Gibson Les Paul Tribute - Long Term Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Today I give my long term thoughts & #review of the #Gibson #LesPaul Tribute guitar I bought last year. Check out the original review here: • Gibson Les Paul Tribut...
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Gibson quality has been appalling for a long time. Then they dropped this Tribute and it was a game changer. One of the best guitars they ever made imo. Pair this guitar with some Seymour Duncan Antiquities humbucker Pickups and it sounds stunning. What an absolute travesty they discontinued it and even worse, are replacing it with the ‘Modern Lite’ guitar. For real these Tributes will climb in value
"entry level" doesn't really make that much difference (IMHO) when discussing a Gibson and the build quality. Gibson has always been extremely inconsistent. I've owned many...and none stayed in my tool box for too long. I finely found a single cut that I liked in a Cort CL 1000. Great playing and sounding guitar. I also am a very happy owner of the PRS SE Paul's Guitar. Another winner (albeit.... a double cut, which is definitely much more to my liking than any single cut!) You are absolutely correct in the consistently high build quality of a PRS guitar..... and I don't mind "the Birds" in the slightest. I find then no "gaudier" than the trapezoid inlays on your Tribute. I know.... you can't stand "the Birds". I'm glad that you have found your "Keeper" Gibson Les Paul. (Does that mean that you've already made up your mind between it .... & the new Epi that you just unboxed?)
Hi John, I'm thinking you recorded this before the Epiphone was unboxed on Friday. I think that sometimes we get a new guitar then try to make it sound like the one we sold to pay for it. I'm sure the Epiphone is a great guitar, but the tribute has the badge on the headstock. The tribute ticks all my boxes regarding sound, if it was mine I don't think I'd even look for another Les Paul.
How was the set up out of the box? Great video thank you.
In a word... perfect.
John does that mean you lost your love for the HB SC550ll?
I gave that one away in a contest ages ago 👍
I love my Honeyburst Tribute. The stripped-down, natural looking finish and thick rosewood fingerboard give it an organic furniture-like feel. The maple neck feels perfect to my hand, and the 490 pickups are clear and bright through a VOX AC15C1 or Marshall DSL40CR.
I'm a LP tribute kinda guy too , it's the satin neck and no binding that I like.
If I was in the market for a Les Paul I would definitely have this on my shortlist. Smoking playing by the way, John.
Very cool! Great guitar playing! Excellent review! Greetings from Russia!!! I bought myself the same one!
Glad to hear you're keeping this Tribute. I recently got back into Les Pauls from PRS with a used 2013 LP Studio (with Gibson Baxter Firebird pups/splits) and a new 2020 LP Special Tribute with P90s, both are satin finishes and both with sustain that lasts forever. They are top quality instruments with no compromises.
Mine is Cherry Burst, it's not cheap it's reasonably priced,
Great review, if you are impressed, its good enough for me. Thankyou.
I agree,… I have the lemon burst version,….. love it…
Looks good and sounds good. That’s not the least expensive Gibson but it’s the least expensive Les Paul with a carved maple top.
It may just be me,but Gibson are getting pretty same old same old
That Les Paul gets a proper playing. Well done, Mister!
Thanks for the video. I don't know about how the Tributes stack up now, but in 2017 / 18. I was tipped the nod by a touring guitar tech to get one when he described it as the no thrills tradesman Les Paul - USA made with the right foundation of mahogany un-vaulted body, maple contoured cap, rosewood fingerboard, traditional (reliable) tuners, self lubricating nut and Plek fret levelled out of the box - previously a Standard and above process. And in 2018 they added the (classic rock) combination 490 / 498 (bridge) the latter overwound so you don't really need a pedal with a valve amp - just flick it to the bridge and roll on the volume. This guy told me that the target market was gigging musicians who wanted a real Les Paul tone and experience without a mortgage and worrying that they have the crown jewels on stage. The fact that they offered it with the gold top - albeit satin not high gloss - was frankly astonishing for the price and after 2018 the option was dropped.
In 2018, the Tribute guitar used the same woods, manufacturing process and essential parts ( bridge, control nobs, tuners etc) as any other USA made Les Paul including the pickups - the 490 / 498 a classic rock combination for decades. So it holds up and sounds like it should and the hard rosewood fingerboard is uniquely thicker than a standard Les Paul - a good 3mm in depth, which should wear well and add to the sustain. The satin neck is also welcome - hands glide effortlessly.
The differences where they saved money were - (1) no binding on the body and neck (although the edge is scraped back to reveal the maple cap against the mahogany so on the body at least you have faux binding), (2) a relatively cheap nut (Tektoid read plastic) (3) a thinner (depth) body although only by a mm or 2 (4) no vaulting in the body (some would say a good thing) (5) circuit board clip in (pickup) electronics* (6) no hard shell case - although in 2018 you did gig a luxurious brown heavily padded bag PIC: tinyurl.com/3kmhexxn (7) not a great deal of finesse on the fret dressing (although no sharp ends).
