1952 VINTAGE MADE IN USA GIBSON LES PAUL GOLDTOP GUITAR Start Price USD 13,800.00 Current Price USD 13,800.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 14,000.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, November 17, 2008 End Time Monday, November 24, 2008 Location Brooklyn, NY See more about '1952 VINTAGE MADE IN USA GIBSON LES PAUL GOLDTOP GUITAR' Description 1952 (first year manufacture) Gibson Les Paul Goldtop guitar offered at no reserve!!!  FREE SHIPPING WITH BUY IT NOW!!!AWESOME naturally reliced goldtop finish with checking, some greening, nicks, buckle wear, scratches and a couple of wear spots, all the result of 56 years of natural wear, NOT the work of an Irishman in a white labcoat!  Sounds/plays GREAT with low action the length of the fretboard!  Incredibly light Les Paul weighing in at  ONLY 8.2 lbs!!!  There were no serial numbers on Les Pauls from 1952-early 1953 (see here http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html about 3/4 of the way down the page "Gibson Solidbody instruments 1952 to 1960: No number: 1952 to early 1953" so don't ask me what the serial number is!  Original pots coded 6150-- (1950)--for anybody that doesn't know on pre-1960 pots the 4th number provides the last number of the year as opposed to 1960 and later pots where the 4th and 5th provide the last 2 numbers of the year.  This guitar has a couple of brushes with fame: 1)  Acccording to the previous owner (who owned the guitar for the last 20 years) it was fomerly owned by John Gatto, former guitar player for "The Good Rats" a Long Island, NY group that made it pretty big during the 70's and actuallt still gigs to this day (see here http://www.roctober.com/roctober/goodrats.html ) or goodrats.com.  2) It is autographed on the back by Les Paul himself (easily removed should the buyer so choose). NO breaks!  Original pickups, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, and selector switch.  Frets professionally replaced (normal, original-sixed frets, one of the best jobs I've seen) and are in good condition with only light wear. The jackpate has been changed to a more recent one as has the rubber tip of the selector switch, strap buttons and truss rod cover.  A couple of small extra screw holes on either side of the truss rod cover and one extra one where the original pickguard bracket was moved very slightly.  Non-original "Hybrid" case included which combines the durability of a flight case with the size of a regular rectangular guitar case (although it does weigh a bit more).  This case will protect the guitar for years to come and will also a sense of provide comfort during shipping!  For international shipping to Europe and Asia the guitar will ship in a regular Les Paul-style hardshell case unless the buyer wants to pay extra to cover shipping for the hybrid case.  All in all a SUPER cool 1st year vintage Les Paul goldtop!  You know you want it!  Buy it now!!!<P>Payment via Paypal, certified check, wire transfer or money order due within one week of the end of auction.  Shipping is 50 dollars with insurance included to the lower 48 states.  Local pickup is fine but item must still be paid for within 1 week and picked up within 1 week of payment.  Shipping costs on a case-by-case basis for the non-continental US (Alaska HI).   I will not ship this item without insurance. If paid via Paypal , wire transfer or USPS money order will take to shippers within 2 business days of payment.  For items paid for with other types of money order/certified check seller may wait a few days extra for funds to consolidate in the bank before taking the item to shippers. Please bid only if you are able to pay for item.  Failure to do so will result in negative feedback. Local pickup is OK but item must be paid for within one week and picked up within 2 weeks of payment unless other arrangements are made prior to end of listing. No shipping to P.O. or S.P.O. boxes. International shipping rates are 75 dollars to Canada, 300 dollars to Europe/uk and 500 dollars to Japan/Australia. My overseas international shipping on this item will be done only through Fedex air, which usually the item to its destination in less than a week. I will not use any other shipping method so please do not ask. I also will only ship items fully insured for the full value the item sells for, so the buyer will be responsible for paying any customs/duty fees for the full sale value. Again this is the only way I will ship, so please do not ask me to do otherwise. Feel free to ask questions about the item (OTHER than asking me to use different shipping methods!) and I will answer them to the best of my ability. I will ONLY ship this item signature required!!!       Place a Bid!