So What Is The Dang Difference Really?

[Kris Ford]

I hate to sh*t on anyones dream guitar, but having had my fair share, and been around the block...the 70s strats, and the late 70s Les Pauls have always been the least desirable. Yes, there are good guitars from every era, but having owned them, as well as being in the circle for decades, you are WAY better off with a 90s or newer LP or even a strat. Especially considering the stupid money people think the old ones are worth, just because "it's a 78" etc.

After '74, the LPs had a maple neck, were generally heavy as concrete, and workmanship was poor.
I got lambasted on the Les Paul Forum years ago for that....but it's true.
The 3 bolt neck late 70s strats are in the same boat.
The 70s were not a great period for quality from Fender or Gibson.
Even without going with a Custom shop, the newer Gibson and Fenders are as good as they ever were, unless you have
Millions$ for a 50s model.

Before anyone has a Sh*t hemmorage over this, remember I mentioned there were/are exceptional guitars from every era, but there is a reason a 68-69 Les Paul, or a pre 1965 strat is worth so much. It was a long downhill road until the 80s, when things started to look up again for US made guitars.
I have some Custom shop LPs that I could finally afford after many decades playing regular ones, and yes they are worth the money for tone, playabilty, weight, and looks....to me. Your opinion may differ.

On the other hand, I played a Chinese Epiphone Casino recently, and it was a beautifully made, great sounding axe. For $350, used, I just may get one.
Bottom line...a good guitar is a good guitar, from any era/price...but don't pay $2K for a 70s 3 bolt strat, until you try a brand new one for half the price. The New Shawbucker strats are an incredible guitar for less than a grand in mint used shape.

Just throwing some info out there from my experience, nothing more.

My first Gibson was a 1976 "Marauder", a POS with a bolt on neck and a (thankfully) short life span.
I see sellers asking well over $1000 for them now, because they are "old". And that is about all they are. Old.

"Old" Marshall's are a whole different story (Full disclosure, I am biased as hell here). They did cheapen some things in the late 70s, as well...but they can still kill small animals at 20 yards, and sound incredibly great doing it. Not many dogs in the old Marshall line up, IMHO.

My two cents.

Laminated maple neck isn't a sign of bad quality, given the highest end top of the line Super 400s and L5s had them in the 50's. It was for warranty purposes, and actually occurred mid 1975. For harder rock/metal, they simply can not be beat.

My '76 LP doesn't fit this description ONE bit..weighs 9.2 pounds on a calibrated postal scale, sings like a siren or screams like a banshee on command, neck feels great, does everything a good Les Paul should, and has stayed by my side while more expensive, Custom Shop Historics and "50's correct" LPs I couldn't dump fast enough..in which case, the only thing Historic was my cash in the toilet.
So yes, not ALL were bad.
My old gal here:

Which so far, hasn't fallen apart in my lap...