As you might judge, the cut backs largely don't affect tone excepting * that cheap PCB / pot combination which some have suggested allows the perfectly decent pickups to muddy as the volume rolls off. I haven't found that an issue with my Laney LC30 112 (2007) 8 valve which has a bright switch to compensate BUT I am toying with the idea now after 5 years of ownership (not too precious) of modding the guitar, principally CTS pots, a 50s wiring loom and orange caps, a Graphtech nut and Gotoh locking tuners which I have on a Gibson SG - flawless and super adjustable / smooth. It will cost the best part of £200 although the pickups are keepers so not too bad when the guitar was (relative;y) cheap in the first place. PIC: tinyurl.com/euk55puj
Finally, I don't think your guitar is an exception John. Our 2018 has a flawless finish and only needed a moderate first set-up - 45 mins with a guitar tech half of that dressing the frets to a high degree because he said, 'there wasn't much at fault' once the nut was recut for 11s and the back face of the channels rounded off to prevent binding - notably on the centre two strings - a common Gibson issue with the traditional design.
Having had 3 new Gibsons in the last 5 years and an Epiphone, I can say that there was no comparison - the Epi was poorly finished and had seriously cheap parts, the pots cracking after 4 months. The Gibsons were streets ahead (in 2018) and simply need a good first set up as they come from the factory with light strings set high and the tension relaxed for travel. Sometimes the tuners have loosened due to changes in temperature and the nut can be dry. These are not faults - you are buying a 1940 / 50s design essentially and you have to take that on board - its not an X-Box that you plug a power lead in and it auto configures. People are too lazy and too quick to pick a fault, rarely talk about the quality they are getting.... remember, its a relative of George's Lucy and Bernie Marsden's Beast :) not to mention Erics Beano Les Paul
Thanks for that. I have a 2018 gold top. That thing is amazing.
A tribute is a standard without binding and with a 50's - 60's neck profile depending on the year the Tribute was made, the 2018 had a 60's neck profile.
Sure, except for a thinner body, a maple neck, different pickups, not having binding, a chambered body, a very different finish, otherwise the same
A maple neck is actually better than a mahogany one on a Les Paul. All Gibsons should have them. More stable and less prone to breaks. And all Les Paul standards had weight relief until 2019 or so. It doesn't affect sound at all (neither does the wood type) but it makes them a lot more comfortable to gig with.
Maple ftw
@@mikeb5372no weight relief on the 2018. Mine weighs 8 1/2 pounds.
Great video and playing. I've had my Honeyburst since 2019 and love it. The Tributes age really well. I just bought a 60s Gibson Les Paul Standard but I have no plan to sell the Tribute.
Cheers mate. Yeah, a definite keeper 👍
Thank you for recommending the Lekato wireless system. Its great. After having big powerful Amps in the past and now only play at home this system into my little Fender Champ 40 gives me great sounds. Keep up the good work!
This is not the best guitar in the world, its just a tribute.
sounds like a great one buddy!
Great as always! Can you link that sound track you used on this video to a reply comment to this comment for me please, I could not find it here in the US.
I always put the jam tracks etc up on my Patreon page which is $3/month to join 👍
@@JRobsonGuitar Oh ok I got it now you want money$$$!
Just trying to make an honest living, mate. Not going to apologise for that.
@@JRobsonGuitar I guess not, people today want to make money anyway they can, I just didn't know I had to subscribe for $3 a month just to get a backing track. Would have been nice if there are some things in life you didn't have to pay for, is all. I still like your channel.
Typically you get 3 backing tracks & 3 tabs per week, a monthly lesson exclusive to Patreon (including tab & backing track) and a monthly podcast.
I went to the store today and compared my tribute with the standard and whilst the standard is a work of art I decided to keep the tribute as I’ve enjoyed the playability of the satin neck so much I couldn’t justify getting rid of it. I was so sure I’d get the standard as well! Part of me wants it just because it’s a great price and an investment though…
Satin is a must have for me. I'm not buying gloss necks anymore. The two red ones look very nice and don't look strictly practical or stripped down. They look like they were designed perfectly for looks and playability. The honeyburst and tobacco burst don't have matching color on the backs like the red ones do. I'd pick the tobacco burst without hestiation over the other three, but I don't like the pale neck against the medium brown body. They should've stained the whole back to match the top.
I've tried all the Japanese takes on classic American guitars and they always come up short for me. They have unforced errors like a tiny nut, or they may have a flat neck 'for shredding' but the bridge is still 12", so wtf is the point of the flatter neck radius? The 24 fret Eclipses have a belly carve and a cool looking neck heel but they just don't rest against the body or hang off the strap well, and just don't feel comfortable even though they have whate appear superficially as improvements.
