I really liked this one - I felt it suffered from the same weak bridge pickup that the Queen of Clean did though, but JJN made it sound good! haha For Sale: reverb.com/item/24507924-video-2019-gibson-les-paul-standard-50s-p90-gold-top-original-collection?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly Episode Guide: 0:23 - Original Collection History 1:48 - Model History 2:45 - First Impressions 6:05 - Inside Look / Specs 12:31 - Tone Talk 14:07 - Tone Comparisons 16:24 - Viewer Question 1 17:17 - Viewer Question 2 18:14 - Viewer Question 3 19:14 - Final Thoughts 20:49 - Case / Candy
Thanks for answering the sonic comparison question. Obviously, they have different appointments that can cover the difference in cost. Hopefully you will get a Les Paul special and give the run down. Your reviews are honest and thorough. Just a heads up I think you misspoke on the bridge pick up, your meter said 8.08 and you said 8.8. Thanks for all the work you put in!
@@juancruzrabaglia722 No but he does immediately sell the guitars. Most people would make it sound as amazing as possible so they could boost their profits considerably.
@@PaulieHo ...See, you're trying to be profound or something but it just doesn't work. Just say you like how straight forward and genuine he is. I don't even know how you're supposed to *sell* trust and views for fuck's sake...
I know this is an older video, but the bridge pickup is supposed to be thinner. That is correct. If you isolate the guitar tone in all of the old classic rock songs, you’ll find a much thinner guitar tone than you think. Those guys understand that the guitar is the treble side instrument. They relied on their bass players to provide bass tone to the mix.
...and now I need a P90 Les Paul, lol. Excellent review. I really enjoy how you (literally) take the model apart, verify the specs, and make note of any defects, no matter how minor. I actually work in a QC lab (unfortunately not for a guitar manufacturer but for a chemical plant), so I definitely appreciate the level of detail.
Appears Yamaha were listening. Check out the Revstar RS420MYG. The back and neck finish are actually a gloss finished very dark red brown. An elegant combination with the Maya Gold top and ivory body binding. That said, I equally love the lighter wood back of this Les Paul Standard Gold Top too. It looks magnificent, and with those cream covered P90s and pickguard, tastefully drop dead gorgeous.
P-90 guitars seem to be making a new surge in popularity. P-90 pickups have 2 magnets. Changing these magnets is easy and installing a different rating can change the tone, like going from Alnico 5's to 3's or 4's. Combinations are an option as well, a 4 & 5 in the neck and 5 & 8 in the bridge pickup.
Totally agree, switching out magnets can really change the personality of a pickup. I'm always looking for ways to tinker with the guitars tone. I would like to hear an example of Gibson's Custombucker pickups, they are low winding humbuckers that use Alnico 3 magnets.
I own that particular model.. I really love it.. it’s fun to play feels good comfortable looks gorgeous.. sounds good through at least Most of the amps I play it through a very good buy. This p90s are the bees 🐝 knees lol
My cousin had an original ‘56 he inherited from his father who bought it new. I played it way back in ‘79, and have always wanted a P-90’s Les Paul….I’m buying one next month. I just bought the Cherry Burst 50’s. Love it.
Les Pauls always sound better with p90s. They absolutely roar with them, but also have a usable (and brilliant) clean tone unlike humbucker les Pauls. I need to get me a gold top with p90s. But with Gibson as they are I'm after a high quality copy rather that an "authentic"
@@duffman18 Agreed. I didn't pay much attention to P90s until I got a Peavey Firenza w/P90s, now my favorite. So more recently I picked up a G&L Ascari GT90, an Epi 339 PRO P90, and a Slick SL60. The SL60 at $200 is a hoot. But eventually I want something that *looks" like an LP w/o a $2500-5000 price tag. Might be checking out Harley Benton next. P90s rule!
I love the gold tops with the lighter color on the back of them. It Sounds great! The humbucker pickups sound really good in a Las Paul but there’s something about these with the P90s in these!
it really helps to bury the neck pick up to get them to balance with the bridge. It takes some fiddling, but I haven't found a guitar I couldn't do that with. That will probably cure the muddiness with OD, too. Great demo. I want it!
I do notice Gibson has learned some lessons, simple improvements like the rounded dial pointers, ground plates to host mini humbuckers. It seems like Gibson returned to the standard features without being afraid to apply minor improvements. The pickguard issue was the most disturbing flaw for me on this model. I am looking forward to future reviews since you have set a reviewing standard that I like very much.
I would love to own all these Original series Les Paul guitars , they just ooze with that classic real Gibson vibe that went missing for too many years. That JC guy seems to have made a big difference since being the boss , in a short period of time.. The only thing that would give me GAS more than this P90 Gold Top is a black '54 style Custom ...
Check out Thomann usa, and the Harley Benton offerings. They have a beautiful LP style Gold Top with P90s as well as a "Black Beauty" style model. Both are only $135.00 each. My Gold Top will be arriving in about 2 weeks. They are not Gibsons, but they are still very good instruments. And when you compare $135.00 plus $49.00 shipping for up to 3 guitars to over $2,000.00 for 1, well ....
@@Mr.56Goldtop I always have GAS but no money lol . I already own an '05 Gibson Les Paul ,I'm just being greedy lol! Enjoy your new Gold Top when it arrives 😎👍
@@shaunw9270 I have a Gibson 57 Gold Top VOS that cost as much as a small country, and a 2000 1960 LP, my baby. The guy I bought my music gear from back then was a friend of mine, and he knew some guys at Gibson and had them pick out a really nice one for me, and they DID!!
