2018 Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitar Review: I Face My Demons and Hold A Gibson For Over 20 Minutes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2019
- Well, I finally did it. This week, we're checking out a Gibson on this channel. I know I've put it off, but when the 2018 models went on blow out I finally caved. Is it as bad as haters make it out to be? Is it good as the fanboy crowd claims? Let's take a close look. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between...
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I tried to make this video 21:12 but TH-cam robbed me.
Bahahaha!
You're right about that middle position, holy shit, that sound really stood out... I had the same experience with a Chapman ml3 pro traditional actually, I picked up that guitar, and that was the first time I've ever thought to myself "I would mainly use the middle position" on a guitar ever
Hahaha Rush indeed.
Well now you're referencing a pretty sweet Coheed and Cambria song (which I imagine is also a nod to Rush).
I have a 2010 Les Paul Traditional and i love it, it plays great and looks great with that Ice Tea burst,you can sit and gaze at it for an hour,no other guitar has that effect on me.
I have a strat as well but i prefer the LP.
I've always been a super strat kinda guy, mostly just because that body feels good to hold. I get the LP appeal though, it's such a cool looking guitar and a blast to play.
The Guitar Pit i get what you’re saying,and now that i bought my dream guitars keeping in mind guitars cost double the US price here in Beirut,i want a super strat for that modern touch,maybe a Kiesel.
Thanks man! Enjoyed your feedback. I also bought my first one this year in Mojave. I dig the jazzy cleans I get out of it. I am also still learning how to use the knobs to get different tones. Like you i kept the poker chip and plate off.
Thanks AM G! I really like the Mojave color as well, but the sale price on this one was limited to red so I went for it. Lots of knobs to worry about, but you can always just hit that bridge pickup with gain and feel like your tone is in the right place :)
Nice thorough review. I have a 2012 Standard that had the Burstbucker Pros, but for my needs, I found the bridge pickup to be a little too brittle. I ended up swapping it out for the tried and true combo of a Super Distortion in the bridge and a Super 2 in the neck, and the heavens opened up LOL. Anyway I could have lived with the BB Pros, but for me, I’m glad I swapped. Rock on 🤘🏼
Yeah, I totally get that. I usually use an AxeFx2 patch called AC-20 which is emulating a Morgan AC-20 Deluxe. This LP sounded pretty sharp and weird on that patch. But my gain patch using a Friedman BE really sounded great with the BBPros. Win some, ya lose some I guess :)
@@TheGuitarPit For what it's worth, your tone in this video was killer, so I wouldn't change a thing. See ya
Nice review!!! Gorgeous guitar, man. Wow. Love that opening little chugga riff. Put it in a backing track!! Yeah, that neck slant is very apparent. With the LP Kit I'm building that's a seriously big deal if you're not careful.
Ha, thanks! Yeah no kidding, I'd never put this thing down flat. Neck brace 24/7 when it's on the bench! I could see how easily it'd snap if it fell from a stand backwards. It'd probably be fine if it fell forwards though haha.
Very nice review! Always liked that scale length.
Thanks Carmelo! Yeah it's a little looser which is cool, and I think the strings being higher off the body than I'm used to made for a fun chuga-chuga thing haha.
One of the best reviews out there. Deserves many many more views!
Thanks Peter, appreciate it. Doin' my best hah.
Yep, I’m really happy for you. The design is unchanged 60 years, because customers won’t let them revise it. Gibson people are outspoken.
I’m no expert either, but have watched ‘The Trogly’s Guitar Show’ for many years, and Austin is nothing short of incredible.
Apparently the Violin was a major inspiration behind Gibson designs and the LP & 335 styles reflect that. But with that said, each model Gibson is unique. SG’s and Explorers differ from LP and 335s, and each guitar is voiced specifically to give you that ‘I’m playing a Gibson’ level of satisfaction. They all sound really good, makes you feel sorry for most guitar companies. But that comes with 125 years experience building instruments. Gibson is an American owned and operated 125 year old company. Amazing.
Congratulations are in order. For years folks have been asking for affordable iconic tones, and the new Gibson delivers. The Standard is the top end of their production line. From there you end up shopping Gibson Custom. Austin could tell you more.
Sorry about that blem in the binding. See the factory tours. Regular people build those guitars in a mass production environment, probably get paid around 25k per year to crank them out. They’re expensive because it’s a corporation that is in the death grip of capital investment firms, such as Bain Capital, known for bloating the company with debt, off shoring the, and dissolving them completely. See Toys R Us, Hostess for details.
Yeah, all fair points. Huge companies always struggle with that sort of thing...but I feel like Fender doesn't have that problem. And I guess you could argue the LP is more complicated to make than a Fender, but I guess then we'd have to compare to PRS. But hey, Gibson tone is Gibson tone. I'm really curious where new management takes things. I really think they need to adjust some details here and there, but hopefully they're aware of that and will continue to make great guitars.
@@TheGuitarPit The big difference is, Fender is privately held company. There is no argument Gibson's design is wayyyyyy more complicated than Fender's design. Leo Fender wanted something almost completely modular and that the parts were quick and easy to build. He was never thinking refretting a guitar, he was thinking replace the whole neck. There were 2 completely different schools of thought there. One side looking at it from an engineering perspective and the other side looking at it from a musical instrument perspective.
Pretty sure any Troglidite who watched the channel for a wile has a decent knowledge of Gibson guitars.
Great honest demo!! I'd add the pick guard (ya I know that's a debate topic). Kinda missing the poker chip too but hey I'm a snob!! Cheers Chris!!
Good news, they include the pick guard and poker chip in the case, for those people like yourself :)
@@TheGuitarPit good to know!! Now I'll be able sleep tonight!!
Hey man, really nice review. I actually was just about to do a video on my Les Paul. In my Guitar Pit shirt. ;)
You beat me to it! However, mine is a unique customize guitar from Gibson.
