selection of les pauls

[tom18222]

i must say-i'm disappointed with the selection-or lack there of- of gibson LPs. theres not much to choose from, at least as far as looks go.



i'm looking into an LP classic. but they only come nickel. i would rather chrome, not that they are different. but for 2 fuckin grand you should offer every finish of hardware that there is. you cant even get a normal LP with black hardware.

 

[avieth]

It's the same guitar. Still plays just as great wheather chrome hardware or not.

 

[donkeystyle]

most people that want a les paul want pretty much the same guitar, so gibson doesn't really have to offer many options. maybe you could special order one with the hardware you want.

 

[Zaphod B]

What are you guys talking about?

Have you visited the Gibson web site lately? There are so many options for Les Pauls that it will make your head swim.

Studios, premium studios, Standards, Vintage Old Stock, Classic Antiques, Vixens, Doublecuts, Menace, Goddess, BFG - holy shit.

 

[Anfontan]

What are you guys talking about?

Have you visited the Gibson web site lately? There are so many options for Les Pauls that it will make your head swim.

Studios, premium studios, Standards, Vintage Old Stock, Classic Antiques, Vixens, Doublecuts, Menace, Goddess, BFG - holy shit.

You sure got that right Zaphod! There must be at least 25 or 30 versions of the Les Pauls when you start checking it out.
I have an old Gibson catalog from about 1979 and even then there were probably a dozen variations!

 

[Zaphod B]

You sure got that right Zaphod! There must be at least 25 or 30 versions of the Les Pauls when you start checking it out.
I have an old Gibson catalog from about 1979 and even then there were probably a dozen variations!

You know, Anfontan, I think I sort of understand the Secret Gibson Code for "regular" single-cut Les Pauls after having looked at their site for a while now. At least for the Gibson USA models. It pretty much seems to come down to a variety of binding options, headstock sizes, neck profiles, humbucker type, grade of body cap, and finish.

What I've never been able to figure out is whether the quality of the basic wood stock is any different from, say, an opaque ebony Studio Les Paul (at $1200) to a Vintage Old Stock Les Paul Plain Top (at $5,000). And if it is different, what's the difference, and how does if affect tone, playability, and longevity?

 

[ecktronic]

i must say-i'm disappointed with the selection-or lack there of- of gibson LPs. theres not much to choose from, at least as far as looks go.



i'm looking into an LP classic. but they only come nickel. i would rather chrome, not that they are different. but for 2 fuckin grand you should offer every finish of hardware that there is. you cant even get a normal LP with black hardware.

Dingy looks, Id rather play the ugliest best sounding guitar than the most beautifull guitar that sounds like a pile of rubbish!

Eck

 

[Hard2Hear]

There is definately a picking order for wood quality at Gibson. The best stuff (lightest most resonant mahogany and highest curl maple) goes to the Custom Shop where its divided out even further (59 and 60's, then 58's, then 57-56-54's). The leftovers are sent to Gibson USA production for the regular production guitars.

 

[BrentDomann]

You know what kind of sucks, though? All of these variations like Vixens, GTs, Menaces, and Digitals are still the same freaking guitar with different cosmetics. What happened to Juniors and Specials?

The junior was $49.50 when it came out. What was that, like a fifth of the cost of a LP Standard? Street price on a Standard today is ~$2200 - where is my well-made, $450, glossy nitro-finished Junior?

Why do all the Specials have freakin' humbuckers?

I think Gibson could cover a lot more consumer base with the four models it started out with and a few reissues or upgrade options than it does with 50 different versions of the LP Standard.

 

[Zaphod B]

where is my well-made, $450, glossy nitro-finished Junior?

I hear ya. I think those days are over, at least for a MIA guitar. You can buy a $350 MIA Gibson, but it's not gonna have a nitro finish. Or filler, for that matter.

Why do all the Specials have freakin' humbuckers?

The Custom Shop LP Junior has P-90s. Got a spare $2250 in your change jar?

I think Gibson could cover a lot more consumer base with the four models it started out with and a few reissues or upgrade options than it does with 50 different versions of the LP Standard.

