Question from a newby!

[Giblinks]

I’d regret selling a 64 Telecaster as well. If you were playing it you wouldn’t be sitting on a guitar you don’t play. You say want to play more electric, just sayin’… Makes no sense to sell a Tele so that you can buy a $5000 Les Paul so you can see if you like playing electric. End of rant.

I got you, but I am getting a little (lot) older and I really don’t need a 20k+ guitar to leave for my wife to have to get rid of. I have banjos and one mandolin worth more than that, but there is a more sentimental reason that I still hang on to them. But I will eventually sell those too. My children have zero interest. Also arthritis in my left index finger is advancing making 4 finger chords on mandolin and even acoustic guitar painful.

But, I’ll sure consider keeping the Tele, as it is awful hard to beat.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Over a phone call I once heard a very key piece of advice and overall wisdom "Son, I've been buying and selling guitars my whole life and I always said 'I had the one.' Well now I'm sitting in my couch looking around at all of the best, and I know somewhere out there is a better one."
It was sound advice, as I'm looking around at the same scene.

It's fun to keep going until you get a real Les Paul. From the 50's. That's the goal. And be into it for $1500 at the end of it all. Or something like that. It's hardly Rock N Roll to drop anywhere near $200k on a guitar you want to enjoy. Who is anyone kidding?

My point is it has never depended on budget in my experience. It has depended on diligent search efforts and expert negotiating. Everything is worth exactly how much someone will take for it. An R8 for $3200 is a reasonable goal that one can achieve within a couple weeks or less of hard searching. Make offers.

I bought new cause I just don't care to be bothered. I loved the one I found and it was new. Personally I am not after a 50s Les Paul. I just want a good beautiful instrument to play and I was willing to pay for it.

 

[Big Al]

If you want a sunburst, then that would be a Standard. Now you can get a very expensive "Custom Shop" standard, or you can get the regular "Original Collection" which is one grade down from Custom Shop, or you can get a "Modern" which is one more step down, or you can get an "Epiphone" model which is even one more step down and made in Asia. Generally you get what you pay for. If you get a used one, then the newer the better generally speaking until you get all the way back to the 1960's and those are super expensive.

HELL NO.
Sunburst is a shaded finish. Cherry Sunburst - Red with yellow center. Honey Sunburst - Honey brown with yellow center.
Standard is a model, now with several various platforms.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

HELL NO.
Sunburst is a shaded finish. Cherry Sunburst - Red with yellow center. Honey Sunburst - Honey brown with yellow center.
Standard is a model, now with several various platforms.

Let's have some fun with logic sets . You can get a sunburst Custom Shop Standard, or a Classic Series sunburst Standard, or an Epiphone sunburst Standard. All are Standard and all are sunburst and readily available today. That's what my intention was. Can you get a Les Paul Custom in sunburst? A 70's version or maybe MTM today or other I'm not aware of. Could be. There were others as well, like the Supreme sunburst. You can also get a Standard in many other colors. Generally speaking if you buy a new sunburst Les Paul today it is most likely going to be a Standard of some grade. My apology to the newby if I've missed some Gibson model that is a Sunburst LP and not a Standard that is readily available today at say Sweetwater or GC. I am a rock and roll guitarist after all, so one should set expectations

 

[ADP]

"Sunburst" means original Cherry Sunburst. "Standard" means the original Les Paul model in Cherry Sunburst. At least where I come from.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

"Sunburst" means original Cherry Sunburst. "Standard" means the original Les Paul model in Cherry Sunburst. At least where I come from.

Good point.

 

[JASON510]

My $.02 for someone learning electric: I'd keep the Tele and play as many guitars as I could before spending thousands on a guitar because of the name. Don't want to sound like a hater, but I had a long conversation with my long time luthier on Monday and we both agreed that the idea of you get what you pay for is no longer the case. I've played, and own, guitars that sound and play as my good as my LP for a fraction of the cost.

Don't get me wrong, LP's are frickin awesome, but that's a lot of money to spend on a guitar to learn on.

 

[GlassSnuff]

Just as long as you know what we mean when we say, " 'Burst ".

 

[Giblinks]

My $.02 for someone learning electric: I'd keep the Tele and play as many guitars as I could before spending thousands on a guitar because of the name. Don't want to sound like a hater, but I had a long conversation with my long time luthier on Monday and we both agreed that the idea of you get what you pay for is no longer the case. I've played, and own, guitars that sound and play as my good as my LP for a fraction of the cost.

Don't get me wrong, LP's are frickin awesome, but that's a lot of money to spend on a guitar to learn on.