The biggest flaw with the Tributes is they're rushed out, so bizarrely they use a plek on the frets, so that they're preternaturally level, but they're not crowned, because you need to pay an American guy to do that, and in a global scam economy you have to compete with the whole world. They should tax imports more, so we can have our own stuff and excel at our own cultural artifacts, but the western governments are actively against all that.
Satin finish brings out great tones breathable wood well humidified is a beautiful thing and you prove it...I love mine through my special edition Fender Blues Jr. ..
Ive got the 2018 satin goldtop tribute and its seriously great, esp for the money I paid for it back in 2018, needed a proper setup and the fret edges needed smoothing, which I got done, and it plays fine..Its supposed to be configured with 490R and 498T, theres been people claiming they've got guitars from this year equipped with 490R and 490T NOT 498T, Ive not had mine out to check, but sounds great, and I use it regularly for recording
Glad you found a keeper dude. I think getting "a good one" is just as important as brand or anything else. Internet guitar shopping is really a bit of a dice roll at a big cold warehouses of guitars. But there's a chance you get a top notch one, maybe one that would've been skimmed off early by a brick and mortar guitar shop for friends, employees, or just regular customers.
I love my tribute not much different in feeling between it and standard
I agree. No surprise they discontinued this model. It's essentially a Standard minus the binding & figured top... For less than half price. I prefer the satin finish too 👍
How I buy, though rarely. When I pick it up for the first time, I call it the "handshake." That's the fall in love point. The neck. Know what I mean John & friends?
The neck/body join? Yep. And it's a really good feel on this guitar 👍
Yes indeed. That is the first impression and it does matter.
I love my 2018, non weight-relieved Gibson Les Paul Tribute in Satin Gold. I replaced the stock bridge and tailpiece with a BABICZ FCH (Full Contact Hardware) TUNE-O-MATIC bridge and tailpiece. It's highly adjustable, easy on the strings and increased the sustain IMHO. When I received the guitar the fretboard wood seems to have shrunk causing fret-sprout so I had to file the sharp fret ends. I love the natural-feeling wood on the back of the neck and the neck profile.
Great show John glad you are keeping it
Just added one to my collection. Bought without seeing and arrives in a couple of days. Hope I connect with it like you did with yours. (Had a Standard 2006 model for a while back).
I've had my Tribute almost 2 years now and I still pick it up more than any of my other guitars. Mine actually has no visible imperfections in fit or finish that I could find.
personally i think both gibson and fender are just using their names to sell crap,yesteryear i longed for a real fender/gibson, not so these days, i've had a couple to say the least of each, they are not worth the money,could go on for hours but i'm not going to.
as for the marshall dsl1, great, i've got the head running through a 1x12 cab with the g12 v30 speaker, i've always found that the smaller 8" sound crap which is why i didn't bother with the combo,but hey each to their own, not sure about putting pedals in front of this(or in the loop) i'm yet to try it, i'm sitting on the fence with that atm, always remember to have fun though :)
Nice review John - I've got a couple of Tributes (with humbuckers and P90s) - great 'working instruments' which clean up nicely for Jazz and jump-jive that I play.
Hi John, the tribute scratches my LP itch and at the price is a user " love it".Sometimes the big G get things right, good luck for 2023 cheers Steve.
I’ve just picked up a lefty honey burst tribute after having it on order a while. Managed to get it for 979 with a set of strings! Just before the prices rose to 1099 generally.
I love it.
But….I just sat with a 60s standard and I thought omg I want that too.
Now I’m thinking do I swap it and pay extra or just keep the tribute.
I was sitting there holding the same guitar you’re reviewing when i clicked on your video, I’ve had mine since 2018 and i know you mentioned the back of the neck gunk, get scotch brite scrubbing pads & give it a few swipes & wipe it down with a cloth-won’t scratch it up & will keep it playing smooth. I have 3 Les Pauls & have been using these for years
i always traded off my starts first but i shoulda held onto a few of the orvilles i had
I had a 2016 Les Paul Tribute gold top Tribute. That thing was great. I sold it to move up to a Standard, but there was no reason except to move into the more expensive model. It was already wearing nicely and looking great. The person who got it got a great deal, because I sold it for around what I paid. I only shelled out $800 new!
My 2022 Honeyburst is an absolute keeper too
My 2021 50s has a ridge too, its still my perfect LP
Was this filmed before you got the Epi Les Paul John? 😀
Got exactly the same guitar from 2021, i agree ! :)
Id love to have this exact set up at home. Sounds great it’s got a classic les paul growl.
