FINEST GUITARS

Gibson 1969 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty’

This weeks highlighted eBay auction sale of the week is a Gibson 1969 Les Paul "Black Beauty" The eBay seller "kvibe13"  did such a great job in his auction description that we are taking the unusual step of posting his auction description word for word.  In this case the seller provides information that all collectors of Gibson Les Paul guitars may find interesting.  This was the sellers description.

" Im offering this early 1969 LES PAUL CUSTOM “BLACK BEAUTY”, in ALL ORIGINAL NEAR MINT CONDITION. It was a one owner guitar before me, and has seen very limited use. It's amazingly clean, a jewel of a Les Paul in the best condition I've ever seen from a guitar of 68-69, the last year before Gibson was sold to CMI/Norlin. The previous owner had it in the closet from when his father bought it for him at age 14 forty years ago. Barely played, still shiny bright and new looking, you dream about finding a collectable vintage guitar like this. They are out there, good luck. Some things are priceless, and this is one of them. It is a centerpiece for any collection.
THE GUITAR HAS A ONE PIECE NECK AND ONE PIECE BODY WITH A LONG NECK TENON. Big value distinction from the later more common 3 pc neck ‘69s with the short transitional tenon. The pot dates are 1376850, or Dec 8-14,1968, which indicates a very early 1969 manufacture. It has the same one piece construction as a '68 (and a '59) including maple cap applied after routing. The only difference being the Gibson Logo with no dot on the “i”, and inside the electronics cavity it has one of the rounded curves squared off. The prevailing theory is that some '68s/ early 69's were built with leftover bodies from after the original LP shape discontinued 1960. Very believable from the sound of this one.
Then there are the ORIGINAL PRE T-TOP HUMBUCKERS. These are the second version of the PAFs, but with the pat # on the stickers instead of "pat applied for". The same in materials and construction, no "T" and one square and one round hole on the side of the bobbins. Pinkish purple wire visible within. They are virtually PAFs in every way except sticker. Its so incredibly rare that these pickups somehow made it into this guitar in 1969, again prevailing knowledge holds that the gold humbuckers were used on so few models that many hung around the factory after '62-'64 when they were made. The tone from them is simply outstanding, a classic Les Paul honk that is so recognizable from your favorite 70s bands. They capture every nuance of the pick attack in the special way PAFs do. And all the mounting hardware is original.
In the control cavity, CTS pots numbered 1376850, Sprague black beauty caps with untouched solder joints and wire.
There is NO checking, no scratches, belt rash, neck finish wear, fret wear, almost zero play wear on the top or back. The nitrocellulous finish retains all of its original gloss, looking like a mirror. ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS AND HARDWARE ARE THERE, EVERY LAST SCREW. Gold Sealfast (waffleback) tuners are like new, smooth and tight, headstock tuner routing holes untouched. Gold witch hat knobs with the gold numbers unworn and fully legible, gold pat. # bridge with ALL the original plastic saddles and foundry mark, super lightweight gold tailpiece, original 5 ply pickguard. It remains absolutely the same as when it left Kalamazoo in 1969, having hibernated for 40 years in the original marigold lined case (also in excellent condition) with the fully intact owners manual. THE EBONY FRETBOARD, BINDING, AND INLAYS ARE ALL PERFECT. The binding has aged dramatically to a deep yellow-ivory. The frets are in amazing condition, never crowned or filed. Fully working truss rod. Sighting down the neck, it is absolutely laser strait on both sides. THE ACTION IS AS LOW AS IVE EVER SEEN ON ANY GUITAR with no buzzes or dead spots up and down. It seems to get louder going further up on the neck, like magic. Its a true testament to the skills of the artisans at Gibson during that time just before the sale of the company. THE WEIGHT IS UNDER 9 LBS, a nice lighter weight as these tend to run 10+ LBs.
To be absurdly critical, the tailpiece has some wear to the gold finish. The gold hardware on the bridge has some mild oxidation, about 85% gold remaining. On the back, a little slight shirt button scuffing and a couple of tiny dents, not very noticable except on an angle in bright light, and some edge finish flaking, from age not playwear. On top, two miniscule indented dings, one on the upper treble bout, one pencil tip sized on the lower bass bout, two small dings on the headstock, treble PU ring is warped slightly, all in the pics, see if you can see them. Otherwise it's mint. The pickguard has some abrasion, but after all that's why it's there. Gold pickup covers are off and in the case, it really does sound better without them. It has a “2” under the serial # but at this uber-vintage level it really doesn’t matter.
THERE ARE NO CRACKS, BREAKS, REPAIRS, MODS, REFINISH OR OVERSPRAY. Everything works perfectly, there are no issues.
You could pay more for a modern day Gibson, like the Page reissue, or a burst replica. Theres also another mint '69 LPC up on ebay for around this price, but it’s a 3 piece neck, not nearly as valuable. This one is museum quality, its a frozen moment in time and a true work of art. As a pure investment and a hedge against inflation you cant do better than this, and you will have a huge amount of fun playing this while it appreciates. Just holding this guitar in your hands is priceless, you cannot believe the feeling of joy, only burst owners could possibly know similar gratification."

This vintage Gibson guitar sold for $18,500 on February 26,2010.  There are many great Gibson guitars for sale every week on eBay auctions.

