Modified 1952 Les Paul

[Fws6]

Hi guys I am a newbie here. I am in Europe and own a '52 pre-serial number Les Paul. It was renecked at Gibson in 1973 with the modern neck angle + TOM installed. I have the 73 factory repair bill with it. It was sanded blank at the time, and recently redone in all gold nitro as it was originally, based on the paint found in back cavities. Half of the parts are 52 (like the neck pickup, tuners); the other half 73 (pickguard, bridge pickup etc).

It sounds killer and is the lightest example of a Les Paul I have ever held old or new at 7 1/2 lbs. It is a terrific player but I must say I havent got a clue to Gibsons. I tried to sell it on ebay in the UK for what I had in it (3750 pounds), but nobody placed a bid. So what would you all figure its current value ?

Other opinions ? Would it be wise to send it back to Gison or maybe someone else for a more period correct looking neck or other repairs / mods that could make it look more period correct / valuable ?

I do own other vintage guitars (Fender, Gretsch) but this is my first Les Paul. So far I love it - but it is very different in feel from what I usually play. The P90s are pure heaven for what I do (rockabilly/ c&w / swing). Not sure if I should sell it or keep it.

Any advice would be appreciated, here, or at my email fws6@hotmail.com

Thanks !!!!

[dwagar]

IMO the neck is really holding back the value. To me, it wouldn't have much more value than a '73 Deluxe.

PM or email Mapleflame, IIRC he had a neck made in Russia out of old mahogany for one of his. You'll also need to find a correct fretboard and inlays.

The big question is, how much do you put into it, and will you get more than that out of it if you are just going to sell it?

[shotgunlew]

dude if i had near the money, id buy it, i love the look of that guitar!

[Fws6]

To me, it wouldn't have much more value than a '73 Deluxe

Yeah I knew nothing about Les Pauls when I got it, but what I understood from the reactions on my ebay auction is that it is especially the neck that puzzeled potential buyers. The bad thing about ebay is that you can only shop with your eyes not with your ears. But when you talk 'tone' that would be mostly determined by the old body wood right ?

I compared this in a music store with a new reissue goldtop with P90s (it was called the historic model if that makes any sense). This one sounded much warmer, richer in harmonics. The store owner was very eager to sel me the reissue at first saying it was just as good as the old ones. But after comparing he agreed better to stick with an old one.

Maybe it was also in the setup or so, but the reissue to me seemed to be 'voiced' at the factory for use with some kind of distortion pedal, it was very tight but colorless tone from the P90s.

if you are just going to sell it

That is the second big issue in my question. Should I, or should I not. It definately sounds fantastic, but all except one of my other guitars are hollowbodies. I just dont play it that often.

dude if i had near the money, id buy it, i love the look of that guitar!

Thanks for the compliment ! Even if you did, vintage guitars are 20-30% more expensive here at least compared to the USA because of high shipping and import charges. It would be no use shipping it back to the USA especially with today's low dollar exchange rate.

I bought it as a player, wouldnt necessarily have to make money on it as long as I can get back 90% from what I put in or so.

[LoKi]

Personally I would hang on to it for life. Maybe find some vintage correct parts to get her back to normal, but then I would still keep it and hand it off to my children or their children. The longer you keep it, the more valuable it will become.

Todays vintage market is not in fear of crashing like it did in the 80's. There are more people out there with an appreciation *and with money* than ever before. The US might hit a recession, but that just means more guitars may come up for sale... But the market will bouce back. They simply are not making anymore of these.

[Roman Rist]

Keep it

[Mike60]

renecked or not,that's a beauty!I would keep it.Probably plays and sounds killer.

[dwagar]

yep I agree, just keep it.

[captain tightpants]

So keep it. She's got history.

[Roman Rist]

Having a receipt from Gibson for the re neck job from 1973 is a rarity as well. Yup she is one of a kind.


Roman

[refin]

Keep it---------you'll regret selling her.

[Roman Rist]

I guess the Gods have spoken!

You are keeping her!

Roman

[diceman]

I sure would. (keep it, that is).

[Dutch53GT]

I saw this geet for sale, do you have better pic's of the top?

If you like the guitar don't sell it, it probably worth more to you than it is in the (dutch) market.

[Fws6]

hey dutch53 a fellow country man ! I read some of your posts on the 'other' les paul forum but for some reason they wont let me register there with a hotmail account, and that is all I got...

