Buying a Gibson Les Paul Shouldn't be THIS Difficult
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Unpopular Opinion: most of them are perfectly fine and marketing is fueling us into thinking that we *must* find the right one because that means we'll buy several in trying to get the right one for us, when the first one we grab that's set up correctly is probably all you need.
I almost agree with this. Most guitars can be pretty great with adjustments at the nut, bridge, truss rod.
But I had a vintage reissue telecaster that was a real piece of work. Huge compromises in intonation on some of the barrel saddles. And the pitch legit wavered a ton on some of the strings, even when there was plenty of room for the string to vibrate. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was just a bad guitar - a $2000 bad guitar.
I feel like those weird quirks could be common on a lot of Fenders and Gibsons. But I’d guess the majority of mid-range+ guitars can be set up to play like champs
Vintage-appointed Telecasters (like ones with the barrel saddles) are notorious for having questionable and finicky intonation. So to me, the "problem" you had with your $2000 Telecaster makes it more authentic to a vintage Telecaster.
Yup! My opinion is that there are bad examples of any guitar at any price point. The opposite is also true that there are stellar examples at any price point. I think that if you're shopping for a high-end guitar like a Custom Shop Les Paul, you should try out several of them before purchasing one and enjoy the hunt for the one that feels, sounds and looks perfect to you. I emphasize "to you" because one that is perfect to you may not be to someone else or vice versa.
"Unpopular Opinion:"
halfway true. Gibson hasn't set a neck properly since the early 60's. If you found one that's done right, it was an accident and you have to play 50 bad ones before you find it. But Gibson would rather you believe that when you do find one they accidentally built right, that it's just a magic guitar that you only rarely see. Play les pauls from japan in the 80's and they are all built right.
@@markn4526 " I think that if you're shopping for a high-end guitar like a Custom Shop Les Paul, you should try out several of them"
No, you should buy greco. Gibson does a shit job at every price point. Standard quality Greco's from the 80's are higher quality than custom shop les pauls. Gibson can't set necks properly and they stopped even trying, they just decided to hide the shitty neck joint.
Years ago when I was shopping for my first Les Paul, I called up my sales rep at a large independent music store and set up an appointment to try some out. When I got there, he had set up a practice room with 8 brand new identical Les Paul Standards and an amp. I spent about 3 hours trying out each one. At the end of the day, I picked the one that sounded and played the best. Nothing else mattered and it still doesn't. If you love it, then you've found the one for you. Enjoy!
Ditto. If you like it, buy it. If not, don't. Stay off the forums.
I've bought a few guitars by mail, but LPs are a bit too pricey to buy "sight unseen" and if I were to pay a few grand, I'd do exactly what you did Lim, and not give a *@&# about anything more than playing a few, and buying what I liked.
When hunting my first LP, I remember my long time salesman's advice when I mentioned I was ready for an LP. He said I hope you are ready for "Guitar Safari" to "Find a good one". I looked at him and said "aren't they all mostly the same if they are the same year & model?" He chuckled and said NOPE! I thought he was crazy. It took me ordering 3, and returning all 3 for multiple QC issues than playing about 10 more before I came across the R9 I have now. Now I completely understand. When I found the one and told him, he said to me "Now that you've got a good one, don't ever let it go as you now know the work it takes to find the right one" For some reason, it only seems to happen to me with Les Pauls. Play em' all the time but nothing is ever like the one I have at home.
" For some reason, it only seems to happen to me with Les Pauls."
That's because gibson is notoriously shitty. They incorporated a design in the early 60's that hides bad neck joints and since they did, bad neck sets are the norm and only rare guitars are done correctly, and then it's by accident. This is why 60's gibsons stay the same price while 60's strats cost 40 grand. If a gibson employee tries to set necks right, they'll fire them for being too slow.
#1 thing i’ve learned for my personal preference is to avoid anything with the 498t/490r pickup set. It’s not impossible to make them sound ok and some people swear by them, but i think they’re severely lacking in clarity. You can always muddy up a sound with amps or pedals, but good luck cleaning up a sound that’s dirty at the source.
The 490R is fine. The 498T is garbage.
It blows my mind that Gibson has the gall to put that crap in Custom Shop guitars.
@@ErebosGR I agree.
Agreed. I avoid those ones. Custombucker Alinico 3's sounds LIGHTYEARS better.
490T/490R is great. Like 57 Classic with a hint more mids.
I used to own a Standard from about 2001 (I think- it was one of the last ones with those pickups). At first, I liked those pickups. But if I still had that guitar, I would probably want something else in there. They worked for the more basic, riff-oriented stuff I was playing at the time, but for what I do now (sometimes incorporating unusual chord forms with distortion), they wouldn't cut it.
As I did when buying my Stratocaster back in 1993! I went to Denmark St and tried 20 Strats and ended up buying a second hand one from 92, which played and sounded better than all the others, even the vintage Strats i tried on the day to compare! You can get blinded by information and at the end of the day, it has to suit you!
I own three custom shop guitars (a Strat, Tele, and an R0), and my favorite is still my 1993 American Standard Strat.
Always do the hunt. The one maybe be something you never considered.
Totally agree. I always say to fellow guitarists if you can go to a store and try a bunch of guitars that is the best way.
The alternative is buying secondhand guitars and selling them straight away if they don’t feel right. The only problem is you can’t try loads at the same time unless you hoard them for a while 😃
Your intro playing is beautiful. I have owned several LPs. Gibson, Epiphones, and a variety of different copies like Greco. Best feeling and sounding one I ever owned and will never get rid of is a Japanese FGN Neo Classic. The frets and build quality in general is far better than anything else I’ve tried. I did replace the pickups with Slash ones though.
