1980 Navigator

VonPrikler · Nov 27, 2014

ESP-built :dude:
One-piece Honduras body, one-piece Honduras neck (not even separate headstock wings), solid maple top.

riscado · Nov 27, 2014

Nice, how does it handle itself against the old goldtop?

VonPrikler · Nov 27, 2014

The Navigator is really a phenomenal guitar in every way. :dude:

If I had to pick just one of the two to keep...believe it or not, I'd have to pick the Navigator!
This one is from 1980. Nobody else was making LPs with a long tenon in 1980. ESP was way ahead of everyone else, as of '80, in my opinion.

I wrote an article about the early Navigators if anyone is interested. Here is the link:

http://www.vintagemij.com/navunch.htm

VonPrikler · Nov 27, 2014

Also, a little video about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9kZlE0Ml7w

krapac · Nov 28, 2014

Thumb up for the Navigator and your cool '52..!

Stoj · Nov 28, 2014

That's a beauty & looks to be of great quality :dude:

VonPrikler · Nov 28, 2014

Thanks! A couple more of the '80 Navigator together with the '52 goldtop:

VonPrikler · Nov 28, 2014

This is in my article, but here is a photo from the January 1981 catalog (actually the photos were taken October 1980). They were building some incredibly high quality stuff for 1980:

They even sold a pretty nice, accurate Lifton style case, I wish I could find one of these for my Navigator:

VonPrikler · Nov 28, 2014

Here's a better photo of one of the Navigator cases from around '80 to '82.

5DEEDE6A-0753-4E5C-8316-77E6435F10F5.png.jpeg

Here's Mick Taylor playing a 1982 Navigator owned by Arlen Roth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lim5RCL-TKs

I am totally fascinated with these early ESP-built Navigators :dude:

krapac · Nov 28, 2014

Thx for share the information about Navigators and thx for the '52 pics!

duaneflowers · Nov 28, 2014

Beauty! My Nav is much later ('98) but they are seriously awesome playahs! :salude

That a Braz board on that one? :hmm

VonPrikler · Nov 28, 2014

I am not sure about the fretboard wood on my Navigator - here is a photo, tell me what you think!

duaneflowers · Nov 28, 2014

Distinct possibility... beauty board but its hard to tell from a photo. Send her out to me and I'll take a look. :hee

VonPrikler · Nov 28, 2014

duane: Do you see many of these early '80 - '83 ESP-built Navs for sale in Japan very often? I have always been curious if they are more common over in Japan. They come up for sale maybe a couple of times per year on EBay in the U.S. (the real ESP-built ones, the Kasuga factory made ones are much more common) - for example, there is one up for sale now, but he is asking $3,650, and with the '52 I bought recently, there is no way I could afford that! Thanks!

duaneflowers · Nov 28, 2014

I see them from time to time but not with any regularity. Out here Gibson, Fender and PRS reign supreme and its rare to see anything else. Japanese are very label conscious and I would wager that Les Pauls from Nav, Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc. are more popular overseas than they are in Japan.

sjs · Nov 5, 2017

VonPrikler said:
The Navigator is really a phenomenal guitar in every way. :dude:

If I had to pick just one of the two to keep...believe it or not, I'd have to pick the Navigator!
This one is from 1980. Nobody else was making LPs with a long tenon in 1980. ESP was way ahead of everyone else, as of '80, in my opinion.

I wrote an article about the early Navigators if anyone is interested. Here is the link:

http://www.vintagemij.com/navunch.htm

Hallo Vonprikler. I know this is an very old thread. but it's possible to read your article.
Thanks Lars

1980 Navigator

VonPrikler

New member

riscado

Active member

VonPrikler

New member

VonPrikler

New member

krapac

Member

Stoj

Active member

VonPrikler

New member

VonPrikler

New member

VonPrikler

New member

krapac

Member

duaneflowers

Well-known member

VonPrikler

New member

duaneflowers

Well-known member

VonPrikler

New member

duaneflowers

Well-known member

sjs

New member