1978 Black Gibson Les Paul Custom

[cosmo115]

Hello,

 

I have a 1978 black Gibson Les Paul Custom and I'm seriously considering selling it, but I don't know what it's worth.

 

I know that I got it brand new in 1978 or 1979, but I'm not 100% sure what year the guitar is. I have the original pick-ups safely packed away, but there's a DiMarzio Super Distortion and DiMarzio PAF pick-up currently in the guitar. I'm pretty sure I have the original bridge and tailpiece somewhere, but I put a Kahler tremolo system in it back when Kahler first came out. I also replaced the original volume and tone knobs since the original knobs were extremely ugly and cheap looking, but I don't believe that I saved them for that reason. Other than that the guitar is all original and in nice shape, except for the mandatory belt rash.

 

I also have the original solid Gibson case.

 

FYI I am the original owner and I haven't "seriously" played it in about 15 years, so it needs a cleaning, new strings, set-up etc. In addition, EVERYONE that has ever played it, falls in love with the sound and action of this guitar.

 

Please let me know if you have any tips on finding what the guitar is worth or if you have any questions, so I can sell it quickly. Once I find the value, I will probably sell it on eBay.

 

Thank you!!!

 

Gary

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

If you check ebay, you'll likely find a similar model of similar vintage for sale. That will give you an idea.

 

I haven't checked these things for several years, but I bought a 77 or 78 Les Paul Standard for about $800. I think that the Customs at the time were going for about $1200. Give a little for inflation, and maybe they will get $1500 today. Not rare at all, by the way. The mid to late 1970s models seem to be the most common.

 

The fact that you have modified it hurts the value, but at least you have the original pickups. Those Dimarzios are real garbage. The originals were nothing to brag about either, so I understand why you changed them. But today, the originals have some value in the original guitar, while the DiMarzios might be worth five bucks.

 

Bill

[cosmo115]

Bill,

 

Thank you so much for the reply. I've been checking eBay on and off, but it's difficult to find a similar guitar with the modifications that I made. Plus I'm not 100% sure how to confirm what year my guitar is since I misplaced my Gibson registration card.

 

Do you really think the guitar can be worth around $1,500 even with the Kahler tremolo and belt rash?? That would be AMAZING, although I still hate to part with my black beauty.

 

Thanks again!

 

Gary

[NMcGuitar]

Tell you what I'll do.

Just to help you out, and save you having to go through all of that nasty ebay business, I'll give you $25.00 for it right now.

 

Welcome to the forum. My guess is that with the mods (etc.), you'll have to knock a bit off the price. Since LPC's seem to be going for around $1,500, you might expect to get around $1,000-$1,100 (but that's just a guess).

 

How come you're thinking of getting rid of it?

 

Good luck!

[James-Italy]

You can check on Gibson's website to find out what year your guitar is. They have an ID service where if you email them the serial number they can tell you about the guitar. They've always responded to me the same day.

 

Don't want to discourage you, but I wouldn't think you can get $1500 for your guitar unless it is exceptional. If you drilled holes in it when you installed the Kahler that would have greatly reduced any collection value it might have. These days though LesPauls seem to attract decent prices so who knows, give it a shot. I'd go ahead and reinstall the original pickups before selling it. Like Bill said those pickups would reduce the value further, not increase it.

 

Good luck!

[cosmo115]

Thanks for the genrous offer NMcGuitar

 

$1,000 would be great too. The reason I'm selling it is because I haven't picked it up except to move in quite a while and I don't forsee absent winning the lottery any opportunities to play like I used to. Plus I sold my GK amp on eBay a couple years ago too. Lastly, $1,000 wouldn't hurt.

 

Thanks again!

 

Gary

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Gary,

 

I went to ebay just to see what's up (this week)There is a sunburst custom going for about $900. There is a black custom asking $1600. (asking is a far cry from getting.)

 

When I said $1500 ("for inflation..." or however I phrased it) that had to do with the $1200 mint customs that I had been seeing when I bought my Standard, not your modified guitar. Modifications cost dearly.

 

You can only offer it up and see what happens. Set a reasonable reserve.

 

Bill

[Guitarzan]

correct me if i am wrong, but isn't the kahler trem a non mod type of trem or did you need to do a little scooping under the stoptail? if it is like i think (no mods required) just take it off and reinstall the stop tail and tune o matic.