FGN is fujigen, who also built the greco les pauls and the orville by gibson les pauls. They make the best les pauls on the planet. Top of the line old greco's are now going for 8k. fujigen also built the ibanez iceman guitars that became so collectible and the fender squires from 82 that people rave about.
I have a 2000 Standard. I love it. I also have had a love/hate relationship with Les Pauls in the past. My 2000: I shopped around for a "player's" grade and found this one. Got it for a good deal. It has the '59 neck profile, which I'm ok with, but I think if I get another Les Paul it'll be 60s profile. I immediately swapped out the pups for Seth Lovers, changed all the wiring to 50s and the previous owner upgraded the bridge - can't remember the brand offhand but it was actually expensive and high quality. Came stock with Grovers which is another thing I was looking for. The only thing not changed out is the tail piece for an aluminum one. I have to say I love this guitar. Sounds amazing. I believe it is a chambered body - definitely very light so I'm certain it is not solid. Rings very nicely when u tap on the body. It's solid black.
At the end of the day a guitar is a tool, as long as you like the way it plays and sounds it doesn't matter. Buying a guitar as an investment is a bad idea, esspecially in today's mass-produced market
I saw a YT video of Joe Satriani playing a Squire, he sounded like Joe Satriani. So the point is that once you filter out the 70% guitars with issues like, sharp frets, bad parts , ones that won't tune up or stay in Tune, small differences make small differences. I have a 1957 Les Paul Special and a 2007 Les Paul Standard plus (very different guitars of course) that had a repaired broken headstock neck. I paid $1,000.It is a great guitar and it looks, sounds and plays great. I have played originals that do not sound as good and they would break my back to play a two hour gig! BTW, the 57 is light and sounds amazing. I played a 57 reissue that was nearly as great for a fraction of the cost.
As a longtime Les Paul player, I’ll offer two bits on the subject. For the record, I’m also a Strat player from the early 80s. The Gibson Les Paul is it’s own thing. I bought two 2022 Standards this year and both are truly exceptional instruments. I don’t get into the proverbial weeds about things like long tenon or short tenon. If the instrument is good, quite frankly all the rest of it doesn’t matter. On the weight issue, I have 2021 Classic, complete with weight relief and coil splittable pups. It is the most brilliant playing guitar I’ve ever owned.
One thing that is really a lot of fun with a Les Paul is an under potted neck pickup, especially if it's a P90. Mine has just enough wax in it where it's not microphonic, but it'll do a sustain that morphs into a feedback as you walk towards the amp. This works extremely well with Tweed amps. There will be sweet spots and safe zones that you have to find by walking around the room with it cranked. It takes a few minutes, but it's worth it every time. Under potted pickups, especially the neck are a blast!
How does an under potted p90 sound?
That’s not how it works. Wax potting prevents microphonics, which allows for higher gain, which produces the “good feedback” effect you’re talking about. Carlos Santana played Mesa/Boogie for a reason. “Europa” is probably the ultimate example, but unpotted pickups make that extremely difficult.
My first Les Paul was a 2012 and I am still not sure if it's chambered or weight relieved. What I do know is that it has spent a good time in the summer warmth and the wood seems to have 'dried' somewhat as it weighs a couple of ounses lest than from purchase and that has made it more resonant, I can feel and hear that it is better than when I first played it.
I have a 1995 les Paul classic it’s pretty awesome a little heavy but holds tune perfectly it has old aftermarket pickups in it and it just slays
I own a 1979 Gibson "The Paul" that has some Tim Shaw PAF pickups which I installed and it's a great guitar. I bought an Epiphone 1959 Limited which has long neck tenon and Gibson Burstbuckers pickups, Gibson wiring and Switchcraft toggle. It's a great guitar and I play it the most of the two now.
I took a chance and bought a ‘77 Gibson Les Paul Standard off eBay about 10 years ago and it’s just awesome. Completely stock and has its own sound and sits perfectly in a mix. I like it’s 3-piece maple neck and volute. I have spent a lot of time adjusting the pickups; raising and lowering the pole pieces and pickup height- and that got me right where I need to be.
Dude tab that intro solo! That was killer❤
As a gigging musician the hardest part was finding one at the right weight (sub 9lbs for me, i play 4-6 hour hits) and one thatll reasonably intonate. This took me on a journey for sure. My first LP was actually a Heritage from the 90s that sounded phenomenal and played in tune but it was just way too heavy at 10.5 lbs. Next I experimented with some juniors. That showed me I wanted p90s but also that I did want some weight, just not a heavyweight. After that I bought and gigged a 2019 standard goldtop with p90s. Very good guitar, also introduced me to thr joys of the 50s neck profile. That guitar satiated me until I played an r6. The r6 was perfectly weighted, for me, at 8.5lbs. Had that twangy airiness I personally wanted and overall just felt slightly more elegant/smooth around the edges. So idk, ymmv but it was def a 5/6 year journey of playing/gigging/etc until I found the one I still use all the time
Store selection may be some new guitars + many ‘shop turds’ to sort through. Makes it tough.
Just bought a '68 Custom Reissue. It's so good in every way - it even matches my Tom Anderson in quality, sound, and tuning stability. Love it.
In the spring of 2021 I got a 2019 Les Paul Classic. Beautiful. Took it to my luthier for setup. It plays beautifully. It’s a real treasure.
As humans in the Information Age we can get WAY to bogged down in the minutiae, searching for something to ‘improve our sound’. No one can hear a long tenon joint or weight relief or tuning pegs. There will be a perceivable ‘difference’ in tone from one guitar to the next regardless of any of the similarity or variance these things. That doesn’t mean good or bad, just different.
Play a bunch and pick the one that fits you. Looks good on you and most importantly of all makes you want to play.
I completely understand that it’s very tempting to completely fall down the rabbit hole. Lord knows I have but In a band mix, on stage, no one in the crowd (aside from the odd guitar players) is thinking oh that Les Paul isn’t a long tenon joint so it sounds less good.
