Question on buying Norlins

[xguitardevilx]

Hey,
I have loved Norlins for quite some time now but, never had the luck of owning one. Now I've come up on some money to buy myself a nice little Christmas present and was wondering, where can I look to find a nice Norlin on a $1500 budget? Anyone here have anything they want to sell?

[Xavier_32]

Check out gbase, craigslist, ebay, and of course, the classifieds here.

There are plenty to be had for around that price range, you just have to look and wait. You can easily get a refretted headstock repair with all original parts for around $1,500 and it'll probably play pretty damn fine. Of course, there will also be people trying to pass off the same quality guitar for $3,000. So, again, actively looking and patience is key.

[xguitardevilx]

I don't want a guitar with repairs beyond a refret. Just superstitious about repairs. You think I could find a fairly beat but unbroken Custom for around that price?

[moff40]

Originally Posted by xguitardevilx

I don't want a guitar with repairs beyond a refret. Just superstitious about repairs. You think I could find a fairly beat but unbroken Custom for around that price?

I wouldn't count on it. Standards and Classics yes, but not Customs. Most of the Customs I've seen that have no headstock\neck repairs have been in the high $2Ks into the $3K range, but then again, they've been lefties... Like Xavier says "patience, Grasshopper"

[b-squared]

I doubt you'll find a Custom for that, unless you encounter the holy grail 'Dad selling son's guitar' kinda thing.

I wouldn't sell my '76 Custom for less than $4K.

It's in a LOT better shape than the one on Pawn Stars the other night.

BB

[dwagar]

you could probably find a Deluxe for that price, and it's possible to find a Custom, but harder.

Just have the cash available and be ready to jump when you see one.

I missed one locally the other day, Craigslist, '78 Custom, $900. From what the ad said it was beat up, no breaks or repairs, missing a couple of knobs or something. Within a couple of hours of posting the ad, they posted another ad saying 'please stop phoning, the first person to call bought it'. Of course they did.

[atheos]

Originally Posted by dwagar

they posted another ad saying 'please stop phoning, the first person to call bought it'. Of course they did.

Yea, I just love those.

Them: "I'm getting non-stop calls today, I sold it last night".
Me: "Have you considered taking down your ad? I doubt anyone is interested in calling you for an item you've already sold."
Them: "You can do that?"
Me: *Hangup*

[BurstAddict]

I got this '84 Custom for about $1350:



Of course it had a not so pretty headstock repair, was missing the bridge pickup, and needed a refret. But with a bit of effort and about a $250 investment, she's good as new. So yes, I think it's possible to find a Norlin Custom in your price range.

[JBranch]

I got my '83 Custom for $1500. But it had a couple of problems: 1)SD Dimebucker pickup that sounded like poop. 2)Kahler tremolo-I've grown to like it, but it's not your typical LP bridge 3)no case

So, I spent another couple hundred on a HSC and a SD JB pickup, familiarized myself with the Kahler so I could get a good sound and action out of it, and now I'm extremely happy with it. But I knew it was "the" guitar within a few seconds of playing it.

So, it certainly CAN be done. Good luck in your quest!

[xguitardevilx]

Well, I would like a Custom but I could live with a Norlin Standard. Would $1500 be a logical amount for a Standard with no breaks or repairs?

[Cookie-boy]

Another option is to look for an early deluxe routed for humbuckers. It knocks the value and you could end up with an early 70s even mahogany necked example and be within budget.

That's the way I'd go.

[xguitardevilx]

Originally Posted by Cookie-boy

Another option is to look for an early deluxe routed for humbuckers. It knocks the value and you could end up with an early 70s even mahogany necked example and be within budget.

That's the way I'd go.

That sounds like an awesome way to go, where would I find something like that?

[Cookie-boy]

Look on Ebay. There are always early, routed Deluxes on there!

[Cookie-boy]

In my opinion this is over-priced but you get the general idea.

1974 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Amazing Condition! Sunburst - eBay (item 190354725870 end time Jan-01-10 14:57:24 PST)

[Cookie-boy]

.........or this.

1980 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

[Cookie-boy]

1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

[Cookie-boy]

1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

[Cookie-boy]

1980 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

[Cookie-boy]

1979 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

[Cookie-boy]

1980 Gibson Vintage 1980 Les Paul Standard Gibson Vintage 1980 Les Paul Standard > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

1981 Gibson Les Paul Standard > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard > Guitars : Electric Solid Body | Gbase.com

I know some are a little over your budget but working on the theory that if you ask enough girls for a shag you'll eventually get one, go make a few offers!

[GibsonByBirth]

[QUOTE=Cookie-boy;1377029if you ask enough girls for a shag you'll eventually get one[/QUOTE]


You have to ask?

[Cookie-boy]

Originally Posted by GibsonByBirth

You have to ask?

...........and so do you, Gibbo! Don't kid yourself!!

[tazzboy]

I would get something Post pancake body era like 1977 or later.

[Xavier_32]

We all have our tastes. I would opt for 69-74, before maple necks. I personally like the pancake.

[xguitardevilx]

I like the pancake too, I was thinking 73-76 model, I'd love to get an RR lookalike..but, I can only dream.

[blues]

Nothing wrong with a broken headstock if its fixed well. May even be more solid than before the break. My 74 standard had a broken headstock.

[hbar]

I landed this guy for $1400 earlier this year. It's a 74, and was originally a black beauty, there's a monster scratch on the top (but not so monster that you can see it in this picture), pickups are DiMarzios, the volute has been sanded off, and the bridge was pretty much wore out. But it screams, and plays far nicer than any of my other LP's. So yeah, it can be done.

[elcajon64]

I've bought four routed-out deluxes in the last three years. They've ranged from $700 (1980 that needed a refinish) to $1450 (1977 Deluxe Pro with T-tops), none with any structural damage except for being punched for humbuckers.

[moff40]

Originally Posted by elcajon64

I've bought four routed-out deluxes in the last three years. They've ranged from $700 (1980 that needed a refinish) to $1450 (1977 Deluxe Pro with T-tops), none with any structural damage except for being punched for humbuckers.

Holy crap, those are some smokin' deals on those Deluxes, elcajon! Probably it's because I'm a lefty, or maybe it's because the three I've bought over the past two years or so were not routed, but they were $2400 (1974, dead stock and in nice shape), $1400 (1977, needed a fingerboard planing, and had non-original tuners, and no OHSC), and $2400 (very clean 1980 GT).

I've seen a few for $1400-$1600, but they were in pretty rough shape, or carved up, neck breaks, etc...

[45WinMag]

GC's online used section is worth a look, I blundered across a 1980 Standard with the tuners swapped for Grovers and a DiMarzio SD in the bridge. It is in immaculate condition and cost $1300. You never know what you will happen across. It helps to set the search filter for "Price Drop" if you're looking for deals, GC's used prices are usually a little high until the guitar has been there for a while.