Members chiro972 Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 So I'm looking for a les paul. I have nothing but single coil guitars and I want one humbucker and I figure it might as well be a lester. I am looking at three used ones. Can you tell me which you would pick and why? 1. 1998 Studio wine color looks 9/10 $800 asking price 2. Early 80's Epiphone Les Paul. MIJ with the open book gibson style headstock that has epiphone inlaid in pearl (or plastic, whatever they used back then) $600 looks 9/10 3. TV yellow gibby LP special faded double cut. Bridge pup not working (I assume a replacement needed, even though it might just be a solder.) looks 8/10 $550 asking price. (He has lowered the price already, I might be able to get it for a few bucks less if the guy needs the $$ So which would you choose and why? I know we all have personal opinions that may differ, but I'd love everyone's input anyway. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sk8centilli Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 2. Early 80's Epiphone Les Paul. MIJ with the open book gibson style headstock that has epiphone inlaid in pearl (or plastic, whatever they used back then) $600 looks 9/10 Epiphone didn't start making Les Paul's until 1989 and those were made in Korea, although they did have an open-book headstock and long tenon neck. I absolutely love the Doublecut Special Faded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 I'm not nuts about any of those prices. You should also put your hands on them before making decisions. Most Gibsons are pretty hit-or-miss. Some Studios are magical, some Historics are pretty weak. If you like one of them, and can get the seller to drop $100, any would be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted January 14, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Thanks for the reply. The guess on the age of the epi was a total guess. It is lovely and I know that 80's japanese pauls are sought over, but I have no idea how those old Epi's are. I am assuming the quality should be on par with the elitists of a few years ago, but I don't know that. The double cut special is really calling out to me. Anyone know if they are severely neck heavy?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vcnyls Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 3. TV yellow gibby LP special faded double cut. Bridge pup not working (I assume a replacement needed, even though it might just be a solder.) looks 8/10 $550 asking price. (He has lowered the price already, I might be able to get it for a few bucks less if the guy needs the $$ Again, way too high! 550 for a faded with a pickup that needs to be replaced? I'd get the LP Studio personally but it's really preference. Etiher way, I think you need to look around a bit more or negotiate here, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 59humbucker Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Price aside, I'd go with the studio. A good studio is a proper lester, very solid and play and sound great. If you're gassing for a LP, I'm not sure the special will do, they're completely diferrent animals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 The double cut special is really calling out to me.Anyone know if they are severely neck heavy?? I don't recall them being offensive. However, considering there was a used one in a local chain guitar store (ie Daddy's) for $500 in perfect working condition and a bruise on the front, I'd start at $400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ital_Stal Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 pm sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niceguy Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 So which would you choose and why? I know we all have personal opinions that may differ, but I'd love everyone's input anyway.Thanks! OK, if you're coming from a Fender-style background, it would be a good idea to get a feel for the various Gibson neck shapes. My first Les Paul had a 50s neck, and I never could bond with it. Now, I have a 60s neck Les Paul, and it's my favorite guitar. I'm pretty sure the guitars you listed all have the 50s neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 3. TV yellow gibby LP special faded double cut. Bridge pup not working (I assume a replacement needed, even though it might just be a solder.) looks 8/10 $550 asking price. (He has lowered the price already, I might be able to get it for a few bucks less if the guy needs the $$ Number 3 draws me the most mostly because I think it's priced better than the others. $800 just seems a bit high for a '98 Studio, OTOH, you say it's a 9/10. The MIJ Epi is also a bit intriguing because of the design which makes it more rare in our market. But if you could get the Special for 5 and all it needs is a solder, then I think that would be a cool score. I'm assuming that was a P-90 model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 I agree that all of those prices look high. Also -- isn't the Special Faded Doublecut a P90 guitar? Actually, that's the one of all those that would appeal to me, but I'm weird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteinbergerHack Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 You should also put your hands on them before making decisions. This. Gibsons tend to have more variance between individual guitars, due to the way they are assembled - they're not like a bolt-together Fender where the quality of the individual components determines the quality of the final product. If you haven't played each of them, you cannot evaluate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted January 14, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Sorry, yes the special is a dual p-90 guitar. I figured if I wanted the dual buckers, I could swap out for some p-90 sized buckers in the future. Is that Daddy's store one that ships? Do they have a website? Thanks for the reply's folks. They are helpful indeed. Still open to more opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 I've had the opportunity to play a few of the faded doublecuts and like them a LOT. I'd actually almost prefer getting one of those used, because the finish on the back of the neck benefits from a few years of use... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 second Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Is that Daddy's store one that ships? Do they have a website? Yes, and yes, but the Special I mentioned is long gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Macelind Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 The MIJ Epiphones were made for the Japanese market. Gibson discontinued the Orville line in 1998 but the Fujigen factory continued to make those same guitars but with Epiphone on the headstock. I had a '99 and it was every bit as good as the '71 LP and the '68 RI LPC I have now. Excellent guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 67mike Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Epiphone didn't start making Les Paul's until 1989 and those were made in Korea, although they did have an open-book headstock and long tenon neck. I absolutely love the Doublecut Special Faded. Epiphone Elitist made in JApan and had the headstock...and if that is what it is, I would buy, as it is better than the USA gibbos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sk8centilli Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Epiphone Elitist made in JApan and had the headstock...and if that is what it is, I would buy, as it is better than the USA gibbos. The Japanese Elite/Elitist had a similar headstock, but it wasn't open-book. The Korean '89 looked like this: That said, if it is an Elite/Elitist $800 is pretty decent price. As 67mike said, they're known to be great guitars; only differing from Gibson's in the fact that they have a poly finish instead of nitro and they're not made in Kalamazoo, Nashville or Memphis (if it's a white Custom). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted January 14, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Thanks for the replies. It wasn't an elitist. If it was, I'd be all over it if it wasn't too heavy as some of them were. The headstock even looks a bit different from the korean that sk8 posted. It actually looks exactly the same as gibson but it says epiphone. I'm down to that one and the special. Does anyone know if the double cut specials have ever been counterfeited? Do I need to worry about that? I know the obvious clues to look for (three screw truss rod, asian TOM) but I see some of the counterfeiters are getting clever and fixing those gaffes. This one is definitely in played condition, so I don't expect that from a POS fake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 The LP Special will probably the best of those three at so many different levels, so long as the repair is not difficult. Probably just a soldering job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strung_Out Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 At $600 a MIJ epiphone standard is a steal, any pictures of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fireproof777 Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Sorry...none of those for the prices you list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 How bout a '78 Greco EG-500 with a recent fret level, new nut, new tuners and 490R and 498T Gibson pups for $700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted January 16, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 16, 2011 Well Screw it. Went to GC today and fell in love with a new Studio Deluxe in tobacco burst. I am in love. This guitar has something that I can't put my finger on but it is sweet. Thanks for all the help guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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