Before we get started, I'm offering this exclusively, for now, through the Forum but only for local, Southern California, pick-up. It has to do with the hazards of shipping. Read on...
Very rare and distinctive Trini Lopez Custom (deep-body--not like the standard/ES-335-variant). S/N 894XXX. These were made from the early 60s until about 1970-71. Usually these go in the $3000s-$5000s, but this one has some replaced parts and battle scars--most of them recently inflicted by FedEx Ground on a paltry 100-mile journey from Palm Springs to LA. Despite an A+ packing job, there is a neck fracture (since professionally repaired), some cosmetic top touch-up and the bridge base had to be replaced. Hence the modest price. This has Gibson's well-known '60s thin neck (1-9/16"?).
I'm having to decide between this and the similar Barney Kessel Custom. Even though the Barney has overspray and non-original parts and hardware, its neck suits my large clumsy hands better so I'm going to let this Trini go, even though it's much more aesthetically striking. The pickups have Pat. No. 2XXXXXX stamped into the backplate, which suggests they are replacements of some sort--either another brand acknowledging Gibson's patent or a later Gibson item. I'd always thought that a '68 would original have patent-#-decal pickups. [Enlightenment encouraged re: stamped patent # and late-60s humbuckers.] The pickguard is a replacement (remains of the original in case). Recent import HSC. $1800 firm and ridiculous. It'd even be worth a few hundred miles' drive. I'm around until mid-June--family visit. (Alas, I'm flying there, so no help for this even if you are near Tornado Alley...)
No shipping. If you're out of town, maybe you can get a relative or friend to hold onto it or pick it up for you. But I just can't subject this to our commercial carriers. I've seen the mayhem and carnage they can and routinely do inflict. Add I won't have it happen again to this instrument.
