£20k to splurge, what’s the closest I can get to a ‘59 Burst

jumping@shadows

Step into my office…

jumping@shadows

@matt1973 I don’t have any ‘50s Les Paul’s (aside from a ‘54 Jnr), but do have an early ‘68 LP Custom, ‘64 SG Standard, as well as an early ‘65, wide neck/nickel part Cherry ES335 with Bigsby 

Chuffola

Pics or I will consider them to be imaginary!

Zoonyboy

Really, really, I'd buy a 335 or a 345. 

matt1973

Many thanks to all for the comments

roberty

jumping@shadows said:

@matt1973 I don’t have any ‘50s Les Paul’s (aside from a ‘54 Jnr), but do have an early ‘68 LP Custom, ‘64 SG Standard, as well as an early ‘65, wide neck/nickel part Cherry ES335 with Bigsby 

Is there anywhere online I can perv at these?

Adamski

I like both the ‘68 Goldtop and the ‘63 Les Paul/SG that ATB has 

Lawriejones1

If you don’t know what you’re buying, why on earth would you spend £20k? Utter madness. The vintage guitar market is a Ponzi scheme and these assets are illiquid.

Fishboy7

"I’d like the instrument to ascend in value."


Naturally, but I doubt there are any risk free investments in the guitar sector. Someone else would have bought then all already....

MikeC

At that price you could always try my Gil Yaron replica that can’t be advertised here and get some change. 

SickSquid

For appreciating value, Tom Murphy Gibson Custom Shop work with his signature marking from before his own division was formed
Better still, that with an artist connection
eg Joe Walsh ‘60 replica aged by Tom, signed by Joe

Lawriejones1

MikeC said:

At that price you could always try my Gil Yaron replica that can’t be advertised here and get some change. 

It’ll be interesting to see how these “replicas” (like Bravewoods) fare in the future. Not entirely sure they’ll keep their value. But will probably have some value as curios.

Zoonyboy

A Joe Walsh replica is just a replica, it isn't an older vintage guitar such as an early 1960s Gibson, do you need an older vintage quality instrument or a lookalike? Vintage is vintage. Old wood, craftsmanship. There's a clue in there somewhere....

stickyfiddle

MikeC said:

At that price you could always try my Gil Yaron replica that can’t be advertised here and get some change. 

This was my other immediate thought. I remember Yaron's early build threads on TGP - absolutely phenomenal attention to detail.

Otherwise I agree with the ES-335 people - they're better than Les Paul for everything except standing in the mirror pretending to be Jimmy Page

mark123

Just buy a s/h  Gibson R8  ,if you need to spend another £400 on a set of pick ups jobs a good'un and have a few holidays with the £16,000 saved ( or buy a custom shop fender tele or strat and you'll still have ££££££ss to spend).
I think owning a 50s les paul has become a status symbol and the prices reflect that ...a good R8 with boutique pick ups and good wiring loom will be in the same ballpark as a 50s les paul

All the cork sniffers about wood drying out ,pick ups ageing,mojo etc  ..snake oil...
I would love a blindfold test of a 50s les paul against a good R8 with a good set of pick ups fitted.

rze99

It is wise - like the art world - to buy what you really like and will bring you joy. 

If it also appreciates in financial value great if not, you are getting the value of your investment. 

Here’s three of my examples. 

1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Bought it for 400 quid in the mid 80s now it’s worth 3-4k. In between I played the living hell out of it 

Couple of years ago I bought a 1965 SG special all original for 5k. It’s probably worth 5.5k today but in between I’ve been playing it loads and I don’t care if it appreciates it’s a great guitar. 

Late 90s bought a Gibson 335 dot reissue for 600 quid. Now worth about 3k. Played it loads and it’s a great guitar. 

bgmartinsbridge

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1968 Goldtop https://reverb.com/item/55597473-gibson-les-paul-standard-1968-goldtop?utm_source=android-app&utm_medium=android-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=55597473

designerseye88

Conversions are a pretty good option. Here's my 52/57 

roberty

rze99 said:

It is wise - like the art world - to buy what you really like and will bring you joy. 

If it also appreciates in financial value great if not, you are getting the value of your investment. 

Here’s three of my examples. 

1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Bought it for 400 quid in the mid 80s now it’s worth 3-4k. In between I played the living hell out of it 

Couple of years ago I bought a 1965 SG special all original for 5k. It’s probably worth 5.5k today but in between I’ve been playing it loads and I don’t care if it appreciates it’s a great guitar. 

Late 90s bought a Gibson 335 dot reissue for 600 quid. Now worth about 3k. Played it loads and it’s a great guitar. 

This is wise. I had an opportunity to but an original Nocaster around 20 years ago for $NZ5.5k (~£3k) but it seemed an excessive amount of money to me at the time. Likewise a '56 Junior for £2k a decade or so ago

If you also factor in the money I spent flipping and being financially conservative in the meantime it begins to look like a comedy of errors. On the plus side I learnt a lot and it has kept me amused

slugelise

Terry Morgan? There's one on reverb for £20k.