Silverburst vs Silverburst ....yikes!

[02589]

As long as we are awakening a dead thread, here's some SilverBurst love, with a tribute to maple.

 

[SilverBurps]

Well just to throw some temptation at you....
1980 Gibson Silverburst by Les Paul Signed by Les Paul | eBay

Whoa, five grand seems pretty steep for added sharpie, when his signature comes on most of the less expensive headstocks anyway.

The first songs I ever learned on the guitar were from Opiate and Undertow, and I've been wanting a silverburst ever since. Now, I'm trying to decide if a new one would better or worse than an '81 or thereabouts. I know I'd be less worried about dinging an older one, but I'm not sure I'd save much money, and the new ones have some sort of limited lifetime warranty (I think), which wouldn't really cover anything besides defects, so that warranty might not be worth much, if anything.

As long as we are awakening a dead thread, here's some SilverBurst love, with a tribute to maple.

The bursting on the right isn't in the "guitar pick" shape, and I've only seen the silver edge-bursts on Epiphones. Those are some unique examples! Is the Maple fretboard on the left like a 1975 or so?

To the OP, what model is that in your Avatar pic? With the scalloped, textured, reptile scale top? I've seen a few pics of similar art, is that a production thing, or did you do that yourself? I think I need one.

 

[02589]

The one with the rimburst is a 2007 Classic Custom. It's an awesome guitar that you never want to set down.

The Custom with the maple board is a 2012 model and the baddest Custom I've ever played. Since it weighs in at almost 10 pounds, there are lots of times I want to set it down. I'll probably end up trading it for something. I just don't know what I want to trade it for. Maybe something nice around 8 pounds.

 

[raunch]

- he crosses a Diezel head with a Marshall Superbass).
- Les Pauls had a Maple neck and unusual metallic paint which affected the tone
- 80's Silverbursts and his reply was not complimentary at all.
- Bill Lawrence circuit humbuckers?
- most people go for 70s or 90s and avoid the 80s like the plague.
- truss rod problems and dead frets"

Hi Dave,

Awesome that you're in the market for an older Silverburst. If you're really set on getting one, just do it, cos they can be really great guitars with a stonking finish.

I wouldn't listen to the guy you spoke to too much, because a few things may not even be relevant if you think about it. Overall, I would not go for a guitar with a faulty truss rod, it can be fixed, but the hassle isn't worth it. Dead frets aren't really a prob, a good setup can fix that, unless they're in really really bad shape. So it's still all good, you know?

The buckers aren't Bill Lawrence, these were used towards the end of the 80's. I have a Custom and use these pups. They're hot, but have a pretty good sound. Swapping them out also isn't a problem. People generally swap them out cos they're too hot and some aren't fond of having a circuit board in any old looking guitar.

What you need to be aware of is, once you find the guitar you're looking for, strum a few chords and play some licks. How does it sound to you, does it resonate, how does the neck feel, is the weight ok (can you live with a heavier guitar), any cracks around the headstock, the overall shape...maybe take a guitar techie with you, check if the truss rod is ok, if the neck is twisted. Again, this can happen with any guitar, not just Norlin LPs. It's a 2-3k guitar, you shouldn't just walk in and buy it cos it looks cool (although I have done that haha).

Personally I love it when the silver turns greenish, or whatever shade. I was looking at one when I bought my black LPC (late 80's), but it was just a little too pricey (it was a 1980's model). But that older greenish silver...

Good luck and give every guitar a go that you can get your hands on. It's not about the year or the brand, it's about the guitar speaking to you, inspiring you to make music, and don't get too hung up on finding a lemon, you can always sell it later on and it might just be the perfect guitar for someone else....

.raunch

 

[raunch]

duh OP is from June 2012....I need a coffee...