The Electra Forums

I just got a 78 Les Paul in on trade on one of my amps. I probably will wind up selling it. It seems I always do, after all, how many Electras will this thing buy?

Still, I like it.

It is about 95% original, just changed keys and a newer case. Also some other parts were changed but the "pulls" are included. It is in good shape for its age. It has fewer dings than I do




The reflections look like scratches or scraps, but they are not. I has some, like any 78 would that has been played, but it is in pretty good condition. Natural finish wear, not made to look that way. It has had a recent pro refret (big jumbos, NICE) and they put a fieten shelf nut on it (so it is reversible if wanted, and I have the nut they pulled from it). I put the new chrome keys on it. They are new Gibsons (fit perfectly - the originals were gone and they had GOLD ones in there). Original T Top Pickups, newer ABR bridge (have original schaller in a bag). Electronics were swapped out with hovland musicaps and new pots and jacks, but have all the old stuff.

It has "Scotty Moore 2001" signed on it too. He isn't touring any longer to my knowledge, the last dates I saw were 2007 on his web site). I don't know what I can get out of it. I saw a similar 1979 sell around $2K, so that is what I thought I would try to get out of this.

My wife wants a new living room suit. I guess I should - ours would probably be rejected by Goodwill. Our recliners now recline, but in the wrong direction. Yeah, she just may be right. But think how many electras this will buy (scheming continues).

Oh yeah, I have a set of "Timbucker" pickups too in the deal, and I have to say, they sound fantastic.

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Thorny

Nice deal Thorny! Looks like a sweet Paul and with Scotty's signature. Did you get a photo of Scotty signing or playing it? Autographed guitars are a funny thing, you have to find the right person to buy them and sometimes that person doesn't exist. If it's authenticated maybe a Hard Rock or The R & R Hall of Fame might be interested?

My goofy autographed guitar story; I found an Electra X420 black on ebay years ago (It's now the one on this web pages X420 model page). The pickguard was autographed by Mario Lemieux of The Pittsburgh Penguins. Because of the autograph the guy couldn't even get nibbles at $250.00! I negotiated $200.00 shipped to Canada. Played it for a month...I really liked it, but I find all the Electra 335 copies too narrow at the nut for my meathooks. So I erase the Lemieux autograph and flip it on eBay less than 2 months later for about $450.00. The sad thing is that I collect hockey autographs and I never got a Lemieux...shoulda kept that pickguard, LOL.

Oh god.... you're killing me. That may be the funniest thing I've heard this week. And it has the added benefit of being true.

absolutely true!

But it leaves me with the problem - do I leave it on there or not? Also, if I try to polish it out I may run the risk of screwing up the finish. That wouldn't be good.

I like it though, nice guitar.

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Thorny

I'd leave it on Thorny. I mean Elvis' guitar player, come on! It doesn't get much cooler than that. Have you considered trying to authenticate it? Authenticated it may be R & R HOF worthy. Contacting Scotty might be as easy as dropping an email to his webmaster (contact at bottom of his web page).

No, I haven't tried to authenticate it directly. I doubt seriously that Scotty can actually remember signing it, but might still verify the signature. He hasn't toured to my knowledge for several years. But, I don't want to bother him. The previous owner said he will give me a written and notarized statement explaining when, where, other people present, and how he went about getting the signature. He told me the story and given this person and his story I have no doubt. Also, the guy originally picked up the guitar used a couple blocks from the famed Muscle Shoals recording studio. It is a long shot but it may have been used there. No way to tell that easily without connections in Muscle Shoals. It is the right period and has the mojo too.

The guy I got it from calls the guitar "Pearly Grapes" - a play on Billy Gibbons' Les Paul "Pearly Gates", and the fact that this one is "Grapes" because it is Wine red. Really, it is just a nice late 70s Paul, mostly original or has the original parts included except the frets and the keys. The frets were done right and it is very playable, even more playable than originally in my opinion. I think the Scotty Moore sig is a plus, but even if not, I don't think it would bring any more or less than any LP in similar age and condition. They seem to bring a couple thousand right now on ebay.

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Thorny

I can see both sides, leaving it as is or removing the sig. My personal opinion is that if the frets have been replaced, the guitar probably never will get full value just as a Les Paul (that way I'd be inclined to leave the sig). Doesn't take away from it being a great guitar, but people are funny about original parts, especially frets which can never be original again. That being said, the guitar is good enough to have been played hard enough to wear out frets.

As for Scotty's signature, personally I would go to whatever lengths necessary to authenticate it. Not for value (although that would help value) but because it's a piece of rock and roll history. It's a tough call for you for sure as playing it will likely wear the autograph off. An email to Scotty would go two ways. If he's not interest it, he (or his people) will delete it. If he is interested he'll try and give you an answer.

Either way it looks like a great guitar you got for a fair trade