[cosmo115]

Guitarzan - I didn't install the Kahler myself (FYI I was only 18 or so and the guitar was worth a lot of money back then), but "I believe" that there was some scooping involved. In addition, I won't want to take chances with changing pick-ups or the Kahler (no matter how simple it is) just to play it safe and I'll allow the "new" owner to make any changes.

 

Thanks again!

[Guitarzan]

ok, i know what your talking about. i knew a dude who had one in a green bursted finish. those are nice.

[cosmo115]

Here's a link to a couple pictures of the guitar:

 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/sophie/lespaul.html

 

Based on the serial number it is a 1978.

 

Any thoughts??

[Shoes]

That's a fine looking custom you have there.

My mint '71 was $800 on Ebay. Deal for me / burn for seller.

Be careful with your expectations and your reserve unless you don't mind the posting fees. (they're based on the reserve & charged if it doesn't sell)

 

I'd post it at $650 and see where it goes from there. Likely $900 +/- $50 given the mods.

 

It's better to post low and get some activity than start high and end with nobody touching a $1000 opening bid.

Good luck with the sale.

[cosmo115]

Thanks, shoes!! That sounds like you got a great deal.

 

To minimize fees, when I list it on eBay I plan on opening the auction at 1 penny with no reserve. Then if the auction doesn't go as high as I'd like (as of now, I figure $850 or so), I'll close the auction and only be out minimal fees. Then a month later I'll try again.

 

Thanks again!

[Dave da Dude]

OR, you could list it here on the Buy/Sell thread.

 

If it doesn't sell after "a while" then you could try ebay.

[cosmo115]

That's a good point, Dave. Thanks!! The only problem is I "might" get more for it on eBay since I'll be setting the price on the Buy/Sell thread.

 

Does anyone know where I can find a good sturdy box to ship the Les Paul once I finally sell it??

 

Thanks again!!

[Gabriel E.]

Looks like that trem might be one of those non-invasive Kahler Wonderbar models.

 

I'd take it to a tech for a setup - a recent setup/inspection can be a positive selling point. The tech can also tell you if there was any drilling/routing. If not, I'd have them put the original bridge back on. Most people who want a Les Paul don't want a trem.

 

Despite what bparc said, those DiMarzios are nothing to sniff at. However the guitar is probably worth a little more with the original pickups in it.

 

Good luck.

[cosmo115]

Thanks, Gabriel!! If I take it in for a set-up, I might end up wanting to keep it But it might be a good idea. What do set-ups go for these days??

 

Isn't the fact that I have the original pick-ups enough?? If I switch them, do you really think it can effect the price? If I recall correctly, switching pick-ups was pretty simple.

 

Thanks again!

[NMcGuitar]

Unless there is something seriously awry with the guitar, a setup should run you about $15-$25 (plus "parts" like strings, or whatever).

 

If it were me, I'd leave the pickups in it, but be sure you let potential buyers know that the originals are still part of the sale package. If they want to go "stock" they can swap them out (or pay someone to do the work for them), but they might want the DiMarzios (I have a Super Distortion in one of my guitars, and I love the sound of it).

[Shoes]

That's actually a standard credo with me... sell a guitar ready to play and never expect the one you buy to be ready for anything.

 

Mailboxes Etc has packaged guitars and amplifiers for me for very little cost. I know that the materials they use are actually rated against the weight and size of what's in the box.

 

You can have them prepare it for shipping and you can take it back home knowing the dimensions for anyone needing an estimate.

 

I like doing this with anything I sell because I can ship it as soon as I have the payment.

[fantasticsound]

Here\'s a link to Gibson\'s serial number guide.

 

The 1970's are tricky, but if this is, indeed, a 1978 model it should be a piece of cake.

 

If you post the serial number I can assist you more readily, or call Drew, Rame, and the boys at Gibson Customer Support and they'll look it up for you. They do NOT give information regarding market value. No one every said why (when I worked there), but I assume it had to do with people looking for some kind of guarantee on the value since it would have come from Gibson. We used to direct people to the Blue Book of Electric Guitars, Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, Elderly Instruments in Michigan or several other vintage dealers. But they will charge you for a professional appraisal, even by email.

