How much should I pay a '92 Flametop reissue?

[lorenzots]

Hi, I'm knew. I'm looking to buy a LP and there is a guy in my town that is selling a 1992 Gibson Les Paul Flametop Reissue '59. It should be in perfect condition and I yet don't know how much he wants for it. I have no idea how much it is worth so I thought I could ask here for some advice.
Excuse my poor English.

Ciao

Lorenzo

 

[diceman]

What country are you in? I don't have your answer - but it will be relevant to the guys who do know.

 

[Mike60]

I would make sure he has the certificate for it.Although they are fairly rare and usually are very nice guitars,they do not have the long tenon,and as such,IMO,
I would pay about $2,500 for a nice one.Any more than that,I would rather go with a Historic.

 

[lorenzots]

I live in Italy.

 

[lorenzots]

Do you think I should add some value considering where I live?

 

[diceman]

Figure that a new '58 Reissue in the USA costs $3,000USD (although the price has been raised in the last 30 days). How much would you pay for a Custom Shop '58 Reissue in Italy? I'd base the price difference around that %.

 

[lorenzots]

He told me he wants $3600.

 

[jomo]

Figure that a new '58 Reissue in the USA costs $3,000USD (although the price has been raised in the last 30 days). How much would you pay for a Custom Shop '58 Reissue in Italy? I'd base the price difference around that %.

He's talking about an R9.

$3600 is about right for a Historic R9, like Mike said, a 92 with short neck tenon and (my bet) no COA, I think that's too much. I'd say with a COA (if they even had them then) $3K tops, and without $2500. Just my opinion, but I don't know what the market is like in Italy. That may be a "good deal" over there.

 

[Mike60]

certificates for these were issued and I've seen a few.Often they are lost or missing.It can be difficult to verify these as they are built off of the Classic template.One can usually verify the number thru' Gibson,but if you are paying top dollar for one of these,the certificate provides proper provenance.

 

[Stowburst]

certificates for these were issued and I've seen a few.Often they are lost or missing.It can be difficult to verify these as they are built off of the Classic template.One can usually verify the number thru' Gibson,but if you are paying top dollar for one of these,the certificate provides proper provenance.

+1

A few years ago I brought a LP off ebay and it said it was a Flametop reissue.. when it arived it had a cert saying it was a 1992 59 Flametop reissue and the receipt from the shop it was brought from in 1992 but I still think it was a early LP Classic.. I called Gibson (UK) and said can I check this serial number and the told me.. " that serial number means it was made in the 1950s" I said well its starts with a 2 and I have a receipt from a shop saying it was made in 1992! They said it was made in 1952.. I asked some people in the know and they confirmed that the guitar was classic plus from 1992, around that time in early 90s Gibson were selling classics as Flametop reissues to shops with a big price tag and I think that this guitar was a classic that had been sold as a flametop reissue

Anyway, I had the top refinnished in a decent colour and eventally sold it on, but I sold it as a 92 classic that had been refinished.. someone snapped my arm off!

 

[bonanza2252003]

He told me he wants $3600.

people are always trying to get those prices !!!!! they do generally sell for around $2500. although there was one recently that went for 2750 on E-bay.they are always going up slowly in price and will continue .So they are a good investment.They were around $2200 new. so they have already exceeded the original purchace price .But as previously stated they do not have the long neck tenon. the last of this model was made in 1993 .When they changed to Historics with long tenons .They changed about halfway through 1993 so some in 1993 had long tennons and some had short. I have a 1993 model that I bought off the bay for $1100 .The person selling it didn't know much about guitars and had it listed as a classic.Luckily I could see it was not a classic and phoned Gibson with the SN and jumped all over it They are getting rarer .so its a wise purchase

 

[Stowburst]

I live in Italy.

Lucky you.. decent food, weather, Ferrari..woman..

 

[bonanza2252003]

+1

A few years ago I brought a LP off ebay and it said it was a Flametop reissue.. when it arived it had a cert saying it was a 1992 59 Flametop reissue and the receipt from the shop it was brought from in 1992 but I still think it was a early LP Classic.. I called Gibson (UK) and said can I check this serial number and the told me.. " that serial number means it was made in the 1950s" I said well its starts with a 2 and I have a receipt from a shop saying it was made in 1992! They said it was made in 1952.. I asked some people in the know and they confirmed that the guitar was classic plus from 1992, around that time in early 90s Gibson were selling classics as Flametop reissues to shops with a big price tag and I think that this guitar was a classic that had been sold as a flametop reissue

Anyway, I had the top refinnished in a decent colour and eventally sold it on, but I sold it as a 92 classic that had been refinished.. someone snapped my arm off!

They never issued COA's until 1993 previous to that they did not exist

 

[Stowburst]

They never issued COA's until 1993 previous to that they did not exist

Agreed thats why I sold as classic, I still have the "cert"..it was a proper Gibson peice of card saying date it was made, what it was etc But I think the shop got blagged.. and the original owner got blagged big time becasue they paid about £2800 in 1992!?!?!

 

[lorenzots]

Like Diceman suggested I checked the price for a new historic '58. It's €2350 which are about $3000. So there is no difference of value in the two markets.

I really don't know what to do... this guitar is exactly what I was looking for:
"'59" specs, in my town and light weight (8.4 pounds).
On the other hand I just want a good quality Les Paul that is a great player and that sounds good.

 

[Stowburst]

I really don't know what to do... this guitar is exactly what I was looking for:
"'59" specs, in my town and light weight (8.4 pounds).
On the other hand I just want a good quality Les Paul that is a great player and that sounds good.

Go and have a play on it and see how it feels / sounds..

 

[Kølabrennern]

Even if it's "just" a Classic it'll probably be a great player. Gibson was doing something right between '90 - '93, it seems.

 

[Mike60]

They never issued COA's until 1993 previous to that they did not exist

I've seen certs for 1990,1991 and 1992's and 1993's.

 

[Mike60]

Agreed thats why I sold as classic, I still have the "cert"..it was a proper Gibson peice of card saying date it was made, what it was etc But I think the shop got blagged.. and the original owner got blagged big time becasue they paid about £2800 in 1992!?!?!

I know what the certs. look like.can you show us a pic?

 

[fretnot]

The 1992 reissues are NOT 59 reissues. They are actually referred to by Gibson as simply "Reissues." They were not built to copy any particular year. The neck on them is usually smaller, many had the 57 Classics, and they often had great tops. I had one that was killer...short tenon and all.