Guitar Question

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by CrazyCoffey

and the seller obviously thinks it's like a collectors item, since he's asking $300. I

I think it's safe to say, those guitars are not collectors items.

a 1945 Martin; 1958 Strat = collectors item.

The seller may be unrealisitc in his asking price.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by dayzeofthenew

I think it's safe to say, those guitars are not collectors items.

a 1945 Martin; 1958 Strat = collectors item.

The seller may be unrealisitc in his asking price.

That's the thought I've been starting to form myself. I've been on their website and browsed through E-bay. Both with little luck.

Thanks for the input, if anyone thinks differently, speak up please....

[Dayze]

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.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by dayzeofthenew

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.

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.

[mcan]

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.

[Huffman83]

Originally Posted by mcan

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.

I concur w/ his comment about the weight. Heavyness in physics does help in heavyness in tone. So set neck/heavy mahogany and no gibson name...can be very very good...sometimes even better than gibson itself!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by mcan

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.

The Hohner is maybe worth $75, tops. You'd be better off buy a starter Epiphone Les Paul bolt-on neck for $179.99. Personally, I wouldn't touch the Hohner.

Originally Posted by mcan

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.

This is absolutely false.

99.9% of the time, a heavy Les Paul is the mark of a shitty, water-logged piece of wood. Those guitars are toneless pieces of driftwood. Many 70's Les Pauls are like this which is why they are not desirable in the least. Gibson went through several different ownership groups from 1970 to the late 80's and really didn't begin making quality instruments until the early 90's.

If you're looking for a REAL Les Paul, regardless of the name on the headstock, you'll be looking for a guitar that has one piece mahogany body, a book-matched two piece maple top and a one piece mahogany neck. Anything else is a cheap and fake imitation.

The less expensive Epiphones use solid alder, the "normal" Epi's use alder & mahogany or solid mahogany and the Elitist (MIJ) models are built exactly like the shop in Nashville (and many would tell you they're actually better than what's currently coming off the line).

Most really great Les Pauls weigh in at about 8-9 pounds for a Standard and maybe slightly more for Customs (because of the extra binding, gold hardware, etc.). I can honestly say that if someone was offering a 20 pound Les Paul, it would sound like complete and utter ASS and should be avoided at all costs.