1981 Les Paul: good guitars?

[kingsxman]

I've got a 1981 Les Paul standard that I think is actually a great playing/sounding guitar. I've had it for about 7 years and before I got it it was definitely played. Lots of neck wear and overall its a bit of a relic.
I've heard some bad things about the Norlin era stuff but I'm hoping that they occasionally did something right. Mine doesnt look that great (top not matched that well) but some of the things I like are the inlays. Not cheap plastic looking things like you see now.

Just looking for insight. I honestly havent played a ton of Les Pauls so I'm not sure. (I'm a strat guy mainly). I'm tempted to think about selling and getting something with a nicer top but I hate getting rid of a 27 year old guitar. (especially when i got it for peanuts).

[frankthomson]

that's still the Norlin era.
some hate them, but i LOVE-LOVE-LOVE them!

...eyes of the beholder, i guess.

[fast ricky love]

There were quite a few great guitars made during the Norlin era. So long as you can let go of said guitars being 'correct vintage spec'. If you evaluate them on their own merits, they're pretty cool.

A good Deluxe LP is a cool guitar, as are the Standards they made special order. The LP Specials they made in the early 70's are GREAT. The early '70's Customs are cool. Heritage 80's. Early '80's ES-335's are amazing.

Quite a few more I could mention...

[DGDGBD]

Originally Posted by kingsxman

I've got a 1981 Les Paul standard that I think is actually a great playing/sounding guitar.

I say keep it...sounds like you're very happy with it.

[opiate]

I hate to give the cliche answer here, but fact is... if you like it, then its a good guitar (for you at least, and thats all that matters).

There are general up and down eras thru every guitar maker's history. People point to certain periods when the guitars peaked, and others when they were at their worst. But still these are sort of general guidelines.
There were some great guitars built during 'bad' periods and a few duds done during 'golden'periods too.

If vintage value is a consideration, then don't expect too much from these. This sort of thing is based on reputation, so its bad news.

But you say your guitar is a player, and if both you and the previous owners have been playing the crap out of this thing for 27 years, you KNOW there has to be something to it

[treeofpain]

Agree with opiate here. Please don't ask us if the guitar you like is good. Of course it's good. :-)

[rastus]

I know Norlin's have a bad rep, but I grew up on them, still use em and love them. Then as now, you have to pick through a few to find good ones. I can illustrate in my own experience:

GOOD ONES I'VE HAD (in a few cases, still have):

70 LP Custom
72 LP Limited Edition Goldtop
81 Heritage 58 V reissue
71 ES 335
82 Epi Spirit
74 LP Special
82 ES 335
77 L5

BAD ONES:
77 LP Deluxe
78 SG Custom
75 ES 335
79 LP Custom
75 Flying V
77 Dove

And those weren't necessarily bad guitars, just wrong for me. Only a couple were actually just defective and worthless.

[JayRue]

I actually just bought a 1980 goldtop Standard. I charged it, so am not sure yet if I can keep it, but it rules. It's very well-played, lots of neck wear, but feels so comfortable and sounds so warm. It's got the usual one-piece body (good), three-piece neck (maybe not so good?), and three-piece top (don't care). It definitely feels like a better guitar than some of the "pancake"-bodied Lesters I've seen from a slightly earlier era (isn't that what they're called when you have two pieces of mahogany slapped together a la many 70s LPs? Yuck). In fact, the shop had an early 70s goldtop priced nearly three times as much. It wasn't the better guitar. I also have a '92 Standard. Cool guitar, tons of sentimental value, but I prefer the 1980. It's lighter, has a chunkier neck, and just an all-around cooler vibe (which is definitely subjective). That's the extent of my LP experience, though.

[cmatthes]

I've got an '81 LP Custom that I bought new and will NEVER sell. I've owned tons of Les Pauls, from a '53 Goldtop to recent models and that's the one I'll always keep.

[jpage]

If you are happy, then it is the right guitar, eh?

[Pete Galati]

I would call my '82 Les Paul a good guitar. Far from my best though.

[randy alameda]

'It's the Wood', and how it feels, and plays ... "in your hands" which it sounds like you enjoy!

[Mr.Hanky]

My 82 Custom Silverburst is an awesome guitar but very different from both historics I own. It's 11lbs, has a maple neck with an ebony board so that alone is going to make a difference.
Fat, thick, solid with harmonics out the ying yang, great hard rock/ metal guitar.

[dosmun]

Sounds like a good one to me. I would hold on to it and maybe pickup another down the road. It never hurts to have more than one LP.

[bailnout]

I have an '82 Standard that was a "special order". It has a second 4 digit serial number that I've been told is the Custom Shop serial. I'm the second and at least the 4th owner of the guitar but I think I'm the only one who's really put the significant wear on it. When I bought it the second time (and that is a pretty wild story that I won't get into) it looked like it had hardly been played since I got rid of it. When I bought it the first time, it was in near mint condition. So apparently I'm the only owner of this guitar that ever liked it. But every time I play it, I get compliments on my tone. I loaned it to Roy Clark one night and he loved it too. It's a heavy bastard at 11 lbs but the tone just rocks. It has a three piece maple neck with an ebony fingerboard which makes it closer to a Les Paul Custom in tone, but it has all the Standard appointments like inlay and binding.

My point is just what a lot of others have said here...if you like it, then it's good. I never felt the need to be vindicated by other guitarists on the instruments I choose to play, but I have been with my '82 Standard.