Anyway, totally agree... they’re uncomfortable but have that classic unique sound.
Very cool man! Looking forward to it :)
Subbed ! I want to see your review as well !
@@toddflowers8052 Awesome, man! Thanks! I'm hoping to get it out soon.
Uncomfortable, what a pussy, try a Gretch hollow body.
Great review! I'm glad you are mostly happy with it! To get that sound there is really only one way to authentically get it. The only thing I would add is your frets are pleked.
Ah yeah I forgot that detail. Yeah no buzz or problems with the setup, this thing was ready to go out of the box.
I bought the 2018 standard in cherry sunburst and mine didn't have any issues at all. It sounds great and plays great too. I have looked mine up and down and it's absolutely perfect. And I love the sound of the burstbucker pros!
The pickups and tone really sells me on it. I don't love the minor details but wow, this thing sounds like a beast with gain, and I really surprised myself with the cleans on the middle position. Digging it!
did you get that from Manchester music mill? he bought a ton of those. string butlers are for people who don't know what they are doing imo I never had a problem with Gibsons with a good nut and clean saddles
I think it was from a Musician's Friend deal that didn't last long. I usually keep my eye on SlickDeals and have an alert for Gibson. And yeah, I get what the Butler is attempting to do but it isn't worth the bother.
I got a classic player plus Les Paul during the blowout.
Brand new for $1200, it’s beautiful, sounds great and it is flawless. I was impressed for sure.
Nice! Those seem like a better deal. More reasonable price, look just about as cool.
Man, what a great review! I agree with all you said. I desperately love the LP look and sound, but in the end I'm not sure it's for me. I like comfort features (forearm or bevel on top, belly carve) and etc, and just wonder if it would just drive me crazy in the end, especially the tuning thing ( I know, use lube, get a properly cut nut......). I think if I were to go for it, I would just get a studio that doesn't have binding digging in my forearm. Regarding the string butler, great point on replacing the nut! When I bought a cheap, sorta LP shape (2011 Schecter Solo 6..only bought to see if I would like the shape and I liked the dark tobacco burst), I slapped a string butler on that bad boy. Love it, but since watching your video I understand why it worked for me. The nut on the Solo 6 is basically cut straight so the string butler took out the angles like its supposed to! Again, awesome review!!!!! \w/
Thanks Brian. Yeah it's just not for me either. I love the tone and looks, but I can't get over the price, fit and finish, and ergonomics. It's just not something I'd casually grab when sitting down to noodle around. And yeah, I didn't realize LP's had a strangely cut nut until I had one to examine in person. String Butler is an interesting idea but in this case, it just cases more work than it's worth unless you're willing to commit to it forever. Meh?
Good review, I think you hit everything right on the head in terms of price, fit-finish, quality, QC, etc. This is my experience with most 'higher end' Gibson's as well (same issues). Gibson Customs are no different in my experience either, lol. That being said, if you want a "Gibson Les Paul" and that general sound/vibe, you're not really going to get it anywhere else except from Gibson. If with the new management Gibson can up their build-quality and fit-finish issues then I think they'll be in a really good place--although, you could argue they have always been in a good place considering they still sell bucket-loads of guitars, even with all the quality issues, lol. I have a Gibson Les Paul Menace, which is cool, but a little different aesthetically (which has its pros and cons) but it's one of nicer Gibson's I've played in my entire guitar-playing life and it wasn't sky-high in terms of price when I bought it new in 2006-ish.
Whoa, I just looked up the Menace. That's pretty unique actually. I don't hate it. Probably makes the traditionalists cry though haha. And yeah, between the price and fit and finish...I just don't see it. The tone is great, but I think this guitar sits at over $3k usually. That's basically hilarious. And fair points above, too. Not sure what prevented them from doing cleaner work. Maybe that they've refocused on guitars instead of goofy lifestyle brand stuff, they'll clean their act up. I'd love to say they'd have to for survival, but I think Gibson fans will spend their money there with or without a solution. Guess we'll see!
@@TheGuitarPit Yeah I bought the Menace because #1 it played as well as any other Gibson I had played (and just as well as any I've played since, just about, lol). #2 My dad (as a non-guitar player) was pushing me to buy a Gibson and this one was different and for teenage me it worked. If I could, I'd change the brass-fist inlay and put a regular Gibson logo on the headstock. The aesthetic is basically Gibson trying to be more 'rock/metal' (in the mid-2000's) and thinking these aesthetics were 'cool,' which they really aren't, lol. I wouldn't mind the tattoo logo thing on the back of the headstock or in the middle of the headstock but I think a regular Gibson logo in Gold would have worked better. Either way, as I said it's one of the nicest Gibson's I've ever played and I've played a million (got a lucky gem I guess--although it still suffers from lack of fit-finish on the binding). And the Menace was basically in the price range of the regular LP Studio's, and not near as bad as a Standard or Custom.
Yeah that totally makes sense. I almost bought a Gibson gothic from a Guitar Center in early 2000s for the same reason. Blacked out, pretty cheap, didn't look that bad. But I think I tried one in the store and hated the way the neck felt. Don't really remember but I skipped it. They had a JP6 that fell off the wall and had a huge scratch on the front for $800, so I ended up walking out with that instead. Glad I did because I played that thing to death for like 10 years.
@@TheGuitarPit Yeah the Menace, Gothic, and Voodoo seemed to be Gibson trying to pull in the Rock/Metal crowd in that mid-00's, especially with the popularity of hte time of gothic/dark/moody rock and metal (as well as nu-metal stuff). Nice!! Yeah the JP6 is a great guitar and definitely better than a Gibson LP Studio-level guitar (or Gothic in this case) from that era.
