Members ESchmidt Posted October 14, 2012 Members Share Posted October 14, 2012 Hey everyone. Im going to be purchasing a gibson les paul custom here soon. I am wondering which ones ould be best for me. I have about $2500 to spend so obviously used will be a requirement. I have found late 70s to late 80s LP customs to be going from $2000-$2500 depending on condition. Or would getting a modern (past 10-15 years) LP custom be a better idea because they would be a "custom shop" instrument where as the older ones were production models. Please help me decide. Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ColoradoFenderB Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 I own a 1990 LP Custom. So, not a "modern" one. I love it. I replaced the stock pickups with a set of Gibson '57 Classics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 i've owned Customs from the early 70s all the way to current, and my favorite examples have been mid-to-late 70s (i know- norlin... GASP!), mid-to-late 80s and from '99 to '05. the trick is to play as many as you can and buy the one that makes you smile really big. happy hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ESchmidt Posted October 15, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 Thanks guys. Theres none for sale locally so im sure Ill have to drive a few hours to Indy, Chicago, Detroit, etc. if I wanna play a few examples. But I will take my time to find the right one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members realtree71 Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 Enjoy the hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TattooedCarrot Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 Originally Posted by ESchmidt H Or would getting a modern (past 10-15 years) LP custom be a better idea because they would be a "custom shop" instrument where as the older ones were production models. Just to clarify, those regular custom shop models of recent years (not the historics, the regular ones) are custom shop in administrative designation only. They're still made in the same production shop with the same production specs as before. When Gibson restructured in the early 00's, they moved the LP Custom line and the Memphis facility (that makes semi hollows and hollow bodies) over to the custom shop division, administratively, they didn't actually move them to the literal custom shop. They never changed production, so they're the same guitar and custom shop in designation only. They changed the serial numbers to CSXXXXX and gave them certificates.That said, I've become pretty fond of Norlin customs because the necks are usually thinner, and I prefer the three piece maple necks; they are really strong necks and add some punch and focus to the tone with all that maple.I have a '78 and an '81 and got them both in your price range. And they're on the cusp right now. New enough that they are still priced reasonably, but vintage enough that they are becoming more collectible. Now's the time to buy a Norlin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzztone Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 I like the Norlin Customs . I got this for $1975 at Guitar Center.It's like Euroboy's,well sorta. his is a 70's model and mine is an '81. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 15, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 15, 2012 The Norlin models are probably what you've been listening to if you listen to any 70s or 80s rock music, and if you get lucky you get Tim Shaw pickups too, if you find a post 81 model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cats-o-caster Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 Prefer Standards, but id go with the older one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ESchmidt Posted October 15, 2012 Author Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 OK thanks for the replies guys and clarifying the custom shop issue. I have owned a '77 standard ans loved the thin maple neck so maybe a Norlin is what might be best for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rand-O-Monium Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 Love my '74!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goosefartfan Posted October 15, 2012 Members Share Posted October 15, 2012 go to the Les Paul forums and get a headache from reading too much about the differences in Customs. Most agree that post 1990 quality took a big jump up. But if you like maple necks, you're stuck with a Norlin era (if that's good or bad......) Personally I want a 1990's +, but I like the thin 60's neck, and for that you have to buy a '68 reissue, which came first out in (I think) 2001? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noah76 Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I was in the same boat as you before I traded my 09 EBMM JP6 for a 09 LP Trad. Pro. In 26 years of playing I never played a LP( SG and Explorer for most of the years). Best trade ever. Got to mylespaul.com . Everything you need to know is on that site. And from what I read from them there is no such thing as better years. Gibson has great guitars but some dogs aways slip by like every company. The best rule for Gibson try before you buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TattooedCarrot Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by goosefartfan but I like the thin 60's neck, and for that you have to buy a '68 reissue, which came first out in (I think) 2001? 68RI has a fat neck, not thin. I've owned a couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TeleFromHelly Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by TattooedCarrot Just to clarify, those regular custom shop models of recent years (not the historics, the regular ones) are custom shop in administrative designation only. They're still made in the same production shop with the same production specs as before. When Gibson restructured in the early 00's, they moved the LP Custom line and the Memphis facility (that makes semi hollows and hollow bodies) over to the custom shop division, administratively, they didn't actually move them to the literal custom shop. They never changed production, so they're the same guitar and custom shop in designation only. They changed the serial numbers to CSXXXXX and gave them certificates.That said, I've become pretty fond of Norlin customs because the necks are usually thinner, and I prefer the three piece maple necks; they are really strong necks and add some punch and focus to the tone with all that maple.I have a '78 and an '81 and got them both in your price range. And they're on the cusp right now. New enough that they are still priced reasonably, but vintage enough that they are becoming more collectible. Now's the time to buy a Norlin. Damn that's a beauty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcooper830 Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by GreatDane ....buy the one that makes you smile really big... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goosefartfan Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by TattooedCarrot 68RI has a fat neck, not thin. I've owned a couple. that's wierd! In my conversations with Gibson cust. serv., they've told me it's a 60's thin. hmmmmmmmmm???OK, so which LPC has a thin 60's neck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 16, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by goosefartfan that's wierd! In my conversations with Gibson cust. serv., they've told me it's a 60's thin. hmmmmmmmmm???OK, so which LPC has a thin 60's neck? Now this is weird, as I've always thought that a 68/68RI had a fattish rounded neck, but twice today I've seen 68s mentioned alongside being thin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ColoradoFenderB Posted October 18, 2012 Members Share Posted October 18, 2012 So, what is the thoughts on early 1980s Customs? As good as the late 1970s versions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TattooedCarrot Posted October 19, 2012 Members Share Posted October 19, 2012 Originally Posted by goosefartfan that's wierd! In my conversations with Gibson cust. serv., they've told me it's a 60's thin. hmmmmmmmmm???OK, so which LPC has a thin 60's neck? Having owned more than one, I assure you they are fat. And Gibson customer service doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation for knowing their own gear. Currently there are no LPC's with thin necks, the smallest is the regular LPC which still has a 50's profile. However, used there are some thin ones, mostly the Norlin era customs from the 70's and early 80's with the maple necks. Not as flat as the modern 60's slim taper, but pretty thin.BTW, this new forum software blows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted October 19, 2012 Members Share Posted October 19, 2012 Originally Posted by dcooper830 now THAT's what i'm talking about. coop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.