Agreed, 100%.

 

[Zaphod B]

There is definately a picking order for wood quality at Gibson. The best stuff (lightest most resonant mahogany and highest curl maple) goes to the Custom Shop where its divided out even further (59 and 60's, then 58's, then 57-56-54's). The leftovers are sent to Gibson USA production for the regular production guitars.

I've often wondered about that. I've taken for granted that the highest quality, best-figured maple for top caps goes to the Custom Shop. But it's the neck and body woods that I've had questions about.

 

[ausrock]

The one thing that's pissed me off with Fender is the extent of their range.....MIM, MIJ, MIA, then the numerous models within each of those "categories".....FFS, the average person won't really hear the differences between half the models.......then all of a sudden they drop what may be a good selling model and introduce something different. I sometimes wonder what their marketing people are on .

Unfortunately, Gibson seem to be now following suit.

 

[Hard2Hear]

Mahogany (neck and body wood) is DEFINATELY sorted and graded at Gibson as well, the picking order is as above.

H2H
(who was a Gibson dealer until 9 months ago)

 

[Zaphod B]

Mahogany (neck and body wood) is DEFINATELY sorted and graded at Gibson as well, the picking order is as above.

H2H
(who was a Gibson dealer until 9 months ago)

So, H2H - how about the woods in the Gibson USA range? Is there any difference between what is used for bodies and necks in LP Studios as opposed to, say, a LP Classic Antique?

 

[Hard2Hear]

Nope. There is a different in how they "weight relieve" some models, but the wood is not specificaly selected. Its alot more random, picked from the stuff not chosen for Custom Shop. You can get a great one of any model or you can get a clunker, same chance on any model. That randomness, though, it what makes some of them so great, though.

 

[Zaphod B]

Nope. There is a different in how they "weight relieve" some models, but the wood is not specificaly selected. Its alot more random, picked from the stuff not chosen for Custom Shop. You can get a great one of any model or you can get a clunker, same chance on any model. That randomness, though, it what makes some of them so great, though.

Excellent. Yours is the first definitive statement I've ever seen on the subject.

Many thanks.

 

[tom18222]

i'm not necessarily talking about the amount of LPs, but the fact that they all look the same. ultimately i'd like a white LP classic with all black hardware. but nothing like that is sold. i just meant they get crazy money for these guitars, and not whole whole lot of selection when it comes to the style of the guitar.

 

[c7sus]

i'm not necessarily talking about the amount of LPs, but the fact that they all look the same. ultimately i'd like a white LP classic with all black hardware. but nothing like that is sold. i just meant they get crazy money for these guitars, and not whole whole lot of selection when it comes to the style of the guitar.

Buy some rip-off version and do what you want to it.

Altering an LP in just about any way is going to diminish its' value.

Try to buy the guitar you want from PRS. I bet they won't do it either. I was talking to a luthier last year, a guy that is getting a pretty good following. The conversation was mainly about what he WOULDN'T DO. Like no ebony fingerboards, no inlay, none of this body-style. Fuck him, I spent my $3,000 on a AAAAA-flame CS-356 and didn't look back.

And I got what I wanted all along.

 

[Gorty]

Overall the Les Paul selection can vary depending where you are located. The Standards, Studio's, Customs etc all vary when it comes to weight relief, fretbooard inlays, hardware finish etc. Also when you are lookinh at finishes that are of the stained variety there is a very wide selection as there is no two planks of wood alike in respect to the grain pattern etc.

I have two Les Paul Customs, as I am sure most of you are aware and the hardware and models are identical but the playability and tone between the two is remarkable. Initially they were very similar but now that I have spent a lot of time playing both the guitars they definitely are their own unique monster. And I love it like that!

 

[Unsprung]

I bought a Les Paul Faded Doublecut, earlier this year, so I've pretty much got my "Gibson fix" out of the way. I may buy a Les Paul Junior, at some point this year (early next year, maybe), but my Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90 does good enough, for now, so I'm not in a big hurry to replace it with its Gibson "big brother."

Matt