It sounds great Chris. It's very nice looking. It is all about the sound and it sounds les Paul great. I don't know if you plan to keep it but it would be cool if you could compare it to some of the lesser les pauls like the studio , tribute or special..
Great video Chris.
I'll probably do some comparison videos with it, but I doubt I'll pick up a Studio or other Gibson to compare it to. That'd be an expensive video to shoot haha. And thanks as always, Mitch!
I also have had issues with the ergos on the LP but it definitely has “that” sound that most of us love.
Yeah, that's the trade. My guess is I'd pick it up from time to time to get the tone, but it'd never be my go-to guitar just based on that alone.
Hey chris ever plan to try a reverend? I bought one recently, it feels like a typical korean quality guitar, alot of les paul similarities with the scale length, tone pros bridge, angled headstock to be completely honest im not blown away by it however the railhammer pickups are absolutely killer.
I've only picked one up briefly and it just kinda felt like other Korean guitars. Not to say bad, but it didn't do much for me. They tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum too. I've heard the pickups are cool though. And what about the Greg Koch model? It has his signature Fishmans in there. So if I was gonna try one, it'd probably be that :)
Beautiful Guitar!! Such an awesome top on that LP!! Cheers!!
Thanks Broken Chains!
Good review Chris !
Thanks dude!
I wouldn't consider the sloppy binding to be "little", that's major sloppiness, especially at that price range.
It looks mostly fine from a foot away but when you zoom in the camera its....not good haha.
The Guitar Pit, it’s like a 12-year-old Boy Scout after drinking half a beer. “Hey Kid, of here is an X-Acto, trim out that extra plastic.”
No Bueno. No Merit Badge. They have to figure out a way to standardize or automate that binding clean-out. Customize a little mini router or something. I think the whole thing with the nibs thing is amazingly awesome. Totally unique. But, Eek!🥴
I highly recommend the Les Paul HP Series. I own two. A 2018 Standard HP-ii in Heritage Cherry fade and a 2016 Studio HP in Vintage Sunburst. Build quality is stellar on each.
The Axcess Neck Joint and lack of Fret Nibs resolves two of your main issues. The Titanium Nut has given me pretty much flawless tuning stability (Yes, even the notorious "G" String..). My Studo has the G-Force tuning System and the Standard has locking Grovers. Both are fine. I really like the G-Force system. It works great and if you use single string tuning mode there is no "see-sawing" of strings through the nut. The Standard even has a small belly comfort carve.
Even the Guitar cases are better. I have one in (uber heavy..) Aluminium and one in faux Carbon. HPs were rejected by the traditionalists but they are amazing. If it wasn't for these specs, I doubt I'd have bought a Les Paul. Hopefully they'll recieve recognition in due course. Right now, prices are still reasonable...
This is a real review and not a fanboy demo. Wish there were more of these on TH-cam.
They have had volutes in the past Chris but, I think people didn't like them so, off they came ! I own both Gibson and Epiphone's and I like them both ,I'm weird like that ! ;-) The frets bye the way are now cryogenically hardened so they shouldn't wear out for the average player. I agree with Michael Collings if the nut is cut properly there are no tuning issues. That is my 2 cents ! HA ! Nice review from someone who plays shred guitfiddles ! :-) I hope the transition is a QC improvement too ! Cheers !
Thanks Todd! Yeah, I really hope they focus in and fix some of the little stuff because you can't really argue with the tone. And cool tip on the fret treatment, glad they're doing that.
It is one of my most common repairs . The main reason apart from the angle is the grain goes straight across the narrow part that is largely cut out for the truss rod nut. A volute would only help if the angle was reduced as well. The only reason that it remain like this is the customers always have a fit if they stray away from the original design. In the 70s they fixed it with a maple three piece neck at 14 degrees and a volute but customer demand brought us back to this. PRS heads almost never come off and the main difference is the angle.
Ah the truss rod, great point. Even less wood there than you'd think. Does the neck angle somehow make a difference in tone or playability? Why are people so die hard on it?
Purely because of the mythical status of the 59 bursts.@@TheGuitarPit
Thanks to this review I just bought mine! Awesome video buddy. And a good guitar for a Gibson....
Enjoy dude, and congrats! Can't beat that tone.
@@TheGuitarPit thanks bud. Hope i like this one.... not a gibson kind of guy, lol...
Was really impressed by the shorter guage on my friends custom Lp.I looked for a cheaper but decent version. Lp Standard nice but too expensive. Studio was meh. Ended up buying an sc550 online with no tryout. Must have got a good one. Neck is skinny (matter of taste) and fret finish is very good. Only difference is the HB pickups cant even pretend to compete with burstbuckers.
Bruse on your chest 😂 very pretty Harley Davidson of guitars 🤘🏽🤣
I’ve played hundreds of them in shops over the years I only found one that felt like Wow this is what they’re talking about! Sadly I didn’t have four grand so I gingerly hung the grey burst back on the wall 😞
Haha yeaaaah it's not exactly comfortable.
I'm pretty biased but yes they do sound great and are iconic. Glad you like the tone at least 😆
If you say Gibson three times in any video it summons Guitar Hack to the comment section. Yeah the tone is nuts, I can't get enough of the bridge pickup with the Friedman patch. Not my first pick on body shape, but I can deal with that :P
@@TheGuitarPit I'm happy you own a part of that historic glorious thing known as les paul TONE!
The tronical tuners work quite well for changing tunings real quick. And they do stay in tune. The hate comes frome biased people who have almost never tried the tuners themselves.
Fair enough. I haven't heard very good things about them but have never tried them in person.
You sound fantastic on that guitar.
Thanks Brian! It's the guitar, not me haha.
LOVE THE LES PAUL !! ONE OF THE GREATEST SOUNDING GUITARS EVER MADE !! NICE REVIEW !!
Thanks JayJKay, yeah it's a killer sound!
perfect analogy between Harley Davidson and Gibson! Hit the nail on the head!
