59 LP special

[Nodnerb]

Hello. First post here. If this is against the rules just lemme know. Mostly for curiosity sake, and possibly insurance, I was wondering if you fine folk could give me a ball park figure for my guitar.

It's an original 59 les paul special. In pretty rough shape. The neck has been fixed once, by a guy who was quite the amateur I believe. There is a humbucker in there now so obviously the electronics have been tinkered with, but is all original. I still have the original p90, original bridge. The only thing I can think of that is missing is the plastic plate for the phono jack. Very dinged up on the edges. Original frets I think. Still plays well and sounds great however. I've seen people list them for up to $15,000 or more in good condition. But, ballparking it, what could mine be worth in its not so good condition? $500, $5000? Any guesses? Should I insure it separately? Restore it, don't touch it?
Old bad pic but it's all I have here at work.




Thanks for any help.

[jimi55lp]

Does it have any other changed parts besides the Quan tailpiece and P90, you are asking about the yellow TV Special? Any other wood repairs besides the pickup route, looks like a refret but I can't make it out from your photo? Does it have an original case? I've seen guys asking 15K for this model in the past, but can't believe they get it. Would have to know more about your guitar to estimate a price and would have to see the neck repair, but from what I can see, you shouldn't describe it as original since that bird flew with the PUP route never to be seen again. Need better photos front and back and more info.

[Mike60]

As the guitar has various issues it is hard to put a price on it as it will be viewed differently by various potential buyers...a neck repair and a humbucker transplant certainly knocks a lot of $$ off the price.

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by jimi55lp

... I've seen guys asking 15K for this model in the past, but can't believe they get it...

I can and know of several that went for above that dollar figure.

[jimi55lp]

I like the model he's got with the switch on top of the pots because you don't see as many that way, but it seams it is harder to use. I wouldn't know the estimated cost from the photo and the comments, have to have more info.

[Nodnerb]

Thanks for the replies. I knew I wouldn't get a price here. lol Just thought I'd take a chance though. The neck was fixed right at the body where these models(double cutaways) are the weakest. Nothing was cracked, just came loose in the body. There was no routing for the humbucker. It is a direct replacement of the p90 with no mods and can be switched back without any mods.

And yeah, I'm asking about the tv special jimi. I know what the Epi is worth. Nothing. POS.
I've always been curious about the serial numbers on these as well. Every tv special I've ever seen has a single digit a space and then another 4 digits. Mine is only four digits and I've always wondered why. Anyone know? Also, I usually see people obscuring their s/n, what is the reasoning for that?

I will take some more pics just for fun and post them up.

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by Nodnerb

...

at first without seeing a s/n I thought it was an early '59...

actually this Special is a '58 not a '59...

[String Beano]

venture that someone would pay 2,500-- -- 3k for it?

[jimi55lp]

Originally Posted by String Beano

venture that someone would pay 2,500-- -- 3k for it?

Now that I've seen the additional photos I agree it's a 1958 and worth 3K or more, and if it has the original Lifton or crocagator (chipboard) case it could be as much as 1K more. I think the neck joint repair doesn't look as dramatic as most on them, and if it where mine, I'd do the restoration of the parts and the neck joints finish. Do you know if the pots and caps have been changed or not? The bridge pup not having been routed to convert to that dbl wound is a real good thing along with your having the P90 and the light weight tailpiece. I'll bet that guitar sounds like an acoustic when it's not plugged into an amp, I have a 59' TV Special thats resonates like a bell?

[Skynyrdpicker]

BCR Greg will probably be interested/know about this. See if you can get him to take a look.

[Nodnerb]

Thanks for all the input. I've always been told it's a 59. No matter though. Is it unusual to only have 4 digits for a sn? I've never seen a tv special with less than 5.

Everything is original(I still have original bridge and p90) except the phono plug plate which I just put a steel plate in place of. And of course the screws holding on the electronics cover. All the caps and pots are original.

Honestly it doesn't sound like an acoustic. It's actually fairly quiet. Not sure if that is a factor of the neck being fixed or not.

Unfortunately, that shiny thing under the gibson logo is a fake diamond that my dad thought would be cool to put in there 50 odd years ago. lol

I'm looking in to getting an appraisal in the near future and will update with the outcome when I do.

[Laservampire]

I think it looks awesome, I'd gladly pay $3000 for it

[jimi55lp]

I wouldn't restore its finish, just replace the P90, wrap bridge, remove the diamond/rinestone, replace all wrong screws, and get the neck joint touchup if it bothers you and if it's stable, but most folks expect this model to have that repair.

[circusboy28]

I love it - it looks like a beast.