How much would you pay to play a real '59 burst for an hour?

[THDNUT]

I have 5 new bursts. I'd rather play a stellar late '30s Martin D-45.

 

[Jimmi]

Zero $$ for me. I've played a few. The Originals are great guitars but I personally do not feel there is any magic to them. Todays guitars are just as good overall IMO. Never felt there was a tone on one of the Originals I played that I couldn't get with a newer guitar.

The hype and rarity will continue to fuel the market though and that is good for Gibson.

I disagree a bit. I have played quite a few vintage bursts...several of them "famous". I own 3 50s LPs, have owned historics and still own a couple prehistorics and one 90s std. The newer ones are really good guitars. I am particularly fond of one of the prehisorics...,but they are different than the 50s models. Sound different, feel different and only some of the CC models have the neck shape right. Pickups are different...pots dont sweep the same..(and are not speced the same...some of my vintage pots read up to 850). In the prehisoric i like so much i replaced the pots and the pickups with vintage to get it as close as possible (was closer than my historic whic is why i kept it and sold the historic). Still doesnt have the same chime and complexity of the old ones. It is a great guitar just different.

 

[Linus]

I would like to have an hour to compare my '09 R9 Historic Makeover with OX4s and a holy grail harness against the real thing through a great amp.

I spent about 20 minutes with a great 57 Goldtop at Rudy's here in NYC recently. A great guitar but I didn't have mine with me for comparison.

 

[lunchbox]

$0.00

 

[LOSTVENTURE]

I sat down with a 58 for half an hour up at Gruhn's. Didn't cost anything.
Now, the 54 that I played was a different matter altogether. Great feel and the Alnico was heaven on earth.

 

[nicobe]

Going to have to politely decline- good luck in your new business,
keep it away from the churches and schools
.

ahha...buying a burst to make a business is out of question...I was thinking more of someone who has a burst and wanted to cash in. I thought it was almost impossible to play one without owning one...in that case that business would have made sense.

But it seems that owners are pretty open and will let you try their bursts for free...good for us!

 

[CaptainD00M]

I really don't see the point in paying money to play on a guitar for an hour, even if it is so historical.

1) you're most probably never going to feel comfortable on the dam thing because its not yours and its worth more than your house
2) its not set up how you like (especially in my case as I tune B standard) and therefore you likely won't gel with it
3) just because its a 59 doesn't mean its going to automatically be good. I mean hell I spent 2 days in Amsterdam playing some seriously expensive guitars that I thought were horribly overprices for what they were.


I'd much rather keep that cash and find another guitar I feel comfortable on and can burn and can actually afford.

 

[Rodmac]

If you play like crap its gonna sound like crap !

Don't never miss what you aint never had.

 

[jamman]

Bravado aside, id probably pay $50, why not? For an hour?

So, how many $50/hr would you need to sell to recoup your 400k investment..? Im not sure i want to spend that much time at guitar shows, but thats just me

I'm no math wizz , so anyone correct me ,

But I figured it out as this

@$50 per hour ,to get $400K
='s 8,000 hours

8000 hours /by 24 hours = 333.3333 days

spread that out over an 8 hour day ... 333.333 x 3 = 999.999 days

say 1,000 days = 2.7397 YEARS ~

Everyday , 7 days a week .... Take a day off ... You're screwed

That's a full time job(IMO) , which then you need to file and pay income tax on (don't forget to include the Luxury tax paid for high end purchases) , so your bottom line goes up to reach your initial investment ....

 

[sws1]

I'm no math wizz , so anyone correct me ,

But I figured it out as this

@$50 per hour ,to get $400K
='s 8,000 hours

8000 hours /by 24 hours = 333.3333 days

spread that out over an 8 hour day ... 333.333 x 3 = 999.999 days

say 1,000 days = 2.7397 YEARS ~

Everyday , 7 days a week .... Take a day off ... You're screwed

That's a full time job(IMO) , which then you need to file and pay income tax on (don't forget to include the Luxury tax paid for high end purchases) , so your bottom line goes up to reach your initial investment ....

Surely if someone is renting out a $400k burst, they could get more than $50/hr. That rate seems more appropriate for a $200k burst.

 

[rockinlespaul]

Not a single penny. Matter of fact, I'd probably become hostile if someone offered to let me play it in exchange for cash. I mean... it's a '59 Les Paul, but it's still a hunk of wood with six strings on it. I wouldn't pay to play it regardless what it was or whose it is/used to be.

Nick

This....

 

[Sct13]

me too...

But I would pay for a flight simulator that is the full monty.....