@@Mr.56Goldtop Cool , you know the right kinda people! I'm in England and my only good guitar for 21 years was a '78 Gibson Marauder (with chainsaw case) I bought for £100 off my driving instructor when I was 18, along with a '74 Epiphone EA-250 for £85(!) . Also own a '52 reissue Tele, Rickenbacker 330 and a couple of decent Fender Strats , also a Squier Strat and a load of "also rans" . When I had a good job ,I made the most of it. Now I'm in a shit job with worse GAS than ever lol 😂🤣
The reason why you can easily fit minihumbuckers into that guitar is that the pickup mounting ring for a minihumbucker is actually a P-90 soapbar cover that was cut out, and this has a historic precedent. When Gibson reintroduced the Les Paul in 1968 after a hiatus of 7 years, the Les Paul was originally only available in two versions anymore: the Les Paul Custom (now with a maple top instead of mahogany, and available in different colors) and one that was essentially a 1956 Goldtop reissue, with P-90s ─ they were not Les Paul Standards, because the Standard would only be reintroduced again in 1974. Then in 1969, Gibson decided to move the production of Epiphone from the New York facility over to Japan. The Epiphone factory was sold to former Epiphone employees, who rebooted the production under the name Guild ─ a scenario that would later on repeat itself when Gibson closed the Kalamazoo plant, which was then bought by the former Gibson employees from there, who then started (and are still) making excellent guitars under the name Heritage. Anyway, returning to the subject of the pickups, after closing the Epiphone plant in New York, Gibson got stuck with a whole load of "New York minihumbuckers" that they had been making for Epiphone models, and so in order to get rid of that stock, they cut out the P-90 soapbar covers in order to use them as mounting rings, and they simply mounted those "New York minihumbuckers" into the 1968-spec Les Paul Goldtops, and rebranded those as Les Paul Deluxes. :) Note: the "New York minihumbuckers" are distinctly different in design to the minihumbuckers used in the historic Gibson Firebird. The "New York" variant is essentially a scaled-down PAF pickup, with polepieces and a magnet bar underneath the two bobbins. The Firebird variant has two magnet bars sitting inside the bobbins themselves, instead of having distinct polepieces, and of course, it has no separate magnet bar underneath the bobbins. You can also not remove the covers from them, because if you do, they will fall apart - the cover is what holds the entire assembly together. ;)
@@rickbrown3426 Well, I don't know what pickups Gibson puts in the modern Firebirds, but my Firebird VII is from 2003 and those pickups have ceramic magnets in them. The "New York minihumbuckers" on the other hand have alnico magnets ─ I think it's alnico 5 but don't pin me down on that ─ and they sound a little warmer and more "open", with slightly less output. The original Firebird pickups also had alnico 5 magnets, but given that they have magnet bars inside the bobbins instead of individual polepieces, they don't have the same string-to-string articulation as the New York pickups. But then again, there's also no drop in signal while bending, thanks to the continuous magnetic field. So it's a trade-off. :)
Aragorn of TOT & ER Except Epiphones were made side by side with Gibsons in Kalamazoo from 58/59. Yes, they had Epiphone parts and they were used in the Zephyr, Sheraton, Riviera, etc. in the case of the mini Humbucker. They also used Epiphone single coils that look similar to the mini Humbucker in Models like the Coronet, but built in Kalamazoo. Great info otherwise. I didn’t know Guild rose from Epiphones ashes.
Excellent information, I appreciate your time. There is something about the 3 mini’s after you learn to “Dial in” the middle pickup to thicken them up they are just awesome
@@clockwork914 Ah, I didn't know Gibson still continued to build Epiphones in Kalamazoo for a while after the closing of the New York factory. Thanks for that info. :)
I bought a 2020 model after your review. Had to install a set of Throbak 55-56 P-90’s in it. Much better. The factory pickups both measured 7.8 which was surprising after watching your video showing your pickups readings. The factory pickups wasn’t bad but am a long time Throbak user.
Excellent analysis Trogly, as normal. I arrived here because I need ( well, I would like :-) ) a guitar with P90s as I onl have Fender single coils and some humbucker guitars. My journey started out with GAS for an Epiphone Les Paul TV Special as it looks like very good value and has great reviews. Then I went up a notch (in price anyway) to checking out a Gordon Smith GS2 P90 along with the Les Paul Special Tributes. Then after a few days and after a few beers I moved on to the Gibson LP TV Special. And now I've ended up here! I think I better get off the internet for a few days to reflect otherwise I know I will experience some extreme wallet surgery.
Just ordered my Gibson Lp Standard Goldtop with P90. They are shipping it from UK to Germany. I pray every night to the God of Guitar, that nothing is broken, when it finally arrives.
Gorgeous guitar. I have loved these for eons. Well, ok, centuries. These used to come in a cherry sunburnt, which was gorgeous with the cream. If I didn't want a good ES-330 so badly, I would def go for this axe ...
Thanks for the completely awesome review!! Gibson apparently is learning to supply quality guitars once again.. nothing is perfect.. again thanks for your true sounding opinions!!
When you crank out anything on the scale of Gibson, Fender, Chevy or Ford you will always have QC problems that bother some people. If they are learning anything its to build them simple.
I was just about to type 'wait until you add some dirt to watch the bridge come alive' & you said it at the end lol. I've got a 56R & to anyone who's never had a Gibson with P90's, I'd say they really are special. They're more articulate than the buckers on any of my other Gibsons so things like pick attack make much more of a difference to your tone. For me, they are the archetypal 'classic rock' tone pup. You don't need pedals, just plug straight into your amp & let rip.
If these are all the little flaws you can find, I am impressed . This, I think is to be expected on a hand made instrument . After a little turn over in the shop I think. Gibson will completely turn it around. I for one am loving the 2019 lineup so far. I know this is unpopular but the only thing I'll miss is the weirded rear mounted ring less pickups. I thought that looked cool. God bless Gibson
Hey trogley, over on Rhett shull’s channel he got a brand new Les Paul from the factory. Not a dealer. He took it to his local music store with a plek machine. They threw it on the plek. Straight from the factory, no real setup. Just to see what Gibson’s quality control is like since the change. The guitar was pretty dam good. Hail hail Gibson is alive and well!!!
Thanks for this video. I have been in the market for this model for a while now and today I put down a refundable deposit to a guitar store to get one shipped there so I can check it out. With this video I now know what to look for to get a good example! I'd like a R6 but I just cannot justify the price difference for what you get, it's an insane price difference (used market value is even more so insane and continues to be so). On a side note; Gibson really need to work on their marketing as you would think their 1956 reissue product page would really have further details / charm / photos to help sell and justify the double price tag of the product. But no, it's the same page template as the standard, literally no frills! I look back at the 2018 marketing of my 1959 VOS Reissue Les Paul and it's like they actually cared by putting some effort in to the marketing!
