Les Paul Special

Riaan

I followed a US made Gibson Les Paul Special on EBay over the weekend, a really nice looking guitar, mahogany and faded red finish, 1991 model in very good condition. It eventually sold for 420 British Pounds, which I thought was not bad.

OK, let me confess...I put in a few bids, was ahead for most of the afternoon at 410 pounds and then took an afternoon nap. When I woke up, someone outbid me with 10 pounds...lost the damn thing.

Anyway, how does the LP Special differ from the standard/studio Les Pauls?

AlanRatcliffe

The Special is the two pickup version of the Junior, i.e. slab mahogany body (no maple cap, no carved top), P90 pickups and a wrap around bridge. As with the Junior, there are two body variations, a traditional Les Paul style single cutaway and a "double-cut" two cutaway. The Junior and the Special are THE P90 guitars all other P90s are compared to.

Gearhead

Been GASsing for a Special for so long... Must build one!

MikeM

Haha man you make me laugh. Build one? Think you gonna get away that easily? ?

Banditman

Closest thing Gibson have to a Telecaster IMO - a no-nonsense honest guitar that you need to put work into to get the good stuff out of, but rewarding.

inflames

Hi Riaan,

Just a tip on the ebay betting thing. You know you can setup a maximum bid?
So lets say the item is going for $100 you can set a max bit of $200, so every time someone bid more than you, ebay will automaticly place a bid for you in $10 increments ?

That is how I won my bid for the Peavey 6505+

Regards,
_-L-_

AlanRatcliffe

BTW, Also check out the GOrdon Smith GS 1.60 with P90s. Comes Standrd with a single P90, but can be ordered with a pair.
http://www.gordonsmithguitars.co.uk/products/category.php?id=1

singemonkey

Never played a special. But I do know that P-90s kick ass.

I've found specials more appealling recently, including their hokey tuners for some reason.

Bob Marley stuck to his. I think it has this vibe of a working man's (or woman's) guitar - like the tele.

I've also got the impression that it's the last of the fifties Gibsons that's even remotely within the reach of mortals - the originals, I mean.

[deleted]

Haha, those tuners... I've never liked the plastic tuners you get for Les Pauls. Cheap-looking.

AlanRatcliffe

singemonkey wrote I've found specials more appealling recently, including their hokey tuners for some reason.

My tonehound friend in the US is selling an Orville (by Gibson) Junior for $825 at the moment: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=585452. He knows his stuff and always has very good examples.

vic

Hi guys--say you buy on ebay, does one pay import duty/tax on eg. second hand and vintage guitars if brought into the country from abroad?
And if so, is it a % of the cost of the item ?

AlanRatcliffe

VAT only. Supposedly only on the value of the guitar, but they always charge me on top of shipping too. FedEx and many courier companies will charge you a "clearance fee" on top of that.

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote VAT only. Supposedly only on the value of the guitar, but they always charge me on top of shipping too. FedEx and many courier companies will charge you a "clearance fee" on top of that.

Thanks Alan...could be a costly business if all is tallied.