New Les Paul HP with Classic Guts

[est54]

Hi Everyone,

I have a bit of an odd question. I saw this guitar on Reverb (already sold) but I was wondering what the collective expertise of this group thought of it. It is a 2016 Les Paul Standard HP that has been gutted and filled with quality classic items (bumblebee harness, Seth Lover Humbuckers, etc.)

I love the concept as I really enjoy the new body type of the HP while also appreciating the standard "guts" of a Les Paul but I wonder what the fair price would be for a guitar like this and what would the after market be if someone was trying to sell it. Just curious to get others opinions....

https://reverb.com/item/6767028-gib...bee-harness-tone-pros-kluson-2016-pelham-blue

 

[Rick]

If I wanted that, I'd buy the guitar all original, replace the parts and sell the leftovers. Would probably be a better deal.

 

[Tomsmenace]

I like the idea but would do it myself. No idea what a fair price would be though.

 

[sk8rat]

you can build one for a lot less than that

here is what I would do:

2016 hp husk for $1400
https://stratosphereparts.com/2016-...l-hp-body-neck-american-light-burst-aaa-sale/

retrospec aged grovers $65
https://historicmakeovers.com/product/grover-milk-bottle-rotomatic-tuners/

aged creamtone ab1 bridge and tail piece $130
https://www.creamtone.com/collectio...r-1-bridge-and-tailpiece-gibson-usa-nashville

manalishi pickups $300
https://www.corsaguitars.com/product/manalishi-pickups/

emerson pre wired 50's kit $90 + switchcraft switch $20
https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit

and say roughly $100-$150 on assorted plastics.

you have a similar guitar with all brand new parts for $500 less. you can obviously save a lot more by getting used pickups.

 

[est54]

Th

you can build one for a lot less than that

here is what I would do:

2016 hp husk for $1400
https://stratosphereparts.com/2016-...l-hp-body-neck-american-light-burst-aaa-sale/

retrospec aged grovers $65
https://historicmakeovers.com/product/grover-milk-bottle-rotomatic-tuners/

aged creamtone ab1 bridge and tail piece $130
https://www.creamtone.com/collectio...r-1-bridge-and-tailpiece-gibson-usa-nashville

manalishi pickups $300
https://www.corsaguitars.com/product/manalishi-pickups/

emerson pre wired 50's kit $90 + switchcraft switch $20
https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit

and say roughly $100-$150 on assorted plastics.

you have a similar guitar with all brand new parts for $500 less. you can obviously save a lot more by getting used pickups.

That is great feedback and a wonderful idea. I might have to give that a shot in the near future. Thanks!!

 

[Cjsinla]

But, if the husk is $1400 you might end up spending another $500 for the upgrades/parts. You will most likely get killed on resale. I can’t imagine that you could get even $1400 if you decide you don’t like it and decide to get rid of it. Most people aren’t going to pay top dollar for your dream guitar when you sell. What did the one on Reverb sell for, did you find out?

 

[sk8rat]

I can’t imagine that you could get even $1400 if you decide you don’t like it and decide to get rid of it.

what makes you say that? how often do you see almost new les paul standards for $1400 without a broken headstock? this isnt a classic or a trad. I honestly doubt it would knock the resale value. if anything it would increase the value because the guitar would already have the changes a lot of people would want to make anyways, i.e. grovers, 50's wiring, better colored plastics and aftermarket pickups. chances are you wont make a huge profit but you probably wont take a huge hit either.

there are different markets and I think the one for upgraded guitars is much bigger than those looking for stock guitars.

 

[drkato]

what makes you say that? how often do you see almost new les paul standards for $1400 without a broken headstock? this isnt a classic or a trad. I honestly doubt it would knock the resale value. if anything it would increase the value because the guitar would already have the changes a lot of people would want to make anyways, i.e. grovers, 50's wiring, better colored plastics and aftermarket pickups. chances are you wont make a huge profit but you probably wont take a huge hit either.

there are different markets and I think the one for upgraded guitars is much bigger than those looking for stock guitars.

I'd agree. I sold a 2016 Goldtop Standard in mint condition that I built from a Stratosphere husk (57 classics and all Gibson parts) for $2000. I had sunk about $1850 into it. You won't make a killing, but if do it tastefully, you shouldn't lose your shirt either.

 

[est54]

I'd agree. I sold a 2016 Goldtop Standard in mint condition that I built from a Stratosphere husk (57 classics and all Gibson parts) for $2000. I had sunk about $1850 into it. You won't make a killing, but if do it tastefully, you shouldn't lose your shirt either.

Thanks for the info drkato,

As I mentioned above I really love the idea and the concept of bringing together the various bodies and components that I like into a guitar that would be tailored to my specs but was a little worried that there would be a lot of people like cjsinla that would have a poor view of it and if the day were to come where I wanted to sell it I would get murdered. I am feeling a lot more confident and comfortable now, so thank you!

Also just to state the obvious, I'm not looking at this project as something that will make me rich, i just want to make sure it wouldn't make me poor

 

[Left Paw]

These and other guitars are parted out on eBay all the time. And yes, husks are available.