I bought this guitar with the humbuckers. The neck is perfect and it plays its self. Mine had the same issue with the pick guard. Looks like on my traditional they drilled the hole higher then they are on these guitars. Not a big deal I will be keeping the pick guard on. I got a better deal at guitar center. Scratch and dent. $50 bucks off and then a extra 10% off. Great guitar I highly recommend it. I played 2 shows so far with it and love the tone and playability. It dose not have a base ball bat neck. They are just a lil bigger then the 60s slim taper. It sustains very good even with the lower output pups. My fretboard was in great shape when I bought it. Bridge pup dosnt have to much treble and the neck isnt to warm that its muddy. The taper on the volume knobs is really usable. I used them live to clean up a dirty sound and to change my tone on certain songs. It stays in tune great!
Love your channel and have been watching it non stop for weeks 🤣 but I wish I could hold some of these beauties you unbox and show us!! I recently just found an old 2005 epiphone les paul 56 goldtop and I'm blown away but I'm sure the Gibson version is way better. Thank you again and keep on keeping on!
I would rock that guitar all day and night every day forever. It would be perfect with a single piece stop/bridge like the early 50s, but with a proper set neck.
That red stain on the nut is not from the case, it's the buffing compound Gibson uses. It's always getting in the nooks and crannies of Gibsons. You can remove it with a toothpick pretty easily.
An update of my experience of a 2021 model I purchased. I concur with all this very helpful and detailed review. Recently purchased it last month - Great guitar and comfortable despite being accustomed to playing 60s necks such as my 1977 Gibson (Norlan period) LP. std and a number of MIA and MIM Fenders. It was apparently based on serial# built at Gibson in August this year. However, I am extremely disappointed with quality control. How it was allowed to leave the factory with damaged jagged pickup pole piece screws is just beyond belief. String Nut very sharp edges and tool mark running horizontally between GBE strings side facing fretboard. Also, there are what I assume are glue marks on the top of the fretboard between two or three frets tool marks on the neck binding located close where the neck meets the cutaway of the body. Appears to be paint chipped off the body next to the lower string tailpiece post. The lead jack plate was not properly aligned with the body. Though none of these things affect playability it is somewhat disappointing particularly as Gibsons are quite expensive here in Australia and the fact I had to wait 9 months for delivery as it was ordered at end of Feb this year. I have by email put a complaint to Gibson US. 3 weeks ago but have received no response other than acknowledgment they received the email. Not sure or holding my breath I will get a further response. So yes, It is a nice playable guitar but check out the detailing and QC before purchasing. Hopefully, my scenario is just a rare occurrence. So despite a would I recommend this guitar? Yes. If you have the money and are happy to adjust to a little thicker neck compared to the 60s profile, go for it.
Whom did you purchase from? I know Sweetwater does a 50 points check on their guitars before they leave their facility. Not so sure about Guitar Center. Sorry you had these issues. Yes, I’d be pissed.
@@1sttvbn I purchased these from a Retail store in Melbourne Victoria Australia. Back in Feb the store has contacted the Australian Distributor and sent them photos, I also in Feb contacted Gibson US myself via email I have heard nothing further from any of them. Not impressed by either party.
You get the mother of pearl gibson inlay on the gibson special and you also get binding on the special..So the difference is the carved top,binding and abr bridge and tailpiece and trapezoid inlays..That special is a nice guitar in tv yellow and I am having a hard time deciding which one to get...Thanks for all you do awesome channel..
If that thing had to go back (the same color as the front) . For years I swore by humbuckers, I've been playing guitar 38 years and about 8 years ago p90s won me over for good!
Just picked up my 50s Gold Top P90 and my instrument did NOT have the pickguard issue that described. My fretboard needed a little refreshing, though. Otherwise, near perfect with just a minor adjustment to the action.
Currently, if you buy the custom shop version of this or the Black Beauty, you get the little frets. With this guy, you have that Nashville bridge thing and short tenon; but at least you get the medium jumbos. Seems you could always throw a Duncan or Knuckles into the bridge with A2 magnets to perhaps cut the brightness a bit ... just a guess on that ...
I've got this identical non-weight relieved Gibson LP Standard w/P90's --- 8.2 lbs!!! I also have a supposed weight relieved 2019 Gibson LP Classic --- 9.6 lbs.
I bought a 2018 Classic Player Plus on sale for $1200. Like the 2018 classic, but satin finish, richlite board (I prefer that to most of the crap rosewood out there these days - but not if I could have rosewood like on this guitar in the video), and, most importantly, a rounded (59) neck profile. Between that and the satin finish, this thing has the nicest feeling neck ever. The entire thing was flawless except for one thing - a big lacquer drip on the headstock. It's only cosmetic and I like the guitar so much I kept it despite the drip. The rest of the guitar is perfect and well worth the money.
1; 34 Seems as though the "Unburst" finish would be available on the 50's style Standards instead of the 60's. The fading associated with LP Bursts was the '58 & '59 models. The '60's LP Bursts have such a strong 'set' to their finishes that they are sometimes referred to as "Clown Bursts" in common LP slang. Actually, the new 50's Heritage Cherry Burst qualifies for Clown Burst status imho...
The new TV Special features an Inlaid Headstock logo as well. I hope they make a DC TV Special in the future! Then I would go for it. I'm too much on the edge with the Single Cut Special
Great content Trogly. One thing I noticed is Gibson gave it independent volumes with the 50s wiring, if you turned the volume all the way down on one pickup in the middle position you should still hear the other. No middle position kill switch or muddy blending etc. Did you happen to check that?
I am 99% sure the 50s wiring refers to the differences of how the tone pot/Capacitor are wired in the circuit and result in an overall brighter tone when the volume(s) are are rolled off. The independent volume wiring you've mentioned in yet another wiring mod that is possible and to my knowledge never offered on a stock Gibson. The independent volume wiring utilizes separate groundings for each pickup circuit. The 50s wiring to me is more desirable compared to modern wiring. I've wanted to try the independent volume mod and will wire up one of my guitars like that in the future. Here is a link to the Seymour Duncan site that explains the 50s wiring www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/lespaulwiring Here is a link for the decoupled volume wiring modification (a really cool idea). www.premierguitar.com/articles/21106-mod-garage-decouple-your-les-pauls-volume-controls
@@hkguitar1984 I suppose you could call the wiring in these guitars modern wiring. The interesting part is the hot from the pickup is on the same lug of the volume pot as the capacitor going across to the tone pot, that decouples the volume controls IIRC. Thanks for those links HK I am reading up now!
