Price Check - Rare Les Paul Guys Knowledge Needed

[angelspade]

Gibson Les Paul Aficionados, I'm trying to get a handle on the correct used price on a fairly rare instrument: 2018 Gibson Custom Shop 50th Anniversary '68 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, all paperwork included and in showroom condition. I have done some research, but there haven't been enough recent trades to get a handle on what it's worth. Opinions please, thank you!

 

[Jack Luminous]

They were $5.5k new in 2018. Nothing special IMHO but only 300 made. I'd say $4k in the US, more like $5k in Europe.

 

[glpg80]

The paperwork and showroom quality push it closer to $4500. There’s still a limited number of them made and that means significant retained value.

One of the absolute best sounding and playing Les Paul’s I’ve ever had my hands on was a 10th anniversary. They build the anniversary models with extra attention to detail.

 

[angelspade]

They were $5.5k new in 2018. Nothing special IMHO but only 300 made. I'd say $4k in the US, more like $5k in Europe.

Thank you...Likely to appreciate based on limited supply?

 

[glpg80]

Thank you...Likely to appreciate based on limited supply?

IMHO the black beauty design is the most common LPC today - there’s all kinds of iterations of it. I think you’ll have great retention of value but I personally don’t see it appreciating the same as say a 10th anniversary. The 10th I played was listed at 13k 20 years ago. You could get there but you’re looking at a lifetime/generation of time and the whole guitar market as a whole is a bet for everyone right now. Just my opinion though.

 

[LP Freak]

You’ll sell it at $4k and sit on it at $4500

 

[Texsunburst59]

Here you go

 

[angelspade]

You’ll sell it at $4k and sit on it at $4500

OK, thank you.

 

[Anje]

I didn't know those existed; what do they have "special" VS a regular '68 CS Reissue?
IMHO, There have been and will be so many of those "Reissue runs" that I doubt such a modern "standard" model year CS guitar will appreciate much VS other similar era CS. But I don't have a crystal ball

 

[angelspade]

I didn't know those existed; what do they have "special" VS a regular '68 CS Reissue?
IMHO, There have been and will be so many of those "Reissue runs" that I doubt such a modern "standard" model year CS guitar will appreciate much VS other similar era CS. But I don't have a crystal ball

Yeah...There has been so many it's confusing. I may offer $3,500 and that way I'm ok either way...Keep or sell.

 

[Anje]

Yes; in such case I'd play safe, unless it's a crazy good exceptional playing/sound/feeling guitar that I must have.
In general, as soon as it starts to come close to that $3-4k range, I'd take a good real old 70's LP VS any recent CS, period.

 

[LP Freak]

Yeah...There has been so many it's confusing. I may offer $3,500 and that way I'm ok either way...Keep or sell.

What are they asking?

 

[cobrahead1030]

You’ll sell it at $4k and sit on it at $4500

That’s about what i would expect.

 

[angelspade]

What are they asking?

$3,900 cash

 

[LP Freak]

$3,900 cash

That’s pretty fair. You might get it for $3800. They’ll probably laugh at $3500

 

[reignman454]

The problem with the “newer” stuff is Gibson is just cranking it out now.. it’s actually driving the older stuff that wasn’t as desirable up and crippling the new resale.

IMHO, it’ll be a loooong time before that actually appreciates if at all. Outside of the Korina stuff, the 20th and the 76’ very few Reissues have done well for them resale/aftermarket wise. The numbers you’re getting track. I wouldn’t pay more than 4k and that’s if I “had to have it”… nobody is a jonesing for that 2018 Les Paul stuff.

 

[glpg80]

You’ll sell it at $4k and sit on it at $4500

If you adjust for inflation and the quality I don’t think 4500 is far off. Just since 2019 prices have risen a lot on all gear. It’s high but the paperwork and mint quality is there. 70’s LPCs are going for well above 4500 now.

 

[Jack Luminous]

Thank you...Likely to appreciate based on limited supply?

Not likely.

 

[DanTravis62]

Killer guitar, likely to appreciate but not quickly. You'd have to sit on it for decades.