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GIBSON GUITAR SG BANNER OUTDOOR QUALITY STRONG

3 Bids

US $8.50

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Gibson 1982 Sonex 180 Deluxe GuitarRedClean

1 Bid

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Vintage Gibson Guitar Sale of the Week

This weeks sale of the week  is a 1956 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Guitar.  This solid body electric guitar was originally a "gold top" and had been refinished in cherry sunburst finish.  The guitar had been refretted and the ABR-1 bridge had been changed.  The owner sold this guitar along with it's original Lifton 4-latch hard shell case, for $15,000 on an eBay auction October 5, 2009.  eBay auctions have one of the largest selections in the world when it comes to vintage Gibson guitars.

1959 Vintage Fender Guitar Auction Highlight of The Week

The vintage guitar auctions on ebay continue to produce auctions of vintage guitars that are in high demand by collectors.  This past week a 1959 Fender Stratocaster was pursued by 15 bidders and ended on Sept 1, 2009 with a sale price of $15,101.  This guitar was an original 1959 (pre CBS) Fender Stratocaster with a sunburst body with a Brazilian rosewood neck.  The body was marked 11/9 and the Serial number was 43035.  The guitars was reported to be 100% original except for four tuning keys which were 1964 vintage.

Vintage Fender Stratocaster Hightlight eBay Sale of The Week

1958 Fender Stratocaster All Original

This week's highlighted sale of a vintage guitar on eBay auctions, is a 1958 Fender Stratocaster.  This 40 year old guitar was 100% original and was judged to be a 9.5 on a 10 point scale.  The investment grade guitar was acquired from the original owner had been in a closet for 40 years which accounted for it's rarely found condition.  The guitar sold for $29,500 on June 12, 2009.  There were many vintage guitars sold this past week on eBay, and this one topped the chart as the highest dollar sale.

1955 Les Paul Vintage Gibson Black Beauty Highlight Sale of the Week

Vintage 1955 Gibson Les Paul Guitar

This weeks highlight sale on eBay vintage guitar auctions is a 1955 original Les Paul Gibson Black beauty.  The owner reported minor wearing of the finish and every thing original except for one tuning key.  There was no lack of interest in this valuable guitar which sold after 22 bids for $17,877.77 on May 10, 2009.  Gibson guitars are big sellers on eBay auctions and many are for sale every week.

Vintage 1966 Fender Stratocaster Highlight of The Week

This weeks highlight sale on eBay is another Fender Stratocaster.  This time a 1966  Stratocaster in near mint condition, with the original hard shell case takes the honors with the highest auction sale price for a vintage guitar.  This beauty in exceptional clean condition and all original sold for $ 10,200 on May 7, 2009.  Owner reported a couple of "pick scuffs" which can be expected on a guitar that has seen some real playing and not tucked away in a closet somewhere.

1941-42 Vintage Martin D28 Guitar Highlight Sale of The Week

This weeks highlight sale is the first vintage Martin guitar we have highlighted.  Martin guitars of this age are rarely sold at eBay auction, at least since I have been tracking the vintage guitar auction scene on eBay.  This guitar was auctioned by singer Gary Morris who purchased this guitar in 1981 after he signed with Warner Brothers Records.  According to Morris he used a portion of his signing money to purchase the guitar.  The guitar was in the exact same condition as purchased with the exception of a pickup which was added and bracing work.  This rare vintage martin guitar sold for $20,000 on April 24, 2009.

1996 Fender Stratocaster Highlight Sale of the Week

1966 Vintage Fender Stratocaster Guitar

Another Fender Stratocaster is the highest dollar vintage guitar sale this week on eBay. This 1966 Stratocaster vintage guitar was reported to be in 100% original condition, including the case. The original owner toured with this guitar twice in Europe in the 1980's. The guitar sold for $9,700 on March 17, 2009.

Interest In Bozo Guitars

There is increasing interest in Bozo guitars which are the masterpieces built by guitar maker Bozo Podunavac. I was struck by the recent comment from a follower who posted this comment in Italian on our recent Post highlighting the sale a 1975 Bozo Guitar.  This reader wrote in this translation to English:

I have a bought similar guitar in Italy in the 1975, marked bozo podunavac B3 within the harmonic case I am numbered 480. I did not know what I had bought I have begun to understand that I had something of exceptional after to have bought several guitars of pregio type Ramirez R4, Classic DiGiorgio 36, Miguel Angel. Every time that I bought a guitar I felt that the Bozo was something of majestic to the comparison. And in fact continuous to always collezionare guitars but sound with my Bozo. I would be curious of knowing that value can have, if someone can dirmi something in merit. Self-confident Vanni thanks

Vanni's suggestion that the Bozo Guitar he owns is 'majestic" in comparison to others he owns speaks volumes to the feelings owners of these guitars have for their Bozo Podunacvac masterpieces.  To accommodate the interest we have set up a Bozo Guitar category to track the availability of these fine guitars on ebay. (click here) Bozo Guitars

Vintage Guitar Gem 1942 Martin D-18 Sale of the Week

This is a continuation of our series of posts highlighting a vintage guitar that has sold in the past week.  This week it is a 1942 Martin D-18 which sold on eBay for $29,000 on November 13, 2008.  The owner stated that this guitar had spent most of the past 65 years in a closet, rarely played, the original owner having passed away.  The original owner had been unable to play the instrument due to an accident which occurred shortly after the guitar was given to him as a gift.  This professionally appraised guitar was reported to be in exceptionally fine condition.  The guitar was constructed with Adirondack spruce top with scalloped bracing, mahogany neck,back and sides.  Ebony fingerboard, and bridge,Brazilian rosewood peghead veneer, CF Martin decal peghead logo, and dark tortoise shell grain plastic pick guard and body bindings.

The number of vintage guitars for sale indicates no slow, down as these fine instruments from the past continue to become available by on-line auction and elsewhere.