@@GigaGrandpaYT Yeah, after refreshing myself on the subject this morning it appears the decoupling of the volume controls inhibits some of the high frequency from the output signal, that kind of makes it a "No-Go" for me. To comment on Austin's comment about the bridge pickup sounding a little thin on this P90 guitar, turn the amp up and cut back on the guitar's bridge tone control a little, the notes fatten right up. So many of these guitars sound/react differently when the amplifier is cranked up. I have a Marshall Plexi and when that amp is turned up about half way it's amazing how much impact the guitar's tone controls make. At least that has been my experience.
I agree. I don't see this big change. They had Standards/Traditionals/Classics and an HP line with those. Now they call the HP line modern and off fewer colors. I like these, but I like the older ones too. Not sure why everyone on TH-cam is drooling all over themselves.
I think that the markings on the neck binding are because they're done by hand. The guitarist did with the binding on it and then they have employees with scrapers by hand using their little fingers like owls and little raises they scrape the paint off and they say that they do this because they get a sharp a line so it's possible that after the scraping of the finding on the Nick and I guess if they don't go over it with something afterwards I don't know what it leaves tool marks but thinking now wouldn't that be the same thing for The binding on the body??? I haven't heard you mention any problems with that I would think if they were both the same as far as the marks on The binding maybe my my guess might be right anyway anyone have any ideas comments reply to me whatever please excuse any misspelled words definitely lack of punctuation I'm not a bad typo I'm not even a literate believe it or not I'm just very horribly legally blind vision using Speech-to-Text which Austin has a mind of its own thank you for letting me share lol :-)
Great reviews, love you're thoughts soup to nuts on all these guitar. Wout you consider doing a review for the Gibson LP Gem series from the late 90's and compare them to these modern P90 models?
I went to my local music store yesterday to see if they had a 2019 50’s Standard with humbuckers. They only had 2 new guitars. New SG Standard and LP Special. I ended up buying a used 2017 SG Standard. The new SG sounded and played great, but I seemed to bond with the used 2017 model more.The LP special is good, but I’m not a P90 guy unless it’s a Humbucker in the bridge and P90 in the neck. I’m a humbucker guy overall.
I have fairly large hands and appreciate guitars with a slightly fatter neck. I'm convinced that a fat neck and a non-weight-relieved guitar will have slightly better sustain, especially with high notes. Your mileage may vary. :)
I have this guitar and I'm pretty pleased except that the I find the neck pickup is a bit too wooly, like almost every other P-90 neck. I'd like to try a staple P90 or a Lollar 50s wind neck to get more of a biting neck tone. The bridge is only slightly thin to me, Also, I'm disappointed that they didn't use 50's wiring. Instead, Gibson used standard modern wiring. However, it plays great, even with the funky chunky neck. It's a keeper.
I really liked this one - I felt it suffered from the same weak bridge pickup that the Queen of Clean did though, but JJN made it sound good! haha
For Sale: reverb.com/item/24507924-video-2019-gibson-les-paul-standard-50s-p90-gold-top-original-collection?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly
Episode Guide:
0:23 - Original Collection History
1:48 - Model History
2:45 - First Impressions
6:05 - Inside Look / Specs
12:31 - Tone Talk
14:07 - Tone Comparisons
16:24 - Viewer Question 1
17:17 - Viewer Question 2
18:14 - Viewer Question 3
19:14 - Final Thoughts
20:49 - Case / Candy
from 2013 to 2018 the headstocks were ugly with big wings. these now 19s have a more vintage looking headstock like 1990s through 2012.
It will be interesting if compare with the 1968 reissue gold top.
Thanks for answering the sonic comparison question. Obviously, they have different appointments that can cover the difference in cost. Hopefully you will get a Les Paul special and give the run down. Your reviews are honest and thorough. Just a heads up I think you misspoke on the bridge pick up, your meter said 8.08 and you said 8.8. Thanks for all the work you put in!
@@elvis_chen the 68 has long neck through body. This model does not.
P90s meh
You don't seem to be a "used guitar salesman", you're too honest. I look forward to your reviews.
He buys them to review them. Why would he try to give a sell speech? It's not like gibsons sponsors him or anything
@@juancruzrabaglia722 No but he does immediately sell the guitars. Most people would make it sound as amazing as possible so they could boost their profits considerably.
@@masonharris9166 True enough. I like the utter sincerety of this guy.
the guitar isn't the main product he's selling. it's trust and views.
@@PaulieHo ...See, you're trying to be profound or something but it just doesn't work.
Just say you like how straight forward and genuine he is.
I don't even know how you're supposed to *sell* trust and views for fuck's sake...
Trogly, once again, I hope Gibson is watching. You’re doing more for them than that recent hire.
Truth
I know this is an older video, but the bridge pickup is supposed to be thinner. That is correct. If you isolate the guitar tone in all of the old classic rock songs, you’ll find a much thinner guitar tone than you think. Those guys understand that the guitar is the treble side instrument. They relied on their bass players to provide bass tone to the mix.
Beautiful guitar, I love the sound of P90s.
Especially the neck
Yep. This is probably one of the best sounding demos on this channel.
...and now I need a P90 Les Paul, lol. Excellent review. I really enjoy how you (literally) take the model apart, verify the specs, and make note of any defects, no matter how minor. I actually work in a QC lab (unfortunately not for a guitar manufacturer but for a chemical plant), so I definitely appreciate the level of detail.
I had an original 1968 Gold Top w/P90s. Bought it in around 1975, wish I still had it.
I had the privilege of playing an original 1956 Les Paul, and it still stands as the greatest guitar I’ve ever played. I’d love to try this one out
Me too, today I played one in the new kings road shop in London.. I fell in love !
That neck pickup is divine holy shit
The back of these guitars would look great with the dark wood stain,
Agreed. Dark backs are so cool
Appears Yamaha were listening. Check out the Revstar RS420MYG. The back and neck finish are actually a gloss finished very dark red brown. An elegant combination with the Maya Gold top and ivory body binding. That said, I equally love the lighter wood back of this Les Paul Standard Gold Top too. It looks magnificent, and with those cream covered P90s and pickguard, tastefully drop dead gorgeous.
