"Million Dollar Les Paul - In Search Of The Most Valuable Guitar In The World"
chronicle
pursuit of the Holy Grail, but Tony Bacon's "Million Dollar Les Paul -
In Search Of The Most Valuable Guitar In The World" (Amazon.com:
http://xrl.us/LesPaulGuitar ) is still about a romantic quest.
The object of his interest? The 1959 sunburst Les Paul electric guitar
-- an instrument used by Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield,
Billy Gibbons, Peter Green and many other knights of the rock round
table.
Its craftsmanship, explains the author borders on the mythic:
"Instruments built in that year are seen . . . as the peak of
perfection. . . . Everything came together. . . . Ever since that
time, guitarists, guitar makers, and guitar nuts have wondered how
Gibson achieved such an extraordinary mix of mahogany, plastic, maple,
rosewood, metal, and even, some say, magic."
If you're a weekend ax-meister, you'll understand what this magic
refers to: The sound of a Les Paul knockoff pales next to the rich,
meaty tones of the original. That's one reason collectors pay huge
sums..
Continued: http://xrl.us/LesPaulGuitar2
jh
..also applies to the "nashville" knockoffs.
lab~rat >:-)
<Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> puked:
So this is like that "Pick of Destiny" thing, right?
--
lab~rat >:-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?
Dr. Zontar
> So this is like that "Pick of Destiny" thing, right?
HA!!! I really don't care about previous owners or collector's value.
The "most valuable guitar in the world" to me is a $150 Silvertone SG
that sounds better than any Gibson, Fender, Epiphone or BC Rich I've
owned. But then again, I buy guitars to *PLAY* it, not display.
- Rich
Your (Vastly) Superior
I read it about a year ago. I own a Gibson LP.
I laughed. It *was* pretty wood. 1959. Frank
Zappa was SO on it w/ "just shut up and
play your guitar"...People. :-)
* Just bought his:
The_Les_Paul_Guitar_Book_
_A_Complete_History_Of_Gibson_Les_Paul_Guitars_
Glossy, 8.5 x 11, 176 pages of real information and facts.
Much better and more useful book.
Two other excellent jems:
_The_Gibson_Les_Paul_Guitar_Handbook_
by Paul Balmer
and
_The_Early_Years_Of__The_Les_Paul_Legacy_
1915-1963
by
Rob Lawrence
Monster Zero
"Dr. Zontar" <drzo...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7259e65d-eb2d-4e58...@s31g2000yqs.googlegroups.com...
- Rich
HERE HERE!! Shit I passed up a faded SG for my Turser SG because... well it
sounded and played better than the so called "real SG". To boot I saved a
bunch of money which I took and bought a sweet wah, a digital recorder and
an electronic drum kit.
Gibson Shmibson..gimme something that sounds good, is a HUGE value, and I
don't have to worry about damaging any day of the week! Don't get me wrong,
music is a priority for me but it sure as shit doesn't trump my family or my
well being.
If I did have an extra mill kicking around it would damn sure go to my kids
education and their future in general.
Dr. Zontar
> HERE HERE!! Shit I passed up a faded SG for my Turser SG because... well it
> sounded and played better than the so called "real SG". To boot I saved a
> bunch of money which I took and bought a sweet wah, a digital recorder and
> an electronic drum kit.
Amen, brothah. I've had my eye on a Turser SG with P-90s. But I refuse
to try it out until I have the money in my pocket. I'm afraid I'll
suddenly have to have it.
Which digital recorder did you get?
- Rich
Monster Zero
- Rich
Tascam DP-01FX. Damn good little unit. Did Hand of Doom at practice with it
live. A little guitar overdub but 90% live room
http://www.myspace.com/nhsabbath
trey
> "Dr. Zontar" <drzon...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:8fbdef7b-e29e-46c0...@u13g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 2, 7:03 pm, "Monster Zero" <rockin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > HERE HERE!! Shit I passed up a faded SG for my Turser SG because... well
> > it
> > sounded and played better than the so called "real SG". To boot I saved a
> > bunch of money which I took and bought a sweet wah, a digital recorder and
> > an electronic drum kit.