The manufacturers and people dealing on the vintage market need to perpetuate the stories and myths so they can make more money.
I’ve played quite a few vintage instruments that were complete pigs and some that were amazing. the same with new guitars.
I do find that different guitars can bring different things out in my playing and usually inspire new songs as well.
Guitars are tools to help you express yourself.
If you are investing in guitars to make future profit then disregard everything I’ve just written 😂 (you probably already have)
I think what makes for a "good" LP is different for everyone which, the more you think about our individual wants, ideas and needs, makes a lot of sense. When I decided to buy my own Gibson Les Paul Standard there were certain attributes I knew I wanted, but finding them all in one guitar turned out to be more of a challenge than I'd originally expected! I'll explain these attributes below:
1. Lightweight aka >9lbs
2. Asymmetrical or 60s profile
3. Traditional nut width
4. No robot tuners, with locking tuners a bonus
5. Locking bridge/tailpiece a bonus
6. No coil splits or taps - a 3 way toggle and 2x humbuckers is what I prefer in a LP
7. 50s harness a bonus
8. Interesting flame top - always subjective, that!
9. Very good condition - my budget meant I would be buying secondhand.
10. One more thing to be discussed later.
Happily, after around a 3 month search, I found what I was looking for (with a few bonuses included ) on Reverb: a 2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard with a James Home of Tone 50s harness and a set of reverse zebra Seymour Duncan Slash sig AlNiCo II humbuckers on board too. Here's the 2008 reviewed by Premier Guitar: www.premierguitar.com/2008-gibson-les-paul-standard-review
I immediately ditched the lunacy of the Neutrick Locking Jack and then sent it to a phenomenal guitar refinisher I know.
Wait, WHAT?!! Yeah, it sounds mad, doesn't it. But hear me out; the nitro Gibson currently uses for its USA range guitars has a slightly soft density to it - due mainly to the rubberising agent they add to try and keep the guitars shiny and new looking- and it's sprayed on pretty damn thick (about 3mm) and can be ever so slightly opaque as a result. The worst of these (IMO) were the 2015 models. There's a LOT about the 2015 range that will have LP aficionados scratching their heads for decades, but one of those for was how "boiled sweet" like that year of LPs appeared.
Picky bugger that I am, I've always enjoyed the resonance, feel and sense of connectivity a thin nitro finish brings. I believe it makes me play better and, without question, it's why I love thin skin relic Fenders too. Anyway, the guy I sent to finish it (for a lot less money than you're imagining!) uses the original dyes, powders and thin, hard dying nitro that Gibson used to use in the 50s and early 60s, and now saves for its Custom Shop level instruments. Which is maybe fair? After all they have to justify those price tags somehow I guess.🤔
My LP now features a dark (brown) back and a beautiful faded bourbon burst - Christ, I must've looked through thousands of burst #GoogleImages before picking the "one" - in a delicious crystal clear, thin nitro finish. And my GOD! The top pops like crazy; it's as though the flame in the maple has finally been allowed to burst into life.
Pic: www.dropbox.com/s/vxh61bk1pidcdl1/2020-05-07%2011.29.28.jpg
Refinish included, this guitar still cost me a lot less than a new, off the shelf one. And I'm really glad I bought it when I did (3 years ago), as prices are continuing zoom up and up. I'm lucky. I love this guitar and it's absolutely a keeper. Yes, my research paid off, but I do think half the battle is listening less to the screaming hordes on the Interwebz about what makes a "good" Les Paul. My feeling is that your time is MUCH better spent playing as many LPs as possible until you've figured out, with as much certainty as you can, what is the best Les Paul for YOU.
Blimey
Ooooh I love that guitar of yours Suzy ! 😊
@@superreality3823 thank you. Blimey is a bloody good word, sorely underused so, if I may, I'm taking your reply as both a glorious and nostalgia filled one!😉😎🙌
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist Alec! You're too kind. Also, smashing to see you here, you excellent man-of-all-things-midi, you! Hoping you had a lovely Xmas and beaming vibes full to bursting with the very best of good health and general awesomeness in your direction for 2023 too😎👊
Epic journey and pretty guitar. I like your approach but never thought to refinish my guitar. Who did you use? What knobs are those?
Fully chambered bodies were very light. Not light enough to cause neck dive but light enough that I personally couldn't get used to them the first time I tried one. Now, 13 years later, I welcome lighter guitars.
Get a good set-up and fretwork, find the pickups that are voiced the way you like, and you can make any Les Paul into a phenomenal guitar for yourself. Sometimes you get lucky and find one that's already near perfect as soon as you get your hands on it. Sometimes it takes some tweaks to get there, but I think there's very few instances where it's completely unattainable.
Personally, I prefer ABR-1 bridges, bone nuts, 50s wiring, and Alnico V humbuckers on all my LPs.
Excellent playing on the intro! I have 2 Gibson Les Pauls (2016 Standard T & 2017 Studio) and both are great guitars. The 2016 was when they were still putting AAA tops on the standards, so thankful I bought that year. I also have 2 SG's (2014 Standard 120 limited run & 2017 Standard), no issues on those either, or else they would have been returned within the window. I have all of mine set up by a local luthier within the return period, so another set of eyes can point out any issues, but again all was well. I think buying one with a good return policy from your retailer is key, if there is an issue, just return it and get a replacement or another type of guitar.
I got my LP R8 from a dude that needed wedding money. He worked as a rep for a big guitar maker and got to try lots before buying, and boy am I glad he did all the heavy lifting! For me, I want under 9 lbs, a chunky neck, resonant unplugged, and PLEKd like crazy! The fancy top, relic etc not so important.
I've got a 2007 Les Paul BFG and I got it because I liked playing it. I've had other Les Pauls in the past that I've sold but I'll be hanging on to the BFG as it suits me perfectly.
