I'm buying a Gibson Les Paul Std. Help!

[JohanB]

I have seen many posts and reviews where people love the sound of the LP but the finish ain't top notch on all guitars. I also heard that the models from 2004 doesn't have that problem anymore. Is that true? I really like the sound of those BurstBucker Pros and the only thing I'm hestitating about is the bad finish.

What problems should I look for when I'm playing the guitar in the guitar shop?

And any recommendations on the neck? 50s or 60s style?

Thanks
/Johan

[Outlaws]

Originally Posted by JohanB

I have seen many posts and reviews where people love the sound of the LP but the finish ain't top notch on all guitars. I also heard that the models from 2004 doesn't have that problem anymore. Is that true? I really like the sound of those BurstBucker Pros and the only thing I'm hestitating about is the bad finish.

What problems should I look for when I'm playing the guitar in the guitar shop?

And any recommendations on the neck? 50s or 60s style?

Thanks
/Johan

Remember 2 things:

1. People hate and like to complain about things they can't afford.

2. If you look at it in person and it looks good and plays good to you, then it is good.

[tacurtis]

All's I can say is. . .

ENJOY! Whoo-hoo! A LES PAUL, baby! YeeHAW!

As for your question about the neck, a friend of mine got one of those 60's reissue SG's, and that neck is thin and oh-so-fast. . .

[Tadpui]

When it came time for me to choose a Les Paul, I went with the Classic because (at the time) it was the only one that offered the '60s slim-taper neck. That neck just feels so much better than the standard LP neck. The necks were the only thing that I never liked about LPs...until now!

Mind you, I was coming from a hair-metal Charvel that had a very wide, flat neck on it. The slim-taper just felt better to me after having played that other thing for a long long time.

[SteveK]

Well I'm on the other side of the neck issue...
Bought a new Standard Premium Plus a few months ago, Has a fatter neck and I LOVE it!

[spoonie g]

Originally Posted by Tadpui

When it came time for me to choose a Les Paul, I went with the Classic because (at the time) it was the only one that offered the '60s slim-taper neck. That neck just feels so much better than the standard LP neck. The necks were the only thing that I never liked about LPs...until now!

Mind you, I was coming from a hair-metal Charvel that had a very wide, flat neck on it. The slim-taper just felt better to me after having played that other thing for a long long time.

I don't like the pickups on the classic. Pretty sure they're ceramic.

[Henri Devill]

I have a Classic and the P/U's are terrible!I replaced them with Burstbuckers and it rocks!I got my Classic used so I saved some cash..I played a bunch of them and this was the one that "spoke to me"..60's slim neck for me as I have smaller sized hands.. These are cool guitars and you can find a real nice instr. I've had maybe 10 Les Pauls from 50's thru 80's and this one is as good as most.. I remember my {favorite}Standard from '74 had a slimmer neck and the one thing that I didnt like about my '55 was the neck{too fat} sounded great though

[EleKtriKaz]

I also have a LP Classic, and completely agree with the others that the pickups absolutely blow.

The other thing that I wish I would have known before I bought my LP is that a lot of tone comes from the neck. I probably would have chosen the Classic anyway, because like Henri, I have small hands, but I still wish I would have known.

Play a bunch of different ones and one of them will just feel better.

[Rokket]

I stayed away from LP's because of the neck, but also because I am a lefty, and they don't make them that way. But I was goofing with my friend's Studio Custom, and it had that fat neck that I just couldn't get comfortable with, even though the tone was amazing. If I had the money, I'd get one made lefty, with the slimmer neck.

[ibanezrocks]

It is true that the finish on some newer Gibsons, atleast from what I've seen that some have defects. However these are obvious, just the other day I saw an sg special faded that had this big rough patch that was grey for some reason... don't know what that was from considering it was a brown guitar. I've only ever seen one Les Paul that had a finish problem and it was with the binding. My point: if its not easily noticeable dont worry about it.

[Outlaws]

Originally Posted by ibanezrocks

sg special

Ugh!!!!!!!!

Those are the fake-GIbson Gibson's.

Okay. If there is a myth about finishing problems with that then it might hold some water.

[Richard Monroe]

Well, I guess I'm a genuine bottomfeeder. I've owned a custom and a standard, but now use a slightly tricked out Epiphone which is one of the best Les Pauls, functionally, that I've ever played. I use Classic 57's, as opposed to burstbuckers, but I rarely use distortion. Half of my gig is playing fingerstyle on an electric, impersonating an acoustic, with a wound G-string. I guess I just like the Samick neck. -Richie

[ibanezrocks]

to clarify about the les paul I saw with a defect in the binding, it was not a standard. all the standards I've ever seen are beautiful holy creatures sent down to... ok I'm getting off topic, but they're good.

