What is your favorite “bang for your buck” used Gibson guitar?

[Juniors]

I placed this question here to be able to include LP and non-LP guitars. What is your favorite used bang for your buck Gibson guitar? Maybe it’s an odd signature model nobody has heard of. Maybe it’s a specific year or “sleeper” guitar. Please share your favorites.

 

[jb_abides]

The two 'bangers' I actually own!

-- Humbucker: ~2013/2014 LPJ and SGJ fly under the radar. Maple neck with pretty beefy 50s Rounded, mahogany body but open pore / no filler / satin finish. Came with 490R/498T some with plastic covers that folks removed, some uncovered Zebras. No other adornments. Great players and fanstastic mod platforms!

-- P-90: ~2011/12 Gibson SG Special 60's Tribute, similar to above 'no-frills' with Worn Satin finishes, came with Grover Keystone tuners.

FWIW: People like 'Tribute' models for all around attributes, quality, and bang-for-buck.

Some really dig the BFG models, but they became a thing, and collectable, so prices rose accordingly.

Whereas, you can still find low-cost LPJ and SGL husks out there, and build a great guitar.

 

[Wilko]

Any of the faded series.

Les Paul Studio.

 

[clapciadrix]

Sg

 

[F-Hole]

Old Melody Maker

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I also thumb up the old Melody Makers. Single cut, double cut or SG style. The 59 single cut even comes with a beefy neck and pickup. Some of the odd 70's stuff too. A Gibson S-1 has excellent pickups and covers a lot of ground. It is like a strat/LP hybrid.

 

[Juniors]

I also thumb up the old Melody Makers. Single cut, double cut or SG style. The 59 single cut even comes with a beefy neck and pickup. Some of the odd 70's stuff too. A Gibson S-1 has excellent pickups and covers a lot of ground. It is like a strat/LP hybrid.

Any idea which Melody Maker might have a thinner 60s Junior type neck?

 

[Dave P]

Old Melody Makers. Probably the cheapest way to get into old Honduras mahogany and Brazilian rosewood. Finding one already modded for humbuckers is even better as it will be cheaper.

 

[Grog]

The Les Paul Tribute DC Jrs were sold at a “Blow Out” price in 2019 or so, possibly the best bang for a buck I had to date. Great guitars but getting less available. The people that have them seem to be hanging on to them……..

 

[charliechitlins]

I know it's not cheap, per se, but I see LP Standards on Marketplace all the time for 15-1700.
Sometimes as low as 1300.
That's getting down toward Faded/Tribute territory.
Tributes seem to have gone up a bit, but if one can still be had for 8-900, that's a pretty smokin' deal for a good Lester.
The 50s Tribute I gigged for a few years was a killer.
LP Specials around 12-1300 are a great deal, IMO.

 

[Juniors]

I know it's not cheap, per se, but I see LP Standards on Marketplace all the time for 15-1700.
Sometimes as low as 1300.
That's getting down toward Faded/Tribute territory.
Tributes seem to have gone up a bit, but if one can still be had for 8-900, that's a pretty smokin' deal for a good Lester.
The 50s Tribute I gigged for a few years was a killer.
LP Specials around 12-1300 are a great deal, IMO.

I’ll look out for a standard. I may need to post here to see if it’s legit LOL

 

[jb_abides]

I’ll look out for a standard. I may need to post here to see if it’s legit LOL

TL;DR -- if you are looking at used Standards from this era ~2020s, also keep Traditionals in mind.

...

Deeper explanation:

An addendum on used Standards, if you are unfamiliar with product line terminology.

LP Traditionals prior to the management change/product line re-alignment ~2019 are spec-wise akin to today's Standards on offer as part of the 'Original Collection' whereas Standards from pre-management change (from ~2010s) are spec-wise akin to the current Modern from the 'Modern Collection' sans the rounded heel carve. They both have a compound radius fretboard, hence the 'modern' although the earlier assymetrical neck profile was ditched for a slim taper.

If you are in that game, both pre-management change Used Traditionals and Standards can be found, as well as Classics [which only really fundementally changed its complement of pick-ups through it's run].

Just be sure to understand the specs and evolution of the name when shopping.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

LP Specials, SG's, and LP Studios in that order.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Any idea which Melody Maker might have a thinner 60s Junior type neck?

Pretty much all of the 60's melody makers have necks similar to the Jr's from the same time. 1959 is the only year you find them more chunky. Similar to 59 Les Pauls.

