Hi all,
I'm currently selling my Classic (which plays wonderfully) to fund my dream guitar, an ebony Les Paul Custom. I prefer a slim neck, which seems to be a bit of a rarity on the Custom, and ebony fretboard. I don't want to spend more than £2.5k really, but could stretch to £3k for something really special.
In canvassing my options, I've identified the following guitars that would fit the bill:
- 87 - 89 Custom Lite (rare as hell now, but played a friend's and it was absolutely killer)
- 70s Norlin, noting that some have the slim necks
- 07 - 08 Custom Classic
- I'm thinking there may be some 68 RIs that have slim necks?
My questions are -
a) is there anything else I could be looking out for (my ideal neck is something between the '59 rounded that my 1993 Studio had, and a 60s slim which my current Classic has)?
b) Which is more likely to be a high quality player's guitar, noting that I'll likely be buying something online without a play test?
Thanks in advance -
Comments
By the way, I don’t think much of your list of guitars that would fit the bill!
Budget
https://www.espguitars.com/products/21014-ec-1000t?category_id=1963292-ec-series
Fancy
https://www.espguitars.com/products/9984-e-ii-eclipse-db-vb?category_id=1963524-eclipse-series-guitars-3
I'd love a esp one day.
If you like silverbursts (well, more like an aged green silverburst), the Bill Kelliher signature LTD looks about as close to perfect as it gets to me - 22 frets, 12" radius, full thickness body, ebony board, smooth neck heel, 1 vol 1 tone (I'd run it 2 vol no tone). Andertons have it on sale right now too.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F143593999454
It’s not cheap but looks in good nick - as does the case.
Ltd eclipse are always good
I haven’t moved on much from that! And it’s a silly year of birth idea that I know deep down is lunacy...
I’d surrender my better judgement for a bargain custom but really it’s a ‘78 pro deluxe with ebony board and P90s or a ‘78 Rick 330. Thankfully both are like rocking horse shit to find so my bank account/credit card can relax.
Good luck with your hunt. Not being tied down to a year opens up some nice options.