value of a 75 deluxe

[frenchphil]

hi everyone
im looking at a 75 deluxe gold top. very nice condition no breaks nor repairs all original except for the case . one tuner is slightly bent the serial is legit

it s a 3 piece maple neck

according to you what is the right price or in the ballpark?

thanks

 

[Bob Womack]

Well, we can start with the dating of the instrument. It is my understanding that Kalamazoo production of the main LP lines (Deluxe, Standard, Custom) ended in 1975. Nashville production of those lines started in 1976. The first delineating characteristic that everyone checks is neck type. Kalamazoo use three-piece mahogany necks, Nashville used maple three-piece necks. By that understanding, that would place your guitar as earliest date 1976. No problem, most sellers seem to fudge the date back a little. Another difference is that for the first couple of years Nashville placed a serial number decal in an oval on the back of the headstock where Kalamazoo regular production had the number stamped into the wood in the back of the headstock along with "Made in U.S.A." Check the pot codes for actual date. The codes give you the year and week of production. The guitar will have been built after production of the pots.

As far as price is concerned, we'd need to see pictures to even get into a ballpark.

All the best,

Bob

 

[guitplayer]

Ballpark $2500 need pics!!!

 

[frenchphil]

thanks for all your info guys. i dont have pictures it s on a french music site called zikinf it s listed for 3000 euros so you can check there

i see the price is a bit high

 

[frenchphil]

i checked the serial on guitar serial site and it says 1975 even though the neck is 3 piece maple the serial is stamped though and there is made in usa underneath

 

[frenchphil]

sorry the serial is inked not stamped there is no oval decal and it s 8 digits starting with 99

 

[Big Al]

There were no inked stamp serial numbers used on any 70's Deluxe that I'm aware of. Value of 70's original models have shown much increase in USA. Overseas market higher still. Value, as always, is what you are willing to pay.

 

[frenchphil]

thanks Al, i made a mistake it s actually stamped 99224013
Serial number: 99224013


Production year: 1975 (serial nr.: 013)
(Manufactured Electric: Nashville or Memphis. Acoustic: Bozeman, Montana.)

that s what i got from the site guitarinsite

so it s a 75 but it has a 3 piece maple neck i guess there are no rules anyway the guitar looks really nice the gold finish didnt turn green where the arm rests it has had a refret

 

[frenchphil]

to me, i might be wrong, 1975 is a transition year between kalamazoo and nashville, so this deluxe might come from one or the other factory because i dont think the serial can be that accurate as to which plant it was made from

 

[Bob Womack]

thanks Al, i made a mistake it s actually stamped 99224013
Serial number: 99224013


Production year: 1975 (serial nr.: 013)
(Manufactured Electric: Nashville or Memphis. Acoustic: Bozeman, Montana.)

that s what i got from the site guitarinsite

so it s a 75 but it has a 3 piece maple neck i guess there are no rules anyway the guitar looks really nice the gold finish didnt turn green where the arm rests it has had a refret

The first two digits, "99," are what tell you it is 1975. The maple neck tells you it was Nashville. As I understand it, the Kalamazoo serials were six digits and my 74 is an example of th is.

From Gibson:

From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:

99 = 1975
00= 1976
06 = 1977

Bob

 

[frenchphil]

thank you Bob!! that s accurate as an answer!

 

[Big Al]

Regardless, a clean, original Deluxe is a very cool and musical guitar, imo. My early 70's goldtop is one of my favourite guitars, of all my electrics. So many gigs and sessions, so many fine memories! I find I am a bit biased towards them, but really, I found the Deluxe to be my most versatile Les Paul. A truely awful beast with everything wrong, according to the "experts". Pancake body, dome carve, 3 pc neck, paddle headstock, volute, chrome hardware, minihums and a Bigsby!!!

I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[marshall1987]

Regardless, a clean, original Deluxe is a very cool and musical guitar, imo. My early 70's goldtop is one of my favourite guitars, of all my electrics. So many gigs and sessions, so many fine memories! I find I am a bit biased towards them, but really, I found the Deluxe to be my most versatile Les Paul. A truely awful beast with everything wrong, according to the "experts". Pancake body, dome carve, 3 pc neck, paddle headstock, volute, chrome hardware, minihums and a Bigsby!!!

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yep and Barry Bailey of ARS sure could make his '69 Deluxe sing! His preferred amp was a 50 watt Marshall half-stack as I recall when I saw him in 1980.

 

[frenchphil]

thanks Al for your review, i was gonna ask people here to give their reviews of 70s deluxes with min hums

does it weight a ton, ? how is the neck profile? round ? slim? what difference does maple make to the neck and tone? if any?