About 10 years ago I bought a 73 LP custom, that I love. Before laying out the same amount of money as for a new LP Custom, I decided I should play a new one and compare it. It looked good, there was some lacquer that needed buffing out in the cutaway, but it was a good machine built replica. But it was completely lacking in soul. The 73 is hand made and I think that imparts something to it. I also like the fretless wonder frets that are on my 73. They are the fastest/lowest frets out there. The action is super low and you just have to move your fingers as fast as you can. My advice is buy the oldest one you can afford that feels good to you, preferably before they moved from Kalamazoo.
I’ve had Les Paul’s from vintage (54, 56, 57 & 60) to Custom Shop reissues. All were great, with effort. Nuts, bridges, fret work, adjustments, etc. I have rarely changed pickups and had it end up worth the cost & effort. The subtleties of setup pay the biggest dividend, along with time. They have to age to bring out the best in them.
I love my 2004 LP Standard, shes a keeper ! Hey John, what kind of replacement tune of matic bridge have in your LP ?
Very nice playing as always! I think the middle position sounds really good on your guitar and they generally say if thats the case stick to it. As i watch your videos your tone generally is in a ballpark on bridge even the guitar is a strat :) so in your level of playing, how you feel and how much the guitar projects you is most important IMO
I got a Les Paul a few months ago. It was used, and it was a 60's profile neck, which I wanted. I did have to run some steel wool on the back of the neck because of a rough patch. Overall, I'm happy with it.
Fun! I got a 2008 LP Standard and ADDED the Slash zebra pups. *shrugs* I just prefer the sound to the BurstBuckers that came stock. Nice resonant guitar, pretty light relatively. Used, and I stood in a room and played through a bunch of used ones until I found the one that just felt and sounded the most right.
Nice sounding Les Paul, what was you playing it through. Many thanks
In 1987, I found the god-awfullest looking p90 goldtop the world had ever seen. It's a hillbilly junkyard ratrod that was put together out of spare parts by some guys at a store in Atlanta in the early 80s. They took a neck from one, the body from another, and raided the parts bin. It's a happy trainwreck that every cork sniffer on earth will sneer at and say "yeah, right". A genuine mongrel mutt made entirely from real Gibson parts. People try to pat me on the head and give me a rubber cookie when they see it. I've had it for 36 years, and the next time it changes hands will be at my estate sale. I just hope whoever gets it next will appreciate it.
I like the idea of a Les Paul but honestly I’ve had nothing but issues mostly due to quality. For $2000 it still felt cheap. I’ve owned about 7 in my lifetime and I always ended up selling. Great video explaining it all! If I were to buy one I’d go with an Eastman SB model.
Had an SB-55, which was ok, but the ebony board makes it a different thing compared to rosewood, sonically and feel wise. Also Lollars tend to be lower wound, and it is different compared to a vintage PAF.
Yeah I know they're expensive but custom shops are really the way to go, it's a totally different instrument to the usa stuff, see if you can get a good deal used maybe.
Same, nothing but issues with LP's, Had zero issues with around the same price 2k+ ibanez and strats
My experience with Gibson has been the same.
Mid / high Japanese tokai will never let you down and I still have my 94 Les Paul Standard and a junior style Gibson but since then it’s been Tokai - they make the Paul how
Gibson wish they could every time for a fraction of the price … they don’t say Gibson on the head stock they say Tokai but at this point that just means your gonna get a true quality built replica that is stunning in every way .. including an in tune G string ..
Hi John, have you tried an early Tokai? I have an 82 and it plays great! I did put in SD pup's however. These are 59 replicas and are very reasonably priced. I do understand wanting an actual Gibson. I have a 74 tobacco burst custom but the frets are so thin (original) its not very playable.
I'm trying to use my 2015 Less Plus for gigging. Love it except that the total width at the 12th fret is a full 1/4" wider than my Strats. It does feel different. Would like to know which models are narrower there.
I researched a lot as I like Jimmy Page plus sound. I bought a chambered studio 2016, y cos I intended modding it. First Seymour Duncan whole lotta pickups, then the wiring for phase and parallel, I watched and talked with Stephens Design Pickups who had done extensive research on tail piece bridge and replaced with Faber. The construction of these has a huge sound effect and brass is always used in old lps and teles. Dave’s pickups are also awesome vintage.
Took me the better part of 18 years. I will say tho I did not give 100% in my efforts bc after my first failure I settled quite nicely with single coils and mostly stayed there. I did play some from time to time but hated them all. Finally, this year, I fell in love with a 2000 Gibson LP Classic with Suhr Thornbuckers and I couldn’t be happier. Not sure about the tenon but definitely not weight relieved.
One of your coolest pieces in the beginning, imho :D thanks man!
Beautiful but I can't get used to it and it is so mid focussed. So I got myself a 335 and recently a Gretsch Duo Jet with Filtertrons.
I have struggled with finding a good les Paul. so this past week I bought a heritage 157, 3 pickup model. Best Les Paul style guitar you can get. Hands down, I even directly compared it to a 59' Les Paul and a Peter Frampton replica that a friend had.
You can build yout own, I did. Select you pickups you electronics, whatever turns you on.
The only Les Paul I have ever enjoyed playing, and liked the sound and feel of, is the Les Paul Double Cutaway Faded edition from the mid 2000's. I have one in TV Yellow. Checks all of my boxes. But of course, it doesn't look, feel, play, or sound like a traditional LP, and that's why I love it, and that's why it works for me.
I'm a fender player but always wanted an LP. I tried many over years but really was shocked by the hit and miss fret and finish work. I finally bought a 2012 standard with 50s neck and weight relief and it's wonderful. I did have to monkey with the nashville bridge bit did get it dialed. I changed the pups to pearly gates and much prefer it. A very characterful instrument for sure.