They might not play like a Suhr, or feel like a PRS, but if you want that tone...this is it!
Awesome review. That fret binding thing is pretty bizarre. Seems like it’s a cheap way to avoid the additional labor of finely filing fret ends, especially given the fact it looks like they carved out the fret slots with a utility knife. Love that classic Les Paul tone and agree there’s no guitar that sounds the same, but beyond that there is nothing about these guitars that appeal to me.
Yeah I can't tell if they're avoiding the work, or causing more. It's gotta be a ton of work to scrape all the binding out of there, but it's pretty shoddy work. Not really sure what the plan is there haha. Main issue for me is I just don't like holding a big single cut I don't think. They never seem to agree with me.
btw how do you feel for shutting down production on the peavey hp2? 😁
Hahahah wow I'm nooooooot shocked :)
Yeah it was too good to be true 😁👍
What has a better fit and finish and sounds like this/better? Practically any mid-priced $750+ guitar that has Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro II humbuckers; ya know, what Slash uses.
Ha, Gibson should start using World Music in Korea haha.
There are guitars that are 'Les Paul' sounding - HP42 and Guitar Geek did a video on 'single cut' double humbucker guitars and the Maybach Lester (I believe) was decided to be the best LP in the price range.
I like my PRS 594 Double Cut as that is a vintage LP with PRS quality. Maybe doesn't have the 'bark' of a LP although some PU's do offer that so I hear. I like my 58/15 LT's as these offer a bit more clarity and I think a lower output than the buckers in a Gibby. The trouble is that none say Gibson on the headstock so none can be better even if they are - the sound that people would opt for in a 'blind' test.
I would buy a Gibson - even if I gravitate more to my 594 for playing - just because it's a Gibson. Its like having a Garage full of superb and high quality motorbikes but owning a Harley. Its the bike you say you own and show off first but the bike you rarely ride and gravitate towards any other bike first. I have looked at the HP Gibsons and would buy a HP Gibson because it offers a LOT of versatility - more than my 594 that also offers Coil splitting. It doesn't offer the out of phase option or all the combinations that the HP circuit added - also has a more ergonomic heel, weight relief etc too.
I saw that HP42 video, it was pretty cool! I didn't watch the entire series but I know they kept eyeballing one of the custom shop R9's or something...which is triple what I paid for this thing. But still, I bet that's the "real deal." And I agree with you on the garage note. It's not my favorite, but it feels like something you're supposed to have. Maybe that's dumb, but it's always been something I wanted to have and compare to my other guitars. But yeah, if I only owned 1 guitar, it wouldn't be this one :)
I have two a 2017 and a 2018 hp awesome guitars that’s what I’ve had all my life and I’m 61 beautiful and awesome😜
Look up the build date in the inspection paper work. You may find it interesting. The two I got were built and inspected in late summer 2017. Early build 2018's. They sat in stock from then until late February 2019. That was hard to believe. New ones stacked on the old ones? Warehouse full? Who knows.. That is a long time to go unsold.
This was one 4/2018. But yeah, if they make it to blow out prices, I assume they aren't flying off the shelves haha.
Great review. I’ve had a love hate relationship with my les Paul’s over the years. You’re right on if you want a Gibson it is what it is. Anyone want to take some bets on when this will end up on reverb? LOL
Haha yeah that's basically it. I don't like single cuts either so this one is really working uphill hah. But, it's a Gibson, and there aren't any replacements. We'll see how long it survives :)
Few substitutes for a LP custom, even bands like metallica and in flames go for them (with actives). Not saying its the "best" guitar, but its harder to replace than a PRS, ESP etc. Maybe same thing with some fenders, idk, never played them. Blood orange looks killer btw, and im not usually a fan of reddish guitars.
Yeah fair, although if you're putting actives in there you'd think you'd be fine with an ESP Eclipse or something. Oh well! And yeah the finish isn't half bad on this thing! I don't love red either but I think this one really pops.
The Guitar Pit Yeah i tried one actually, sounded great, looked great but was way more faded than yours. Didnt spend enough time with it to discover any faults. Yeah maybe you're right, and those guitars are cool in their own right, but I don't really get why people say all guitars sound the same with actives. Not my experience, had great sounding and crap sounding guitars with emg 81s.
On the Music Man Game Changer Serial / Parallel and In / Out Phase are different options, and I can hear a difference, so my guess is: It's not the same thing, buy I am a software guy, hardware not so much ^^
Cool, yeah that makes sense. I've seen some videos call this switch a phase switch, and others say it toggles between series and parallel. I guess it will remain a mystery! Either way, it adds that quacky thing you'd pretty much expect.
Excellent review a bit harsh but fair 😀😀👍👍
Ha, thanks Judd. This thing sounded great but for the money...it was a bit of a dog. PRS or Suhr would get roasted for charging this kind of money for all the fit and finish errors. Ouch.
Go and have a look at the Vigier fretless guitar (surfreter)! Very different but they are stunning and the quality is top notch! Cheers!
I have a Vigier Excalibur and love it. Not sure if I can hang with the fretless thing though haha.
No sloppy fretwork, at least, ;)
I think that's a fine guitar. I have a 1995 Studio and that's all the Les Paul I will ever need. Sounds amazing but it's not fun to play all the time. I'm likely to buy 10 more Teles in my life but I don't think I'll buy one more Les Paul.
Yeah agreed. Sounds great, not what I want to pick up on a daily basis though :)
cool video that is a nice guitar and like you said about the tooling marks well it seems to be normal to all gibsons even custom ...I watch troglys guitars hes a gibson freak loll and we see those tooling marks on i think almost all of them even custom and for me the weak headstock well you should not drop your guitar just take care of it well you know what I meen.... keep up the good work also love your studio setup really nice
Yeah I was a bit surprised to see that on a guitar that retails over $3k. Pretty questionable. But hey, the tone is there. I hadn't heard of Troglys channel, I'll check it out! Looks like some great, detailed content.