[Werewolf by Night]

BUMP for Neil's (fantasicsound's) most excellent answer...

 

Neil knows.

[cosmo115]

Thanks fantasticsound. I don't have the serial number with me, but based on when I looked at it the other day, I know the first digit was a "7" and the fifth digit was an "8".

 

What other important things can you get from the serial number??

 

Thanks again!!

[Steevo]

Originally posted by cosmo115:

...What other important things can you get from the serial number?? ...

Here is some info from http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

Maybe you'll find it useful ...

 

S

 

Gibson Serial Numbers, 1975-1977.

 

All models, decal, 2 digit prefix followed by 6 digits. The decal can also states the model name/number.

Prefix Year

------ ----

99 1975

00 1976

06 1977

 

Gibson Serial Numbers, 1977 to present.

 

All models, 8 digit number impressed in back top of peghead in the following format:

YY (1st and 5th digit) = year

DDD (digits 2-4) = day of the year,

001=Jan 1st, 365=Dec 31st.

NNN (digits 6-8) = rank of instrument for that day.

Example: 80012005 = 5th instrument made in Kalamazoo on the first day of 1982.

 

Note all Kalamazoo made instruments (1977-1984) and Bozeman (1989-present) are numbered beginning with 001 each day. Instruments made at Nashville are numbered beginning with 500 each day.

[cosmo115]

Thanks for the info, Steevo!!

[fantasticsound]

BTW - Though Gibson uses the same system today for serial numbers, the last 3 digits are useless outside the factory.

 

First, the Kalamazoo factory was closed almost 20 years ago. Gibson builds instruments in at least 3 locations. (Other than the custom shop, which makes 4, but uses several unique systems of serialization.)

 

Second, those last 3 digits begin at different start points for different styles of instrument. And they're not saying which models start at what number. But you can still date your non-custom shop Gibson by the 1st and 5th digits and the day of the year by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th digits.

[cosmo115]

You know too much, Neil Thanks!

[fantasticsound]

Oddly enough, it was the amount of information they don't know (and consequently can't share) that was amazing at Gibson Customer Support.

 

For example, even though various serial numbers and other coding had been used for decades, for some reason Gibson didn't use any stamped or inked codes on the first Les Paul guitars. So if anyone claims to have LP #001... well, it just ain't so. Unless, perhaps, his name is Les Paul!

 

The shipping logs mention an instrument going out to Geib & Sons, then makers of cases for Gibson, presumably for a fitting. But they have good reason to believe that was a mock up and not a working guitar. The next listing says two LP's were delivered to Les. Possibly his 'n hers for Les and Mary Ford. I looked all this up for a "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" researcher. It was after my somewhat exhaustive search that one of my co-workers told me Gibson historian, Walter Carter (Talk about knowing too much about Gibsons... Walter's your man!) had not only researched the very same thing, but had posted it on Gibson's website in 1999, two years before my arrival.

[Werewolf by Night]

So, Neil-

 

Waddya make of '6 4687', with the "6" appearing to be printed over a smaller, finer, fainter "1"?

[fantasticsound]

That's as loaded a serial number question as one can get!

 

It all depends on what guitar we're talking about. LP Classics use that serialization, with the first number indicating the last digit of the year. problem is, after a decade and a half of making reissues using this code, it could be any number of instruments in that line alone.

 

The Custom Shop also has used that serialization for some reissue lines, so again, that adds possibilities.

 

{I forgot to mention in the private message that this coding system is the one used from the inception of the Les Paul through 1959, hence the reason Gibson has reused it for Classic and Reissue models. )

 

I was very upset to see that Gibson went that direction when most every call we received began with "what can you tell me about my serial number?"

 

Do you have a clue (or are you fairly certain) what year this instrument is?

[Werewolf by Night]

Oh, sory, Neil! I kinda autopiloted there, automatically assuming without really thinking about it at all, that you'd figure it was my Cherry Sunburst LP Classic "Premium Plus". I'ts a '96, as far as I know, though I bought it in the Spring or Summer of '97, barely "second-hand", "practically brand-new".

 

I just wondered what fascinating little secrets you might be able to deduce, Holmes!

 

What in the heck did that faint little "1" stand for? Some "in-house" production designation?