50th Anniversary '59 Les Paul Dark Burst with Gold COA

[gitarista]

I found a mint 2009 50th Anniversary '59 Les Paul Dark Burst with Gold COA that is priced at $4700. Is this a fair price for this? It's one of the 500 limited batch. I know, there were another gazillion batches of 25 pieces of different colors from burnt whiskey to pale ale that came after that, so I don't really know why the first 500 is any special. There are at least 4 guitars that are labeled "50th anniversary" '59 that is priced anywhere from 300-600 less. Sure they don't have that "gold COA", but is it really worth paying more for the gold COA?

[gitarista]

Oh BTW, according to the seller, she weighs around 8 lbs, which is either good or bad depending on your preference. Personally, I like 'em lighter as I have a bad shoulder. I'm sure there are arguments on either side about how this affects (or not) the tone, but for me, if I can't carry it, I ain't playin' it.

[journeyman73]

is it worth it is really something that you need to decide. my guess would be to some it is but to many it is not.

when i was looking around for a 50th, i was willing to pay a bit more for the gold....but, as i was going to be playing the guitar, the COA alone wasnt enough to sway me one way or the other

edit: oh, and i think for 4700, secondhand, the guitar would need to be a winner all around

[gitarista]

I agree that it has to be a winner for $4700 which (for me) is a heck of a lot of change. I was watching an ebay auction for another 50th ann with Gold COA but of the Heritage Cherry color. The bidding went frantic the last few seconds and ended up at $5350. I guess I was surprised at how it how much it ended up selling for. I was expecting more like $4500-$4800. Didn't they sell for $6k brand new? Maybe the gold COA ones don't come up that often? I don't know.

[R9.]

The only things "special" about the first 500 were they only came in Heritage Cherry or Darkburst and they had gloss finishes. If the gold COA is worth a few extra hundred dollars to you and guitar feels right, go for it. The 50th I bought is an incredible sounding guitar but its COA just sits in the case.

[journeyman73]

Originally Posted by gitarista

I agree that it has to be a winner for $4700 which (for me) is a heck of a lot of change. I was watching an ebay auction for another 50th ann with Gold COA but of the Heritage Cherry color. The bidding went frantic the last few seconds and ended up at $5350. I guess I was surprised at how it how much it ended up selling for. I was expecting more like $4500-$4800. Didn't they sell for $6k brand new? Maybe the gold COA ones don't come up that often? I don't know.

wow, i am surprised to hear it went for that much. my local guitar store had some HC and DB Gold COA's - i think about 5 of them. I think they were tagged at 6499 or 6999? the selling price was around 5-5.5k depending on how much business you did there. they still have the DB left and im pretty sure its been tagged to 5499 and could go for less than 5k.

i dont know if stores were getting 6k once the initial excitement of release passed...of course, if one was willing to buy early one could increase their chances of getting an outstanding top (i.e. i think the ones still left in stores are probably there for a reason).

if it were me, and the guitar was appealing to me beyond just the COA, i would probably consider it. to be honest, i like an awesome deal as much as the next guy but ive pretty much decided whats a few hundred dollars to get the guitar i really want. i am not looking to flip these things...i want it to be part of my life and an inspiration to me every time i play and see it. unless its just stupidly priced, i dont need to get an awesome deal for that satisfaction.

[Bad Puppy]

It seems like a good deal to me, I just bought a HC gold cert from Marks guitar loft second hand but new condition and paid $5,500 for it, some of you guys might thinks thats expensive, but here in England they were £4300 when new (well over $6800 at the time), so to me it seemed a bargain.