That’s a custom shop option this year it appears
P-90 guitars seem to be making a new surge in popularity. P-90 pickups have 2 magnets. Changing these magnets is easy and installing a different rating can change the tone, like going from Alnico 5's to 3's or 4's. Combinations are an option as well, a 4 & 5 in the neck and 5 & 8 in the bridge pickup.
Don Szymanski thanks for sharing!
Totally agree, switching out magnets can really change the personality of a pickup. I'm always looking for ways to tinker with the guitars tone. I would like to hear an example of Gibson's Custombucker pickups, they are low winding humbuckers that use Alnico 3 magnets.
I thought I was done with Gibson forever, but I pulled the trigger on one of these today.
I love that...man got gold top fever again
gotta have at least one les paul and it better be a gold top... Or a black beauty : )
I own that particular model.. I really love it.. it’s fun to play feels good comfortable looks gorgeous.. sounds good through at least Most of the amps I play it through a very good buy. This p90s are the bees 🐝 knees lol
My cousin had an original ‘56 he inherited from his father who bought it new. I played it way back in ‘79, and have always wanted a P-90’s Les Paul….I’m buying one next month. I just bought the Cherry Burst 50’s. Love it.
This is my favorite by far. Must confess to a P90 bias, tho!
There is just a certain grit you only get with P90s. I love my humbucker equipped guitars, but I need to get another P90 flamethrower guitar
Thanks for watching the video of my new guitar. I’m now the proud owner. Thanks Trogly.
Les Pauls always sound better with p90s. They absolutely roar with them, but also have a usable (and brilliant) clean tone unlike humbucker les Pauls. I need to get me a gold top with p90s. But with Gibson as they are I'm after a high quality copy rather that an "authentic"
@@duffman18 then what are you doing on a Gibson video? Go find your copy guitar
@@duffman18 Agreed. I didn't pay much attention to P90s until I got a Peavey Firenza w/P90s, now my favorite. So more recently I picked up a G&L Ascari GT90, an Epi 339 PRO P90, and a Slick SL60. The SL60 at $200 is a hoot. But eventually I want something that *looks" like an LP w/o a $2500-5000 price tag. Might be checking out Harley Benton next. P90s rule!
Couldn't possibly be more thorough. Hats off! Such a great review.
I bought the same one.
I'm very satisfied that good sound and just right playability for me.
Gold finish looks amazing when you're doing closeups of the switch tip. Beautiful sparkle.
I love the gold tops with the lighter color on the back of them.
It Sounds great! The humbucker pickups sound really good in a Las Paul but there’s something about these with the P90s in these!
it really helps to bury the neck pick up to get them to balance with the bridge. It takes some fiddling, but I haven't found a guitar I couldn't do that with. That will probably cure the muddiness with OD, too. Great demo. I want it!
I do notice Gibson has learned some lessons, simple improvements like the rounded dial pointers, ground plates to host mini humbuckers.
It seems like Gibson returned to the standard features without being afraid to apply minor improvements.
The pickguard issue was the most disturbing flaw for me on this model.
I am looking forward to future reviews since you have set a reviewing standard that I like very much.
All Deluxes have the metal strip to bolt the pups to and the have a provision for soapbars as well.
I would love to own all these Original series Les Paul guitars , they just ooze with that classic real Gibson vibe that went missing for too many years. That JC guy seems to have made a big difference since being the boss , in a short period of time.. The only thing that would give me GAS more than this P90 Gold Top is a black '54 style Custom ...
Check out Thomann usa, and the Harley Benton offerings. They have a beautiful LP style Gold Top with P90s as well as a "Black Beauty" style model. Both are only $135.00 each. My Gold Top will be arriving in about 2 weeks. They are not Gibsons, but they are still very good instruments. And when you compare $135.00 plus $49.00 shipping for up to 3 guitars to over $2,000.00 for 1, well ....
@@Mr.56Goldtop I always have GAS but no money lol . I already own an '05 Gibson Les Paul ,I'm just being greedy lol!
Enjoy your new Gold Top when it arrives 😎👍
@@shaunw9270 I have a Gibson 57 Gold Top VOS that cost as much as a small country, and a 2000 1960 LP, my baby. The guy I bought my music gear from back then was a friend of mine, and he knew some guys at Gibson and had them pick out a really nice one for me, and they DID!!
@@Mr.56Goldtop Cool , you know the right kinda people!
I'm in England and my only good guitar for 21 years was a '78 Gibson Marauder (with chainsaw case) I bought for £100 off my driving instructor when I was 18, along with a '74 Epiphone EA-250 for £85(!) . Also own a '52 reissue Tele, Rickenbacker 330 and a couple of decent Fender Strats , also a Squier Strat and a load of "also rans" . When I had a good job ,I made the most of it. Now I'm in a shit job with worse GAS than ever lol 😂🤣
@@shaunw9270 It's a terrible affliction to have, lol!
Oh my goodness that neck pickup is fantastic.
Love the viewer question section, makes it more personal
The reason why you can easily fit minihumbuckers into that guitar is that the pickup mounting ring for a minihumbucker is actually a P-90 soapbar cover that was cut out, and this has a historic precedent.
When Gibson reintroduced the Les Paul in 1968 after a hiatus of 7 years, the Les Paul was originally only available in two versions anymore: the Les Paul Custom (now with a maple top instead of mahogany, and available in different colors) and one that was essentially a 1956 Goldtop reissue, with P-90s ─ they were not Les Paul Standards, because the Standard would only be reintroduced again in 1974. Then in 1969, Gibson decided to move the production of Epiphone from the New York facility over to Japan. The Epiphone factory was sold to former Epiphone employees, who rebooted the production under the name Guild ─ a scenario that would later on repeat itself when Gibson closed the Kalamazoo plant, which was then bought by the former Gibson employees from there, who then started (and are still) making excellent guitars under the name Heritage.
