FS/FT: 1983 Gibson Les Paul Custom - Alpine White (aged) - $1800

[Case]

Howdy,

Selling my beloved 1983 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Built Halloween day of that year. Cool! This one appears to have had an experimental, but relatively uneventful past. Meaning it’s lacking many of its original parts, but it is in stellar playing condition with no breaks or repairs.

The Good:

• No breaks, no repairs
  
• Clean ebony fretboard with no cracks or signs of overly dry conditions
  
• Beautiful checked aged-white-to-cream finish
  
• The checking on this one is stellar (if you like that sort of thing) – tried to capture in a few pics, but doesn’t do it justice
  
• Brand new bone nut professionally installed
  
• Brand new period-correct NOS Gibson sting lock re-installed
  
• Brand new Kahler replacement bridge re-installed to replace the Gibson stamped Kahler which was missing some pieces
  
• Non-original, but very well-matched pickups (A Hamer Slammer in the bridge, which is a Hamer-stamped DiMarzio, and a Gibson 498 or similar in the neck)
  
• Professional fret dress and fresh setup with 11s. Low, but level, with no buzz, and great intonation
  
• Newer Gibson USA hard case (pink slip)
  

The debatable:

• During its lifetime, someone decided to add the Kahler to this bad boy. Best idea? Meh.. Does it sound and function like it should? You bet… And stays in tune better than any LP I’ve ever had due to the string lock above the nut.
  
• Fortunately, whoever did it was either very skilled, or it may have even been a factory add on after sale. My guess is that it was a professional non-factory job since the route is not painted. Again, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL route. Fits perfect, no rubbing, no “mystery”holes, etc
  
• The Gibson pickup in the neck still has a gold cover. All the rest of the hardware is silver. Gold cover is tarnished so you’ll hardly notice
  
• Tuners appear to be after-market Shaller tuners, not the cool ‘crank’ tuners from this era. No extra holes to the best of my knowledge
  
• Missing round back cover on the 3-way switch cavity
  

Pics:

This thing has seen very little action in my possession. Have been picking up my more modern-flavored Tom Anderson Strat style more often, so figure it’s time to let this one go. I don’t use the Kahler trem very often, and in fact, keep it locked most of the time (the replacement Kahler has a cool “fixed” trem mode). Pretty much plays like any LP bridge when locked like that.

I am pricing this at exactly what I have into it, and at what I believe to be one of the cheapest Les Paul Customs online at the moment. This one is ripe for the ABR bridge upfit for you traditional guys, or is a perfect player as-is. You decide J

Price is $1800 plus shipped/paypalled, US only at this time. Local pickup in the Kansas City area would be awesome. May consider trades for a Suhr Modern or a Grosh Electrajet guitar. FOR HFC: Might also consider a Gibby scale Hamer + cash.

Please contact caseygree@aol.com or PM here for any additional questions and for a full set of pics.

Thanks for looking,

Case

[Jakeboy]

Case, this thing is killing' me....how heavy is it?

[Case]

It's a boat anchor. I'd guess 12-15lbs.

I'll weight it here in a sec...

That Special of yours always talks to me

P.M. Or email me if you'd like to check it out.

Case

[Case]

13 lbs on the bathroom scale.

I see a Studio Custom and an Artist right below my thread I could be interested in

Case

[svl]

Email sent

[fractal]

• During its lifetime, someone decided to add the Kahler to this bad boy. Best idea? Meh.. Does it sound and function like it should? You bet… And stays in tune better than any LP I’ve ever had due to the string lock above the nut.
  
• Fortunately, whoever did it was either very skilled, or it may have even been a factory add on after sale. My guess is that it was a professional non-factory job since the route is not painted. Again, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL route. Fits perfect, no rubbing, no “mystery”holes, etc
  

I had a black beauty version of this exact guitar (1983 and everything). My guess is that the original Kahler was factory. Mine came new with it.

I still miss it, because it was the first guitar I thought of as "pro"-level, but it really was not set up well and the neck binding was separating something fierce.

Good luck with the sale! I'd snag it but I have zero funds right now.

[tommy p]

• During its lifetime, someone decided to add the Kahler to this bad boy. Best idea? Meh.. Does it sound and function like it should? You bet… And stays in tune better than any LP I’ve ever had due to the string lock above the nut.
  
• Fortunately, whoever did it was either very skilled, or it may have even been a factory add on after sale. My guess is that it was a professional non-factory job since the route is not painted. Again, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL route. Fits perfect, no rubbing, no “mystery”holes, etc
  

I had a black beauty version of this exact guitar (1983 and everything). My guess is that the original Kahler was factory. Mine came new with it.

I still miss it, because it was the first guitar I thought of as "pro"-level, but it really was not set up well and the neck binding was separating something fierce.

Good luck with the sale! I'd snag it but I have zero funds right now.

That's what my black LP is: '83 Black Beauty with the popout tuners, Fralin in the bridge.

[Case]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Yeah, there's been much debate on whehter this was a factory Kahler or not.

I was told Gibson didn't offer the Kahler as a standard option until 1984, but that is not the case with yours at all...

Who knows, either way, this one is awesome, factory Kahler or not

[kizanski]

Yeah, there's been much debate on whehter this was a factory Kahler or not.

Is there paint in the Kahler route?

[Case]

• During its lifetime, someone decided to add the Kahler to this bad boy. Best idea? Meh.. Does it sound and function like it should? You bet… And stays in tune better than any LP I’ve ever had due to the string lock above the nut.
  
• Fortunately, whoever did it was either very skilled, or it may have even been a factory add on after sale. My guess is that it was a professional non-factory job since the route is not painted. Again, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL route. Fits perfect, no rubbing, no “mystery”holes, etc
  

Nope, no paint, which is why I had assumed aftermarket.

Forgot to mention, it will come with the original Gibson stamped Kahler bridge that I had replaced when I got it (as mentioned, it's missing a fine tuning peg and needs a good cleaning)

[kizanski]

Nope, no paint, which is why I had assumed aftermarket.

Then I'd say the "debate" is over.

[Jakeboy]

13#???? Thh heavy for me bro.....that is a drag, too.

[Case]

Sounds as heavy as it weighs, fo sho

[Case]

Price drop bump.

$1800 shipped/gifted

Trade value $1800

[Case]

Sold

[Hamer Dave]

Yeah, I had a black one with the Kahler, and pop-out tuners, years ago. I was told it was factory. Can't recall about paint in the route, but I always thought it was a 1980. Don't recall serial, or even looked at them back then! It was very heavy as well. Sent off to my old instructor who needed a LP, and recently relocated to FL. He then sold it as it was too heavy for him. Supposedly belonged to Harvey Mandel prior to me. Probably should have kept that one. It was a beaut'! Kept the chainsaw case, and sent it off in one from an older Cherryburst. Still got one of the original pups, which were heavily wax potted, as something else was put in there.

[Case]

BUMP!

Sold this. Bought it back because it's awesome.

Now I saw something I "have to have"

$1800 shipped/PP

[Case]

Bump for HFC.

Amp trades? Try me!

Highish gain channel switchers preferred.