 

[Vics53]

Since you said "non LP guitars" are included; My PRS SE 24 Standard that I bought used. As soon as I picked it up to play it, I felt like the neck was tailor made for me. It's got what they call the Wide Thin pattern and it fits me like a glove.

A lot of folks including PRS owners say they're not to keen on the 85/15 S pickups but I rather like them. They're not quite as mid pronounced as some HB's that I've tried and I LOVE the mid position tone.

The guitar came with 9 - 42's so I went to 9.5 - 48's and now I'm using 10 - 48. The heavier G, B and high E seems to work best on this particular guitar.

Downside, the trem bar does not return to pitch and it's never the same twice. The only consistant is that the D string goes about a cent and a half sharp everytime. I've taken it to a tech twice to have the nut gone over and no dice. The thing is, I'm not trying to do EVH divebombs, just want to do those mild shimmers at times. And yes, I installed locking tuners.

But all in all it's a great playing and great sounding guitar that didn't break the bank at all!

 

[jb_abides]

Since you said "non LP guitars" are included; My PRS SE 24 Standard that I bought used.

I second this!

I totally overlooked the non-LP aspect in OP and my mind went to 'Gibson-style' like LP and SG.

In addition to the current PRS SE coming from Core-Tek Indonesia, there's great options from Reverend, Schecter, Sire, and Yamaha, to name a few.

I've picked up a Schecter PT Van Nuys and Nick Johnston, a Reverend Double Agent, and Yamaha Revstar along with an SE Silver Sky and SE Zach Myers 594 from PRS, all offer something different but oustanding quality and value in the sub-$1k range.

Of course, there's always a good Epiphone to be found out, LP and other. Especially the Riviera semi-hollows which can be quite 'choice' once you get them dialed in.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I placed this question here to be able to include LP and non-LP guitars. What is your favorite used bang for your buck Gibson guitar? Maybe it’s an odd signature model nobody has heard of. Maybe it’s a specific year or “sleeper” guitar. Please share your favorites.

A Gibson Les Paul Standard made in Kalamazoo between mid 1957 and 1960 ticks all the right boxes.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Where approximately are you located? I know of a couple really good deals I could send you the links for that are local pickup only. For new stuff another builder that has top quality wood and great build is Godin. There are quite a few newer builders that aren't all that bad. I personally just lean more into the vintage American and Japanese guitars because after many years of buying both, new and old, the ones I have kept that I consider great are mostly old.

Biggest problem for the bang for you buck part is that vintage American and Japanese guitars, even the cheaper models, have really risen in price over the last 5 years. Much more so than in years prior to that. If you find a good deal, however, you will most likely make money on the guitar if you ever decide to sell it. A 1966 Melody Maker, apart from different pickups, neck binding and a couple pieces of wood added to the headstock, is the same guitar with same wood as a 1966 SG Standard. Some years, like 1969, they even came with a full sized headstock version. I personally prefer the more narrow headstock. Particularly with tremolo tremolo equipped guitars as they tend to stay in tune better.

Thought I would add in what the prices for the guitars I mentioned above were in 1969. A 1969 Melody Maker with 2 pickups cost $212.50. It was more expensive than an SG Junior which cost $199.50. SG Standard's in 1969 cost $335. Today 1969 SG Juniors can be 2 to 3 times the price of a 1969 Melody Maker and 1969 SG Standards can be 5 times the price of the Melody Make for similar condition guitars.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Where approximately are you located? I know of a couple really good deals I could send you the links for that are local pickup only. For new stuff another builder that has top quality wood and great build is Godin. There are quite a few newer builders that aren't all that bad. I personally just lean more into the vintage American and Japanese guitars because after many years of buying both, new and old, the ones I have kept that I consider great are mostly old.

Biggest problem for the bang for you buck part is that vintage American and Japanese guitars, even the cheaper models, have really risen in price over the last 5 years. Much more so than in years prior to that. If you find a good deal, however, you will most likely make money on the guitar if you ever decide to sell it. A 1966 Melody Maker, apart from different pickups, neck binding and a couple pieces of wood added to the headstock, is the same guitar with same wood as a 1966 SG Standard. Some years, like 1969, they even came with a full sized headstock version. I personally prefer the more narrow headstock. Particularly with tremolo tremolo equipped guitars as they tend to stay in tune better. Even though they are this similar the SG Standard can be up to 10 times the price of the Melody Maker.

" apart from different pickups, neck binding and a couple pieces of wood added to the headstock" ...

 

[Gridlock]

My mint condition Gibson Les Paul Studio in Alpine White, with an Ebony Board, and a big ‘50s neck. Purchased used last year for $900.