Would this be a mid-69 Goldtop?

[Grog]

I’ll post a pick I had on file of my middle 1969 Les Paul Deluxe. One piece body transitional tenon. Not a tight fit……

 

[guitplayer]

OP guitar is good. If less than $8000 go get it.

 

[lhric]

Thanks to all who replied.
If the guitar is honestly as represented, is it worth the asking price of $14,000US in today's market?

That guitar is pretty much priced accordingly. If your looking at originality. These would be or are the last version of the “Standard “ goldtop with P90s prior Deluxe model with mini-humbuckers that came out in mid Summer or so. These had the one-piece body, three piece laminated neck, and true Gibson inlay and not the inlay veneer silkscreened over logo. Interestingly , Gibson was using up the last of the late 50’s bumblebee caps on these guitars. I’m presuming the pots are dated 1376852.

 

[lhric]

Only if he gets it. People are asking stupid money nowadays...perhaps "worse" than we've seen this phenomenon for 9 or 10 years. But there are very, very few similar sales to go by...there's one near me--the seller wants 30K! There's one on Gbase for 15K. So it makes 14k not seem as outlandish. But all that matters is what have they been selling for and what's it worth to you to have a guitar like that.

While it isn't worth 14K to me, assuming it's as straight as you believe it is, in today's market I would think it could fetch 10-12K pretty quickly, FWIW.

Sorry, was reading this post. Wanted to reply on the Goldtop for 15k. It was rerouted for HBs and refinished and old routs filled back in. Most of the parts are aftermarket replacements. Serial#537xxx. So late early series with small peg head non dotted “i”.

 

[guitplayer]

I’ll post a pick I had on file of my middle 1969 Les Paul Deluxe. One piece body transitional tenon. Not a tight fit……

Not atransitional body

 

[3mar67]

That guitar is pretty much priced accordingly. If your looking at originality. These would be or are the last version of the “Standard “ goldtop with P90s prior Deluxe model with mini-humbuckers that came out in mid Summer or so. These had the one-piece body, three piece laminated neck, and true Gibson inlay and not the inlay veneer silkscreened over logo. Interestingly , Gibson was using up the last of the late 50’s bumblebee caps on these guitars. I’m presuming the pots are dated 1376852.

Yes, the pots on the OP guitar are 1376852.

 

[Grog]

Not atransitional body

It must have been a leftover one piece body. Someone once told me that they stored them in a closet. First in, last out.

 

[guitplayer]

FROM THE LSLP site The very first parts of the run have the early 1969 style bodies. This includes the route for receiving a long tenon. This is most certainly exhibited on the last of the 5xx,xxx series (565xxx & the rare 600xxx) : A very small number of Middle Series guitars shipped with a long tenon body and a transitional tenon neck. This occurred ONLY in the 565xxx and the rare 600xxx serial range. Although absent on LP Customs (for obvious reasons), LP Deluxes have a block of wood crudely glued in to fill this gap. The block allows the mounting bar for the mini-humbuckers to be installed. Be careful to make sure what you are buying. This block is occasionally glued in with care and can appear to be a long tenon.

 

[guitplayer]

Yes, the pots on the OP guitar are 1376852.

That might say something , my 1969` has a 1376850 code.

 

[3mar67]

I have now seen the guitar in person.
The person selling it has had it over three decades.
It has nice low action, sounds great on both pickup settings.
Everything checks out as original -- input jack plate, switch tip, poker chip, hardware, tuners, nylon saddles, pickups, pots, etc.
Has never been refinshed or refretted.
The guitar has a little more wear than appears in the photos, a few more nicks and dings -- nothing major.
From straight-on, the finish appears very nice, but held at an angle it shows horizontal checking throughout the entire top.
I guess some people don't mind the checking, and some prefer pristine.
The repair on the neck seems very minor in person. It doesn't seem like it was cracked.
It seems like deep gouges were filled in with glue, sanded flush, and then the finish touched up.
Apparently, the owner didn't like the feel of the gouges, so decided to have it repaired by Mike Spicer, who some recognize here in Canada.
If there was a crack, it was certainly minor. Can't feel a thing, and can't see the fiinish touchup.
The only indication is where the glue appeared to darken.
Also the serial number on the headstock looks much better in person, and is easy to make out as a 565xxx guitar.
My question is, how much does the checking and the neck repair affect the desirability of the guitar?
How would it affect the ability to resell many years down the road?

Here again is a pic of the neck. Thanks.

 

[Triplet]

So, how does it sound/play? A you buying a duck for its waddle or its quack?

 

[Wilko]

The checking is a non-issue for most buyers.

 

[3mar67]

The checking is a non-issue for most buyers.

But, the repaired crack might be an issue for most buyers -- would you agree?

 

[corpse]

To me that looks like three scratches- deep ones- the lines are fairly parallel.

 

[3mar67]

To me that looks like three scratches- deep ones- the lines are fairly parallel.

A couple of days ago, I contacted the person who did the repair. Judging by his reply, it appears the mark closest to the fretboard was a small crack --

"Hi. I touched up some damage around the serial number, and repaired a small crack by the fingerboard . The crack was very tight , and had been there quite some time . I had to twist the neck to get glue into it . Touched up the finish as well . The dark line is from dirt and oxidation that wouldn’t come out.
I hope that helps . Mike"

 

[jrgtr42]

But, the repaired crack might be an issue for most buyers -- would you agree?

I wouldn't say an issue per se, at least for most.
For those specifically worried about originality and value, possibly. For those looking at playability and sound, not as much, as long as it;s priced accordingly. And a crack like that wouldn't affect the value as much as a full decapitation, as long as each were repaired competantly.

 

[corpse]

And, as legend would have it, a cracked neck improves tone. Some well known playa's swear by it.
Not that I will be snapping the neck on any of mine to try it mind you....

 

[3mar67]

So, for the type of repair shown in the photo in this thread -- how much of a difference should there be in value versus a similar non-repaired guitar?
10-20 percent?
Keeping in mind it's nowhere near the same as a headstock snap.
And it was repaired by a well known and respected luthier.

 

[corpse]

I would say zero. I wouldn't bother me in the least. Ten years ago yes- but now these LSLP's are in the lower rarified air.
Now a snap is expensive and I don't care if ol' Les hissef repaired it- that is 50%.

 

[mikeslub]

So, for the type of repair shown in the photo in this thread -- how much of a difference should there be in value versus a similar non-repaired guitar?
10-20 percent?
Keeping in mind it's nowhere near the same as a headstock snap.
And it was repaired by a well known and respected luthier.

It looks like a great guitar. Yes, there should be an adjustment in value. It is a stable repair, but it is nonetheless a repair, and thus, it is an "issue." Remember the old adage: "The longer the tale, the harder the sale." You are pondering it, and have done additional "homework" on the issue, and likely so will the next person you decide to sell it to IMHO. Some buyers will stay away, especially at today's prices.