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It's a '73 LP, refinished with SD pups for $1595. But is it worth it? I'm waiting for more detailed pictures and info from the shop.

from : localhost/www.emeraldcityguitars.com/73refinlespaul.htm

without playing it I can't say if it's quot;worth itquot; or not, what I can tell you is that for $1600.00 you can get a hell of a sweet Les Paul...it has been my experience that Gibsons from the 70's are hit or miss...and more miss that hit if you're asking me...just be careful!


Originally Posted by the guy who invented firewithout playing it I can't say if it's quot;worth itquot; or not, what I can tell you is that for $1600.00 you can get a hell of a sweet Les Paul...it has been my experience that Gibsons from the 70's are hit or miss...and more miss that hit if you're asking me...just be careful!

Exactly. I think it's overpriced. That is not a vintage guitar...that is a used player's guitar. There's nothing special at all about that era of Les Paul and, IMO, they're usually better made today than they were in the early 70's. The Gibson/Norlin period was similar to the Fender/CBS period and when those guitars were new most of us didn't think much of them. There are some nice ones...but you have to play them to find them. Lew

Definitely play before you buy.

Musta started off life as a goldtop, maybe a Deluxe that's been routed for HB's, since it has a 3 piece top. IF the finish is done professionally, and IF it's nitro, and IF the guitar has mojo....then it may be worth it. As the majority of the 50's and 60's guitars become unavailable to average Joe's like us, the early 70's models will naturally rise in value. Some were dogs, and others were fantastic. There were still supplies of better south american mahogany back in the early 70's. I do think it's a pretty guitar.

For $1600 you can get a fairly new LP....and Gibson is building better guitars now than they have for years....with theory's about the early 90's being the best not withstanding. I guess what I am saying is if that guitar does not have that mojo, that tone, that feel that really moves you.....I'd hold for annother guitar.

Ryan...these posts back up what I was talking about...the only way that guitar could be worth $1600.00 is if it was one hell of a player and had bad ass tone to boot! For that kind of green you could get into a LP Studio and new pickups and still have enough left for a pro set up and a few sets of strings. I have seen fairly new standards for that much and I would almost be willing to bet money that a ne standard would play rings around that 73! It's like Lew said...Norlin/Gibson was a pretty dark time.

That's waaaaaaay too much for that guitar.

I've got a 73 Custom that I don't think I'd get much more than $1400 for if I sold it.

Thanks guys, these are just the honest thoughts that I wanted to hear! I'm just at the beginning of my search and I am not in a hurry. I want an LP that I'm going to keep. Besides I''ve still got a couple of things to sell off before I have enough cash in hand to really look seriously.

Best bang for the buck in real Gibson Les Pauls is a used 56 or 57 Goldtop Reissue. End of discussion. (well at least from my point of view)

My guess is that it was a goldtop before it was refinished. I think $1500 is too much. Myself, I'd probably see if they'd take $900-1000. If they passed, let some other sucker pay their price for it. God, I am SO tired of seeing over-inflated prices on guitars!

For a used vintage players guitar (not from the 50's or 60's), I'd be looking for 900-1000. 1600 is way overpriced and 70's production ones are hit or miss as others have mentioned.


Originally Posted by Scott_FBest bang for the buck in real Gibson Les Pauls is a used 56 or 57 Goldtop Reissue. End of discussion. (well at least from my point of view)

Scott, why is that? Details buddy!

Being the owner of a 1976 Les Paul Deluxe i can tell you mine sucks! The Pancake body, the 3 piece maple neck that is thick as hell..... It does not stay in tune at all for me even after a good shop set it up..... the G string slips all the time. I will never sell it as it has a special place in my own history...... But i do not think i'll rush out and buy a 70's les paul again unless it is cheap! 2 friends of mine last summer bought a LP Pro and Standard from the 70's for $600 each...... If you get lucky you can find them for great deals.

Being a WhoFan i thought the best guitar for me would be a 70's Deluxe like Pete used..... And i hate it... I really liked the 1999-2002 Deluxe reissues Gibson offers. They were great Les Paul Deluxes! Many times better then the 70's models. The Pete Townshend Les Paul Deluxe Signature from Gibsons Custom Shop is interesting...... They took a bad Les Paul design and added Pete's mods.... and the price is extreme!

For $1600 that guitar is not worth it..... It is a beater. If that guitar was more original, had an original finnish, original pickups and hardware.... by todays standards it would be worth $1600 at the high.... Here in Toronto the shops have used 70's LP's in really good to great shape for $1800-$2200 Canadian all the time.

WhoFan

I own a '74 LP Standard that luckily for me has major mojo. Feels great, plays great, and has tone for days. That said, I probably couldn't get more than $1200 for it. As stated before, the Norlin era guitars are hit or miss. $1600 is high for an Les Paul that has been refinished and has replacement pups. For that price you can do a lot better.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HMusta started off life as a goldtop, maybe a Deluxe that's been routed for HB's, since it has a 3 piece top. IF the finish is done professionally, and IF it's nitro, and IF the guitar has mojo....then it may be worth it.

Actually man, though this guitar is refinished and it states that, from my research...these three peice tops are actually rather common in the Norlin era as he was trying to cut costs by putting together peices of scrap wood instead of throwing them away. He thought he was doing good things by not allowing his shop to throw anything away and what he was doing really was making horrid guitars. I've seen guitars with one peice of regular maple top, one peice of flame, and one peice of quilt...looked awful...but common during the 70's ....

For that price, that would have to be the End-all of Les Pauls, we´re talking it better gimme a BJ every time I play it

Keep in mind this too, most dealers/experts I have ever talked to say that any guitar that has been refinished loses its collectability and devalues a guitar.


Originally Posted by CapoFirstFretActually man, though this guitar is refinished and it states that, from my research...these three peice tops are actually rather common in the Norlin era as he was trying to cut costs by putting together peices of scrap wood instead of throwing them away. He thought he was doing good things by not allowing his shop to throw anything away and what he was doing really was making horrid guitars. I've seen guitars with one peice of regular maple top, one peice of flame, and one peice of quilt...looked awful...but common during the 70's ....

My 76 is a 3 piece maple top and they didn't even try to match the grain in any shape or form... it is a Brown sunburst finnish......