Anyway, returning to the subject of the pickups, after closing the Epiphone plant in New York, Gibson got stuck with a whole load of "New York minihumbuckers" that they had been making for Epiphone models, and so in order to get rid of that stock, they cut out the P-90 soapbar covers in order to use them as mounting rings, and they simply mounted those "New York minihumbuckers" into the 1968-spec Les Paul Goldtops, and rebranded those as Les Paul Deluxes. :)
Note: the "New York minihumbuckers" are distinctly different in design to the minihumbuckers used in the historic Gibson Firebird. The "New York" variant is essentially a scaled-down PAF pickup, with polepieces and a magnet bar underneath the two bobbins. The Firebird variant has two magnet bars sitting inside the bobbins themselves, instead of having distinct polepieces, and of course, it has no separate magnet bar underneath the bobbins. You can also not remove the covers from them, because if you do, they will fall apart - the cover is what holds the entire assembly together. ;)
Aragorn of TOT & ER Great info. So what’s the difference in sound from the Firebird mini and the NY mini?
@@rickbrown3426 Well, I don't know what pickups Gibson puts in the modern Firebirds, but my Firebird VII is from 2003 and those pickups have ceramic magnets in them. The "New York minihumbuckers" on the other hand have alnico magnets ─ I think it's alnico 5 but don't pin me down on that ─ and they sound a little warmer and more "open", with slightly less output.
The original Firebird pickups also had alnico 5 magnets, but given that they have magnet bars inside the bobbins instead of individual polepieces, they don't have the same string-to-string articulation as the New York pickups. But then again, there's also no drop in signal while bending, thanks to the continuous magnetic field. So it's a trade-off. :)
Aragorn of TOT & ER
Except Epiphones were made side by side with Gibsons in Kalamazoo from 58/59. Yes, they had Epiphone parts and they were used in the Zephyr, Sheraton, Riviera, etc. in the case of the mini Humbucker. They also used Epiphone single coils that look similar to the mini Humbucker in Models like the Coronet, but built in Kalamazoo.
Great info otherwise. I didn’t know Guild rose from Epiphones ashes.
Excellent information, I appreciate your time. There is something about the 3 mini’s after you learn to “Dial in” the middle pickup to thicken them up they are just awesome
@@clockwork914 Ah, I didn't know Gibson still continued to build Epiphones in Kalamazoo for a while after the closing of the New York factory. Thanks for that info. :)
Troggly showing the P-90s some good lovin'! Really cool LP in this guys opinion. I dig it, very nice example their Sir Troggly.
I've played a '69 P90 Gold top since '73 and this guitar sounds pretty good..
I bought a 2020 model after your review. Had to install a set of Throbak 55-56 P-90’s in it. Much better. The factory pickups both measured 7.8 which was surprising after watching your video showing your pickups readings. The factory pickups wasn’t bad but am a long time Throbak user.
Throbacks give you more clarity?
Excellent analysis Trogly, as normal. I arrived here because I need ( well, I would like :-) ) a guitar with P90s as I onl have Fender single coils and some humbucker guitars. My journey started out with GAS for an Epiphone Les Paul TV Special as it looks like very good value and has great reviews. Then I went up a notch (in price anyway) to checking out a Gordon Smith GS2 P90 along with the Les Paul Special Tributes. Then after a few days and after a few beers I moved on to the Gibson LP TV Special. And now I've ended up here! I think I better get off the internet for a few days to reflect otherwise I know I will experience some extreme wallet surgery.
Love a P-90 Goldtop!
Just ordered my Gibson Lp Standard Goldtop with P90. They are shipping it from UK to Germany. I pray every night to the God of Guitar, that nothing is broken, when it finally arrives.
Nothing like a good ol' chunky les paul
Yes indeed! Let me know when I can get a good one for under 5k.
@@cgavin1 you can get a good one for under 2k?
@@cgavin1 the epiphone 56 custom is a good one
@@tavicotavio Exactly what I've got.
@@andrewmccloud8581 nice is it as good as agufish said it is?
I found a 2019 Les Paul standard 50’s style, heritage cherry sunburst with 8.12 Lbs 👍
This is the Les Paul signature Les Paul
Gorgeous guitar. I have loved these for eons. Well, ok, centuries. These used to come in a cherry sunburnt, which was gorgeous with the cream. If I didn't want a good ES-330 so badly, I would def go for this axe ...
Thanks for the completely awesome review!! Gibson apparently is learning to supply quality guitars once again.. nothing is perfect.. again thanks for your true sounding opinions!!
When you crank out anything on the scale of Gibson, Fender, Chevy or Ford you will always have QC problems that bother some people. If they are learning anything its to build them simple.
I was just about to type 'wait until you add some dirt to watch the bridge come alive' & you said it at the end lol. I've got a 56R & to anyone who's never had a Gibson with P90's, I'd say they really are special. They're more articulate than the buckers on any of my other Gibsons so things like pick attack make much more of a difference to your tone. For me, they are the archetypal 'classic rock' tone pup. You don't need pedals, just plug straight into your amp & let rip.
"Single coils on roids" is the simple explanation.
I just got this exact guitar today and i love it
I like them heavy as hell.
I think this one sounds the best of all that you have covered so far from the 2019´s. Mine are humbucker loaded but it makes me wonder!
Another fine review Trogly - hands down the best stock neck pickup tones I’ve heard in awhile..
If these are all the little flaws you can find, I am impressed . This, I think is to be expected on a hand made instrument .
After a little turn over in the shop I think. Gibson will completely turn it around. I for one am loving the 2019 lineup so far.
I know this is unpopular but the only thing I'll miss is the weirded rear mounted ring less pickups. I thought that looked cool.
God bless Gibson
Great video as always. Thanks Austin!
Hey trogley, over on Rhett shull’s channel he got a brand new Les Paul from the factory. Not a dealer. He took it to his local music store with a plek machine. They threw it on the plek. Straight from the factory, no real setup. Just to see what Gibson’s quality control is like since the change. The guitar was pretty dam good. Hail hail Gibson is alive and well!!!
I LOVE the top carve of this era!
Thanks for pointing out the exposed maple cap at the cutaway at 11:39. I have that on my 2018 Classic gold top & I thought it was a defect, too.
Thanks for this video. I have been in the market for this model for a while now and today I put down a refundable deposit to a guitar store to get one shipped there so I can check it out. With this video I now know what to look for to get a good example!