 

[XpensiveWino]

what makes you say that? how often do you see almost new les paul standards for $1400 without a broken headstock? this isnt a classic or a trad. I honestly doubt it would knock the resale value. if anything it would increase the value because the guitar would already have the changes a lot of people would want to make anyways, i.e. grovers, 50's wiring, better colored plastics and aftermarket pickups. chances are you wont make a huge profit but you probably wont take a huge hit either.

there are different markets and I think the one for upgraded guitars is much bigger than those looking for stock guitars.

There are usually SEVERAL great Standards/Classics/Traditionals sub $1400 in the classifieds, without a broken headstock. I bought a 2016 with a broken headstock two months ago for $700. The market is seriously down right now.

I WILL say on the other hand (perhaps agreeing with your other hand), if it's a project to make a great, lifetime guitar, don't let a little bit of money get in the way. Hell, look on the reissues sub-forum at all of the mods guys do to those high roller guitars (I'm guilty myself).

Chase the one you want, and when it comes to time to sell, maybe you have to factor in a little 'rent' for all the fun you had... IF you ever have to sell.

Good luck!

 

[Cjsinla]

what makes you say that? how often do you see almost new les paul standards for $1400 without a broken headstock? this isnt a classic or a trad. I honestly doubt it would knock the resale value. if anything it would increase the value because the guitar would already have the changes a lot of people would want to make anyways, i.e. grovers, 50's wiring, better colored plastics and aftermarket pickups. chances are you wont make a huge profit but you probably wont take a huge hit either.

there are different markets and I think the one for upgraded guitars is much bigger than those looking for stock guitars.

I struggled to sell a husk that I upgraded, that was my experience. Nobody wanted to buy it despite having Faber hardware and Shaw pups and was one of the best sounding LP’s I owned. I’m only saying that a modified husk is not “almost new”, it’s used and he will be lucky to get $1400 for it, which is about what used USA LP’s are going for. Ideally OP will end up with a guitar he doesn’t want to sell that has everything he wants on it for less than the cost of a new LP.

 

[endial]

I struggled to sell a husk that I upgraded, that was my experience. Nobody wanted to buy it despite having Faber hardware and Shaw pups and was one of the best sounding LP’s I owned.

Damn, that's too bad. Sounds like a dream guitar to me.

 

[est54]

I struggled to sell a husk that I upgraded, that was my experience. Nobody wanted to buy it despite having Faber hardware and Shaw pups and was one of the best sounding LP’s I owned. I’m only saying that a modified husk is not “almost new”, it’s used and he will be lucky to get $1400 for it, which is about what used USA LP’s are going for. Ideally OP will end up with a guitar he doesn’t want to sell that has everything he wants on it for less than the cost of a new LP.

You can tell me if I’m wrong but could part of your struggle be that you were selling a husk as opposed to a complete guitar?

 

[Filipem]

you can build one for a lot less than that

here is what I would do:

2016 hp husk for $1400
https://stratosphereparts.com/2016-...l-hp-body-neck-american-light-burst-aaa-sale/

retrospec aged grovers $65
https://historicmakeovers.com/product/grover-milk-bottle-rotomatic-tuners/

aged creamtone ab1 bridge and tail piece $130
https://www.creamtone.com/collectio...r-1-bridge-and-tailpiece-gibson-usa-nashville

manalishi pickups $300
https://www.corsaguitars.com/product/manalishi-pickups/

emerson pre wired 50's kit $90 + switchcraft switch $20
https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit

and say roughly $100-$150 on assorted plastics.

you have a similar guitar with all brand new parts for $500 less. you can obviously save a lot more by getting used pickups.

Oh my god I didn't know such a thing existed.... thank you

 

[est54]

Oh my god I didn't know such a thing existed.... thank you

I agree. This has been a revelation to me. I never knew how easy and it would be to pull together the guitar of MY dreams and do it for less then I would have to pay for another guitar that I would have to modify. Big thanks to everyone that has shared their knowledge with me on this subject!

 

[Cjsinla]

You can tell me if I’m wrong but could part of your struggle be that you were selling a husk as opposed to a complete guitar?

Yes, you are wrong. I built up a husk with good hardware and electronics and it would not move at what was a reasonable price to me, about the cost of the “new” husk. The eventual buyer asked that I remove the Shaw pups, he really only wanted the husk as he removed the bridge hardware when he got it. That only left the harness and switch and tuners.

 

[Cjsinla]

Damn, that's too bad. Sounds like a dream guitar to me.

It kicked ass but I couldn’t bond with the flat, wide neck.

 

[est54]

Yes, you are wrong. I built up a husk with good hardware and electronics and it would not move at what was a reasonable price to me, about the cost of the “new” husk. The eventual buyer asked that I remove the Shaw pups, he really only wanted the husk as he removed the bridge hardware when he got it. That only left the harness and switch and tuners.

Thanks for setting me straight, Unfortunately I'm getting way to fired up about this whole process...lol. Hopefully it will all work out and thank you for your input!

 

[Christosterone]

The stratosphere is fantastic to deal with...

Never had a bad experience with them...

Excellent experience and fun as heck to build..

I tend to prefer my stratosphere builds to some very cool Gibson models..

-Chris