>
> Amen, brothah. I've had my eye on a Turser SG with P-90s. But I refuse
> to try it out until I have the money in my pocket. I'm afraid I'll
> suddenly have to have it.
>
I've never played a faded SG I liked....
Dinosaur_Sr
[127.1]> wrote:
> (LA Times) - It may not be an Arthurian tale of Sir Percival in
> pursuit of the Holy Grail, but Tony Bacon's "Million Dollar Les Paul -
>
> The object of his interest? The 1959 sunburst Les Paul electric guitar
> -- an instrument used by Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield,
> Billy Gibbons, Peter Green and many other knights of the rock round
> table.
>
> Its craftsmanship, explains the author borders on the mythic:
> "Instruments built in that year are seen . . . as the peak of
> perfection. . . . Everything came together. . . . Ever since that
> time, guitarists, guitar makers, and guitar nuts have wondered how
> Gibson achieved such an extraordinary mix of mahogany, plastic, maple,
> rosewood, metal, and even, some say, magic."
>
> If you're a weekend ax-meister, you'll understand what this magic
> refers to: The sound of a Les Paul knockoff pales next to the rich,
> meaty tones of the original. That's one reason collectors pay huge
> sums..
>
> Continued:http://xrl.us/LesPaulGuitar2
Sounds like the kind of thing that inspired PT Barnum...or the lyric
"a fool and his money....."
6sicks...@gmail.com
Perhaps you're missing the point here. Seems more than a few people
think that the Les Paul does, in fact, sound better than a Silvertone
SG. Nah, why should I believe all them famous rock stars who play 'em
when some guy on the internet says they're no good.
Gibson sure has pulled the wool over a lot of eyes by golly.
Monster Zero
"6SickS...@gmail.com" <6sicks...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:370f6519-633e-436e...@o23g2000vbi.googlegroups.com...
Most players worth a lick can play their stuff through just about anything
and sound the same.
6sicks...@gmail.com
> "6SickStri...@gmail.com" <6sickstri...@gmail.com> wrote in message
And year after year thousands upon thousands choose the Les Paul in
spite if the high price. Are they (we) all deluded? Really?
Monster Zero
<<MARKETING>>
And year after year people keep buying Chevrolet's and Fords and Chryslers
when there are better and less expensive alternatives. I gurantee you I
could secretly put the worst piece of shit speakers in a Marshall 1960A cab
and 99.9% of Marshall lovers playing through it wouldn't know the difference
because they "ASSUME" theres quality speakers in the cab.
I'm not calling Gibson and Fender et al shitty stuff, I'm saying you can get
as good for less so why the fuck pay 3-10x the price?
6sicks...@gmail.com
> On Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:23:44 -0800 (PST), "6SickStri...@gmail.com"
>
>
>
>
>
> <6sickstri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >On Nov 2, 10:26 am, "Dr. Zontar" <drzon...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> On Nov 2, 10:08 am, "lab~rat >:-)" <ch...@cheeze.net> wrote:
>
> >> > So this is like that "Pick of Destiny" thing, right?
>
> >> HA!!! I really don't care about previous owners or collector's value.
> >> The "most valuable guitar in the world" to me is a $150 Silvertone SG
> >> that sounds better than any Gibson, Fender, Epiphone or BC Rich I've
> >> owned. But then again, I buy guitars to *PLAY* it, not display.
>
> >> - Rich
>
> >Perhaps you're missing the point here. Seems more than a few people
> >think that the Les Paul does, in fact, sound better than a Silvertone
> >SG.
>
> has ever owned.
>
> "more than a few other people" dont really reflect onto his argument.
>
> If you're going to use that argument, then Britney Spears is the
> worlds greatest musician, because more than a few people think that.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Actually, I do not think that is the case. Clearly Billy F Gibbons
thinks that his -particular- Les Paul is unique, has a very special
quality in it's tone and he likes it so much he has it stored in a
vault somewhere. I have an inclination to belive that he doesn't
esteem this guitar above others for no reason.
I have a number of electric guitars and none of them sound or play the
same. Horses for courses and all that, but you all go on with your bad
selves and your working class hero vibe. If you think shitty guitars
from china are better, by all means use shitty guitars from china. I
like my Les Paul and after ten years I'm actually pretty attached to
it. I think it was worth every penny.
