Lawsuit Ibanez LES PAUL 1973

vic

For those who may be interested in a Lawsuit Les Paul......

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Ibanez-Les-Paul-Custom-Lawsuit-1973-W0QQAdIdZ177359279

Thought I add the following extract from an article ..."Before we get too sentimental we must remember that when you inspect some of the earlier guitars that the construction was not completely accurate and faithful to the originals. Most of the Les Paul copies had bolt-on necks and multi-piece, plywood tops. Routings for electronics and wiring were pretty rough in a manner similar to today’s Indonesian guitars. But Ibanez got very popular because young guitarists that could not afford a Gibson or a Fender could buy a guitar that offered a good balance between price and quality...and looked professional."

See http://www.guitarattack.com/destroyer/lawsuit.htm

singemonkey

The Japanese copies only really ramped up in the late seventies. This is a pretty guitar, but it's obviously more a lookalike than a replica because of the bolt-on neck. It's definitely not worth R15,000 at this point.

From '78 or so, a whack of companies started producing really faithful reproductions of 50s and '60s American guitars. Although then, as now, the cheaper models would give you multi-piece bodies (two or three pieces) and tops and veneer flame on the flame-tops. The cheaper ones are still sought after because, again then, as now, the production quality remained superb despite less costly components.

To see an almost unbelievable collection of classic Japanese reproduction guitars with great photographs and descriptions, check out this guy's site:

http://www.k4.dion.ne.jp/~yjibika/en_index.html#top

Including one of the most beautiful Les Pauls I've ever seen:

http://www.k4.dion.ne.jp/~yjibika/en_1985TokaiLS80.html

I just love the hint of flame instead of the heavy tiger-stripes. Beautiful finish too.

guidothepimmp

lol, lawsuit or not, its not worth that kind of money...

As singe said, the earlier seventies Ibanezes weren't great guitars. The ply wood bodies are also a concern. Certainly not even a collector in my opinion. If it were a set neck model and one of the higher end ibanez models such as the early Artists or post lawsuit models like the PF400's etc, those are top guitars. Not worth R15k though... ???

singemonkey

Yep. Many reproductions go for money that would astonish people with no contact with this market. Thousands of dollars. But those are from the golden age - the first, super high-quality reproductions. Mostly '79 - '83. It's not collectable simply because it's a reproduction from a ways back. If any collector wanted one of these, it would chiefly be as a curiosity.

Ibanez did make some top quality reproductions though. A guy I knew had a copy of the Gibson double-neck that was freakin' sweet. Especially for a guitar that was all but unobtainable at the time.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote: The Japanese copies only really ramped up in the late seventies. This is a pretty guitar, but it's obviously more a lookalike than a replica because of the bolt-on neck. It's definitely not worth R15,000 at this point.

What? 15K? His heinie. You can get a seriously cool Love Rock for that amount at the moment. They're on special at McGibbon's and maybe elsewhere. That's the "150" model. The "90" range are even more reasonable at this point in time.

singemonkey

If he divided his price by five, he'd be getting to a reasonable starting offer.

vic

I say..spend your money on the real thing, or not at all. If your'e after a Fender of Gibson or...? why go for a look alike? and spend big money on it?? ???

Bob-Dubery

vic wrote: I say..spend your money on the real thing, or not at all. If your'e after a Fender of Gibson or...? why go for a look alike? and spend big money on it?? ???

Depends on the look alike. The Tokai's are very good guitars - excellent quality. If you're interested in the look and feel and sound of a Les Paul then the Love Rocks are a very good bet, will probably save you money and will certainly be easier to get new here in SA. If you want something that legally claims to be a "Gibson Les Paul" then you should go for the original.

DonovanB

X-rated Bob wrote: Depends on the look alike. The Tokai's are very good guitars - excellent quality. If you're interested in the look and feel and sound of a Les Paul then the Love Rocks are a very good bet, will probably save you money and will certainly be easier to get new here in SA. If you want something that legally claims to be a "Gibson Les Paul" then you should go for the original.

Bob, now you're on the bandwagon?

