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Advice please. I have been asked to help sell 2 vintage Les Pauls

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Adwex

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Hello vintage Les Paul experts,

I haven't spent much time here in the last few years, but I know this forum is the right place for advice on this matter. A good friend of mine, who knows nothing about guitars, has been asked to help appraise and sell 2 vintage Les Pauls owned by a former bandmate, and he has asked for my assistance. I have been asked to not reveal, at this time, the owner's identity, or the circumstances.

I can tell you that one guitar is a '59 burst (I haven't seen it yet), and the other is likely a '57 Custom, ebony. I'm not 100% sure of the year of the ebony one, but I have seen it up close at a gig once, and chatted briefly with the owner about it, and it is surely of '50s vintage. I'm told that the burst was once owned by a very well known guitarist (guitar hero to MANY), and the current owner is lesser known, but some of you may have heard of him....I'm sure many, if not all of you, have at least heard of his band.

I come here seeking advice on how to proceed with the appraisal, and eventual sale of the guitars. What is the first step? Who should I contact? (a few names already come to mind) What are the dangers to look out for? etc. etc.

I'm well aware of the magnitude of this responsibility, and I consider it an honor to be asked to handle it.

Please help.
 

vintage58

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You could probably send pics to George Gruhn and have him do a written appraisal. Or, if (as it appears) you're located in New York, maybe you could have Stan Jay at Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island, or Buzzy at Lark Street Music in Teaneck, NJ, take a look at the guitars in person.
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Adwex

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Hmmm, I didn't expect stupid comments in here. I thought you vintage guys are all serious.
 

vintage58

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Hmmm, I didn't expect stupid comments in here. I thought you vintage guys are all serious.
Specifically what information are you seeking? Are you, for example, looking for the names of suitable people to authenticate these guitars?
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Adwex

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You could probably send pics to George Gruhn and have him do a written appraisal. Or, if (as it appears) you're located in New York, maybe you could have Stan Jay at Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island, or Buzzy at Lark Street Music in Teaneck, NJ, take a look at the guitars in person.
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I am in NY, the guitars are in Texas, and I have no pics yet. It's a possibility that I may go down there, but I don't know if I will be bringing them to NY.

Good suggestion though, perhaps I can have pics taken and sent to me.
 

vintage58

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I am in NY, the guitars are in Texas, and I have no pics yet. It's a possibility that I may go down there, but I don't know if I will be bringing them to NY.

Good suggestion though, perhaps I can have pics taken and sent to me.
If you don't have the guitars physically present, then an appraisal via detailed pics would seem to be the next most logical starting point. You could also probably describe to Gruhn the guitars' celebrity provenance, etc. — I'm sure he would be able to do some kind of valuation on them.
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shuie

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If they are in Texas maybe bring them to one of the big shows and have someone like fellow forumite TW59 look at them there.
 

vintage58

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Yes...and any other advice.
I would recommend Forum member Joe Ganzler for authenticating the guitars. He has a good deal of experience authenticating 'bursts (and, IIRC, celebrity-owned ones, at that). Here's a link to his website.
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Adwex

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If you don't have the guitars physically present, then an appraisal via detailed pics would seem to be the next most logical starting point. You could also probably describe to Gruhn the guitars' celebrity provenance, etc. — I'm sure he would be able to do some kind of valuation on them.
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Yes, that's a good first step, thanks.
 

Adwex

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If they are in Texas maybe bring them to one of the big shows and have someone like fellow forumite TW59 look at them there.

Yes, TW's name was the first that came to my mind. And of course bringing them to a show occurred to me.

Just asking for any and all advice.
 
B

bigsby'd

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Good, please do.

Man oh man...my comment wasn't even directed at you or your thread, but I'm going to let this slide off because everybody loves an internet tough guy. Well played.
 
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