Honestly I don’t know why they haven’t lowered the headstock angle, that would really help solve the headstock snapping issue. I’ve also used a String Butler and it wasn’t worth it it didn’t make much of a difference.
I bet the string butler might help if you replaced the nut and redid the entire thing. But yeah for my taste, it wasn't worth the money or trouble.
The Guitar Pit yea honestly since I just play at home it doesn’t bug me
There's a Jackson Misha Mansoor HT6 on Guitarcenter for 2000 and a few under 2500 on reverb. I think you'ld like those. It's like a Jackson doing a prs kind of vibe in a way. My ht7 plays like a cross between my Jackson Monarkh and my Charvel DK24 2pt. But you kind of want to play riffs on it too.
There is a nasty tigereye colored one on Reverb for like 1800 I think. Looks decent but I much prefer the blue. I've also kinda moved away from the real djenty guitars since I found them to all be so similar. I feel like you just need 1 good one. I used to have a ton of Ibanez/Kiesel/etc and they were all pretty similar. I'd rather just have 1 good one :)
@@TheGuitarPit Haha, I play more shred style guitars so it was my first djent style guitar I guess. It has that shred thing but it wants to riff too. To me it feels like Jackson kind of doing their version of a PRS so I figured you might like that. Like a metal version. It's a bit different from any Ibanez RGAs or the PRS Mark Holcomb. It still has that Jackson thing about
And how much did you have to pay for that Chris? Do they have any more of them? Crazy question but, would you be interested in trading that guitar for 5 guitars that are in great shape?
$1799 out the door. And no, I'd never trade any 1 guitar for 2 guitars, let alone 5. Always trade up. Also, the cost of shipping me 5 guitars outweighs any sort of trade. What is that, $500 right off the top?
I don't know how much. I was thinking it would be less than that .A Chapman Ghost Fret Standard. A limited edition Grestch SC Electromatic. A Epiphone SG400-PRO. A Hand Built Kit explorer that has been upgraded. And a Epiphone Les Paul 100. All were bought between 2015 and 2018 and are in great condition.
Gibson fan here. This is a fair review form someone not 100% familiar with Gibson Les Pauls. Pretty balanced. Les Pauls are definitely for those going for the vintage vibe. Accessibility or lack there of is all part of the give and take. With that said, there are other models with thinner bridge heals and play great. Then again, you have Gibson purists who frown on anything that breaks the 1959 mold.
Thanks Richard. I was very tempted to get the HP for some of the more modern features, but many of my viewers advised against it for various reasons. Overall I really like the tone and look, but I'd be lying if I said I had a guitar with worth fit and finish...especially in this price range.
Oh no Chris, has gone to the hackside lol. Bet ya Hack luvs it. Cheers like 101
This was only a temporary detour :)
I share your thought on this. I just popped for 2 2018 SG's on close out . A Standard and a Faded. I had to get it out of my system. While I feel there is something there that is hard to explain they are over priced even on close out. I'm not unhappy with them and the two I have were both "good " ones. They both came in with a stupid high setup. Strings dragging on the bridge and a harsh angle on the stop bar. One of them had the bridge pickup so high it was almost touching the super high strings. Took me while to sort it out. I found it odd neither did not ship setup per Gibson Spec. WTH? But there is something about them that is redeeming. They are lighter than the knockoff SG's and sound like a SG should. I guess that is where the money went. If somebody just wants the look a Chibson has that and lots of quality issues. Not to mention a very shady dealer network to deal with.
Strange. This one had a great setup right out of the box, but as you saw there are a ton of little fit/finish details that are sorely lacking at this price point. I think the blowout price is just about fair for it, considering the looks and tone. There is no way I would have paid 40% more or whatever retail is.
A lot of these fit and finish things had me pissed off that I ended up buying a Chibson. They even included a card that says something like details matter. I am glad to see that they are just liars and details don't matter because I am now convinced that my guitar is authentic.
It took me a long time to find a Gibby that I like. I ended up w a used Traditional LP w a very nice top (tough to find on the traditional). I did replace the PU’s with the Pearly Gates which sound great on an LP. It’s a nice guitar but is tough to play high up the neck. If you come from Fender world you will not like that neck joint. But that’s the Les Paul thing. The guitar fights you a bit.
Yeah I guess that's part of the fun. They fight you a little and you can really lay into them. That said, I'm usually trying to relax and play after work...not sure if I'm lookin for a fight :P
i fucking love this finish!
Yeah I'm happy it's way more red than orange. It's got a really good rich color on it.
I love my les Paul. It’s got an absolute monster baseball bat neck. But I love that. Put a bare knuckle nail bomb in the bridge and it’s a metal machine.
The 57 classics it came with where great pickups but I just wanted a more beastly bridge.
Hah! The baseball bat thing is tough for me, but I'm curious to try one out. I used to hate them, but recently I've been playing Friedmans and the necks on those aren't small at all. Maybe my tastes have changed.
The Guitar Pit I like some thinner necks but not Ibanez thin. I just find a thicker neck feels better when you are playing hard.
The thing about Les Paul copies is there a different instrument too. So the alternative guitars are kind of a different guitar. An ESP Eclipse is kind of a different beast to a Gibson Les Paul. Those Jackson Monark guitars play really comfortably, they play more like a Super Strat but they don't make a high end one 🤷♂️ I think Henning Pauly made a Les Paul shoot out video (about 4 of them due to price range) if you're interested in alternative singlecuts. He did say the Prestige guitars at $1000-$1200 beat guitars at $2000 but an interesting video
I don't really like single cuts at all. I guess if I'll tolerate one, it might as well be a Gibson. If I was getting an ESP or Jackson, I'd go with a s-type body all day. I've seen a couple Prestige on Reverb for like $500...curious how they hold up.
