Used Gibson Les Paul custom? What years and what’s a good price to pay used

[davidpggarrett]

Thanks Leee. Yes, I use the price barometer as you say. I'm looking for a great-playing and great-condition ordinary Custom with 490R and 498Ts, probably in black but also wine red. I've tried a few Standards/Reissue Bursts but think the LPC is the way to go for the heavier genres that I play through the high gain channel - metal-inspired heavy alternative rock or punk (big Jerry Cantrell fan, too). I live in Italy, by the way...

 

[Leee]

Right on.
And you don't have a Les Paul already, right?

I was skeptical for years, and I just couldn't see the reason for the additional cost when moving up into the Customs.
But the more I was around them, and their owners, I realized there is a difference.

I'm waiting for my third one from Gibson right now.
(Long story)

But going back to the whole Epiphone vs. Gibson thing, if you really can't tell the difference then don't pay the difference.
No shame there.

But if you've decided a Custom is what you want, then go for it.

I will say that there was some serious scamboogery and douchebaggery going on at Gibson from about 2012-2018.
I would look more closely before buying one of those guitars, but I believe the Custom line was fine for the most part.
Others here with more specific knowledge can weigh in.

Before the early nineties, back into the Norlin years, the prices on the Les Pauls NOBODY wanted are really getting nuts because the "vintage" thing has swept them in.
Just a wild guess here, but I suspect the 1990s to early 2000s might be the best values.

Honestly, increased used prices have made even skyrocketing new prices look halfway reasonable.
If you simply can't swing buying a new one, then my first criteria would be to shop on condition more than specific years.

If you're a registered user on Reverb, click to watch the guitars you like.
The sellers will often send you a discounted offer or run brief sales.
I picked up a Dan Armstrong Lucite that way - I really liked the guitar but I just wasn't going to pay that much.
On a Friday night, I got an offer I couldn't refuse from his "weekend sale."

Oh, and welcome to the forum - from Texas.

 

[1allspub]

What? A two year old LPC thread and no guitar porn? For shame! Good deal I wandered in here!

 

[davidpggarrett]

Right on.
And you don't have a Les Paul already, right?

I was skeptical for years, and I just couldn't see the reason for the additional cost when moving up into the Customs.
But the more I was around them, and their owners, I realized there is a difference.

I'm waiting for my third one from Gibson right now.
(Long story)

But going back to the whole Epiphone vs. Gibson thing, if you really can't tell the difference then don't pay the difference.
No shame there.

But if you've decided a Custom is what you want, then go for it.

I will say that there was some serious scamboogery and douchebaggery going on at Gibson from about 2012-2018.
I would look more closely before buying one of those guitars, but I believe the Custom line was fine for the most part.
Others here with more specific knowledge can weigh in.

Before the early nineties, back into the Norlin years, the prices on the Les Pauls NOBODY wanted are really getting nuts because the "vintage" thing has swept them in.
Just a wild guess here, but I suspect the 1990s to early 2000s might be the best values.

Honestly, increased used prices have made even skyrocketing new prices look halfway reasonable.
If you simply can't swing buying a new one, then my first criteria would be to shop on condition more than specific years.

If you're a registered user on Reverb, click to watch the guitars you like.
The sellers will often send you a discounted offer or run brief sales.
I picked up a Dan Armstrong Lucite that way - I really liked the guitar but I just wasn't going to pay that much.
On a Friday night, I got an offer I couldn't refuse from his "weekend sale."

Oh, and welcome to the forum - from Texas.

You got it! Les Paul virgin. I have a 2013 Cherry Standard SG, a brand new MIM Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar and an Indonesian-made Jerry Cantrell G&L Rampage (with a pickup based on a JB). Oh, and a rockin' second-hand Thunderbird bass!

It's the tuning stability on the Rampage that initially made me think about selling it for a Gibson LP Custom.

I just tried a black 90s Custom in Siena this morning - priced near that of a brand new one (of course!). Had a 500T bridge pickup and tried through a horribly fizzy Marshall so need to try some other examples before I get the bug for real!

Private used examples seem to be listed for around €3800 here but would I'm still on the look out for a better deal.

Ciao from Italy!

PS: recently had a visit from friends based in good old San Antonio.

 

[Shelkonnery]

@Randy_Lahey OP, what did you end up getting?

Every Gibson era has its following and it really shows in the LPC used masket.

The only real issue with Customs is they're addictive.

 

[KS 5150]

@Randy_Lahey OP, what did you end up getting?

Every Gibson era has its following and it really shows in the LPC used masket.

The only real issue with Customs is they're addictive.

Addictive...yes they are

 

[KillingTone]

My ‘71, in my hands since ‘75.

 

[Leee]

My ‘71, in my hands since ‘75.

Did it come with witch hat knobs?
Seriously considering putting them on my ‘68 Reissue.

 

[Shelkonnery]

Did it come with witch hat knobs?
Seriously considering putting them on my ‘68 Reissue.

It would look killer!

 

[KillingTone]

Did it come with witch hat knobs?
Seriously considering putting them on my ‘68 Reissue.

Witch hats were still standard in’71. Everything on and in my LPC is original except for the strap buttons (Schaller locking) and the jack. I have the original buttons and jack in the case. The jack started making some noise so I replaced it but I hung on to it of course. I’m sure it could be fixed, I was just lazy.

