Trade my '83 Strat for a '77 Les Paul... worth it?
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Posted on May 03, 2008 11:11 am
[ins]anarchist
Master of the Obvious?
Member Since: Jun 29, 2004
I recently acquired and fixed up a 1983 American Fender Strat:
Which sounds and plays great (obviously) and has that super-clean Fender tone. However, for the band I'm currently in, it simply doesn't work, as progressive melodic metal doesn't really sound so great through single-coil pickups. I could get a set of hotrails and such for it, but it's mostly stock and I'd like to keep it that way. Yesterday, a guy with a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Standard offered me a trade:
As you can see, the previous owner was a doofus and decided to install switches for coil-tapping. I can't imagine why, as all he'd really needed to do to negate the need to drill holes is to install a different pot, but it's too late now so whatever. Either way, it significantly reduces the collector's value of the guitar, but from a practical standpoint, it still sounds like/looks like/is a '77 Les Paul.
Would you guys say it'd be an even trade?
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 03, 2008 12:18 pm I'd swap 'em, and don't look back =).
Big thing i'm thinking, is that 1) you don't really want the strat, 2) you probably won't sell off the LP.
With those two in mind, if it's a real LP, then do it. Enjoy the LP and have no regrets.
(i can hear someone thinking . . . It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . )
May 03, 2008 01:10 pm I'd do it in a second and would never think twice... then again, I hate strats.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
May 03, 2008 02:48 pm I'd go for it, nothing wrong with strats but I definitley like the Gibson's better.
Dan
May 03, 2008 03:48 pm No brainer...do it.
DiemusikString benderMember
Since: Unknown
May 04, 2008 12:14 am There is always one in every crowd but I would keep the strat and swap in a humbucker. You can get a hot humbucker that fits into a single coil spot, something like a Dimarzio fast track II. You could keep the stock pick-up if you ever wanted to sell the Strat and just put it back in. It would be far less destructive to the value than holes drilled in the body. And finally as cool as they look a Paul is as heavy as a tank! :)
May 04, 2008 10:06 am I'd love to own both, of course! My buddy's got an extra single-coil-slot humbucker laying around, but I just don't have $1500-2000+ to lay down on the Gibson :/ I really wish I did, but that's a hefty chunk of change for a struggling musician.
Anybody here appraise guitars? I'd like to know approximately what each is worth, with the conditions listed (modifications and such).
Thanks guys! :)
May 05, 2008 11:26 am Deleted By [ins]anarchist
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
May 05, 2008 12:09 pm Nice !
Incidently, that is the year they closed the shop in MI, and opened the one in TN . If you call Gibson with the serial #, they'll let you know where it was made . May make a difference in the worth .
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
May 05, 2008 07:25 pm I'm not a fan of LPs. The scale length doesn't agree with me, and they are heavy (sez the bass player with the Walnut Jazz). Nice sound...
I'd likely keep the Strat and switch to Seymour Duncan 59's (as Diemusik said). They can always be switched back.
May 08, 2008 07:06 pm 1: The Value of Strats are on the decline (Here in Australia anyway).
2: Even if putting Seymour Duncuns (say a minibucker or something) in the Strat still wont sound as heavy as a les paul.
3: 77 Les Paul.......yum more sustain.
4: Better Value, The Les Paul would be more valuable, though I wouldnt sell it after you aquire it.
Like alot of people have said....NO BRAINER
May 08, 2008 07:08 pm Plus looking at those coil taps on the Les Paul your going to get more sounds out of it and I say likely some strat/singlecoil sounds. So the Les Paul has the best of both worlds.
May 10, 2008 11:41 pm Unfortunately, the guy decided to back out on the deal :/ I'm disappointed, but not entirely surprised.
I guess I'll just put what little cash I have towards another Schecter for now... :(
