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Question about Max Les Paul Replicas

GotTheSilver

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Apr 14, 2007
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2,433
This is just a question out of pure curiosity. I see Max LP replicas listed for sale on the internet for some pretty lofty prices. Rumble Seat Music has two at $27.5k each. There is one on Reverb with an asking price of $45k.

I have never played a Max LP. For those that have experience with them and other high quality replicas, are they any better than the replicas being made by others today? A nice replica is not cheap, but you can get one custom made for you for a lot less than $27.5k. Are the Max replica asking prices (I know that is not selling price!) just because of the notoriety and the fact that Pete Baranet is no longer making them? Are modern replicas better, the same or not as good?

Just curious.
 

WBailey

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Apr 23, 2015
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There's a way to turn it off?
Please tell me!!

Click on your profile

Click on settings

Click on General Settings

Click on private messaging

Click on either on or off

Got it ?

Peace, Walt
 
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GotTheSilver

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OK, now that we have the PM situation sorted out, :peace2, is it still taboo to talk about Max guitars here? I thought that conversation about replicas was now allowed. Is it going to far to mention the builder, even though everyone out there knows he used to build these guitars? Or is it just that no one here has anything to say? Just want to know if I crossed a line here since no one has responded to the question.
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
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I'm sorry, did you find something humorous ?

Please, share with the rest of us.

Yes I did.


Tom has a good sense of humour. He's also much in demand. I saw his well punctuated post, and imagined his voice doing a "woohoo, I can turn off the white noise" thing.


Context is everything, along with manners and humility.
 

WBailey

Active member
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Apr 23, 2015
Messages
1,131
Yes I did.


Tom has a good sense of humour. He's also much in demand. I saw his well punctuated post, and imagined his voice doing a "woohoo, I can turn off the white noise" thing.


Context is everything, along with manners and humility.

Gotcha !

Would you like a tissue ?

Here, here's a tissue. Hope everything is all gooder now. There, there. :salude
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Gotcha !

Would you like a tissue ?

Here, here's a tissue. Hope everything is all gooder now. There, there. :salude

Class act....and case in point follows (well, it did follow, but thankfully vaporised).
 
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Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
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6,372
OK, now that we have the PM situation sorted out, :peace2, is it still taboo to talk about Max guitars here? I thought that conversation about replicas was now allowed. Is it going to far to mention the builder, even though everyone out there knows he used to build these guitars? Or is it just that no one here has anything to say? Just want to know if I crossed a line here since no one has responded to the question.
Well, there's a whole thread showing off Les Paul replicas in this very section.
 

blauserk

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Mar 12, 2002
Messages
1,778
Maxes were among the first very authentic replicas, with old-growth woods and hide glue. Some (all?) of the guitars had fingerboards he'd taken off of 1950s guitars, but I'm unclear whether he found fingerboards from, say, ES-150s (which have crown inlays) or whether he took them off Les Paul Juniors and inlaid the crowns himself. He used junior fingerboards on his flying V replicas I believe. Otherwise, modern replicas potentially are made from the same recipe--although maybe Max had a better stash of old wood than is available to modern luthiers.

Maxes are great replicas. I wouldn't pay that kind of premium--although the Rumble Seat guitars both have PAFs. I was offered one with a beautiful top and (if memory serves) PAFs about a decade ago in the 12k-14k range and remember thinking I'd rather have an original goldtop for that kind of money. The Maxes I've seen all have jaw-dropping tops and beautiful finishes.
 
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joeh77

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Mar 20, 2015
Messages
97
I have a friend that has two Max Les Pauls. His are not 59 replicas, they are unbound with uncovered PUs, one red, one yellow. I played one for about 5 minutes a few years ago, it was very nice. I think his are in that $12K-$14K value range. He gave Maxs' nephews some lessons and they worked out a deal on them. I know he loves his and recently he had a Dumble combo for a few week loan and recorded a bit with them. Said the tone was amazing!

Joe
 

brandtkronholm

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Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
OK, now that we have the PM situation sorted out, :peace2, is it still taboo to talk about Max guitars here? I thought that conversation about replicas was now allowed. Is it going to far to mention the builder, even though everyone out there knows he used to build these guitars? Or is it just that no one here has anything to say? Just want to know if I crossed a line here since no one has responded to the question.

The topic is anything but taboo. There's even a conversation about a replica in the Vintage 1952-1960 Pub:

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?201427-NGD-quot-Frances-quot-the-Frankenburst
 

Ed Driscoll

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
4,691
There's a way to turn it off?
Please tell me!!

I thought Inner Party members at the LPF were allowed that privilege!
smiley_emoticon.gif


 

oldflame

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Jan 11, 2004
Messages
1,142
I put a Max through its paces about 15 years ago and briefly inspected another a couple of years later. Really don't know what all the fuss is about. Better Gibson's (and replicas) being made now for a lot less $.
 
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