ivan H
Ambassador of Tubes & Grooves
I've been looking at used lester's for a good while, looking for one that grabbed my attention, researching the different models I saw. Came across an '81 Heritage 80 Standard at a dealer that I've made a few guitar purchases with & started looking into that model. After reading what people like George Gruhn (Gruhn Guitars) & Hendik Berger (Vintage & Rare) etc had to say about this model, I was definitely interested. Normally I would have travelled (interstate) to check it out, but as I've just started a new job I didn't want to take time off. Luckilly, I can trust this dealer (knew me instantly I phoned), both my LP traditional & Stratocaster select were purchased off him & are great guitars (plus he has a return policy). So, after phone calls, pics of & videos of him playing the guitar etc, plus his assurance that, good as my LP traditional & select strat are, this is a class above & he cant see me wanting to return it, I pulled the trigger on this
There is some wear on the back & upper bout, as can be expected for a 37 year old guitar, but nothing out of hand. Original frets are still good. Apparently, this model, even though it has differences to a '59, is recognised as the point where Gibson got its mojo back. No weight relieved pancake body, nooo, this has a one piece mahogany back (George Gruhn says these have better woods than later reissues). The neck is a 3 piece mahogany, as can be seen, but many say that the 3 piece is more stable than a 1 piece. Also has the long tenon again. The only thing that isn't stock is the neck humbucker, the neck Shawbucker for some reason has been replaced
(rough job of soldering the cover on too)
Bridge still has the stock Shawbucker
So I'll most likely be in the market for a Shawbucker.
Of course, I wasn't about to pay the list price, nor did the dealler expect me to. So what did I pay,,, well without saying the exact figure, I can tell you that I could'a got this & a new Marshall JVM205H head & still been under the list price of a 2018 Les Paul Standard (AU$ of course). Ok, to be totally honest I'm going of the reduced price (of a dealler whose mailling list I'm on) of a JVM205H, but still, I think I did ok. Lets hope I don't gotta send it back. Cheers
Edit; Notice the wider cutout & sharper point that is a feature of this model (better upper fret access, at least, they say). Cheers
There is some wear on the back & upper bout, as can be expected for a 37 year old guitar, but nothing out of hand. Original frets are still good. Apparently, this model, even though it has differences to a '59, is recognised as the point where Gibson got its mojo back. No weight relieved pancake body, nooo, this has a one piece mahogany back (George Gruhn says these have better woods than later reissues). The neck is a 3 piece mahogany, as can be seen, but many say that the 3 piece is more stable than a 1 piece. Also has the long tenon again. The only thing that isn't stock is the neck humbucker, the neck Shawbucker for some reason has been replaced
(rough job of soldering the cover on too) Bridge still has the stock Shawbucker
So I'll most likely be in the market for a Shawbucker.
Of course, I wasn't about to pay the list price, nor did the dealler expect me to. So what did I pay,,, well without saying the exact figure, I can tell you that I could'a got this & a new Marshall JVM205H head & still been under the list price of a 2018 Les Paul Standard (AU$ of course). Ok, to be totally honest I'm going of the reduced price (of a dealler whose mailling list I'm on) of a JVM205H, but still, I think I did ok. Lets hope I don't gotta send it back. Cheers
Edit; Notice the wider cutout & sharper point that is a feature of this model (better upper fret access, at least, they say). Cheers
Last edited:
