'73 Les Paul Recording -- To trade or not to trade?

[Mighty Tom]

My only Gibson is a 1973 Les Paul Recording. I don't use it very much, so I'm thinking about trading it in for a Les Paul Classic. But I'm torn because it's not a very common guitar, and in my mind that's cool. On the other hand, it's really flippin' heavy. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

[stevedave]

That's pretty sweet, I've never seen an LP like that before.

How does it play?

If I were in your shoes, I would probably hold on to the one you've got already.

[b-squared]

I'd hold onto it myself. That's a unique guitar.

You'll kick yourself later for getting rid of it.



BB

[Mighty Tom]

It plays okay. I often wish the output was a little hotter, but replacing the pickups isn't really an option.

[9 Toed Joe]

Nice Guitar...you don't see them very often! ....Keep it and save up for another LP!

[AndyC]

I have one of those also. I would keep it.

First, you probably didn't pay much for it. When you can find them, they still are a bargain. It's what Les himself plays. They will probably never be worth a fortune, but they will never go down in value IMO.

Also, they have low impedance pickups. Not a great match when you are trying to overdrive a tube amp, but a REALLY great match when you are trying to drive a clean pre-amp digital interface to a digital studio. You want to get the cleanest sound into a digital audio workstation? Get one of these and drive directly into the interface (like a Presonus Firepod, etc). Once you are in the DAW, you can add digital effects (I use Cubase, and it has tons of VSTs and effects).

That direct connect was really part of Les's vision, because that's how he worked in his own studios. Low impedance drive into a board, or into a low impedance input on an amp. Cleanest S/N and best dynamic range by a lot.

One day that value is going to be better understood than it is now. Hang on to it and find another way to buy your Classic. Write to me in 10 years and we'll talk about how smart we were.


Edit: Here's Mine:

[goby]

That is a butt ugly guitar. You could keep, and it could be worth a lot of money someday, or you could sell it, buy an amazing Les Paul that looks and sounds awesome. The only one I've seen playing that guitar is Les Paul. And no one wants to tell Les Paul that his Les Paul is butt ugly.

In 20 years it might be worth a lot, then you won't want to sell it, because you'll think in 20 more years it will be worth even more. Then one day you'll die, with this butt ugly guitar in your closet that you never played, and your kids will say "What a butt ugly guitar," sell it, and buy a brand new 2057 Chevy Corvette Atomic Rocketship Car. And you'll be pissed, because you're dead, you never bought that Les Paul Classic you dreamed of, and you kids have your dream car.... and you're dead.

Avoid the unavoidable tragedy and sell that damn guitar.

[b-squared]

Good post...!

BB

[Mighty Tom]

I don't think it's particularly ugly. I've seen much worse.

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by goby

That is a butt ugly guitar. You could keep, and it could be worth a lot of money someday, or you could sell it, buy an amazing Les Paul that looks and sounds awesome. The only one I've seen playing that guitar is Les Paul. And no one wants to tell Les Paul that his Les Paul is butt ugly.

In 20 years it might be worth a lot, then you won't want to sell it, because you'll think in 20 more years it will be worth even more. Then one day you'll die, with this butt ugly guitar in your closet that you never played, and your kids will say "What a butt ugly guitar," sell it, and buy a brand new 2057 Chevy Corvette Atomic Rocketship Car. And you'll be pissed, because you're dead, you never bought that Les Paul Classic you dreamed of, and you kids have your dream car.... and you're dead.

Avoid the unavoidable tragedy and sell that damn guitar.

I say he should keep it but that is a great story!!

What if someone has a butt ugly wife?

[krapsusa]

Not to be crass, but how much of a trade in value would they give you?

If I remember right, I think that it ran over $600 in 73.

This is a listing on a 72.

1972 Gibson Les Paul Recording Natural - eBay (item 260205612696 end time Apr-20-08 14:28:04 PDT)

[Mighty Tom]

Mine was appraised at $1200 to $1600, and it's all stock. I would expect it would fetch more than the hack job in that eBay auction.

[Hemply]

I've seen some butt ugly guitars in my day but that one there my friend is so unique it is beautiful beyond reproach.

I've never seen a Les Paul look like that and I've been playing for 37 years!

I would hold on to that bad boy and get yourself the Classic your thinking of...hey, what’s a few dollars in exchange for something your reallllllllly want, right? Then you still have that awesome LPR to fiddle around with.