[deleted]

DonovanB wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Depends on the look alike. The Tokai's are very good guitars - excellent quality. If you're interested in the look and feel and sound of a Les Paul then the Love Rocks are a very good bet, will probably save you money and will certainly be easier to get new here in SA. If you want something that legally claims to be a "Gibson Les Paul" then you should go for the original.
Bob, now you're on the bandwagon?

He'll have to find a seat next to me, Don. I went round and played the Love Rock (with P90s) Aubs bought, and it kicks ass.

Bob-Dubery

DonovanB wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Depends on the look alike. The Tokai's are very good guitars - excellent quality. If you're interested in the look and feel and sound of a Les Paul then the Love Rocks are a very good bet, will probably save you money and will certainly be easier to get new here in SA. If you want something that legally claims to be a "Gibson Les Paul" then you should go for the original.
Bob, now you're on the bandwagon?

I've long been an appreciator of the Tokai band. In the mid 80s they had superb Strat and Tele copies that gave nothing away to what Fender were pumping out at the time. Nothing, that is, except price.

vic

Stratisfear wrote:
DonovanB wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Depends on the look alike. The Tokai's are very good guitars - excellent quality. If you're interested in the look and feel and sound of a Les Paul then the Love Rocks are a very good bet, will probably save you money and will certainly be easier to get new here in SA. If you want something that legally claims to be a "Gibson Les Paul" then you should go for the original.
Bob, now you're on the bandwagon?
He'll have to find a seat next to me, Don. I went round and played the Love Rock (with P90s) Aubs bought, and it kicks ass.

I'm sure it does....Aubs is an old hand who wouldn't buy a dud....but we are talking Lawsuit Ibanez with a bolt-on neck here... :? for R15k...!
By the way....will someone be so kind as to list the retail price/s of these Love rocks here for us to see ? Please.

Bob-Dubery

The best you can hope for would be recommended retail price. Some stores would have specials and most would give discount for cash.

AlanRatcliffe

DonovanB wrote: Bob, now you're on the bandwagon?

He's not the only one - I considered special ordering the LS160S (the upper range goldtop P90 model). The only thing that stops me is the same thing that always stops me with any traditional Les Pauls - the controls. My right hand is up on the neck more than half the time and I change the switch by accident (yes, even if it's turned sideways) and I prefer a master volume/master tone. ☹

vic wrote: By the way....will someone be so kind as to list the retail price/s of these Love rocks here for us to see ? Please.

Give me a few minutes to type it out (it's a graphic).

[deleted]

Ja, but Vic, you were asking why go for a lookalike in general. And I think Bob's quite right on that score. But agreed, that particular Ibanez ad is chancing its arm.

vic

X-rated Bob wrote: The best you can hope for would be recommended retail price. Some stores would have specials and most would give discount for cash.

Sure...RRP then....perhaps Tokai SA can help ?

AlanRatcliffe

TOKAI PRICES

Bear in mind these are the recommended retail prices. It's normal to expect a discount from a dealer (compare the prices here with the ones at Musicmadness.co.za and you'll see they are appreciably lower at Musicmadness). Also bear in mind that these are subject to changes in the Rand/Yen exchange rate. But this should give you an idea.

LS85 - R13,280
LS90-STD - R13,930
LS95F - R14,720
LS100Q - R15,270
LS95S - R14,110
LS150S-HIST - R21,330

There are more models available as special orders, but you would have to ask a dealer to get you a price on those.

vic wrote: Sure...RRP then....perhaps Tokai SA can help ?

Only if he wants to get in trouble - Lance tries to stick to the rules. ? Lance could only give you a RRP anyway - it's up to the dealer to set the discount, so ideally you ask them.

vic

Thanks Alan.

vic

Stratisfear wrote: Ja, but Vic, you were asking why go for a lookalike in general. And I think Bob's quite right on that score. But agreed, that particular Ibanez ad is chancing its arm.

Hi Strat...ja I wasn't clear on that one I guess...Bob is right of course. If someone likes/buys a Tokai LP (or other brand) for the trad Les Paul look and feel, then so be it. From what I've read (especially on this Forum) about Tokai, they must be excellent, good-value-for-money instruments....

vic

Apologies for derailing a bit....Re. the Tokai RRP's above...these guits are NOT cheap hey....I guess the LS160 will be close to R25k ? and even higher for their '58/59 flametops ?