Have owned several les Paul’s over the years. Bought a 2007 standard a while back and it’s been my favorite. I know it’s probably not popular because it’s weight relieved but it’s a fantastic guitar and I actually enjoy it very much. Don’t let all the hype about the different years steer you from a guitar that you connect with. There are definitely Gibson duds all through the different model years
Just bought a new trad pro V. I love it, however, i have 43 days left to return it and want to go try some more out before i decide im keeping it. Ive had a 93 studio since about 97 thats been my beat up love it but dont care if it gets banged up. The new one is a beauty though. Ebony burst flame top.
Read comments below and your final point and the 'play as many as you can and grab the one that feels best' is probably what I would recommend. I bought a 1968 LP Custom 2rd hand in 1974 for NZD 800. It was the only one available in Wellington and the owner was a good friend. Played it live all thru the 70's and it's still my go to studio guitar if I'm after that sound. I think I got lucky! That said, lately I noticed that Parsons here (in HK) are carrying all the Epiphone & Gibson range so had some fun trying Custom Shop / Murphy Lab stuff - all Standards. There was one lightly aged for USD 10K+ that was 'meh' for me, another one for USD 7K that felt like magic. Working my way thru them for fun. I did buy the Epiphone 59 with Gibson electronics (and terrific satin finish) which is lovely, always wanted to see what a Standard with the fat neck feels like, and the Epi Cantrell Wino Custom which I felt immediately at home on with the ebony fretboard etc. Planning on flipping Monty's PAFs into both at some point - but I digress. I do feel sorry for anyone who is restricted to online ordering - it's a crapshoot, really. Cheers.
Les Paul's are hard to buy sight unseen, especially the Gibson USA models. I've played a lot of dogs that were lifeless. I also think the long neck tenon business is just marketing BS. I own a 58 Reissue with the long neck tenon. It sounds great, but I've played guitars with short neck tenons that sound better, with better sustain. My hypothesis is that the quality of the wood makes a much bigger difference in the sound of the guitar than any other feature.
I spent years trying to find a Les Paul that felt great in my hands....I had to go custom shop before I found a "great" one....and even then it wasn't easy, played about 15 CS's before I found a great one that just felt amazing in my hands. if you have a good Les Paul, hang on to it for dear life! They are hard to come by......
Beautiful touch!
Finding the right Les Paul is like finding a girlfriend/boyfriend, what floats your boat won't be the same for the next person so it's all down to dating/playing as many as possible until you find "The one"! On the long neck tenon, I had a 2005 Faded standard with a short tenon and it sustained for days and sounded glorious! I only sold it because I needed the money for a deposit on a new house!
I have been pretty fortunate with my Les Paul history. I've owned 4 over the years and while I've tried to avoid the more "weird" ones (i.e. the ones that heavily deviated from what a Les Paul Standard was in decades past), I was fortunate to mostly just own pretty basic Les Paul's. One had coil splits but the rest were just good and basic. The only one I currently own is a 50s goldtop standard and it is such a fantastic guitar. There was a period of time where I avoided Gibson due to the direction they were taking with the Les Paul as I just have always preferred that basic standard spec. When they got back to that in recent years I finally got the goldtop I had always wanted and I love it. Definitely have heard some horror stories with Gibson consistency, though! And their specs are truly confusing as hell to figure out!
I avoided the rabbit hole by buying a Collings City Limits, which I can best describe as a 59 Les Paul inspired guitar, with a few modern refinements, but also retaining a vintage feel and vibe. It’s built with a perfection that far exceeds Gibson Custom Shop and … if it doesn’t exactly copy all of the attributes of a real 1959 LP Standard, I don’t care, because it’s not a Les Paul; it’s a City Limits.
I bought a mint condition Les Paul that looked amazing and sounded good but the neck profile was a slim taper and I never loved it. I had to sell a bunch of guitars before emigrating and although the Les Paul was probably THE guitar I spent my teens and early adult life yearning to own… it was the first guitar to go. I replaced it with a broken headstock 50’s spec that was gifted to me because it was wrecked (I repaired it partly myself and a talented luthier to finish) and its got dings and lacquer cracks and chips but I really enjoy the feel and vibe of it. I swapped out the tailpiece and bridge and it is really good. I don’t mind taking some sandpaper to the neck if I want or getting a bump. It’s a completely different beast to the rest of my collection which I can’t stand getting flaws.
Just to clarify - all Epi 1959s have a long tenon & quality electronics inc Gibson Burstbuckers. The difference with the bonamassa/Lazarus model is that it has a single piece neck
NICE! Thanks for that!
Gibsons are well out of my price range. I did have a Vintage V100 ICON and a Tanglewood Baron.
The Vintage scratched the Les Paul itch very nicely. Silly factory relic job.
The Tanglewood Baron weighed almost 11lb but sounded amazing. Stunning looker too.
Sold them both and got a Yamaha AES620 instead. Put new pickups in it.
All bought off eBay, all left handed. Limited opportunities to try anything sadly.
My best one was a 1980 KM that got stolen. I heard one recently on TH-cam, and it was like listening to an old friend.
I've got 2 Les Pauls and I love them both. The first is a 2008 standard and by far my favourite guitar of the many that have passed through my life.
The second is a 2019 classic that I bought without trying simply because I had to have a red Les Paul and I can't find fault with it.
Perhaps I'm just easily pleased.
I’ve had many LPs but have always sold or traded them. I finally realized I am a strat guy. I do also really like PRS McCartys (the original 25” scale w/ stop-bar, not the 594). My issues with LPs are the uncomfortable shape- digs into my rib cage and rubs on my picking forearm. Also they don’t stay in tune and most are way too heavy. Having said all that I just bought a used R7 Goldtop😂. Wiring for it to be delivered in 2 days.