 

[Randy_Lahey]

Well, I ended up getting sidetracked on Gibson Les Paul, custom shop reissues. I have several now and those are addictive as well. I still wanna custom someday. Hunting for the right one though.

 

[DBDM]

white lpc seems to be hard to locate - used or new. What gives

Gibson struggles with the white paint and the white ones are fairly popular. The white paint requres its own booth and special precautions and as such they just do not make very many. The factory is set up to paint and make many different models at the same time. There are hudreds of guitars flying around overhead in various stages of drying and curing. When they are ready they are finished. You may see a Custom, an SG, a V, a 335, and a jr all in a row through the paint booth. they cannot do that when shooting white so it changes the WHOLE flow of the factory. For a few years they were painting the white models exclusively in Memphis but they shut down that factory--so there are simply fewer white ones than the other (easier to paint) colors.

 

[Leee]

Several years ago, I saw several new white Les Paul/SG Custom reissues that shipped my dealer wrapped in paper inside the pink case interior.

Because EVERYTHING bleeds into white nitro.

 

[Angelus]

I played a lot of Custom lp, some custom shop was amazing but I prefer the 90s/2000 usa line and 70s... they re different, low frets on the 70s and different sound... Considering the prices of the 70s nowadays I would go for a 90/2002, just my taste...
Anyway each LP is different !

 

[Jamil Ecrire]

Got this one today (16 months on order lol):

https://imgur.com/a/JHPBgcn

 

[dspelman]

Random Comments:

I have *no* idea why there are Custom players (or wannabe Custom Players) out there who believe that a Custom is somehow better for metal; there's really nothing physically different about them that I can see that would determine that. I've got four Customs and for me that's a head-scratcher.

I realize this is a matter for personal preference, but I've never been a big fan of the silver burst.

Another matter of personal preference, but I really *really* have never been a fan of the pee yellow that comes over some of these guitars when the nitro begins to degrade. And it's so variable, seems like. I have a few '50's Customs (p90 versions) that have never gone "amber" (we'll call it that...), but I've had them tucked away because I really don't care for the "fretless" frets. I have a decade-old Axcess Custom with white binding that's stayed white, so the ambering must vary. Never liked the white customs that turn yellow. Ack.

I do like the multi-layer white binding, in part because Gibson was putting out some weird pink binding and pink plastics there for a while on everything else. I love ebony fretboards and I prefer real MOP (or even abalone) inlays to the plastic (sorry, "pearloid") on the Standards.

Strangely, when Agiles began to proliferate, their AL-3XXX series all had ebony fretboards, real MOP inlays, nice white multi-layer binding on bodies and headstocks. I really didn't care that only selected models had gold hardware, but for the most part, these were Customs (close enough) in livery. $400 (then) just made a ton of sense.

 

[Leee]

… I've never been a big fan of the silver burst.

… I really *really* have never been a fan of the pee yellow that comes over some of these guitars … … Never liked the white customs that turn yellow. Ack.

I do like the multi-layer white binding … … I love ebony fretboards and I prefer real MOP…

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS - in spades.

I love the way an Arctic White Les Paul Custom looks.
Notice I did not say that I like the way a dirty-piss yellow guitar looks?

Of course it’s personal preference.
But while we are at it, in my hands, it would have nickel hardware instead of the gold.

Every year goes by, I get a little more fatigued from the “vintage” this and that.
Fake mojo in a can.
It screws up what would be a perfectly good finish.

There - I said it.
I will age the guitar myself, thank you.

 

[Shelkonnery]

I have *no* idea why there are Custom players (or wannabe Custom Players) out there who believe that a Custom is somehow better for metal; there's really nothing physically different about them that I can see that would determine that. I've got four Customs and for me that's a head-scratcher.

It's the bling, the ebony board (extra bite) and the hot pickups (498t).
Talking about non reissues of course.

I think Randy Rhoads might have started it though.

 

[Harley90]

Like the topic, I waited a long time before I got my White, now nicely yellowed LPC, I think it's 2006, all stock, It's great. I have a a few LP custom shop models, many that are not. I have no issues with any Gibson, I really never had a problem with any, I get pro set ups from a long time guy locally, I can bring him a dog and he gives back a great player.
So I focus on weight, neck feel, finish issues.
Weight - high 7lbs-high 8lbs...balanced feel,
Neck - C shape with bias toward a thicker side, rolled edges...R9's hit the mark for me. Frets are key and a deal breaker if not original and in not overly worn, I'll pay up for mint.
No gashes or drop compaction spots, no finish cancers - like odd ball chemical reactions.

Regular wear is fine, factory case is important but not a deal breaker, factory with everything is an ok for paying up if it ticks all the other boxes.

They have the among the highest resales of any guitar made, I have never lost money with one, often come out a head.

It's a no brainer to buy a good LPC. When shopping - I bought mine on this forum many years ago and have bought a bunch since, I prefer local purchase, cash is best in my experience, this forum next, local shops - Reverb, Ebay are last on the list, high shipping and taxes make it that way.

 

[01GT Eibach]

t's the bling, the ebony board (extra bite) and the hot pickups (498t) ... I think Randy Rhoads might have started it though.

Yep.