I guess you could play it; etc see how it performs and compar that feeling to a new guitar; say a $300 Mexican made Fender Strat.

nothing worse that dropping $ on a guitar that is flawed in either the bridge; nut, neck bow/twist etc..that require soem repairs.

grab teh serial number off the guitar; you can usually look up online the date/year it was made; at least get an idea of A. is the guitar as old as he says it is, and B. find out what they were giong for new etc.

good question about the neck, here's anothe pic he sent me, looks like bolted on?

Typical Les Paul knock-off. I'd pay $150 tops if the thing is in good condition.

He said he couldn't find the serial number (my father in-law) and he's had it a couple days to play it, said he likes the sound and such, feels in real good shape and he's been wanting an electric.

I don't want him screwed over in the long run, I mean if he likes it and it plays well for him I already think $300 is high for it, but it's his money. Conversely, if it's a crap brand.....

I'm also complexed that he can't find a serial number or anything on it for the model.

so I can tell him the bolt neck is a bad thing.... any reason to that?

I've worked in music stores and work on guitars on my spare time. If he gets it...$150 tops.

Though honestly...wouldn't waste your time.

There are a lot of really awesome Japanese Les Paul knock offs (sure some are illegal!) that have set necks for a general decent price (more so if you found it in say a pawn shop and they don't know what they had.) look up guitars on ebay by searching for Les Paul Japan or MIJ (Made in Japan) and he could probably find some really cool stuff.

Greco made some cool set neck Les Paul copies. Some people ask way too much for them thinking they're worth a grand...and they kind of are as far as craftsmanship, materials and age. But at that price you can just buy a real Gibson used.

Bolt on necks aren't bad things (fender has made them that way for years.) It's just a cheaper way of making electrics (as well as easier to fix if there are anyproblems w/ a neck.) however when you want a les paul. You want a set neck just because it helps w/ the sustain of the guitar.

At the end of the day it's a matter of taste. But if a les paul even a copy is known for sustain. Why use a bolt on neck?

thanks for the tips, I'll share them. I am still slightly confused on the set neck vs bolt neck. I thought bolt necks were more secure and better to have.

I'm catching on, thanks.

It's not that it's a bad thing it's a cheap guitar thing. Most guitars under $1k are bolted on in some form. The other ones are what you call a "neck-through-body" which means basically the whole thing is made out of 1 piece of wood.

$150 and as long as the neck isn't warped and the overall condition is good you got a ok deal.

I teach guitar lessons at Rick's Music in Manhattan, and have worked in guitar stores now for about a decade, so I've seen a bunch of used guitars.



There is no way he should be throwing down $300.00 for this. It's a cheap Les Paul copy. Only on very rare occaisions is an old guitar of an off brand name worth any more than $150.00 or maybe $200.00. And that's assuming that it plays perfectly and there aren't any problems with it (which is a big assumption).


Think of it this way. An Ibanez "starter pack" with a brand new, perfectly playable guitar a cheap little amp a video picks and a tuner and gig bag runs $299.00 to $320.00 at any guitar store. That guitar is better than the one you have pictured and sells for about $200.00 if you find them used. You can also pick this guitar up with your bare hands. Is it extremely heavy (20 pounds)? That is a mark of a decent les paul copy. The old Yamaha and Ibanez lex paul copies (the ones they got sued by Gibson for making) are sought after now because they are basically the same thing with a different name on them. Not the same thing for Hohner. At least I've never seen one worth a crap.

yup; 'bout what I'd pay too; if that.

My son band is recording their 3rd album and all of them are using John Cougar Melloncamp's band's instruments. Same ones they have used over the years. He's the bass player and the one he's using was in the video "Jack and Diane"....

He told me it was the best bass he ever played, but I don't know what brand it is.

In summary....Set necks are not always better made . But they are a bit harder to make so the craftsmanship has to be a bit better. Bolt necks are just more efficient.

Also how often is the guitar going to get played? What kind of music?