I do not think that collectors who pay $$$ for '59 bursts are all
deluded wannabes, but if it makes you feel better to think that they
are, I'm not going to change your mind.
6sicks...@gmail.com
> If you're going to use that argument, then Britney Spears is the
> worlds greatest musician, because more than a few people think that.- Hide quoted text -
Name three.
rct
> And year after year thousands upon thousands choose the Les Paul in
> spite if the high price. Are they (we) all deluded? Really?
>
> <<MARKETING>>
Naahhh. Marketing is for colas aimed at a specific segment of the
overall cola markets, which encompass everyone. Only in recent years
did the number of guitars actually retailed pass one million in a
year. There just aren't enough guitar players to "market" to.
Besides, when I was a kid, there weren't no way to "market" except You
Won't Part With Yours Either in Guitar Player, because there weren't
seven thousand guitar magazines on the stand. And you know what we
used back then?
> And year after year people keep buying Chevrolet's and Fords and Chryslers
> when there are better and less expensive alternatives.
Not to them.
> I gurantee you I could secretly put the worst piece of shit speakers in a Marshall 1960A cab
> and 99.9% of Marshall lovers playing through it wouldn't know the difference
> because they "ASSUME" theres quality speakers in the cab.
Naaahhh again. Marshall fan that actually uses them? Not an Internet
Marshall Fan, right? A user knows what they sound and feel like, I'd
take yer bet if you let me pick the player.
> I'm not calling Gibson and Fender et al shitty stuff, I'm saying you can get
> as good for less so why the fuck pay 3-10x the price?
You don't have to, so don't. Others may want to, so they do. It's
the same as the Tokai thing only backwards. Sideways. Or something.
rct
Monster Zero
Name three.
I've got one of these
https://creamcitymusic.com/p-34831-1959-gretsch-6119-wohsc.aspx sitting in a
case at my grandmothers house along with various other things that my father
left behind when he went to Nam but you damn sure wouldn't see me gigging it
or even playing it. When the time comes the things will come to me and be
cared for just as well.
6sicks...@gmail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
I will explain it to you the way my accountant explained it to me:
1. I buy a new computer every two years, around 1500-2000 bux and when
I'm done with them they pretty much get tossed out.
2. I can write off my other 'tools' as well when tax time comes
around.
3. A guitar will last a lot longer than two years and can be
considered a capital acquisition.
4. Certain guitars (for good or ill) will appreciate after a while.
Even after you've depreciated them and gotten the write off.
6sicks...@gmail.com
> "6SickStri...@gmail.com" <6sickstri...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d6b8e11f-ee38-4a4b...@j11g2000vbi.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 3, 2:21 pm, Heat Seaker <HS34e...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > If you're going to use that argument, then Britney Spears is the
> > worlds greatest musician, because more than a few people think that.- Hide
> > quoted text -
>
> Name three.
>
> case at my grandmothers house along with various other things that my father
> left behind when he went to Nam but you damn sure wouldn't see me gigging it
> or even playing it. When the time comes the things will come to me and be
> cared for just as well.
Whoooaaa serious gear envy here. I have been trying to add a Gretsch
to my collection for a while now, I haven't found the right one yet.
(The guitar store in Saratoga Springs New York has one that I'm
thinking about probably more than I should though, so my time may be
near.)
6sicks...@gmail.com
Have you seen the Zoot Suit SGs yet? Holy crap I never thought they
would come up with something worse than the "Gothic" models, but they
have truly outdone themselves. I'm not usually too concerned with the
way an instrument looks ( I like pretty guitars, don't get me wrong,
but if the sounds are there the looks take a back seat ) but those
things are uglier than Rush Limbaugh's soul.
Wrong_Note_Rod
> I gurantee you I
> could secretly put the worst piece of shit speakers in a Marshall 1960A cab
> and 99.9% of Marshall lovers playing through it wouldn't know the difference
> because they "ASSUME" theres quality speakers in the cab.
>
I'm not gonna buy that one. I think it depends on the player. A lot of guys
might vary well notice something doesnt sound too great... they might not
know what it is... i'd probably suspect the guitar or the amp before the
speakers.
