and if he doesnt take it, look elsewhere.