@@TheGuitarPit for me it's a I like the tone of a les paul but I like super strat playability. Jackson does that perfectly with their Monark series. The only problem is a high end version is the Marty Friedman at 3k and I'm more of a 2k kind of market 😂😂
You should compare an Epiphone Les Paul Custom to see what you think the differences are. Maybe even a prophecy GX, those come with Gibson Pickups and are basically top of the line Epiphone. And brand new they’re like $900.
Yeah that'd be interesting, but then I'd have not one but two single cuts I don't love :P
Man I still love the color on that Les Paul. That is not your normal red. Blood Orange. I see Musicicians Friend still has them for %2199.00.
Yeah. Sadly I haven't seen them cheaper than 2199 since the sale I bought mine at. I bet some of the ones on Reverb would budge on the price too, there are quite a few left on there. $1800 seems fair.
You say blowout. From How much to how much was it reduced to?
Standards are around $1800 right now some places. Lefty models are $1600. The "cool" colors like blue are about $2100.
@@TheGuitarPit you think 1999 is a cheap price for a new Traditional 2016?
Not sure on 2016, but for 2018s, they were down to about $1800 as well. I don't see many left for sale now though.
5:55 To quote fight club "I had it all, even the glass dishes with the tiny bubbles and imperfections, proof they were crafted by the honest, simple, hard-working indigenous peoples of wherever"
The imperfections are there because of the hand crafting that is a staple of Gibson. It's a bragging point that a team of legendary luthiers crafted your guitar with their bare hands as opposed to being spit out of a CNC machine. (CNC machine is better imho).
It's not for me. For the money if I wanted a fancy guitar I'd build a Kiesel or get a flawless PRS
Hah. Yeah maybe, but I think there are plenty other brands that don't use a CNC and can make a decent product. That said, I don't think there is anything wrong with a CNC machine, so if it helps the process...use it :)
The comparison with Harley D. is spot on... People loves what they represents. Not what they are.
And both are basically bankrupt. Whoops! Haha. I'm hoping Gibson can turn it around...
I dont like them much either but would like to have one to have one.
Yeah that's exactly how I feel about them haha.
at 2:57; wtf is that string configuration?
Configuration? Not sure I understand. Standard tuning, if that's what you're asking.
LES PAULS ARE VERY SOLID !! GREAT FOR WORK !!
I only like the high performance model has a nice neck heel for access some the 2018 even hp even have belly cut
The thing about Les Paul Standards is: They're not the most comfortable guitars. They're even not the best made guitars out there. Their quality control sucks quite bad. They fight you and nothing is too easy with them. BUT if you get that perfect model, It's a guitar you'll take to your grave. P.S. ESP Eclipse I CTM are a good alternative tho. They're light, extremely well made, sound and look almost identical to a Les Paul - they got sued by G because of that, BUT they don't have that Gibson logo on the top and lack some of that magic you only get with the real thing. Good review, i enjoyed it!
the problem is that for the vintage tones, you can't have alnico V like here (2 times) good MMI model lol
Is that available on the traditional? Or do you have to buy something vintage for that?
I don`t care for the that neck profile as well. I prefer the 1959 rounded profile like on the Traditional. No weight relief in the body either, I prefer heavy guitars.
Yeah I should have tried the other neck before purchasing, but this one was deeply discounted so I thought I'd take the chance. Luckily, I'm safe on resale value down the road if I decide to part ways with it.
I agree. Good price. I would have bought a Traditional for that price for sure!! I do like the Grovers better than the Klusens though. The Traditionals having the Klusens.
@@TheGuitarPit what you have is the "slim taper" neck or "60s" neck profile. It does feel modern for lack of a better word but it's actually been around since the 60s, hence the name, and it's also why you'll see this neck profile on most SG's since that is when it was released (techincally as a "les paul"). Personally the 50s neck on the traditional and on some standards over the years is just a bit too large for me and I even have decent sized hands. It just feels cumbersome to me. I think you have to try it and see for yourself. Maybe go play a traditional model in a shop. This is a big thing that differentiates most Gibson models and theres a pretty even split in the community on which profile is preferred and that's why Gibson makes lots of models with both carves.
Well Chris, i personally think it looks and sounds Great, wish i could afford one, lol, Cheers
Thanks Casper! It's cool but if I had one guitar, it wouldn't be this one :)
@@TheGuitarPit I know what your saying, the thing is i do not understand is, people moan and complain about the Quality issues with Gibson, but they still go and buy them, and for the price of them they should be near on perfect , just my thoughts Cheers Buddy
Les paul is “NOT” a shredding guitar. It’s the sound of pure “ROCK”
🤘
Zakk Wylde?
Alexander Berry he only play pentatonic runs all day long. Boring! Buckethead,Michael Angelo,paul Gilbert, joe satriani, malmsteen, just to name a few. DO they all play a LES PAUL??
@@w.t.f2386 Buckethead yes. I'd imagine most of the others have owned em. Also can't forget Randy Rhoads and Doug Aldrich
@@w.t.f2386 Buckethead does play a les paul lol. But yeah, they obviously aren't ideal shredding machines, but it's not impossible :)
My PT USA made schecter does give my Gibson a tone copy with all the comforts of satin neck belly carve
I'd believe that. I had a USA Sunset and that thing had the gnarliest pickups ever. I think they were called Apocalypse. They sounded incredible.
@@TheGuitarPit ya mine has the Pasadena plus and my other one has the schecter super rock humbuckers I hear the sunset strip are awesome too
You’re like Trogly with a Fender. It’s cool that you’re not a fanboy, because Gibson is the 🤴🏻
I gotta watch that guy, people keep mentioning him haha.
