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Custom order ? One -off ? Run of the mill?

Smooth Move

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Feb 9, 2021
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Hey There.
I'm trying to figure out what the story is on my Les Paul.
I found it on Ebay a couple of months ago. It was advertised as an early reissue
I really obsessed about the Ad and did as much research as I could online.
I was pretty sure it wasn't a reissue. But it looked great and I was ok with the price.
At the Time it was around $3,800 USD delivered.
 

Smooth Move

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Feb 9, 2021
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Sorry the pictures glitched . Trying again
Mahogany neck in 81 a year before they switched from maple
79 T Tops , small dots and thin binding in the cutaway
 
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S a m

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Dec 20, 2011
Messages
181
Sorry the pictures glitched . Trying again
Mahogany neck in 81 a year before they switched from maple
79 T Tops , small dots and thin binding in the cutaway
I LOVE that top. That is true fiddle-back maple.
Those fletch marks mean that the top was quarter-sawn, not slab-cut like most solid-body guitar tops.
Flamed quarter-sawn maple is a lot less common than flamed slab-cut maple. Keep watching -- you won't see tops like that.
It's a simply gorgeous piece. There's no sonic difference on a solid-body guitar but it's simply a gorgeous piece.
 

Smooth Move

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I LOVE that top. That is true fiddle-back maple.
Those fletch marks mean that the top was quarter-sawn, not slab-cut like most solid-body guitar tops.
Flamed quarter-sawn maple is a lot less common than flamed slab-cut maple. Keep watching -- you won't see tops like that.
It's a simply gorgeous piece. There's no sonic difference on a solid-body guitar but it's simply a gorgeous piece.
Thanks Sam ! and thanks for the info.
I figured the original listing was missleading but I couldn't stop looking at the pics. I love it
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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14,537
I LOVE that top. That is true fiddle-back maple.
Those fletch marks mean that the top was quarter-sawn, not slab-cut like most solid-body guitar tops.
Flamed quarter-sawn maple is a lot less common than flamed slab-cut maple. Keep watching -- you won't see tops like that.
It's a simply gorgeous piece. There's no sonic difference on a solid-body guitar but it's simply a gorgeous piece.
No SAM, that is not correct. What top are you looking at? Not fiddleback and no flecks. Flecks do not indicate quartersawn timber, WTF???

The guitar is a mutt. Seller lied. Neck is way wrong. Headstock, inlays, serial number fugazi. ABR bridge is wrong for Nashville made. Control placement or tailpiece looks off.

Best guess is a modified Gibson. Possible reneck, retop and hardware swap. Fingerboard replaced. It appears odd and is not a reissue. 81 is doubtful. Strings Jr would have a better read on this.
 

Smooth Move

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No SAM, that is not correct. What top are you looking at? Not fiddleback and no flecks. Flecks do not indicate quartersawn timber, WTF???

The guitar is a mutt. Seller lied. Neck is way wrong. Headstock, inlays, serial number fugazi. ABR bridge is wrong for Nashville made. Control placement or tailpiece looks off.

Best guess is a modified Gibson. Possible reneck, retop and hardware swap. Fingerboard replaced. It appears odd and is not a reissue. 81 is doubtful. Strings Jr would have a better read on this.
Thanks for your responce Big Al.
I trust your experience 100%
I knew the seller was full of it about the reissue. But for $3800 I was willing to gamble that the rest of it was okay.
I was hoping it might be a cobbled together employee guitar or something like that.
With the 1979 electronics in it I thought I was ok.
I play it every day and didn't buy it as an investment so I guess I'll just keep doing that.
Thanks Again
Tony
 

Wilko

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Looks legit to me as a regular standard from that time. I see a schaller "nashville" bridge with spring retainers inside. I'd like to see the truss rod cover. Orginal tuners and knobs are gone.

That maple has lot of figuring that is seen a lot on fender necks. I used to that "rock maple". The marks he's clling "flecks" are not what we call flecks, but they are commonly seen at or close to perpendicular to cuts. They are those tons of tiny squarish marks (spots?) that on this guitar are also lines along that bass bout side.
here's a forum member burstone's Y2k R9 with similar wood:
index.php

 
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Smooth Move

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Feb 9, 2021
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26
Looks legit to me as a regular standard from that time. I see a schaller "nashville" bridge with spring retainers inside. I'd like to see the truss rod cover. Orginal tuners and knobs are gone.

That maple has lot of figuring that is seen a lot on fender necks. I used to that "rock maple". The marks he's clling "flecks" are not what we call flecks, but they are commonly seen at or close to perpendicular to cuts. They are those tons of tiny squarish marks (spots?) that on this guitar are also lines along that bass bout side.
here's a forum member burstone's Y2k R9 with similar wood:
index.php

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fujgyxn9CUvC9RLD9.
Here are those pics. It had two original speed knobs in the case.
But no tuners.
Thanks for your time.
Tony
 

Wilko

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Speed knobs were factory. Pickups would have covers.

Can you see MADE IN USA stamped on headstock back?

Tuners would have been these:
gibson_metal_tuners.png
gibson_metal_tuners.png
 

Big Al

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Tony, it is hard to fully evaluate from your photos. I see a three piece mahogany neck with volute that looks gibsonish. Too me, the headstock looks wrong. Shape and logo just look funny, but may be pic. Certainly very odd for late 70's early 80's. Serial number and missing made in usa futher the questionability of it. I can only see the bottom three fb inlays and in the pic they look off or wrong too me and unlike the strongly patterned celluloid typical type used at that time. Could be pic, but by any standard that neck is way out of usual spec.

Thin cutaway binding is another oddity. It is not a Heritage Series and shouldn't be there. I was wrong about the abr bridge, it is a nashville tunamatic. Chrome hardware per Standard, reissues had nickle. Also the top carve seems very smooth, the carve was very dished on Heritage 80's and post 82 guitars.

$3800. strikes me as way over priced, but if it is in your opinion, a great playing and sounding one, then worth every dime.

Something to bear in mind is post 82-88 is crazy time in Gibsonville!! I've seen so many oddball guitars from that time that nothing suprizes me anymore. All I can say is this one, if unmodified, is outside normal spec for any model, and is not representitive of typical build.

That figure in the maple I've always heard of as "sycamoring". It can be quite dramatic.
 

Wilko

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... Too me, the headstock looks wrong. Shape and logo just look funny, but may be pic. Certainly very odd for late 70's early 80's. Serial number and missing made in usa futher the questionability of it. I can only see the bottom three fb inlays and in the pic they look off or wrong too me and unlike the strongly patterned celluloid typical type used at that time. Could be pic, but by any standard that neck is way out of usual spec.
Yeah, It's looking weirder to me too. A little too "curvey" at the top. Logo is very low. Serial number is wonky and high/crooked That "1" is awfully deep. No made in USA is problematic. Inlays are flat and very rounded.
 

Smooth Move

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Feb 9, 2021
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Thanks a lot for checking this out.
I'll send one more set of pics. Included are
Some from original ad and write-up.
Some you've seen already.
The headstock is maybe 1/2 inch wider than
A 1999 standard . With less of a break angle .
Either way I'm just going to play the crap out of it.
Thanks,
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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Tony, Strings Jr is the best person I know for info on these type things. Clear fingerboard inlay pics would help. The most important thing is your enjoyment of the guitar.
 

Smooth Move

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Great ! Thanks Big Al
I still love it , even if she's weird with a sketchy background haha
Tony
 
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