Here's a better pic of the top too. Before the refin it had a really nice maple top with some figure. And the seam was almost perfectly in the middle, whereas most goldtops from what I read apparently have 3 piece or more maple on the tops. Still it was a goldtop originally so thats why I decided to make it gold again. Haar guitars did the work as they are the only place in the netherlands (that I know) still using the original nitro.

I had the guitar appraised by a certified appraiser for 7500 euro's I tried to sell for the 3750 pounds (5300 euro ) and then even dropped a 1000 but still no takers.

I have 14 guitars 12 of which are hollowbodies. I always stayed away from solidbodies (especially LP's) because I didnt like the heavy weight. This one is very light though that is what attrackted to me in the first place.

Anyways after reading all the posts here I might better keep it and see if it grows on me.

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by RFR

Having a receipt from Gibson for the re neck job from 1973 is a rarity as well. Yup she is one of a kind.


Roman

+1...the receipt is provenance.

[Blues Power]

wow thats one fine looking geetar. imo being that Gibby made the repairs and you have proof of it, the value although may drop I dont think it will be as bad as you may think.

id think that the refinish would hurt it more than the neck but thats my opinion


at any rate the refinish is georgous and just enjoy it.
if it were me id just crank her up and keep it for life.

[Dutch53GT]

Originally Posted by Fws6

hey dutch53 a fellow country man ! I read some of your posts on the 'other' les paul forum but for some reason they wont let me register there with a hotmail account, and that is all I got...

Here's a better pic of the top too. Before the refin it had a really nice maple top with some figure. And the seam was almost perfectly in the middle, whereas most goldtops from what I read apparently have 3 piece or more maple on the tops. Still it was a goldtop originally so thats why I decided to make it gold again. Haar guitars did the work as they are the only place in the netherlands (that I know) still using the original nitro.

I had the guitar appraised by a certified appraiser for 7500 euro's I tried to sell for the 3750 pounds (5300 euro ) and then even dropped a 1000 but still no takers.

I have 14 guitars 12 of which are hollowbodies. I always stayed away from solidbodies (especially LP's) because I didnt like the heavy weight. This one is very light though that is what attrackted to me in the first place.

Anyways after reading all the posts here I might better keep it and see if it grows on me.

Thanks, vintage prices suck for modified pieces. There is no good price.
People here don't really care for vintage guitars, they rather buy a custom shop LP.
Keep it and see if it grows on you, if not expect a price between 3000 and 4000 euro's at best.
I'm affraid the dollar won't help you......

Good luck, I hate talking about a guitar like this because it deserves so much better.

[MIDNIGHT]

she's a keeper for sure

[demon]

I think it might cost about $1k to have a luthier make you a new neck with the right HS pitch. There's still old Gibson raw neck blanks floating around, but not many with the correct headstock angle. But, a luthier could hand carve you a killer neck, and slap on a brazillian fretboard, but it would still be an issues-guitar for anyone buying it. Every once in a while you find a 50's parts guitar thats been modified to hell, cut in half or water damaged. They might yield a neck, and other parts perhaps.

[Fws6]

Before the refin was done it had a nice bookmatched maple top with some figure in it. The seam was almost dead center, whereas I just read that these early Les Pauls should have 3 (or more) piece tops ? Is that awkward ?

[dwagar]

I might be wrong, but I don't think many, if any, had 3 pc tops. Later, in the Norlin years, it was quite common.

[Fws6]

oops - just shows how much I know

[Dutch53GT]

Hi FWS6 do you have any more pre-haar pictures?

[Fws6]

I found your email address and sent two photo's that is all I have...

(I also sent you a PM in case you do not get the email)

[nwobhm]

That's cool, my 54' has a center seam top almost with a little flame. It was refinned by a friend of mine before I got it. He has a 60' That is the same color so, he had the 54' that was stripped, refinned the same color. If I ever sell it I might have it refinned gold but, for now I just play it.

[BCRGreg]

I'd strip it and refin it burst.

[shotgunlew]

+1

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

I'd strip it and refin it burst.

[mdr40z]

keep it for sure, i wish i had every guitar back i ever owned

[Fws6]

why refin burst ? to me that seems totally awkward as this type of guitar never came in burst ?

Anyway I tied to get used to it but I am so into my hollowbodies and dont see myself using a solidbody anymore. So I put it on ebay UK & hope that the best offer takes it.... 1952 Gibson Les Paul Standard, vintage, 1956 conversion on eBay, also Gibson, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 22-Jun-08 21:00:00 BST)

probably not worthwhile for americans with the low dollar and all but for someone in europe it might be a good deal as I am letting go for a lot less than I put in it