Cheers

[krapsusa]

That is what I though also. Did you notice the leather straps attached to the tuners. Did they hang it that way?

Your looks far superior to that one.

[Liam]

It's a keeper. Use the force....

Classics are nice and all that, but the LP Recording is a guitar of genuine interest.

[tonebone]

Oh my god, buddy! You're just gonna turn your back on her and walk away? Doesn't she do things no other girl will do for ya? I guess if she means that little to ya....

[Mighty Tom]

Okay, here's the thing: I hardly ever play it at all, and I'm not really in the business of collecting. I'm in the business of rocking.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Mighty Tom

Okay, here's the thing: I hardly ever play it at all, and I'm not really in the business of collecting. I'm in the business of rocking.

Then sell it and buy the Classic! If you don't play it it should be in the hands of someone who will!

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Then sell it and buy the Classic! If you don't play it it should be in the hands of someone who will!

As cool as it is, you are adamant about you not playing it,and not caring to have a collectible, that I guess I'm going to agree with Andyc above. It sounds like a weight on your shoulders, so you should sell it to someone who will enjoy it.

Just don't trade it though unless the deal gets you around your $1,600.00. The one on ebay is a modded wreck while yours is likely stock. Put an ad in our classifieds and see what develops. It is so unique, you would think a collector/player would love to add it to his/her collection.
It is a nice piece of the Les Paul History and highly overlooked/under valued.....for now......

[9 Toed Joe]

You'll be sorry! ...but do what you think is best.

[LoKi]

Lester William Polsfuss himself plays a Recording. I would keep that forever. At the very least it'll go up in value when our namesake hero heads up to the big stage in the sky.

[dwagar]

while it probably should be a keeper as a collectible, I can understand it's not the player guitar you want.

sell it, buy the one you want. Life is way too short to wait to play the guitar you really want to play. In a lot of ways, I think that is more important than some future investment.

The $ I've invested in equipment, most recently the R9 with the makeover, sure, my kids would probably be happier if I'd put the money into some good long term investment for them. Tough. Go get a job. This IS about me.

lol

[krapsusa]

{Sigh} If only it was left-handed.

[Mighty Tom]

For $2K, I'll put all the parts on the other side of the guitar.

[krapsusa]

I could always play it in the mirror. Wish I had the scratch for her.

[Mighty Tom]

Well, it's official. I'm putting this thing up for sale.

[Shawn]

I'm very interested... but you don't seem to accept emails. I've been looking to replace one I sold for $300 about 20 years ago.

Please get in touch with me at shawn@toptwoinc.com to discuss the details.

Thank you

[stevedenver]

well my first post-and im sure after tom from waukesha has sold it
i have one too-1972
there are some tricks to this guitar-the first being to use an inline impedence transformer ($15) and a single band mic cord into you high z amp -use it in low z mode with the inline transformer and suddenly you can hear more clearly what the decade does

these arent for everyone-they CAN rock and they can overdrive-the bridge can be pretty hot and theres a lot of bass response as well-but its not the same as a reg humbucker lp-yet my recording guitar sound pretty wonderful through my marshall-sorta lp meets broadcaster tele

they can also be thin sounding, especially if you play them back to back with a normal high z pick up guitar-just gotta tweak everything
youll be surprised what these sell for- i agree 1600+
-and they are getting much much harder to find -ten years ago these could be had for about 1200-now its a bit more

i happen to think that of all my lps of all decades from 70-s to present (except the fifites which i do not own) these have the nicest mahogany, great necks and fret work-these were super quality guitars at the time they were offered

if youre buying one-top notch quality-and unique-and they DONT fit in a standard lp case-as they are slightly larger -about 1/2' all around-they will fit in a protector or protector II, as well as the original intended case from Gibson, and an LP triumph bass (lp recording bass) case-long neck tho

i wouldnt have one as my only lp, but they are wonderful once you get the hang of them-which is not intuitive

[ledfree]

Have you ever had one of those (cue the theme from Twilight Zone) moments, because I've just had one! Honest to God I was thinking about a Les Paul Recording just the other day.. Now I am spooked.
Oh yeah a cool guitar BTW and I wouldn't sell.

[stratoburst]

Never Never trade anything!!! You will regret it in the future and can't get it back. Be patient and keep everything!! Except ex "plaintiff'" (wife)!!!!!!!!!! If you can trade the wife I would recomend it!!!!! LOL .