Beat up/road worn Les Pauls

[lennon08]

OK, I am looking for another Les Paul. I have a 1988 Standard that pretty much looks mint. I would like one that has been to war and back a few times.

Two reasons: cheaper and I think they look cool. I hardly ever seen them for sale. Any ideas why or does anyone have a lead?

Thanks for looking.

[C-4]

I have hardly ever seen road-worn LP's either. The ones I have seen are played by owners that will not part with them. I think these owners don't particularly care about vintage-correct, non-lammed bodies, single piece necks, et. al.

My personal belief as to why this is so is that marketing and "improvement" hype put out by Gibson has most players opting for the best type of LP they might be able to afford. Then, once they get the guitar, a lot of these players don't want to see the guitar get bruised and "abused" by honest playing wear. They would rather play a lesser guitar live in the dive and save their LP for home or studio use.

This makes me laugh, as when someone saves a guitar due to not desiring it to be scratched, used, or enjoyed, when that guitar is sold, often it is bought by someone who is a player and wants to actually use the guitar for it's intended purpose. The funny thing is, these # 2 buyers often get a great deal on an almost-new guitar when the original buyer paid far more.

I believe in showing respect for an instrument, but play it and allow it to have honest wear. It is just part of it's personality being allowed to come out.

Good luck in your search. :)
You may also consider finding an LP that you like, beat up or not, and just enjoying it day by day.

[electricfactory]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t57/electricfactory/IMG_0308.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t57/electricfactory/IMG_0314.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t57/electricfactory/IMG_0311.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t57/electricfactory/IMG_0320.jpg

[lennon08]

Well said.....

Yeah I could def go and get another new/newer one I just don't play enough to wear it down and not to keen on do the relic myself. Hell I have my Washburn electric from 87 that pretty much looks the like the day I traded my 79 Les Paul for hahahaha. If I only new better.....

[Blue Light]

I've seen a few. One time I drove way out in the country in a driving sleet storm to see an LP. The owner told me on the phone that it was in great shape, nearly flawless. I get out there and he leads me to this dungeon. I'm getting some serious "Silence of the Lamps" flashbacks here. And he hands me this Custom with frets worn down about flat with the fretboard. It looked as if it had been left out in the rain a few nights, too.

[MBT74]

Best pic I've seen is Danocaster's two gold tops. Someone will have it somewhere or Dan might chime in with it.

Edit: Nevermind, I found it in another TGP thread :D

http://danocaster.smugmug.com/Other/Various-Pics/Gold-1/515159805_M5GAW-X3.jpg

[G Man]

I played a pretty road worn/beat up LP yesterday at a local consignment shop. 1981 Standard with a 3 piece maple neck that weighed a shit ton. Beat to heck with killer tone. Here's a link to his CL ad with a shitty picture for good measure.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/msg/2611909807.html

[lennon08]

G Man, thanks for the link. I will have to check it out.

[germs]

i let a 1979 LPC slip through my fingers. on consignment for $2K. just couldn't come up with the money fast enough and someone else did.

headstock repair, finish checking, buckle rash, worming, yellowed binding, worn hardware, you name it.

but God DAMN that guitar was awesome...

[G Man]

G Man, thanks for the link. I will have to check it out.

If you decide you are serious about this one, let me know and I can probably get down there with my camera and take some decent shots for you.

[Pietro]

The problem is that a really well-worn guitar is often a stellar instrument, and whoever owns it wants to keep it.

On the other hand... I grow really suspicious of things like a "2000 R9: Mint condition, not a scratch on it, best guitar I've ever had"... because if it was so great, why hasn't it been played and dinged?

I have a buddy who has a LP studio that is, quite frankly, the most amazing LP I've ever played of any kind. It is beat to death. He will NOT sell it to me...

[Pushead]

Perhaps not "beat to hell" but well worn.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/th_77cream_17.jpg (http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_17.jpg) http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/th_77cream_16.jpg (http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_16.jpg) http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/th_77cream_14.jpg (http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_14.jpg) http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_21.jpg http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Relicing/th_Relicing_13.jpg (http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Relicing/Relicing_13.jpg)

[deadllama]

I'd like to request some pictures of beaten-up, well-loved SG's, too, while you guys are at it. I'd love to see what mine's going to look like someday :D

[samdjr74]

As a couple folks said most people who own a worn LP don't want to part with them because the play and sound so good. My favorite LP sounds amazing, feels great and looks like hell. I find myself not abusing it but playing the hell out of it compared to my shiny newer LP.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b34/samdjr74/Guitars/Picture030.jpg

[lennon08]

I guess what I needed to add was I am looking for that Les Paul that has really been abused, broken necks, modded def not ever going to be a collectible. Just a work horse that can be picked up for a bargain because of the condition.

[Hwy14]

I have hardly ever seen road-worn LP's either. The ones I have seen are played by owners that will not part with them. I think these owners don't particularly care about vintage-correct, non-lammed bodies, single piece necks, et. al.

My personal belief as to why this is so is that marketing and "improvement" hype put out by Gibson has most players opting for the best type of LP they might be able to afford. Then, once they get the guitar, a lot of these players don't want to see the guitar get bruised and "abused" by honest playing wear. They would rather play a lesser guitar live in the dive and save their LP for home or studio use.

This makes me laugh, as when someone saves a guitar due to not desiring it to be scratched, used, or enjoyed, when that guitar is sold, often it is bought by someone who is a player and wants to actually use the guitar for it's intended purpose. The funny thing is, these # 2 buyers often get a great deal on an almost-new guitar when the original buyer paid far more.

I believe in showing respect for an instrument, but play it and allow it to have honest wear. It is just part of it's personality being allowed to come out.

Good luck in your search. :)
You may also consider finding an LP that you like, beat up or not, and just enjoying it day by day.

Scratches don't bother me much, its the thought of the headstock lying on the ground next to me that gives me pause when considering taking my pauls to a gig...or swinging in such a fashion that some horrible snapping, gurgling, decapitated les paul noise would haunt my dreams forever as the headstock swings merrily on the loose strings.

[rockinlespaul]

Here's my '55. It's in the emporium by the way.:D

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=959617

[rockinlespaul]

The problem is that a really well-worn guitar is often a stellar instrument, and whoever owns it wants to keep it.

On the other hand... I grow really suspicious of things like a "2000 R9: Mint condition, not a scratch on it, best guitar I've ever had"... because if it was so great, why hasn't it been played and dinged?

I have a buddy who has a LP studio that is, quite frankly, the most amazing LP I've ever played of any kind. It is beat to death. He will NOT sell it to me...

Very true. I KNOW I'll regret it if I let mine go.

[crifasta]

This one's a possibility but it's in Puerto Rico. Free shipping though...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Gibson-Les-Paul-Classic-Honeyburst-/290613045135?pt=Guitar&hash=item43a9e3278f#ht_1415wt_1398

[lennon08]

Thanks for the leads. The 55 is sweet buy out my "Just for Fun" budget. The Classic is a great price but I just one pretty close to that 6 months ago to get the 1988 Standard.

[Tuberoast]

I like my guitars worn as well, but, if it was made in 2008 and it's real worn and beat then I might be a little more cautious.

[mhz88]

whats harder to find is a road worn PRS I've only seen a handful

[kev]

It isn't that sweet '55 LPJr mentioned earlier, but also in the Emporium there is (was?) a road warrior LPC ('72). I would buy it myself if I had the cash. IIRC, it looks a lot like samdjr74's above, spec-wise.

EDIT:
No affiliation: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=949561&highlight=gretsch