Motions and switches and everything.

 

[viking20]

I love all old guitars and amps , because they are cool and a piece of history.......I would never pay what people want for the most sought after models......So I wouldnt pay for trying one out either....
Why should it be anything special as a tool anyway ?
Take away the price tag and most of the magic will be gone , IMHO

 

[easton55]

Gotta go along with the masses here, and say zero as well. It would be cool to try something with some real history out, but paying for the chance to do so, never happen. Same way I would never shell out extra for concert seats in one of those VIP meet n greet packages. It would be all right to meet a band or entertainer I liked, but paying through the nose to do so, crazy. I get that to them its' "been there, done that" so they only do it if paid, but there is no one or anything I would pay extra to meet or play with.

 

[KissGuitar]

This is certainly intriguing. While I put myself in the "how much would I pay" consideration, I also can't help but think... if I had a $500K original Burst, would I offer it up for rent or loan it out on the spot?

As I think about this, I've got to say that if I owned one, it would be hard to tell the idiots from those that actually know how to handle a real '59 (or any guitar, for that matter), and I don't mean how to play it... but how to be careful with it, ie, not drop it on it's neck or some idiotic thing like that. Why risk it? There would be NOTHING in it for the guy loaning the guitar out. And hey, this thread shows that the experience to the person you handed it to would be worth nothing to them anyways.

In all my years, I've never held a real '58-'60.. I've only seen them in a glass case. I don't run in the circles of those that own them or record with them, so it is what it is. I'd love to just put one in my hands and feel the guitar and neck, and of course would love to plug one in, if only for 5 minutes. Would be something I would never forget as I have a true passion for Gibson Les Pauls and I have a strong reference point to my historicals. No doubt it would put a grin on my face.

I think the whole paying someone for the privilege in the guitar world is just taboo... most of us musicians are friendly to each other as we share the musician bond. And in addition to my opinion above, I think if I owned one it would be very satisfying to let anyone that I absolutely knew how to handle it, be careful with it, AND HAD A TRUE PASSION to let them try it out. Part of owning such a special thing would be the privilege of sharing that with others that would/could truly appreciate it.. and if I had a $500K guitar, I don't think money would be an issue where I would care to rent it out. I wouldn't want to hand out a $500K guitar to the guy that just so happens to see the price tag on it and wants to say he held it.

So, how would I be able to get that memorable life experience of plugging in a killer original '59 from someone that didn't know me personally? Not sure, but if paying for it was the only way to go, I think I would consider it. Lots of people do this with cars and other things, so why not. Ideally, I could gain someones trust that had one instead and try it out for free.

That being said, anyone in the SE United States willing to let me stop by and check out a real '59 or '60, if not for only 15 minutes?

 

[Jimmi]

Lets cut this to the chase. Anyone who wants to play a burst only has to pay the price if a plane ticket to Nashville and visit Carters who has 2 '58 bursts (including what is likely the first to feature the cherry burst finish) and a great '58 goldtop. You will not be charged to play them and will get the chance to play a few vintage SGs, strats, teles and Martins they also have. Included in the price is the opportinity to go downtown and see world class players for free or little money and you might even run into famous musicians to boot (i have run into Ed King and Joe B at Carters more than once).

 

[Cozzi]

Nothing! All guitars should be played blindfolded! Nobody ever said "That guitar looks so good on that track!"

 

[asapmaz]

Man, you guys are jaded.
You're all telling me you wouldn't pony up $20-50 to play a 'burst for an hour just for $hits and giggles and to see what all the fuss is about??? And, this is coming from a crowd who happens to belong to a "Les Paul" forum, obsesses over the last minute details of such a guitar, and probably spends more $ on period correct abr post wheels. Give me a break.
Thanks to Dave's and Willies, I've played two 'bursts and four 57-58 goldtops for free and yes I'd probably still donate $50 to play a burst for an hour in a quiet room through a good amp with nothing but my own thoughts.
Who cares if it didn't meet my expectations. It'd still be a cool experience.

 

[sws1]

(i have run into Ed King and Joe B at Carters more than once).

I thought you had a tent in the Carter's parking lot.

I ran into Vince Gil the first time I went there.

 

[Jimmi]

I thought you had a tent in the Carter's parking lot.

I ran into Vince Gil the first time I went there.

I was going there every week last year while they were working on one of my guitars. Been there a lot less recently...it is also n ky way home from work.



Buddy of mine met Robert Plant outside a downtown restaurant. My cousin lives down the street from Mick Mars of Motley Crue....famous muscians everywhere.