Going to look at and possible buy 68 RI

[Pal]

I played a 2007 LP Custom 68 reissue over the weekend at a local Guitar Center that is closing down. The 2007 GC 68 RI had a twisted neck and they wouldn't budge on the price so I walked. As luck would have it last night I came across a used 2008 68 RI, got in touch with the seller and set up a meeting for 12 noon tomorrow.

The seller admittedly knows very little about guitars. He couldn't answer any of my questions and has exactly zero documentation. The guitar was a gift and my guess is he is done with guitar so he is selling it. It looks legit and it is OK with him if I pull the pickups, turn the truss rod and check the pots if I show up with cash.

The twisted neck RI from GC played unbelievable. I seriously thought about buying and sending it to my luthier but I will wait out GC and go back on the last day they are open, make them an embarrassingly low offer and roll the dice if they accept.

One of my concerns with the used 68 RI I will look at tomorrow is there is no COA. I've heard some say that a few years of 68 RIs didn't come with the COA and I've heard others say that they all came with a COA. It seems trivial to stress out on a COA but it will be tough to sniff the cork w/o it. As far as I know once a COA is lost there is no way to get one from Gibson. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Other than that it looks flawless and it includes the Custom Shop case. My other question to you fine folks is what is a good price for this particular guitar? I've seen them sell for anywhere between $2000 and $4000 used and that is very difficult for me to understand. Am I missing something? This one is black and from what I've seen they fetch a bit less than burst or white finishes.

I wouldn't ask but just a few days ago was the first time I was aware that the 68 RI even existed. Some background, my 70-something year old neighbor has an early 1969. He has promised to sell it to me but just not yet. My neighbor's guitar might be my all-time favorite, this reissue will fill that void until that day comes.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

'68 Reissue's are cool guitars for sure.

If the price is right and the guitar feels great, I would buy it.

The twisted neck one with the COA ain't no match for a good feeling guitar!

 

[geezberry]

Huge red flag. The guy has a '68 Reissue, knows nothing about guitars and it was a gift?

i smell Gibsun

 

[CRobbins]

It looks legit and it is OK with him if I pull the pickups, turn the truss rod and check the pots if I show up with cash.

Bring someone to watch your back.

 

[geezberry]

i almost guarantee it is fake. Nobody receives a '68 Reissue as a gift and knows nothing about guitars. Very very very few people receive a '68 Reissue as a gift period.

 

[Pal]

He sent me a ton of other picks but this is the ad for the guitar.

Gibson Les Paul Custom

 

[THDNUT]

It could be stolen!

I think it should also have the Gibson Custom Shop Historic decal on the back of the headstock where it meets the neck.

 

[Pal]

It's getting dicey. Stolen? Fake? Potential for robbery? Check this out, he doesn't have an amp either.

I'll bet anyone $10 that he will want to meet at a highway rest stop or pool hall.

 

[cheetah77]

Looks real, and a steal at that price. Can you post the pics he sent you?

 

[ZWILDZR1]

Looks good price not bad. There is a 07 in antique Pelham blue on ebay with under 18 hrs. to go and it is still under $2000.00. Does not have the original case but this one may go for a good price too. I believe these have the chambered bodies so nice if you want a lighter guitar. The prices will vary due to the configuration of these guitars. Black and the Guitar Center Tri-Burst usually sell for less. The figured tops and quilted ones bring more. There is a three pickup version on ebay right now also that the owner thought was an Ace Frehley model. Many people I have found on ebay are not up on what they actually have and just list them as LP Customs. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[geezberry]

The pic shows a real Custom. Will he show up with the guitar in the pic?..

 

[capt_cope]

Please meet at the local police station or somewhere else that you're less likely to get shot for your cash. That story makes no sense, the chances of this being a setup / fake / stolen guitar are very high.

 

[gitmohair]

For someone who knows nothing about guitars the seller has guessed very luckily which angles he should take pictures of the thing from (and of what) for his ad :/

I'm with the crowd urging considerable wariness with this whole deal.

 

[Pal]

Thanks for everyone's input. Seller still hasn't sent me his address. Looking like it isn't going to happen.

I am just about done with private sellers, especially craigslist. This year alone, one really bad fake. Seller wanted to fight when I told him it was fake. Two separate sellers described guitars as mint and they were anything but mint. Another described guitar as the best player of all time, strings were about an inch off the fretboard. And the worst… talked to a seller for two weeks to get him to pick a time to meet. When I got there he didn't answer the door. 20 minutes into my two hour drive back home he called and said sorry he decided not to sell.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

I never understand why they made them in any color but black, as they are supposed to be a recreation of a vintage 68 and they only made them in black then in the late 60's

 

[02589]

Maybe he wants to meet you in that vacant house where he took the pictures.

 

[NYC LP player]

Meet at your local bank....tell him if all goes well you will withdrawal on the spot or give him a cashiers check...his preference. If having an armed guard a few feet away doesn't work for him then you have your answer. Tell him you will have him sign a receipt and to bring ID which at minimum you snap a cell phone photo of.

This is what I do when I buy and sell cars so as walking around with 15k in your pocket makes zero sense.

 

[geezberry]

Meet at your local bank....tell him if all goes well you will withdrawal on the spot or give him a cashiers check....

Good advice. When I recently sold my car I did the same with the buyer. I was shocked to learn that you can do a stop payment on a Cashier's Check. Confirmed by the bank when they handed it to me after I asked them twice.

 

[Pal]

The plan was to meet him at noon today, still haven't heard back from him. Well at least there is the guitar show this weekend.