I'd like a R6 but I just cannot justify the price difference for what you get, it's an insane price difference (used market value is even more so insane and continues to be so). On a side note; Gibson really need to work on their marketing as you would think their 1956 reissue product page would really have further details / charm / photos to help sell and justify the double price tag of the product. But no, it's the same page template as the standard, literally no frills! I look back at the 2018 marketing of my 1959 VOS Reissue Les Paul and it's like they actually cared by putting some effort in to the marketing!
Absolutely love it
Could you please revieuw a Gibson Les Paul Junior singlecut?
Nice video again!
I bought this guitar with the humbuckers. The neck is perfect and it plays its self. Mine had the same issue with the pick guard. Looks like on my traditional they drilled the hole higher then they are on these guitars. Not a big deal I will be keeping the pick guard on. I got a better deal at guitar center. Scratch and dent. $50 bucks off and then a extra 10% off. Great guitar I highly recommend it. I played 2 shows so far with it and love the tone and playability. It dose not have a base ball bat neck. They are just a lil bigger then the 60s slim taper. It sustains very good even with the lower output pups. My fretboard was in great shape when I bought it. Bridge pup dosnt have to much treble and the neck isnt to warm that its muddy. The taper on the volume knobs is really usable. I used them live to clean up a dirty sound and to change my tone on certain songs. It stays in tune great!
I just love the sound of a mahogany body with P90s. Talk about a mid-range heavy guitar, but it sounds so massive.
Has the re-ignition of Gibson excitement at the drawing board and factory effected Epiphone?
Ooh good question
Love your channel and have been watching it non stop for weeks 🤣 but I wish I could hold some of these beauties you unbox and show us!! I recently just found an old 2005 epiphone les paul 56 goldtop and I'm blown away but I'm sure the Gibson version is way better. Thank you again and keep on keeping on!
I would rock that guitar all day and night every day forever. It would be perfect with a single piece stop/bridge like the early 50s, but with a proper set neck.
A faithful re-creation of the guitar Pickles used in Snakes & Barrels.
I have an Epiphone 56 ltd edition reissue with the P90s. Its heavy and great. So, I am eyeing that Epi 60s
That red stain on the nut is not from the case, it's the buffing compound Gibson uses. It's always getting in the nooks and crannies of Gibsons. You can remove it with a toothpick pretty easily.
An update of my experience of a 2021 model I purchased.
I concur with all this very helpful and detailed review.
Recently purchased it last month - Great guitar and comfortable despite being accustomed to playing 60s necks such as my 1977 Gibson (Norlan period) LP. std and a number of MIA and MIM Fenders.
It was apparently based on serial# built at Gibson in August this year.
However, I am extremely disappointed with quality control.
How it was allowed to leave the factory with damaged jagged pickup pole piece screws is just beyond belief.
String Nut very sharp edges and tool mark running horizontally between GBE strings side facing fretboard. Also, there are what I assume are glue marks on the top of the fretboard between two or three frets tool marks on the neck binding located close where the neck meets the cutaway of the body.
Appears to be paint chipped off the body next to the lower string tailpiece post. The lead jack plate was not properly aligned with the body.
Though none of these things affect playability it is somewhat disappointing particularly as Gibsons are quite expensive here in Australia and the fact I had to wait 9 months for delivery as it was ordered at end of Feb this year.
I have by email put a complaint to Gibson US. 3 weeks ago but have received no response other than acknowledgment they received the email. Not sure or holding my breath I will get a further response.
So yes, It is a nice playable guitar but check out the detailing and QC before purchasing. Hopefully, my scenario is just a rare occurrence.
So despite a would I recommend this guitar?
Yes.
If you have the money and are happy to adjust to a little thicker neck compared to the 60s profile, go for it.
Whom did you purchase from? I know Sweetwater does a 50 points check on their guitars before they leave their facility. Not so sure about Guitar Center. Sorry you had these issues. Yes, I’d be pissed.
@@1sttvbn I purchased these from a Retail store in Melbourne Victoria Australia.
Back in Feb the store has contacted the Australian Distributor and sent them photos, I also in Feb contacted Gibson US myself via email I have heard nothing further from any of them.
Not impressed by either party.
Excellent Trogly! Well done
The video I needed to finally decide which one to get. Can't wait to buy mine :D
You get the mother of pearl gibson inlay on the gibson special and you also get binding on the special..So the difference is the carved top,binding and abr bridge and tailpiece and trapezoid inlays..That special is a nice guitar in tv yellow and I am having a hard time deciding which one to get...Thanks for all you do awesome channel..
Good info thanks, did you decide on one or the other yet?
If that thing had to go back (the same color as the front) . For years I swore by humbuckers, I've been playing guitar 38 years and about 8 years ago p90s won me over for good!
Just picked up my 50s Gold Top P90 and my instrument did NOT have the pickguard issue that described. My fretboard needed a little refreshing, though. Otherwise, near perfect with just a minor adjustment to the action.
I just got a 2018 classic in ebony for £1200. Near enough the same guitar if you want a discontinued bargain.
No left handed models with p90s are being manufactured.. thanks a lot gibson
Currently, if you buy the custom shop version of this or the Black Beauty, you get the little frets. With this guy, you have that Nashville bridge thing and short tenon; but at least you get the medium jumbos. Seems you could always throw a Duncan or Knuckles into the bridge with A2 magnets to perhaps cut the brightness a bit ... just a guess on that ...
I've got this identical non-weight relieved Gibson LP Standard w/P90's --- 8.2 lbs!!! I also have a supposed weight relieved 2019 Gibson LP Classic --- 9.6 lbs.
I bought a 2018 Classic Player Plus on sale for $1200. Like the 2018 classic, but satin finish, richlite board (I prefer that to most of the crap rosewood out there these days - but not if I could have rosewood like on this guitar in the video), and, most importantly, a rounded (59) neck profile. Between that and the satin finish, this thing has the nicest feeling neck ever. The entire thing was flawless except for one thing - a big lacquer drip on the headstock. It's only cosmetic and I like the guitar so much I kept it despite the drip. The rest of the guitar is perfect and well worth the money.
I just got a 50's from 2021 in tobacco burst and it is only 8.1 pounds!!!
Bought a new deluxe in 70s that had a light back like this , its starts to darken after a few years gets darker to a point n stops. I still hav it.
