Early 80's Les Pauls...

[professor]

Anyone have a perspective on the early 80's LPs, specifically the Heritage 80 and the 30th Anniversary Standards? How do they stack up to the Historic RIs, and how are they, in general...?

Regards,

Dave Orban

 

[RICH]

Cool, but NOTHING like the historics.

 

[MikeSlub]

I have a LOT of early 80's LPs and love them.

The Heritage 80 series was Gibson's first attempt at a reissue, although they don't cut it by today's standards (different horn shape, grovers, etc.). The Heritage 80 Standard has a three piece neck. The Heritage 80 Elite has a one piece neck and ebony fretboard. These guitars had the redesigned humbuckers by Tim Shaw, and they sound pretty nice. Many are pretty heavy weight wise. They seem to represent good value on the used market, running $2,000-$2,800 or so. One of mine is especially resonant and just sings!

The 30th Anniversary Goldtop is a very cool guitar. Many had three piece necks, although some (including the one I own) had a one piece neck. Most had light brown backs, but a few were all gold. Again, the attention to weight wasn't there, but the body shape, parts, etc. were closer to spec. There was a poster with Les Paul on it promoting these guitars at the time. Very nice guitars.

Hope this helps.

 

[rays44]

Heritage 80 elite

This model was Gibson's first serious attempt to make a "good" Lester that shared the quality aspects of some of their older guitars. It is not a recreation of any specific model, just an attempt to make a great guitar. My understanding is that they used a 1954 pattern sample for the carving of the top. IMO, these are some of the best Norlin era Lesters. Mine is on the heavy side which I always prefered anyway and sings like a bird. Fit, finish, tone and playability are superior to any current production model. At least this has been my experience.

 

[Steven]

hi pro..........

i've got both the guitars you mention,
both way cool and with the Shaw PAF's.

mike...
how many of the 30th Anniversary Goldtop was built ?
i've got # A 0042, written 1982 in bridge cavity,
with one piece neck (light brown)

Steven

 

[MikeSlub]

Steven: If memory serves me correctly, I believe there were 300 of the 30th Anniversaries made, but I'll check that tonight.

 

[Dave Paetow]

I have a soft spot for the Heritage 80's. They may not be an accurate reproduction, but they were really nicely made. You know the people who built them must have cared, because inside the cavities there are signatures of the people who built them. At least on the ones I owned. I agree that they were cleaner built than most Historics I see. The Heritage 82 was a little more accurate, and built in Kalamazoo, where all the great old Gibsons were built.

 

[Steven]

dave:

how come they made the '82 Heritage in Kalamazoo?
why did they move the production of this guitar from nashville?
hardly because of economics.

 

[MikeSlub]

Dave: Are you talking about the Standard 82 that was built in Kalamazoo? I don't ever recall a Heritage 82 model.

 

[Sean]

I just read (today) an interview with Les Paul, from '95 (when he was F*CKIN 80!!), and he says his all-time favourite LP was the 80 Heritage...

 

[professor]

Well, I just made a deal on a 30th Anniversary goldtop, so we'll see what it's all about, when I get it next week!

 

[Turner Up]

I have an '83 cherryburst Standard. I think they were calling it the '59 reissue. They did an altogether bangup job with it. One piece neck. The top is just right for me. I like even medium (1/2") curls all across the top. Good match. It's got a bit too much curve under the P/U rings but everything else is pretty good. I'd rather have less cherry and more burst. I figured the cherry would eventually fade a bit - but no! The rascal seems to get redder everyday.

I'll never sell it. This is one of the better sounding Les Pauls in the world. Very live sounding, real expressive guitar. I'm one of these plug straight into an old Marshall and do it with your hands types so that's important. The guitar does nuance.

I swapped in a couple of PAFs from my SG/LP one time. The stock pickups sounded a little punchier and darker than the PAFs but the guitar sounded real good either way. I stayed with the stock pickups. A good guitar.

 

[MikeSlub]

Turner Up: Does your 1983 have the "9 3XXX" or similar format serial number on the back of the headstock? If not, what is it?

 

[58 Korina V]

I have some good insight into these lil gems . I have A002 ! Nice dark brown flamed mahogany single piece neck . The top is really terrific since the bindings and top have a sweet light butterscotch color with age . The pearl (REAL) inlays are my absolute favorite. I find that the Pickups are fabulous . How do I know you may ask . Well I have replaced them with Patent applied for pickups from 63'and they are so close in tone , I 'm putting the origionals back in there ! 7.65 neck 7.56 bridge stock , 7.82 bridge ,7.76 neck on the 63's . Lastly mine was made in 7-82 by F.L. as noted on the inked on signiture . I would definately call it a keeper !

david_scott

 

[Turner Up]

Mikeslub,
The serial number on this guitar is 3 XXXX. It's not impressed but inked, almost rubber stamp style, under the color coat. If they started from 0000, then this one's pretty early.

 

[Turner Up]

Mikeslub,
The serial number on this guitar is 3 XXXX. It's not impressed but inked, almost rubber stamp style, under the color coat. If they started from 0000, then this one's pretty early.

 

[MikeSlub]

Turner Up: Yep, that's a 59 reissue from that year. Cool guitars, to be sure. Is yours a Nashville or one of the last Kalamazoos? The way to tell is (1) the dot markers on the side of the neck are very small on the Nashvilles, and larger on the Kalamazoos, and (2) there is an eight digit serial number impressed in the edge of the control cavity if you take the cover off on the Kalamazoos (not there on the Nashvilles).

 

[Turner Up]

Hey MikeSlub!

Thanks for the info on this guitar. I'll have to investigate the Kalamazoo or Nashville thing in the morning. Sweetpea came home with a fifth of Myers' rum a while ago and I must confess I am now a bit soggy. Just between you and me, I think she's up to no good. Pray for me.

Yours in solidarity,

Turner Up

 

[adrenaline junkie]

MikeSlub, Did you ever find how many of the 30th were made?

Before the forum's changed over, I had asked about one of these that my cousin has, and you responeded. His is a 30th, made in '82 and all gold. Since it's painted, how do you tell if the neck is a one piece, or if it's a three piece? One of the best playing guitars that I've ever played, but it weighs at least 12 tons! Sweet sounding too.

What price range do these go for now?

 

[Turner Up]

Hey MikeSlub!

Thanks for the info on this guitar. I'll have to investigate the Kalamazoo or Nashville thing in the morning. Sweetpea came home with a fifth of Myers' rum a while ago and I must confess I am now a bit soggy. Just between you and me, I think she's up to no good. Pray for me.

Yours in solidarity,

Turner Up