Thanks Jason, but I am not really "learning", per se, but applying and expanding what I already know playing acoustic guitar to the electric. I am older and have zero expectations other than entertaining myself and irritating my wife, children, and grandchildren from my man cave in the basement. Regarding the Tele, I really don't need that expensive guitar for what I want to do when I could pocket 20k and buy an LP and not worry too much what my family does with it when I'm gone. I have other high end guitars, mandolins and banjos that I really need to do the same things with. I just do not need them laying around anymore.

 

[Giblinks]

Just found this one and the price is about what was quoted earlier as a reasonable expectation. I like it, but again, did not necessarily want to jump too quickly!

Gibson Custom Shop Historic '58 Les Paul Standard 2018 | Reverb

The 2018 Custom Shop '58 Les Paul Standard Reissue features a mahogany body with plain maple top, a Medium-Chunky C profile neck with rosewood fretboard and Jescar frets, and Custombucker pickups. True Historic appointments were also brought into the standard line in 2018. Available in both Gl...

reverb.com

 

[JASON510]

Thanks Jason, but I am not really "learning", per se, but applying and expanding what I already know playing acoustic guitar to the electric. I am older and have zero expectations other than entertaining myself and irritating my wife, children, and grandchildren from my man cave in the basement. Regarding the Tele, I really don't need that expensive guitar for what I want to do when I could pocket 20k and buy an LP and not worry too much what my family does with it when I'm gone. I have other high end guitars, mandolins and banjos that I really need to do the same things with. I just do not need them laying around anymore.

I stand corrected. I saw "really learn how to play an electric" and thought you were somewhat new to playing an electric. Sorry about that.

 

[Giblinks]

I stand corrected. I saw "really learn how to play an electric" and thought you were somewhat new to playing an electric. Sorry about that.

No problem Jason ..... some would even question if I know how to play any guitar!

 

[modavis99]

I’ll give different advice. Fly to a store that has a lot of reissue Les Pauls in stock. Then buy the one you like best. Life is short, if you’re going to have one Les Paul get one you know is going to great and not one that might be great but just happens to be inexpensive

 

[Giblinks]

I’ll give different advice. Fly to a store that has a lot of reissue Les Pauls in stock. Then buy the one you like best. Life is short, if you’re going to have one Les Paul get one you know is going to great and not one that might be great but just happens to be inexpensive

Thanks for the advice! I have a son that lives in Atlanta that I visit often and go to Nashville occasionally .... and always visit Gruhn's, so maybe I'll just plan on waiting until I can try a some out before buying sight unseen.

 

[1allspub]

"Sunburst" means original Cherry Sunburst. "Standard" means the original Les Paul model in Cherry Sunburst. At least where I come from.

While this is true historically speaking (in terms of the original Les Pauls)… in the context of the sprit of OP’s question and in the context of this being posted in the “Sunburst/Gibson USA Pub” sub-forum, isn’t it fair to be a little more inclusive with the term in terms of Gibson USA’s current offerings of Standards, which includes Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Tobacco Burst, Unburst, Bourbon Burst, Iced Tea, and even Blueberry Burst? All of which are playing off the “Sunburst” theme. IOW, while Heritage Cherry is the only color to use the exact “Sunburst” nomenclature, isn’t it pretty clear what the color palette currently being offered is meant to represent?

 

[1allspub]

To the OP, finding a well-priced R8 is certainly a great option. Getting one for around $3k is possible (as you’ve discovered for yourself). That said, finding a good used 2019+ Standard is also a great option. The Gibson USA Standards are fantastic guitars and finding one under $2k is very doable (if you want to save a little cash). I have two Reissues (an R9 and a BB7) and two really good Gibson USA Standards, and I can attest that either option is an excellent choice! Good luck in your search! And be sure to come back and post an NGD thread when you finally settle on one.

 

[Giblinks]

To the OP, finding a well-priced R8 is certainly a great option. Getting one for around $3k is possible (as you’ve discovered for yourself). That said, finding a good used 2019+ Standard is also a great option. The Gibson USA Standards are fantastic guitars and finding one under $2k is very doable (if you want to save a little cash). I have two Reissues (an R9 and a BB7) and two really good Gibson USA Standards, and I can attest that either option is an excellent choice! Good luck in your search! And be sure to come back and post an NGD thread when you finally settle on one.

Thanks ....... will report back!

 

[Big Al]

My $.02 for someone learning electric: I'd keep the Tele and play as many guitars as I could before spending thousands on a guitar because of the name. Don't want to sound like a hater, but I had a long conversation with my long time luthier on Monday and we both agreed that the idea of you get what you pay for is no longer the case. I've played, and own, guitars that sound and play as my good as my LP for a fraction of the cost.

Don't get me wrong, LP's are frickin awesome, but that's a lot of money to spend on a guitar to learn on.

Bullshit!!! Who's this Luthier? What guitars does he make? This same lame crap just keeps getting posted. Still aint true.