Wrong_Note_Rod
> Actually, I do not think that is the case. Clearly Billy F Gibbons
> thinks that his -particular- Les Paul is unique, has a very special
> quality in it's tone and he likes it so much he has it stored in a
> vault somewhere. I have an inclination to belive that he doesn't
> esteem this guitar above others for no reason.
>
Billy doesnt play that one anymore, and Billy can play and own any guitar
in the entire world, just about.
I hope that helps clarify matters.
> I have a number of electric guitars and none of them sound or play the
> same. Horses for courses and all that, but you all go on with your bad
> selves and your working class hero vibe. If you think shitty guitars
> from china are better, by all means use shitty guitars from china.
Did anybody say that? We got one guy here who says he loves his silvertone
SG better than any gibson les paul he ever owned.
Way to put two and two together and get four million.
I got several really great guitars, and while theres some tone differences
in them, it still pretty much sounds like me when I'm playing them.
rct
"MAN I'VE NEVER SOUNDED SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!!".
rct
RichL
Got a '66 Tennessean that I've had since '77. Got a '66 Gibson SG also.
Bought 'em both dirt cheap, the SG just a few years ago because a
previous owner (or his tech) had badly botched a repair job. Also got a
'65 Rick that I bought new (around $250 back then).
Point is, if you shop carefully, you can get the best of both worlds.
You can get quality *and* brand name cheap.
There is a point to having a name brand guitar in terms of appreciation
in value. I'm not inclined to sell any of mine but if I don't I pass
something of value onto my kids.
I think for new guitars, on *average* you get an increase in value and
quality with the higher-priced brands but the bang per buck starts to
diminish. At some price, you reach a point of diminishing returns.
Where that point is, that's a matter of individual preference.
I doubt I'd pay more than $1K or so for an off-the-shelf guitar, but I
did have a guitar custom made for me (~$3.2K) that's worth every penny
to me. On the other hand, I picked up a used Highway One Strat for
$400; and I like everything about it except the pickups.
6sicks...@gmail.com
wrote:
Yes, if you go back through the thread, there are folks here who will
tell you that NO gear makes any difference at all, it's all bunk, It's
a common theme in RMG: It's all in your fingers. To and extent I
agree, I sound like me no matter what I play. But I sound much MORE
like me when I plug into my Mesa vs. a Roland MicroCube my fiancee
uses for her acoustic.
6sicks...@gmail.com
When I was much younger they couldn't give Gretsch guitars away, there
was a music store near me that catered to country music players, sold
dobros and pedal steels and Gretsch electrics and they were pretty
cheap for big old hollobody box type geetars. I thought they looked
preposterous. I feel differently now. Of course lots of other folks do
too, so I continue to shop for that once in a lifetime deal.
In the meantime, have you ever seen the Reverent "Buckshot" (I think)
model? I must have one of these someday, it's the perfect 'hit 'em
where they ain't' kind of guitar. I haven't found anything else that
quite sounds like it, and that's pretty remarkable these days.
I also have a highway one strat and for the cheapest of american made
instruments from Fender I think it's wonderful. Plays like a dream,
sounds exactly like a stratocaster. (well, they make plenty that
don't) and it looks pretty cool to boot. I play that and my 2000
"1960" les paul standard more than all the others put together. They
just sound better.
Wrong_Note_Rod
> Yes, if you go back through the thread, there are folks here who will
> tell you that NO gear makes any difference at all, it's all bunk, It's
> a common theme in RMG: It's all in your fingers.
MOST OF IT IS.
except in extreme examples.
>To and extent I
> agree, I sound like me no matter what I play. But I sound much MORE
> like me when I plug into my Mesa vs. a Roland MicroCube my fiancee
> uses for her acoustic.
thats an extreme example and you know it. Give you, or me, a similar set up
to our normal thing, and start playing... within one minute both of us are
more or less gonna sound "pretty much like ourselves"
lab~rat >:-)
<drzo...@yahoo.com> puked:
>On Nov 2, 10:08ÔøΩam, "lab~rat >:-)" <ch...@cheeze.net> wrote:
>
>> So this is like that "Pick of Destiny" thing, right?
>
>HA!!! I really don't care about previous owners or collector's value.
