Gibson Sonex 180 - Anybody know much about them?

[TheIronBeast]

I found this on eBay and to me it seems like a real bargain:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gibson-Limited-Edition-Sonex-180-Custom-Electric-Guitar_W0QQitemZ130301599089QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item130301599089&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I know that in the early 80's the Sonex was Gibson's budget guitar and was made for those who could not afford Les Paul's but given the age of the instrument plus it has the Gibson name on it, it surely will be worth a bit more in the years to come?

I have a 2007 Gibson LP Standard and a 2008 Gibson SG Special and was wondering if I would be let down on the quality compared to my other Gibsons?

It is a vintage instrument after all.

[FELINEGUITARS]

The body is a plastic composite body
Necks and fretting were ok although some were a bit so-so
Pickups were pretty cheap and pots etc were pretty cheap as well ( we have a set if anyone wants them)

[TheIronBeast]

Hmm, so would it be worth buying if I was to put in some new pickups and change the pots?

I've read reviews of the guitar on Harmony Central and people seem to think it's a pretty decent guitar after a few modifications.

[gwEm]

i was really into the trashy punk thing a few years ago and looked into them, trying a few out.

would absolutely agree with felines comments. its cool to have a trashy vintage axe, but are you getting the best guitar for your money? i found them quite heavy to lift.

some people like the "salt'n'pepper" pickups in these models. i didn't try them through my rig, so not really possible to say.

i would rather spend my money something else - maybe an RD series, or a Les Paul Studio with MIII switching, or a swamp ash studio... if i wanted an unusual gibson.

pay maximum £400 probably, unless its a truly amazing one. interest in these guitars for grunge/punk has pushed the prices to almost unrealistic levels IMHO.

edit: on the models i tried - the pickups weren't "Dirty Fingers", but "Salt'n'Pepper". If they really are Dirty Fingers, its worth paying a bit extra.. i'm fairly sure dirty fingers weren't fitted to sonex 180s, but i might be wrong and they were fitted to some later high-end models.

[mikeluke]

My 5c - you could get a better guitar for the money - £400 is not THAT cheap!

[Philly Q]

For something with a similar vibe, but made of wood, I'd rather have a Marauder:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Classic-1978-Gibson-Marauder_W0QQitemZ250410409598QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250410409598&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Dmoney]

I wanted one of these for the longest time.
purely on looks.
i quite like firebrands but i think as a model of gibson guitars they are a bit of a minefield.
i like the non firebrand version too.

[TheIronBeast]

I am kind of contemplating between the Sonex and this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIBSON-THE-PAUL-1978_W0QQitemZ260400895105QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item260400895105&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

That one has much better specs and looks like an overall better guitar, but I'm not sure how much they sell for these days. Seems like a pretty decent guitar though.

[mikeluke]

IMHO I'd go for The Paul any day.....

[Philly Q]

IMHO I'd go for The Paul any day.....

+1

[dheim]

IMHO I'd go for The Paul any day.....

+1

[Dmoney]

nice 'the paul' i considered this when looking at firebrands, but i fancied a double cut.

[WezV]

one of  my mates had a 79 'the paul', one of the walnut ones before they became firebrand.   it was a great guitar once i had its t-tops put back in (someone had swapped for EMG's).  it was a bit more worn than the ebay one above.

we reckoned it was worth about £400 a few years ago - although it didnt actually sell on ebay at that price.  it did have some serious lacquer wear but sounded great - obviously that doesnt work best on ebay

anyway - i still think £400 was the right sort of price for a paul.  a good solid guitar at the right price

the good thing about walnut is that it is still a nice wood without much finish  and i really liked the worn patches

[TheIronBeast]

one of  my mates had a 79 'the paul', one of the walnut ones before they became firebrand.   it was a great guitar once i had its t-tops put back in (someone had swapped for EMG's).  it was a bit more worn than the ebay one above.

we reckoned it was worth about £400 a few years ago - although it didnt actually sell on ebay at that price.  it did have some serious lacquer wear but sounded great - obviously that doesnt work best on ebay

anyway - i still think £400 was the right sort of price for a paul.  a good solid guitar at the right price

the good thing about walnut is that it is still a nice wood without much finish  and i really liked the worn patches

Thanks for the info. I think I'm gonna put my money on The Paul, it seems like a much better guitar valued at around the same price as the Sonex.

[headtheball]

+1 on The Paul. Lovely, lovely instrument.