I have the D.S.L.1Watt Marshall head going thru a Marshall 2×12 slanted cabinet. The Tribute Gibson Les Paul. And a handful of pedals. I absolutely love it. Condo living. The 1 watt Marshall turned to a quarter of a watt. I get the tubes screaming. All at low levels. It's really awesome. 0fcouse on the 4th of July, i set it on 1 full watt. Set it on my porch and play the Star spangled Banner dimed out. It's a lot louder than you think it would be. Always get a crowd. The only thing I wish it had was the old wiggle stick. But that's why I have my backup custom P.R.S.s.e. which is my 2nd favorite guitar. For the record, my last guitar that I own is inspired by Gibson E.S. 339. For the ladies. My 3 favorite guitars.
Yes, the Epiphone nailed it. Im done. I have everything I want. Im a happy s.o.b. PEACE
👍👍👍👍
Hi John. Thanks for the video. I purchased a Gibson Tribute around the same time as you and still love it. Really like the satin finish maple neck over the gloss mahogany that you find on typical LP’s.
The lip on the neck was an immediate dealer breaker for me
I own a few Les Paul's and love them but Gibson really needs to be called out on their pricing!
Let's take this "Tribute" being reviewed in this video essentially these are a Les Paul "Standard" minus binding, mahogany neck,
gloss finish and the Burstbucker pu's. But that is all! The tributes sell for $1299 and last week i bought a new 2022 60's standard in
Iced tea burst that has the optional upgraded AAA top for $2670 on sale. Normally these Standards sell for $3K so i got a good deal but
here is my issue, i originally wanted a 60's re-issue VOS Custom shop but they start at $6,700! WTF Gibson?
it is bad enough you charge $1700 more for a standard over the tribute but to charge $4,000 more for the Custom shop?
The Custom shop version's only differences are a long neck tenon, Custombucker pu's,worn hardware and a hazy finish in place of gloss.
A set of Custombuckers sell for $500,worn hardware , a long neck tenon and hazed finish? I don't know exactly how much but lets add another $1500 for those to play it safe so with the pu's and other things a Custom shop VOS Les Paul has i come up with $2000 more than a standard so Where is Gibson getting the extra $2,000 from? all their guitar's are PLEK'ed including the tributes.
Here is a more condensed view of Gibson's crazy pricing!
Custom shop Les Paul VOS =$6700
Standard Les Paul= $2799 with a AA top add another $200 for a AAA top.
Classic Les Paul= $2499 (so some binding, gloss to the finish, and Burstbucker pu's are $1200???)
Studio Les Paul=$1699
Tribute Les Paul= $1299
Love mine can’t beat the light feel finish
Have you ever tried a Duesenberg?
Hi John, hope you are doing well ? I was so lucky just recently and won a similar model as a freebie from Crimson Guitars, made my Christmas (which due to illness turned out to be pretty naff). I now have to get my "playing" up to something worthy of playing it !!!! Lovely guitar. Birthday coming up, so course subs could be on the present list me-thinks.
Congratulations mate 👍
Your playing ability is enjoyable to see.
I’m also looking at a tribute. If you don’t mind playing it why should I.
It's the best single cut I've ever played 👍
Hi John, it will be interesting when you compare your Gibson to the Epiphone 59 you unboxed during your live stream last Friday. I think you might be changing your mind about not selling the Gibson. We will see. Looking forward to the comparison video.
Yes it could be a tough comparison, I think Burstbuckers sound better than 490s. But that's easy to fix.
nice playing!
Dear John, how does the tribute compares with the Harley Benton sc 550?
Overall the HB compares very well. In certain areas, like the stainless steel frets, it's technically a "better" guitar. I prefer the satin finish on the Les Paul, but sound-wise they'd be difficult to tell apart, especially in a mix 👍
Glad you got yourself a keeper.
Classy soloing Sir!
With satin nitro, if you fancy a more traditional aged gloss LP look, I believe you can successfully polish up the satin finish with T-Cut to make it look a bit 'higher end'.
Trogly did that on a recent vid. I can't for the life of me remember what guitar or even what colour, but it was the last month or so.
@@PaulCooksStuff I did it on a 2097 Melody Maker reissue which looked a bit cheap, the results were excellent and took it quite some way (if you squint) to Gary Moore's old Dimarzio powered MM as used at Sydney T. Lizzy gig. Was well pleased, less so with the tree trunk neck!
2007!
If you get an Eastman John the Tribute might be on notice. I had a Tribute until very recently. I had the same thing with the lip on the edge but it was down at the dusty end I thought it might be down to the movement of the two different woods. I part exed it for --- an Eastman SB59L. No regrets what so ever. Great long-term retro on this John.
The same could be said for a Maybach Lester
Thought, sand down the lip problem solved
What a fantastic video I actually enjoyed it
Cheers mate 👍
how heavy is it John? I can't stand back breaker LPs
Lighter than a standard but not as light as a strat
8lb plus change 👍
@@JRobsonGuitar ah lightweight for a paul, my mate's got a custom from the 80s I think, that's so heavy it hurts your knee playing it sat down