Bradley Custom Les Paul

[Regio15mix]

Hello all,

I just picked up a Bradley Custom Les Paul electric guitar in an incredible shape, and was wondering two things:

1 - What year was it made? (Made in Japan serial # 047494, see pictures)

2 - How much is it worth? It’s not a Gibson Les Paul, but it seems to be of a very good quality.

Any information would be very much appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[Killing Floor]

Most likely made by Fujigen. So the build would be good. Middle 70s?

 

[radiocaster]

200 bucks maybe. Probably 500 on reverb (with no takers).

 

[MilwMark]

Similar one but different brand hanging in a local shop for months. Nice quality. I think it's tagged at maybe $400 after a KILLER setup and fret dress/level.

 

[backporchmusic]

Bradley was the house brand for Veneman's Music in the NOVA/DC area in the late 70s. Likely Fujigen. Prices on everything are weird these days, but I'd think you might get 300, as much as 400 from a '70s MIJ guitars are better than Gibson even if they are bolt on' guy.

 

[radiocaster]

They usually don't even have a solid top, just a thin curved top. Some don't even have humbuckers but a single coil under the covers, not sure if that's the case here.

Fun guitar, maybe. Well Chibsons are really good sometimes too.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Hello all,

I just picked up a Bradley Custom Les Paul electric guitar in an incredible shape, and was wondering two things:

1 - What year was it made? (Made in Japan serial # 047494, see pictures)

2 - How much is it worth? It’s not a Gibson Les Paul, but it seems to be of a very good quality.

Any information would be very much appreciated!

Cheers!

My best friend in Summer, 1976 and I, both got our first electric guitars together at Veneman's Music, in Falls Church, VA ( Veneman's was out of Rockville, MD/DC-Area- great stores
Anyway, I got a Gibson Les Paul Signature ( not a popular model and more like a 335- not really a Les Paul) for $250.
My buddy paid about the same $$ for a black Bradley Les Paul.
We both got the same Yamaha G50-112 Combo amps, and we were in heaven!
( we really did not see much of each other after Summer as I went to College in PA)
Bradley was Veneman's electric line, and they made all kinds of popular MIJ Fender/ Gibson copies ( I stared at the Bradley catalog for a year before getting my guitar. We did not even know the guitars we were looking at yet!)

Side:
My first acoustic 2 years earlier, was a Nagoya N-28 ( Martin D-28 copy), Nagoya was Veneman's MIJ acoustic instrument line- had it till 1992!

 

[northernguitar]

USD$300. I think it will be impossible to date it.

 

[Regio15mix]

Thanks everyone! I’m not an guitar expert, so this is much appreciated. I’ve only read good things about this guitar, so far. Hope to find somebody who will appreciate the guitar in the DMV area!

 

[Regio15mix]

USD$300. I think it will be impossible to date it.

Thank you! Bummer it can’t be dated…

 

[Regio15mix]

My best friend in Summer, 1976 and I, both got our first electric guitars together at Veneman's Music, in Falls Church, VA ( Veneman's was out of Rockville, MD/DC-Area- great stores
Anyway, I got a Gibson Les Paul Signature ( not a popular model and more like a 335- not really a Les Paul) for $250.
My buddy paid about the same $$ for a black Bradley Les Paul.
We both got the same Yamaha G50-112 Combo amps, and we were in heaven!
( we really did not see much of each other after Summer as I went to College in PA)
Bradley was Veneman's electric line, and they made all kinds of popular MIJ Fender/ Gibson copies ( I stared at the Bradley catalog for a year before getting my guitar. We did not even know the guitars we were looking at yet!)

Side:
My first acoustic 2 years earlier, was a Nagoya N-28 ( Martin D-28 copy), Nagoya was Veneman's MIJ acoustic instrument line- had it till 1992!

That sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you!

 

[Regio15mix]

They usually don't even have a solid top, just a thin curved top. Some don't even have humbuckers but a single coil under the covers, not sure if that's the case here.

Fun guitar, maybe. Well Chibsons are really good sometimes too.

The guitar feels pretty solid, but maybe.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

That sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you!

Sure, fond memories,
Sadly, my guitar would get stolen in College in 1980 ( could never afford to replace that one, but I have plenty of cheap good guitars today)

Lots of us 'older' musicians I'm the DC-area suburbs I'm sure miss Veneman's Music Stores- all gone by early 2000's

 

[Grenville]

"Steel reinforced neck" on the neckplate usually means made by Matsumoku, Fujigen builds had a blank neck plate or a serial number only. Obviously this says steel adjustable neck not steel reinforced neck so probably not either. Maybe this is a Cort build?

 

[RodeoTex]

The neck plate on that looks exactly like the neck plate on my black Ventura from back in the day.
Everything else looks the exact same too except the shape of the headstock.
Probably new in 73.