😂
My Gibson Midtowns headtsock broke also. Mahogany neck +stiff angle + Truss rood cabity just makes a very bad combination
Ooph, sorry to hear. I see so many repairs on Reverb...I know people claim it's overblown but you can see just how easy it would be to happen. If it's in a stand and falls back and the headstock hits first...you're doomed.
The HP version makes the neck access great but still have to sand the awful gloss off the neck hand sticks like glue on that gloss
Sanding the neck on a $4k guitar seems like a cruel joke. I don't think I could do it, unless I knew that was my only guitar for life.
@@TheGuitarPit true I got my hp from Sweetwater in 2016 for 2500 it was either sand the neck or not keep it turned out nice having a satin neck on my LP so now it's actually high performance it's a traditional HP with 57 classics will keep it for life so not worried about resale
nice song very good video i subscribe!!!
I recently bought a Les Paul Classic P90 to flip and it played awfully. It wasn’t comfortable to play and couldn’t stay in tune with bends. So glad I sold it
Haha at least this one plays alright. Factory setup was very decent.
It seems like Gibson has gotten this “hit or miss” reputation lately and it’s kind of sad. I had an ‘06 Les Paul Studio for a while and it honestly kicked the crap out of this Les Paul Classic that is almost $1000 more
Which is weird cause they're plek'd, right? Wouldn't it be REALLY easy to set them up to play nicely from the factory? Haha....oh well.
The Guitar Pit yeah. I hope Gibson changes my mind in the coming years. That classic had more fit and finish issues than any of my Korean Reverends. You’d think that wouldn’t be the case!
Epiphone headstock looks like Tchernobyl little brother.
🤯🤯🤯
The main thing is it looks good and sounds killer to me. Nothing really sounds like a Gibson Les Paul. I wouldn't buy one but I see why people do.
Yup, 100% agree. It's not my favorite guitar, but I can't complain about the looks and tone. It's just not a good value and uncomfortable. So if ya want one cool, if not, skip it! haha.
What is the exact weight of yours Chris?
It's 8lbs 7oz I believe. Not light but not awful for a LP.
I buy guitars that weigh 7.6 or less because I have had 2 back surgeries. I expected yours to be heavier than that but I did want to see if someone who knows a lot about many guitars like yourself would be interested in a deal like that and what you would say about it. I love your videos and your kind personality. I have seen a few Les Pauls that weigh 8.0 lbs and that would be acceptable to me. If I had known I could get a Les Paul Standard at $1799.00 I would have started selling off my guitars to get one. It's my dream guitar. Im concerned if I sale 5 of my 6 guitars, that by then there won't be any 2018 LP Standards around. A 2017 would be good too. I don't like all the colors but some of them I do. Man Chris, that is easily the best sounding guitar I have seen you play. The Standards sound better than any guitar I have ever heard but that's a matter of opinion and is different from person to person. The lack of comfort does concern me, but man that Tone Rocks!
I've seen some R9's under 7.5 lbs but it's pretty uncommon I believe. I'm not sure what the range is on standards, but I'd guess somewhere from 7.5~9lbs? I know the non-chambered ones can be 9+...too heavy for me. I'm not a Gibson expert though so maybe someone else would know better :) I agree that it sounds incredible, I really enjoy the pickups. The body shape and neck isn't my favorite, but I guess that's the sacrifice for tone.
There are many of these on Reverb right now for about $2100. I'd assume some of the sellers would be willing to negotiate on the price. There are always guitars to buy :) I know you mentioned you have 5 guitars to sell...it's a lot of work and can take time. Also shipping is difficult on guitars with lower value, but give Reverb a shot if you want to try to get rid of them.
And thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you enjoy the content. I love checking out new guitars and was doing it on my own before TH-cam...thought it'd be fun to share.
Well I found one Chris. I ordered it today. They have these on blowout because of the color and the G-Force Robot Tuners. Regularly $3,629.00 on sale for $2,130.00. That's a $1499.00 discount and it's much more comfort friendly. It has a Titanium Nut,150 different sound options, a smooth neck heel joint, and a Aluminum Case on Wheels that looks like something NASA would make. You really have to read a thick manual to know all of the features this modern guitar has. I had to work pretty hard to find a light weight one because Guitar Center doesn't weigh guitars...but, they have 29 left in the system and none of them are at a warehouse, they are all at various Guitar Center Stores in the U.S.A. I got lucky and got them to weigh the one they had in Louisville and was elated that it only weighs 7.6. They have 0% interest for 2 years with a Guitar Center Gear Card. The approval process is fast. I ordered a professional setup from their luthier. They charge $10.00 extra just to change strings on this guitar. I guess that's because of the robot tuners. It will be here in a week. They said their luthiers currently have a back log of 100 guitars I hope you like Hot Pink Fade... LOL. www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson/Les-Paul-Standard-HP-2018-Electric-Guitar.gc
Les Paul Standard High Performanceth-cam.com/video/fSZAyiiAWhE/w-d-xo.html
Yes QC on Gibson is terrible. Tuning problems are the 17degree head.
I've heard it wasn't great but I'm pretty surprised at what I found on this $3k+ guitar.
nice color 😜
This one is probably everyone's least favorite since it was so deeply discounted. Blue was like $500 more haha. Oh well, I think it's pretty cool!
I appreciate the honesty of your review, always. 2 things I would do: 1) Remove two of the knobs 2) Get rid of any Gibsons in the house. But seriously folks, the only change I would make to this guitar is to put it in the recycle bin.
This guitar should have left the factory as if the quality mattered. I don't think a guitar company should get away with selling tradition instead of selling current quality. Unfortunately, there are those in the Church of Gibson that don't see it that way. They won't know the benefits of other guitars unless they try them. They don't have to buy them. They can try those that belong to friends or go the music store repeatedly. That said, be sure to subscribe to this channel (and Guitar Hacks channel. We can still get along Hack. I don't hate them.)