>The "most valuable guitar in the world" to me is a $150 Silvertone SG
>that sounds better than any Gibson, Fender, Epiphone or BC Rich I've
>owned. But then again, I buy guitars to *PLAY* it, not display.
>
>- Rich
I have a friend that has guitars he won't gig with. To me that's a
waste of wood.
--
lab~rat >:-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?
Monster Zero
Thanks. I think theres a fine line between collector status and gigging gear
for us regular Joes. I am personally very hard on my guitars and I like to
know when I go on stage that if I bend that neck a little too hard just
once, it's not going to be a 1k or more mistake. Neck bending for me is as
common as pulloffs.
Nothing wrong with being a collector or someone who appreciates pricey gear
but "most" folks still go by the "You get what you pay for" mantra and it
just doesn't apply any more, at least not even close to the extent that it
used to as far back as only 10 years ago. Hey I'm no fool, I don't think
many luthiers could make a Wal-Mart bought First Act guitar play and sound
better than a well set up Les Paul but the line has been blurred severly
over the last 10 or so years. I came off as begrudging but that wasn't my
intention.
RichL
> In the meantime, have you ever seen the Reverent "Buckshot" (I think)
> model? I must have one of these someday, it's the perfect 'hit 'em
> where they ain't' kind of guitar. I haven't found anything else that
> quite sounds like it, and that's pretty remarkable these days.
I wasn't familiar with that model, so I looked it up. I think if I were
to go that route, I'd get a Jaguar or Jazzmaster. Also, I'm not too
keen on a neck bucker together with a single coil in the bridge.
Lu R
I agree. Makes me wonder what sort of market research they did before
issuing those lollypop SG guitars. Can you imagine a bunch of teen guys
going OH WOW! I gotta have that SG??
Les Cargill
Um.... opium den research? Just a guess.
Can you imagine a bunch of teen guys
> going OH WOW! I gotta have that SG??
>
>
--
Les Cargill
Geetar Dave
I dunno about the marketing research. But the Zoot Suit SG's
construction seems interesting. Gibson claims greater density (and
weight), and therefore better balance and a brighter tone. As someone
who mainly gigs with a Strat, the option of a brighter tone from a
Gibson guitar intrigues me. And as someone who finds SG's to feel a
little... well... flimsy, I'm also intrigued by the more solid
construction. Then there are the sustain issues that come with that.
All of this has my attention.
Furthermore, they finally put the volume knob where dynamic players
can reach them (the 80's SG Specials and the SG Diablos have this
feature too, and I'm kinda looking for an SG Special for that reason).
I think the Zoot designs are interesting aesthetically, but I'm not
gonna save up $1200 to get one of my own. Some wannabe will buy one,
use it for a while, tire of it, and then sell it used. I'll bide my
time.
I bet we'll see them in the "what-the-hell-was-Gibson-thinking?" pile
along with the RD Artists and the Blues Hawks. Having owned both of
THOSE, I have learned never to follow prevailing opinion on castoff
Gibson guitars. Hell, my 82' Silverburst LP Custom was in that pile
before the dude in Tool claimed they sound so great, and instantly
tripled-to-quadrupled the value of them. It just so happens to have
been a great guitar for me before I ever knew about HIM.
-dave-----:::
www.myspace.com/geetardave
jtees4
wrote:
I'll be bidding against you when they turn up used ;-)
****
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=789610
Carl
> On Nov 2, 10:08 am, "lab~rat >:-)" <ch...@cheeze.net> wrote:
>
>> So this is like that "Pick of Destiny" thing, right?
>
> HA!!! I really don't care about previous owners or collector's value.
> The "most valuable guitar in the world" to me is a $150 Silvertone SG
> that sounds better than any Gibson, Fender, Epiphone or BC Rich I've
> owned. But then again, I buy guitars to *PLAY* it, not display.
>
>
self-serving, and defensive. People buy Stradivarius violins and 1957
T-Birds to do both. There's nothing inherently wrong with admiring a guitar
(or a car) as a work of art except that people like you try to make it sound
as if there is. Play your Silvertone if that's what rocks your world and
leave other people to enjoy what they enjoy. Les Paul's Log did the job, but
I wouldn't want that to be my instrument of choice.
Carl
that how you judge?