[paulmckenna]

I thought it was the sound, not the finish that is important?

[Tadpui]

I"m just curious what type of music the naysayers of the classic's alinco ceramic coil pickups play.

I play with a low-gain sound (not that nu metal mesa schmack), and I think that the pickups on my '98 classic sound much better for what I need them for than the '98 standards that I played before I bought mine. They are higher output, and have more growl and personality. They just sound "vintage", which is good for my style.

[jimistone]

Buy a used les paul with a good finish and good frets...then if the finish deteriates, You can have it refinished and still be out "les" than the price of a new one.

[JohanB]

Thanks for all your replies! I HAVE considered a used one but from what I've heard, the latest models are the best in many years. Maybe much due to the BurstBuckers. So buying one some years old and replacing the p/u's might do the thing. I already have a pair of BB Pros on my current guitar so that option would work.

The problem is that I live in Sweden and finding a used Les Paul isn't as easy as in the US where you can easily search eBay and pick up some really good stuff.

[HangDawg]

I played my new Les Paul Supreme for the first time on Sunday. It's my first LP and I must say it will take some getting used too. It's a totally different animal than my Strat. But my Strat is 15 years old and well broken in. I can't wait till the LP is that old. It's going to be sweet. As far as the finish goes, mine is rootbeer AAAA figured maple top and back. It has to be one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen.

[donkeystyle]

Originally Posted by paulmckenna

I thought it was the sound, not the finish that is important?

you're kind of correct, but when you're paying 2 grand for a guitar, it's perfectly acceptable to expect it to look good.

uhm. there was a guy saying he didn't think they made left handed les pauls and that they had too big a neck. they do make lefties. they're just a little harder to find which means you can't be as picky. in my opinion, the 60's neck is extremely thin, so i can never understand why people say that the necks on les pauls are too big. i dunno what neck that custom had on it, and if you don't know, and you really do like the sound of a les paul, i suggest trying something with a 60's neck on it.

when people are looking for les pauls i always refer them to www.guitarsale.com they have an extremely large number of gibsons. and normally they have a couple lefties. there's also 2 other stores that will give you similar deals. that's wildwood(might be spelled wyldwood) and daves. you can find their website through the gibson website. those 3 stores are gibsons 3 biggest custom shop dealers.

[donkeystyle]

Originally Posted by JohanB

Thanks for all your replies! I HAVE considered a used one but from what I've heard, the latest models are the best in many years. Maybe much due to the BurstBuckers. So buying one some years old and replacing the p/u's might do the thing. I already have a pair of BB Pros on my current guitar so that option would work.

The problem is that I live in Sweden and finding a used Les Paul isn't as easy as in the US where you can easily search eBay and pick up some really good stuff.

i already gave music machines website, but there are 3 dealers in the US that you should check out. they sell to people all over the world. that's music machine (www.guitarsale.com) wyldwood (or wyldwood) and daves. i don't know the web addresses for the last 2, but you can find them through gibsons website. they should be the first 3 dealers on the list.

music machine mostly deals in new stuff, but occasionally they have scratch and dent stuff and although it's even more rare than the scratch and dent, they do sometimes have used stuff. so one of the other 2 stores may suit you best. a couple weeks ago i was at the wyldwood(or wildwood) website and i noticed lots of used stuff there.

[spoonie g]

Originally Posted by Tadpui

I"m just curious what type of music the naysayers of the classic's alinco ceramic coil pickups play.

I play with a low-gain sound (not that nu metal mesa schmack), and I think that the pickups on my '98 classic sound much better for what I need them for than the '98 standards that I played before I bought mine. They are higher output, and have more growl and personality. They just sound "vintage", which is good for my style.

I play medium gain at most. Think zeppelin. If you're going for low-gain, high-output pickups typically are not the prescription, especially for a "vintage" tone. I have a friend that has a classic and his band plays metal-influenced music.

[ausrock]

Johan,

If you are thinking of buying a Standard, then seriously consider the Standard Limited Edition..........they are only available in 3 colours, they have a higher grade flamed maple top, ebony fretboard, etc, etc. They are on Gibson's website.

We (my son and I) have 6 Les Pauls ranging from a Studio Plus through to a couple of Custom Shop Elegants and recently imported #7, a Limited Edition in from the US..............this guitar is absolutely flawless and a fantastic player.

If you wish, PM me and I'll give you contact details for the US "dealer" we purchased it from as even with shipping included it is likely that you may save a considerable amount of money.

[tacurtis]

Originally Posted by Richard Monroe

Well, I guess I'm a genuine bottomfeeder. I've owned a custom and a standard, but now use a slightly tricked out Epiphone which is one of the best Les Pauls, functionally, that I've ever played. . . -Richie

I love my Epiphone LP Special II upgraded with new wiring and Seymour Duncan PAF's.