Seeking Advice - '93 Les Paul Standard

ninjaking67

ninjaking67

Ambassador of Good Will
Country flag
Ladies and Gents,

Looking for your advise here. I have the opportunity for a potential trade for a 1993 Gibson Les Paul Standard in VERY good condition. It is a plaintop in Honeyburst and seems to be all original with no breaks or other damage.

My trade submission would be my 2020 Gibson SG Standard '61 with Maestro Vibrola. It got it for an exceptionally good price at $1500CDN. It was a couple months old and had been traded in by the original buyer. They list here in Ontario for $2649CDN plus applicable taxes ($2993.37CDN out the door).

I have several questions to pose and I am hoping to draw on the knowledge and experience of the folks here who know or have a similar guitar. What are the 1993 LPs like? What are they currently valued at? I checked Reverb but their prices are all over the map and very hard to rely on. In your opinions, is this a good trade or not? I really like the new SG but the thought of a "vintage" LP Standard is very cool!

What say you?
 
I had an '88 Standard in black that I still miss to this day. It was a great guitar. Likewise, I have a 2001 Classic that I bought new as well. It is also an excellent guitar. You are just about in the middle with a '93 and I have never heard of any negatives from this time period.

If it looks good overall I would be most concerned with fretboard condition and fret wear. After all, you have a basically new guitar right now.

I'm also cheap out of necessity. I wouldn't pay over $2k US for a used Standard unless it is pre 1980 and in immaculate condition.
 
Yeah, I don't think that is a honey burst, but I like it. I have 3 figured LPs and am seriously jonesing for a plain top like that. Looks awesome.
 
My uncle had a 96 Cherry burst that looked identical to that one. To me? It looks very much like a Cherryburst vs the brown/orangish Honeyburst. That being said, the 93 and 96 are very much the same guitar in features and what i remember of it: his was $1150 new and was a great sounding guitar, very classic sounding Les Paul, easy playing, not too heavy either. A really good guitar

But to answer the value of trading it for your 2020 Gibson 61 SG? Honestly and this is merely MY opinion: i think you'd be upside down on the trade as far as the guitar you have and this one. The SG you have is a far greater guitar than this model Les Paul. Value wise, these go for between $1600-2100 today where as yours lists currently at around $2000 USD. That makes them financially on par but just from the sound and playing both in the past? The 61 is the better guitar honestly in my opinion. If the LP was a Standard with a plus finish or something like a Classic/Classic plus? Definitely a good trade then

Again, only my opinion!
 
First of all, a '93 LP is not in any way a "vintage" LP.

The '90s era gibsons were IMO, not the best that Gibson ever offered. I had a '90 LP Standard, a '93 LP Standard, and a '92 LP Classic Plus, and all had some substantial QC issues. I would not buy or trade for one without giving it a thorough inspection first.
 
Last edited:
If you really like the SG, you should keep it. The early style with vibrola is not put out in the numbers that Les Paul Standards are. Since you already have a nice Les Paul, you should keep what you have. Unless you play the other Les Paul, and it knocks your socks off, of course.
 
In the end, its ultimately your choice my friend. Its easy for us to say " Yeah totally do it!" Or " You'd be crazy to make that deal!" because both:
A) Its not our money and guitars at stake
And
B) We're basing this on our own opinions of each guitar.

Whichever choice you make, i wish the best and you're happy with the one you end up with! Both are fine guitars and that's the only thing Ive said that isnt opinion: rather fact lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top