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86 Custom Advice

Trennasol

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
895
Ok, after 20+ years of playing guitar, I've only in the last 2 years taken a shine to the glorious Les Paul. In that two years I've owned a Classic(very briefly) and currently own a '74 Standard. However, I'm not real sure about all the model differences and changes that's gone on with the LP over the last 50 years. Therefore, I need some advice.

I tried out an '86 Ebony LP Custom(three pickup's) today, which played like butter. The gold hardware showed it's age, but made the guitar even more endearing to me. The body was in really good shape concerning nix and dings. However, the headstock seems to have endured a fairly serious injury at some point in it's life. There was a V shape crack on the back of the headstock and the store owner said the guy who traded it in had had it 'fixed.' The guitar stayed in tune even after being put to the test with some serious bending. I really like the guitar, but the headstock thing scared me off. I've heard that some LP's with headstock damage can be fixed as good, if not better than new. Any experienced thoughts on this? The tag on the guitar was $1100.
I don't know much about 80's model Les Paul's. Any advice on 86 Customs?

Thanks in advance,
T
 

ripfence

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2002
Messages
778
I had a nasty headstock wound like that on my early 70's Custom after it fell off the bed (lesson learned). I had owned that guitar for over 20 years and it was a sad day to see it damaged like that. The good news is I was told that it was quite repairable (and it looked nasty) and I have had no troubles with the repair yet - a couple years. I am not sure about that price though but I haven't seen any three pickup Customs for that cheap. Maybe he'd take 950.00 cash?
 

Trennasol

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
895
Cool, thanks for the insights ripfence. So what's the deal with the 3 p'up Customs? From the post above, I'm feeling like this could be a cool deal if I could get him to come down on the price a bit? I'm not familar with Customs at all.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
T
 

Trennasol

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
895
Correction

I just checked out the site of the store that has the guitar, sorry no pics, but I found out that it's a '90 instead of a '86. I saw something on the tag that said 86, and ASSumed it was the model year. Whoops!!!

Ok, any thoughts on a 3 pickup Ebony 1990 LP Custom with a headstock crack? I also found out it's on consignment, so I might not be able to get the price down should I decide this guitar needs to come home with me. $1099 sound decent?

Thanks,
T
 

guitarjoe

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2003
Messages
320
If I were you I'd be all over it. It's a real solid price, don't let an imperfection that you admit passed your "test" scare you away from a guitar you really like.. You said the guitar played "like Butter" and those 3 pup Black Beauty Customs are a sight to behold -and hold!
 

DeluxeWine

New member
Joined
Jul 8, 2003
Messages
103
Yeah, that price isn't bad. But it could be better.

I'd get the owner's phone # from the shop (they should divulge this info) and call him up and haggle over the phone. Tell him that the headstock crack has you scared and that if he was willing to drop the price a bit that you'll take it. Most likely he'll give it to ya cheaper, and you'll have scored an excellent piece for cheap.


Best of luck to ya!
 

Trennasol

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
895
Thanks for the replies. I'll see if I can't contact the guy selling it and make an offer.

Thanks,
T
 
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