I'm on my own Les Paul journey now and probably obsessing too much about the details. I think with LPs, it comes down to feel, more so than any other guitar potentially as there just seems to be so much variability between each guitar. If it sounds good and feels right and as a bonus, looks good, then I think that'll be the one for me. Not found one that ticks all those boxes yet.
When you play a Gibson Les Paul. A different Animal Comes out. Ted Nugent knows. Detroit Muscle 🇺🇸
When I was growing up my teacher said I shouldn’t care what a guitar looks like. First I want it to feel good and be comfortable. That’s no 1. And what’s wrong with liking it’s looks? That’s why they make tons of different options. Oh and it has to sound great. I saw a guitar I fell in love with re early only due to its color and looks. I know it would be uncomfortable for me. Very frustrating. I have had to just let it go if it’s going to be unplayable.
With Gibson it's all down to the quality of the wood. I spent a bit of time researching and bought a Custom Shop 59 RI. It's the wood for sure. Mine weights 8.5 lbs and is solid. The R9s get the lightest of the blanks, followed by the 60s and other models. It's mostly Honduran Mahogany if memory serves. With all sorts of Rosewood types. I have an older Madagascar rosewood fretboard and is a darker color with not much banding. What I love best of the 59RIs is the necks. They are the best imho.
But the cost these days is even more prohibitive than before. I spent a lot on mine but no where near the $7K now they fetch.
I have two Gibson Les Pauls (a 2002 Studio and a 2018 HP2) and one Epiphone (the Alex Lifeson Signature). They each have their own Pros and Cons. The neck on the Studio is like a baseball bat, and it can be tiring to play. The others have slimmer neck profiles, carved heels and are a dream to play. They are also a reasonably moderate weight (I have no time for boat anchors!) and are nicely resonant. There seem to be a lot of traditionalists who are obsessed with weight etc., but ultimately, the only proper criteria are how it sounds and feels to you. It's not a competition - it's entirely personal preference!
As you know. I’d love a les Paul standard. I even borrowed yours. Thing is now I borrowed another standard and the tokai with the bare knuckle mules in sounds great to me. And as much as a snob I am and want it to say Gibson. I just can’t warrant the money to go Gibson. I will eventually but if it feels good and sounds great it is the one for you. I’m a sucker for the colour of yours though.
I bought a Les paul 60s tribute in 2018. I testet my guitar a Studio, a classic and a Standard. 900-2600 € price range. I chose the tribute cause it was the best sounding and feeling one to me of All of them. I still love it today, cause its light and resonant with a great feel to it. A ringer! Buying a Guitar is always a feel thing for me.
It should be noted that the primary reason Clapton, Beck, Bloomfield and their contemporaries bought '50s Les Pauls is that there were no '65, '66, etc. Les Pauls available to buy. Gibson stopped making them after 1960. (According to multiple sources, Gibson sold less than 2,000 Les Pauls during their initial 8-year run.) It should also be noted that many, many of the '50s Les Pauls were "garbage." The neck angles were off, the pickups were inconsistently wired, fit and finish left much to be desired, etc.
In 1971, I went into the Sam Ash on W. 48th St. in Manhattan intending to buy a Les Paul. I tried 3 or 4 and none of them were "it." I decided to try the SG, played about 6 of them and found one that "fit." That is was ~$100 less than a Les Paul was a bonus. It sounded great, the neck profile was better for my hands, and the easier access to the upper frets didn't hurt.
I bought the cheapest USA Gibson available last year, a Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker model. Best $750 I ever spent. I’m a tinkerer and added som Kluson Revolution locking tuners and replaced the stoptail with a Schaller Signum intonatable bridge. It was great even before the mods, but now has rock solid tuning and intonation. Never have I owned a Les Paul before, but I had owned core model PRS guitars, and my $1000 Gibson is way more playable and sounds better too
I've had a number of Gibson Les Paul guitars going back to my 1979 heritage sun burst. I've played many whilst attempting to buy one. It's never easy to find one they all feel different. I've always been pleased with the sound and very disappointed with the quality control. I sold my Studio a year ago just because of the quality control, I couldn't bare looking at the bad paint job any longer.
I bought the Epiphone Les Paul 1959 limited edition a month ago. It plays better than any of the Gibson I've had straight out the box. The finish is impecable. It has what matters which is the Gibson pickups and wiring. It's light weight and has a beautiful resonance and life even unplugged. It's everything I've been looking for on a Gibson.
For me I'm happy that it has Epiphone on the headstock and its a guitar I will not be selling on. If I had the money I would have considered an Eastman.
😂 If someone says they tried a Les Paul and didnt like it, they have no clue. They are all different.
Just try as many as you can then pick the one that sounds good, looks good and has that "perfect neck".
From the 70's on to present I had many and sold many. The "one" I settled on is a newer custom shop with a 59 neck. Its fairly light, beautiful and just has that neck that fits perfect for my hand.
unfortunately the "perfect" one I've found costs like $10K+ :/
2 things dictate the voicing of a guitar.
1 distance between bridge and P.U.
2 stability between bridge and nut.
FWIW I'm a 2001 LP Std 60's, Honeyburst plaintop enjoyerer (Swiss cheese relief)
Would I spend another 3000 Euro's on a LP Std??? Nope.
Do I love my LP Std??? Hell yes!
I have owned several Gibson LPs including a mid 2000s 58 historic, which was great. I stupidly sold the historic and a dot to buy an es-339. I currently own a made in Japan Tokai ls128 which is probably around 2015. It has a real flame top and long tenon. It is a well made guitar and probably closer to original spec than any recent non-historic Gibson. They have been building these guitars way longer than Gibson, which went through many factory iterations and had to relearn how to make a proper guitar. In the end it it is a corporate owned brand. When I got it it 5 years ago it was under $1k shipped. It was used, but I think it was just shop worn old stock. A downside is you can’t try them in a shop in the us unless you find one used.