PS: Someone please Trogly something other than a Gibson :)
Yeah I paid half and think it's about it's maximum value. If I paid $3k+ for this, I'd jump off a cliff.
Explain the trogly think I'm not familiar and out of the loop, although a couple comments mentioned them so I'll check their channel out today at some point.
Hearing strat tones out of that guitar was so weird
I didn't do much a demo with the split but they sounded alright. Wouldn't say its a single coil replacement but you can certainly get some real diverse tones outta this thing.
Great review! You're absolutely right, if you want a guitar that sounds like a Gibson then buy a Gibson. Although........ maybe buy a Maybach they're pretty much identical for a lot less money.
Those Maybachs aren't cheap either, but they look really nice. Maybe I'll get a chance to try one some day.
Take the covers off those pick ups open those babies up and throw some daddario's on it you are good to go also I dont top wrap but some people swear by it like Joe bonamassa etc etc
What is the benefit of top wrapping the strings?
@@TheGuitarPit some people say top wrapping your strings over the stop tail deceases the break angle over the saddle and thus a more slinky or loose feeling strings I've done it in the past but I feel with that you loose sustain so it's up to you
8:00 idk why that doesn’t happen to
Me and i have the same guitar
A mix of how the nut is cut and other fit/finish stuff. This one needed a new nut I think. It just wasn't right. I have another Les Paul and it doesn't happen there.
A les Paul is a beautiful contradiction. They’re frustrating as fuck, and amazing as hell, all at the same time. Their quality control can leave a lot to be desired as well.
Yeah agreed. That's exactly how I felt. Makes me want an R9 though hah.
The Guitar Pit if you ever decide to unload it, let me know. Seems like a good example of what Gibson is capable of.
@@MatthewFant I'm always trying to get the next thing for a video so if you're interested email me. It's on my about page on TH-cam. I'll sell it to you below reverb price.
Personally I have too many issues with Gibson to even consider getting one. I find them unbalanced (LP are bottom heavy, SG are neck heavy, ES are just too big for me), don't like the canoe paddle headstock, really don't like the rustic neck joint with the unnecessary ridge on it, no SS frets, no locking tuners, no added electronics, sloppy QC, mediocre looking flame/quilt tops, etc. A 2019 LP standard is over $4000 here in Canada after tax. If I wanted SS frets, locking tuners and a better neck joint, I'd have to go for a HP model, and those are an extra $500+ on top of that $4K. At that price you can be looking at actual handmade Suhr/Anderson/Mayones.. Just makes no sense to me why anybody would want a Gibson, outside of brand recognition
Edit: Didn't realize they recently added locking tuners to the Standards, but that doesn't change a whole lot of my point
There is a Suhr Modern Satin on Reverb right now for $1600. That guitar is 10x better made than this one, certainly haha. This LP has the tone, but pretty poor marks all around otherwise. I guess it looks cool too, for what that's worth.
@@TheGuitarPitYou're absolutely right. Tone is on point and it definitely looks cool (excluding headstock imo), just can't justify that price tag at all. My dad has 4 Gibsons among other guitars and whenever I try to compare them to any of mine (Suhr Modern Custom, Mayo Regius 6M, EBMM JPX/JP12/JP6, Jackson USA SL2HT, even my prestige Ibanez which is less than half the price of a LP) the Gibsons just feel so outdated and clunky. I get that people go for them because they were popular in the 70's or whenever their favorite artists used them, but there were only a handful of manufacturers back then and not much else to choose from. Gibson and Fender have been leeching off of that fact for decades and I certainly can't get with it.
Always hated the way the binding is on top of the frets. Looks bad
At least it's comfortable. I wonder if it makes it a pain to get a refret?
i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz327/schundog/gibson%20thin%20neck_zpsnppaezti.jpg
Take a look at the grain direction as well .
Wow that is brrrrruuuuuuutal. Sure there is wood to reinforce on both sides, but that's a pretty clear picture of what the problem is.
Who has them on clearance?
Musician's Friend, in my case, but that deal didn't last long. I keep an eye on deal sites and you usually gotta move quick.
Purists don’t want a volute, so Gibson would get shit for it. But they did recently do a volute that look awesome, I know on that all grey les Paul custom shop guitar.
Yeah, fair. And I've seen them on Gibsons in the past as well. I think Robert Baker's LP KM has a volute.
Yes sometimes in the 70’s they started putting them on and quit in the early 80’s. I remember seeing that guitar baker bought at the guitar center in Indianapolis someone sold a big collection.
Gibson just aggravates me with their extremely high prices and sloppy fit and finish. Much better options out there for a fraction of the price.
Yeah I'm hoping they take some measures to get that cleaned up. This is a nice guitar but at it's retail price, it's competing with PRS and Suhr. They aren't even in the same realm haha.
Maybe dont drop the guitar and it wont break 😮
İ would use it with care
Playing a little Ozzy there you might get your video pulled
I'd wager they have better things to do. If they don't, shame on them lol. Bust me and my 2k subs haha.
You reviewed the wrong Les Paul model when comfort is concerned
Yeah, the comfortable ones are called ESP Eclipse :P But yeah, comfort is the sacrifice here, but sometimes you gotta get that tone :)
The Guitar Pit . Les Paul hp standard perhaps is of more comfort. Nice belly cut and seriously sculpted heel joint .
@@Noscrap909 Yeah. I was worried the HP would be hard to sell, but it turns out, this one is also hard to sell haha.
9:11 pls yr not Kmac LOL (joking)
Lol I had to look that guy up and realized I recognized him from some viral thing from forever ago. Crazy that he's still at it! That's cool haha.
one brand i'll never buy from
They need to work on the details. But the tone, looks, and legacy are there. Asking $3k+ for this is insane though so they have some work to do.
Oh no I wish I was so unfortunate