The back of mine is dark as well.
Such a beautiful guitar, wish I could afford one!
Wonderful guitar. I have the cheapskate Epi version which is very good but I'm sure isn't in the same league as this beauty.
Won't make a blind but of difference if you pay like this dude 😂
That really is a beautiful fretboard!
Could you get a 2019 B-2 Flying V for review
that's a model I will likely review once I find a great deal on a used one
1; 34 Seems as though the "Unburst" finish would be available on the 50's style Standards instead of the 60's. The fading associated with LP Bursts was the '58 & '59 models. The '60's LP Bursts have such a strong 'set' to their finishes that they are sometimes referred to as "Clown Bursts" in common LP slang. Actually, the new 50's Heritage Cherry Burst qualifies for Clown Burst status imho...
agreed !
CSB is "Clownburst" from the Norlin era.
The new TV Special features an Inlaid Headstock logo as well. I hope they make a DC TV Special in the future! Then I would go for it. I'm too much on the edge with the Single Cut Special
Cool vid. Brings to mind the '68 GT. Danny Kirwan and Neal Schon, latter 'here' for Jungle Strut, Santana Beat Club.
A noise gate kills that hum
Great content Trogly. One thing I noticed is Gibson gave it independent volumes with the 50s wiring, if you turned the volume all the way down on one pickup in the middle position you should still hear the other. No middle position kill switch or muddy blending etc. Did you happen to check that?
I am 99% sure the 50s wiring refers to the differences of how the tone pot/Capacitor are wired in the circuit and result in an overall brighter tone when the volume(s) are are rolled off. The independent volume wiring you've mentioned in yet another wiring mod that is possible and to my knowledge never offered on a stock Gibson. The independent volume wiring utilizes separate groundings for each pickup circuit. The 50s wiring to me is more desirable compared to modern wiring. I've wanted to try the independent volume mod and will wire up one of my guitars like that in the future. Here is a link to the Seymour Duncan site that explains the 50s wiring www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/lespaulwiring
Here is a link for the decoupled volume wiring modification (a really cool idea).
www.premierguitar.com/articles/21106-mod-garage-decouple-your-les-pauls-volume-controls
@@hkguitar1984 I suppose you could call the wiring in these guitars modern wiring. The interesting part is the hot from the pickup is on the same lug of the volume pot as the capacitor going across to the tone pot, that decouples the volume controls IIRC. Thanks for those links HK I am reading up now!
@@GigaGrandpaYT Yeah, after refreshing myself on the subject this morning it appears the decoupling of the volume controls inhibits some of the high frequency from the output signal, that kind of makes it a "No-Go" for me.
To comment on Austin's comment about the bridge pickup sounding a little thin on this P90 guitar, turn the amp up and cut back on the guitar's bridge tone control a little, the notes fatten right up. So many of these guitars sound/react differently when the amplifier is cranked up. I have a Marshall Plexi and when that amp is turned up about half way it's amazing how much impact the guitar's tone controls make. At least that has been my experience.
@@GigaGrandpaYT DOH, I just now made the connection between your Avatar and Screen Name, Nice Jem BTW, I've never seen the Blue version in person.
Great review Trogly. Thank you my friend.
Is it just me or do the carves look deeper?
That first bit you played sounded almost like a Neutral Milk Hotel song
The more I see the new Gibsons, the better the alternatives look. Maybe just cuz the headstock snapped on my LP a couple a days ago.
I agree. I don't see this big change. They had Standards/Traditionals/Classics and an HP line with those. Now they call the HP line modern and off fewer colors. I like these, but I like the older ones too. Not sure why everyone on TH-cam is drooling all over themselves.
Great review bro, love the way you go thru the guitar like you were on a safari, lol, good job!!
I think that the markings on the neck binding are because they're done by hand. The guitarist did with the binding on it and then they have employees with scrapers by hand using their little fingers like owls and little raises they scrape the paint off and they say that they do this because they get a sharp a line so it's possible that after the scraping of the finding on the Nick and I guess if they don't go over it with something afterwards I don't know what it leaves tool marks but thinking now wouldn't that be the same thing for The binding on the body??? I haven't heard you mention any problems with that I would think if they were both the same as far as the marks on The binding maybe my my guess might be right anyway anyone have any ideas comments reply to me whatever please excuse any misspelled words definitely lack of punctuation I'm not a bad typo I'm not even a literate believe it or not I'm just very horribly legally blind vision using Speech-to-Text which Austin has a mind of its own thank you for letting me share lol :-)
An incredibly daring departure from a design which had persisted unchanged for 60-70years. Amazing innovation by Gibson.
great vid, been curious
Great reviews, love you're thoughts soup to nuts on all these guitar. Wout you consider doing a review for the Gibson LP Gem series from the late 90's and compare them to these modern P90 models?
I always love a goldtop w p90s
good to look back at these nice library
I went to my local music store yesterday to see if they had a 2019 50’s Standard with humbuckers. They only had 2 new guitars. New SG Standard and LP Special. I ended up buying a used 2017 SG Standard. The new SG sounded and played great, but I seemed to bond with the used 2017 model more.The LP special is good, but I’m not a P90 guy unless it’s a Humbucker in the bridge and P90 in the neck. I’m a humbucker guy overall.
Can you do the Fender's American Original Line? Love your in-depth reviews!
Yes please! Fender's "original collection" Haha
Will you be reviewing a Les Paul specia!?
Personally, soundwise I think i prefer the 60s standard you demonstrated because of the humbuckers
You need one of each!
And you also need the 50s burst with humbucker!
I have fairly large hands and appreciate guitars with a slightly fatter neck. I'm convinced that a fat neck and a non-weight-relieved guitar will have slightly better sustain, especially with high notes. Your mileage may vary. :)
I have this guitar and I'm pretty pleased except that the I find the neck pickup is a bit too wooly, like almost every other P-90 neck. I'd like to try a staple P90 or a Lollar 50s wind neck to get more of a biting neck tone. The bridge is only slightly thin to me, Also, I'm disappointed that they didn't use 50's wiring. Instead, Gibson used standard modern wiring. However, it plays great, even with the funky chunky neck. It's a keeper.
GREAT REVIEW again
Sounds and looks great! I want one.