So all my life id had a weird approach, and it was always wanting a guitar just because i loved how it looked and then with that I would deal with the pros and cons of each guitar i would pick up. Make the mods and whatever. I guess for me its like you have a child or a pet and they just develop and you work with it!
I bought a 2019 Les Paul Standard w/50's neck pretty much as soon as it became available. This was the first year of the "Original Collection" introduced by the new leadership at Gibson. It is everything I needed in a LP: A generally old school design (if not as accurate as the Custom Shop stuff), and a very well made gutiar. Plays really well, sounds right, looks good. I don't need more. Previouslty I had a 1974-ish Les Paul Custom. Bought it new. Wore out the "Fretless Wonder" frets in one year, and refretted it. Pickups were just meh! Didn't like the neck carve. Never really bonded with that guitar (not before nor after the refret). But the 2019 is a keeper.
Im pretty happy with my les paul standard with 50s neck and not chambered, even keeps tuning when I string it right. Theres just nothing cooler than a lp for classic rock.
I wonder, is this a product of the world of Reverb and online purchasing? I don’t recall this much noise around LPs when we all went to music shops ( I bought 3- that way)
Hey..i appreciate the playing. Nice sound. Les Paul Fender PRS ..im good.
40 years playing. Early days mostly played Strat style, still do. But always lusted after a good LP. 18 years ago I got has a few bucks to buy a good guitar and went shopping for a LP, maybe a custom shop. Couldn't gel with the fat neck, 60's was a bit better. Weeks later was ready to give up and picked up a 2003 PRS Custom 22 Artist with the Wide Thin neck. I think I went back to the shop a couple of times. It ended up coming home with me. Later I put in a set of unpotted Bareknuckle Mules, and I still have it today. I still don't have a proper LP, but I do have a 2012 LP Special P90 which is a great guitar. Maybe one day!
A few years ago I tried 3 LP Standards in Andertons and they all sounded the same, then I tried a Heritage LP which was about £600 dearer but the sound difference was amazing, the Heritage sound had so much more depth. I regret not buying it.
I think tenon length is more important with the ES-3x5 guitars than with Les Pauls. The ES neck meets the body at fret 19, so even the "long" ES tenon is rather short. I would have no problem buying a short tenon Les Paul, but for an ES guitar, I definitely want the long tenon.
I gave up. Couldn't find a new Gibson I really liked, besides Murphy Lab, but don't have that money to spend. The USD to Euro rate has not been helping either. Even second hand models (pre 2019) like an R9 are now sold for €1500 more then it used to be 3 yrs ago. My bet is now on a Yamaha Revstar RSP20, if needed I can tweak it (pickups etc). Fingers crossed. Otherwise the PRS S2 McCarty 594 could be an option.
I've owned my 1988 Gibson Les Paul Standard since it was purchased brand new in 88. I never played a bunch of LPs before purchase. My Pops bought it for me as a Christmas gift and everyone who ever played it wants to buy it. Only modification are Pearly Gates pick ups. I wouldn't ever be able to afford what I want in todays Gibson Les Paul market new or used.
Les Paul shopping should just be on feel. If it plays good and sounds good, but it.
I agree 100%. I would like to see Gibson do what prs has done. Make one version affordable (s2 line) and one version the standard (core line). After that is CS. The problem now is that the truly “great” les Pauls are usually custom shop ones only. I’d like to see them get rid of every variation of the standard and raise its price point to whatever it needs to be for the quality to return. As it is there are several price points and quality remains spotty at best. They need to simplify the spec and standardize.
Epiphone...
Jeez I musta really got lucky. I kinda knew what I wanted when I went Les Paul hunting. I knew it would have to be a studio cause of my price bracket. Also as a Strat player 1st, this would be back up- 2nd guitar. Found a 97 ebony with gold trim, 496/500 pups, strap locks, and chain saw case. Took a chance at $800. Now 10 yrs later and many changes to the guitar it's just about perfect. Locking tuners and bridge. Tusc nut. CTS 500K pots. It just looks classic especially sitting next to my Strat. I did have some idea of what I wanted and was able to find it quickly and easily. Lucky very lucky. I see so many who go through so many guitars before they find "THAT ONE". This is my 1st guitar I own that I didn't get to play before buying and I would never recommend that. Now I've got 2 more but they are cheap electric/ acoustics . 1 a 12 string for $129 and the other is a 6 string for $83. Both have been on stage at my worship band gigs.
When I bought my first les paul, I went into a shop that had a lot of them. I took a 50s standard and a 60s standard off the wall and plugged them into a fender amp and spent some time with each. I picked the 60s... MUCH preferred it over the 50s. Ok... now I have my baseline... so I went down the wall and played all the other LPs, all the way up to the 7K one. My plan was to find one better than the 60s standard, make it the new baseline, then keep going. To cut to the chase, I walked out with the 60s standard. All the others ether played equal to or worse to my taste, or offered nothing other than artificial aging (which I could never authentically pay for and play without feeling like a tool). When you put the high end collector attitudes aside, and don't find value in paying thousands for some famous guy's belt scratches, there really isn't a whole lot of variety on offer from Gibson. I paid $2500 as this was before the covid price hike. But the guitar still needed a professional set up, along with getting the nut and bridge replaced. Tuning stability and capability was dogshit off the wall. Shameful really. Two $30 parts completely transformed it into the guitar they claim it to be, and at the price point they sell it for there is no excuse. It's just a way to get you to try to move upstream a couple thousand dollars.
