A Tale Of Three Lesters

[mitchfit]

realize rarity/condition/OEM/OHSC are THE factors for collectors...

but, "riddle me this, batman?"

all below listings are from gruhn.com under:

Gibson Solidbody Electrics

i have changed their order to listed as older-to-newer, by year of mfgr. [only five years difference in age]:

more is Les...1955 gold top LP, "VG+, significant lacquer checking on back of neck (consistent with most Les Pauls with all gold finish), OHC"
product listing # EB6459


Les is more...1958 cherry burst LP, "VG+, faded cherry sunburst finish, mildly curly top grain, expert professinal refret, a superb sounding very attractive instrument, modern HC"
product listing # EB6484


more or Les...1960 cherry burst LP, "EXC, minor repaired crack on back of headstock (not broken off, barely visible), replaced tuner buttons and jackplate, moderate curl, 8lb, 8oz, cherry sunburst finish, OHC"
product listing # EB6234


will openly admit that George Gruhn has forgotten more about collectable guitar values than mitchfit will ever know!!!

still the disparity in pricing seems hard to understand. over a 7 to 1 ratio from top to bottom.

and the '55 [all gold] gold top with OHSC, no replacement parts or repairs comes in last.

with all of the variables of age, finish scarcity, original parts, original case, repairs and condition, the asking price equation HAD to be nearly as complex as the one used to calculate a rocket space launch.

surely the pricing is collector driven as i would think most players would prefer the P90 goldie. [know i would]

mitchfit

[Deleted]

I cant find a link on here anywhere.
I think gold tops are very 70s, and although I really liked them many years ago, right now I don't think I could hack the colour or it being gibson.
A nice blue tele however....
TT

[mitchfit]

Deuce,

go to:

gruhn.com/

click on "inventory"

on the page that comes up, click on "Gibson Solidbody Electrics"

from there use the sale item #'s and year of mfg to find specific models.

hope that helped,
mitchfit

[Deleted]

Amateur Gibson Lover here!

This is what I have read.....


It is probably more about the company than the guitars lots of changes at that time - new managers, new machinery, new ideas at the end of the fifties. Skinny necks instead of nice fat 50s necks.

I am more acoustic oriented, but I was lucky enough to have one of the worst and heaviest LPs - early 80s Custom and my neck is about 2 inches to the left....


BluesKing777.