Buying a new LP - help needed

[Seraphial]

On a previous thread some of you gus chimed in and said I should pick up a Dean V USA when I go to NY in August. That's still top of my list, unless I spot on LP somewhere in NY that grabs me.

What I'm looking for is a LP Standard or Standard Plus with a great top in black cherry, lightburst or iced tea. Question is, where do I go in NY? From all reports GC treat axes like crap, and I can't trawl through dozens of stores as I've only got a few days. Any recommendations?

I've thought about ebay or 2nd hand, but the window I'm in NY is pretty small so don't want to run that risk.

Also what should I expect to pay for a good standard or standard plus brand new?

And just to be a pain, does anyone have pics of the three colours mentioned above as I'm still stuck as to what to buy!

Thanks in advance.

[liono9]

There is great shop in NY its in Manhattan, its on 30th st and 8th ave, name is 30th street guitars ,they have a lovely collection of used LP's ,u can google them also,great guys , go there play for a while, u might like something there.

[ibanezrocks]

If by Black Cherry you mean Wine Red, then my vote goes for that. I'm not a big fan of lightburst. Iced Tea is pretty much a classic Les Paul burst, but to me Wine Red just speaks "Classy". This isn't a standard, but I just stumbled on this on Gibson's website, and its the nicest wine red guitar I've ever seen.


You'd probably be safest buying one in a store, theres no problem with buying from a large retailer as long as you check the guitar over thoroughly to make sure you don't miss any possible problems. Check the neck joint, fret ends, binding, bridge pins (make sure they're sitting well in the body), inlays... anything beyond those is pretty fixable yourself.

[Seraphial]

If by Black Cherry you mean Wine Red, then my vote goes for that. I'm not a big fan of lightburst. Iced Tea is pretty much a classic Les Paul burst, but to me Wine Red just speaks "Classy". This isn't a standard, but I just stumbled on this on Gibson's website, and its the nicest wine red guitar I've ever seen.

That's real nice. The black cherry finish is on the LP Standard Limited Editions - basically wine red, but slightly darker I think. They also have ebony boards which is a nice touch.

Definitely keeping wine red in the mix though!

[Philcguitars]

Hi,

Hate to suggest that you didn't actually buy a Gibson. I know, I have the same quandry all the time - Qudos and US Build Vs. The money still in my pocket.

I have to say, though the Agiles at Rondo Music on E-bay are looking very attractive right now and they have one with a Cherry Top. I'm twitchy for the blue quilt.

I'm in this place at the moment where it's more about the different pickup combinations and tones, a bit about finish, and sheer variety in numbers.

Still I wouldn't swap my Gibson 12-string, except for $millions! After all with that money I could just commission another. But it has so many memories, it ain't gonna happen.

Good luck on your search!

Phil

[rainsong86]

I'm not going to tell you to avoid buying a gibson.. there are many reasons why not to (overpriced, quality control issues producing many "lemons") but I think the benefits outweigh these.. there's the good resale value, the great tone, and the iconic image:

Gibson Les Paul Studio Premium Plus in natural, also comes in trans red (490R 498T)- 1600 retail


Gibson Les Paul Antigua in Honeyburst (57 classics)- 2 grand


Gibson Les Paul Classic in Wine Red (496R and 500T)- 2 grand


Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded in tobacco sunburst (Burstbucker Pros)- 2 grand


all that stuff is fun and great.. but I think you should spring 3 grand for the Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Les Paul Standard Plain Top VOS (so I can live vicariously through you).. sooner or later you'll get tired of figured tops and want a plain top.. this one's ice tea too.. the Burstbuckers (1 and 2) sounded great clean and driven.. and it feels like a vintage guitars (and I mean "feels", not just looks)


btw I jus need to add that the 58 has that baseball bat neck.. as you'd expect.. not sure if you're into that

[Philcguitars]

Those are great looking guitars!

I love Gibson's, but being a lefty I have to fall in love with what's on offer as a Lefty standard model, or take out a second mortgage for Custom shop orders.

I ended up with my Korean Wolf Legend doubleneck, which I am pretty happy with [No binding on the neck] because it was simply to frustrating dealing with Gibson on the subject of a custom lefty. I got the real run-around, and had to wait ages for replies. I was considering going to Ed Roman, but he prefers you turn up on his door one-to-one than dealing overseas, and then I found the Wolf. I had the pickups split and a little re-winding by my tame Guru, and it's SWEEEEEEEEEET! Not to mention it is as close as you can get to an SG without Legals.

Phil