I later bought a Les Paul Modern. It's a nice guitar, but... I often think of selling it. Doesn't bring much to the table that I don't already have. But the real kicker is that I recently bought a Reverend Sensei Jr. If I had found that guitar first, I wouldn't have bought either of the les pauls. At Under 1k for the guitar and a hardshell case, it's head and shoulders above either les paul in quality, feel and special vibes. Of the three, I reach for the Reverend most often by far.
Try out the 2018ish les Paul tribute. They check all the boxes for a les Paul and aren’t nearly as expensive as the other “proper” gibsons.
I have 5 les Paul’s…. Everything from a custom shop to an epiphone and they usually stay in the case. Prs and teles are cheaper and give all the tones you need. The les Paul looks beautiful, which is why I can’t seem to part with any.
I found a good sounding, well built, Les Paul.. it’s a Yamaha Revstar 620. In the past 5 years I’ve ordered 2 Gibson versions but sent them back. No way at that price could I justify it.
After going through early 90's Studios (ebony boards) and late 90's Classics (skinny necks), I've found that I prefer Les Paul Standards from 2000-2005. They seem to be very consistent.
I have a 2018 R-0 and it is the best Les Paul I have ever played. I was lucky enough to be able to try it out for nearly a year before I bought it. The weight is 8 lb. 6 oz , pretty light and it is very resonant and you can hear the tone of the guitar even when it is not plugged in. I think it is a much better guitar than any of the old Gibsons I have had- maybe its just me but I think that the newer stuff might be the best stuff that Gibson has ever made .....or at least the most consistently good. The big drawback is that these new historic Les Pauls are really expensive- I had to sell a bunch of guitars to get the one I have.......I don't have any regrets , though. Better to have one great guitar that you play all the time than a fleet of guitars that might be gathering dust.
I start by saying I'm old, and am biased to vintage guitars from my younger years. I was also generally a bass player (at least that's what I made money at). I've played friends' older (50s-60s) Les Pauls. Most were a delight, especially, to me, the ones with the fatter necks. I got a '73 LP Custom maybe 30 years ago, and really didn't like it at all. Something just wasn't right about it. But I love the tone of mahogany, so am considering taking the risk again... it'll probably be a newer (2000s) used Junior or Special with the P90s. I dunno. I love the sound of those pickups, and have a '54 ES125....but I want a solid body. This is an interesting video that poses a number of questions. Thanks. I guess I just have to try a number of instruments if I don't want to buy something online that doesn't work for me.
I had a 60th Anniversary R9, it was over a pound lighter than my 60’s Standard and played a little slinkier… and that’s about it, it was NOT $3K better imo. I sold it to get another 60’s Standard and have some spare cash.
I own several Les Pauls, a few are Custom Shop models but my best sounding and playing one is a 1978 LP Custom, Norlin era, maple neck, short tenon, volute and weighs 10.5 pounds. None of this stuff really matters, just buy the one that looks and sounds the best
I literally bought a LP, tried to make it work for me for months set it in the corner and it just collected dust. I eventually found a good tech that changed some things and set it up. Reshaped the nut and it’s a keeper. My most expensive guitars tend to be the most troublesome and expensive. I’ve built 3 parts guitars S and T style. They are big wins.
It took 3 until I found the right one. It was also the most expensive...😢 First a studio in the 90's. Then a 61 reissue LP (sg) in 2000's and just got a standard 60's unburst. It's everything I wanted from a LP. Now I just need another one😂😂
It comes down to historic or modern specs. I have both. Neither one is better than the other, just different
Never got Les Pauls until I got my R59. It’s just a completely different guitar to the standard ones I’ve played. It’s much more dynamic and “vocal.” I wouldn’t play “Sweet Child o’ Mine” on it (or anything else for that matter) but for Knopfler, Clapton, Ford, Carlton, it’s wonderful.
I’m trying an Epiphone’59 thing after Christmas. Anyone have any thoughts? I’ve heard good things. Just don’t want four grand around my neck at a gig!
Try an Eastman 59, I don't think you will be disappointed.
@@antreb15 Will do. Thanks for the tip!
I have the limited edition Epiphone '59 and I really like it. The '59 neck profile is very comfortable and the Gibson USA Burstbuckers that come with it sound identical to the Custom Buckers Gibson uses in the R9. This guitar is basically Epiphone's version of the Gibson R9. It has the long tenon, no weight relief, 500k CTS pots, '50s wiring, Mallory caps, Switchcraft P/U selector switch and output jack. Nothing to upgrade except the Epiphone tuners, which I replaced with locking Klusons. The matte finish is disappointing, so I grabbed some D'Addario Restore Detailer Step 1 polish and buffed a shine into the top and back to show off the wood grain. I love the matte finish on the neck, eliminates any sticky-ness a gloss might create, so I left that alone. Overall, a really nice instrument and unbeatable for the price.
@@jimbofet Hey thanks! Yeah the pickups on the Epiphone I think are the same as stock Gibsons? Looks/sounds really good.
@@infinity-1834 you can look at tokai greco burny lps aswell. I really dig the Japanese Greco,s lp from most of the ranges real craftmanship
I've owned several Les Paul's since 1979, and I can say that my newest are my favorites. I loved my others, but I was always on some crazy tone journey. Next thing I new, I went through a 100 or more guitars and didn't land on anything that kept me for long. My newest LP's are my fav's for sure.
Just curious .. why do you hate it?
@@rpm4999 sticky neck, my only option is to sand it down and I don't want to do that
@@dubreg6711 Scotch-brite pad.
@@dubreg6711 magic eraser does the trick!
@@edmoification oh great I'll try that I presume you just dampen the sponge
For some reason I've never bonded with any Les Paul Standard or Custom, but a Special or a Jr is perfect for me.
Gibson tends to go into panic/PR mode, tho seem to be settling in again with more confidence.
I prefer my SG, but did love a LP Modern Pro V I played in the store…but the chambered body was incredibly microphonic.