Starting the Trade Train

I've owned a handful of Gibsons over the years, but none of them seem to stick.  They're not bad guitars, but I always find myself gravitating back to Fender. So when the time comes to move something, the Fenders are dear, the Gibsons are expendable, and there is no shortage of teenagers who want to own their first real Gibson.

This was the first one I owned - A 1996 Gibson Les Paul Studio in Wine Red. I bought it in Japan, from Ishibashi, when I was a guitar-less gaijin and itching to start playing again.  When you live in an apartment that is the size of a single car garage, having a hobby can be pretty important.

For the low price of 63,000 yen it was mine.  Japan is amazing for used gear, as there seemed to be a stigma around buying something used.  There were (are?) entire department store sized floors filled with used guitars, many of which are the kind you see selling for far too much, with tags like "lawsuit years".

I really liked this Les Paul (well duh, you bought it), and seeing pics of it again makes me wish I had it back in the fold. It had never seen any real damage, the finish was atypically excellent, and everything about it was just rock solid.  I've picked up loads of Studios since that failed to elicit the same feeling of confidence (though I did pick up a 2014 LPJ that was pretty close.  The one next to it was shit though, so yeah, way to go Gibson).

Love the blue.

The truth though, is that this was the guitar (along with that Ampeg in the pic) that started a long chain of trades that eventually turned into a pretty big win (I'll get to that eventually). I don't think the Kijiji posting lasted more than a day, and I had three buyers offering my asking price, plus they came to me.

Tip: Most of the time if a buyer is serious they'll come to you. They'll want to check the item out, make sure it works, etc. You have to be comfortable with having a stranger know where you live though.  I don't ever recommend dealing alone. 

Gibson has taken a pretty big knock in terms of their reputation for quality in recent years (except for that one LPJ apparently), but when they got it right they really got it right. Sure, it isn't a Standard, but it's close enough, and there are few guitars that will give you that feeling.  

A word of warning - no two Gibson's are ever the same, so be wary on the used market. Make sure you let any potential seller know that you're buying subject to a thorough inspection.  If you don't know what you're doing, bring someone who does.  Sometimes, a guitar that is in rough shape just needs some simple TLC to bring it back to life (and value).

If you don't know someone who knows what they're doing...  Gimmie me a call.  I'll fly with you.