The new $1300 Les Pauls

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If I was in the market for a LP style guitar, I'd be looking at ESP, E-II; even LTD over Gibson or Epiphone.
 
These aren't new. The Tribute series have been around for a while.
 
Roughly 5 years ago, I had a 2017 LP goldtop Tribute model. Wasnt a bad guitar at all thinking back...
One of my guitars today is a 2019 (?) LP Jr double cut in pee yellow that is honestly absolutely fantastic!
 

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These aren't new. The Tribute series have been around for a while.
I meant recently made. I don't really consider any models of Les Pauls to be new since they've been around for so long. Just wanted to know about their recent quality.
 
If I was in the market for a LP style guitar, I'd be looking at ESP, E-II; even LTD over Gibson or Epiphone.
My favorite LPs are the E-II FT Eclipses. They are really nice IMHO.
 
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Just a friendly reminder that Burny’s, Greco’s, Orville’s, Edwards, Tokai’s and several other MIJs are sitting on Reverb just waiting for someone to give them a nice new home for that same price or cheaper and ya don’t even have to buy a step-down model. You don’t even need to have a different shaped headstock!

5811C472-7E37-44F6-ADC5-7B3FAE2BE4D1.jpeg

(Orville on the left, Edwards on the right)
 
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My experience with Gibson is it comes down to the individual instrument. Cheapest or most expensive doesn't make any difference.

Yep. There is no guitar company I've encountered that varies in quality from guitar to guitar as wildly as Gibson. You've really gotta run the racks with these guitars.

There are some Gibsons that are extremely good but there's no way I'd buy one online that didn't have a 100% refund-for-any-reason policy.
 
Yep, my Studio has this issue and it is a 2022 I believe. It looks badass, has great pickups, great tuners, etc, but the nut is causing issues to thr point where I think im going to get a new one put in. Guitar is great other than that. Sometimes they just need cleaned up.

I've thought about getting a Tribute. My 2019 Standard is awesome and I really dig it. No complaints at all.
My 2022 Standard had a similar issue on the high E string. But, it just wasn't cut wide enough. A couple quick swipes with folded sandpaper fixed it, quick and easy.

Other than that, flawless. My 2021 SG Standard, flawless as well.
 
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If I was in the market for a LP style guitar, I'd be looking at ESP, E-II; even LTD over Gibson or Epiphone.
You roll the dice, for sure. I did with my Goldtop LP Standard, and was, (and still am), amazed how nicely it's build, plays, and looks. Who wouldn't want a beautiful Goldtop?

Now, if I was not willing to roll those dice, you can't go wrong with a PRS Singlecut. They are the opitomy of consistency. My only gripe is some of their pickups, but same could be said for some of Gibson's.

As for ESP, the LTD Alex Skolnick's are bang-for-buck nice ass guitars. I've had a few, and they're consistently good as well. Bone nut, Tonepros hardware, and Duncan JB/59. For some reason, that's one guitar the JB is perfect in.
 
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Studios have much better necks IMO. Like any Gibson you gotta play it first, no shortcut internet shopping for Les Pauls.
 
Me too--mine was a 1990 tho. But $700 back then meant a whole lot more to me than $2500 does now haha
I paid under $700 for my first Explorer, (I want to say like $619). I think it was 1990 as well. Real-deal '76 reissue with HSC. Those were the days nicer discounts existed and pricing wasn't as fixed.
 
Interesting from the bureau of labor statistics:

CPI Inflation Calculator

$700.00 in January 1990

has the same buying power as

$1,630.75 in December 2022
 
You just resolved half of all threads related to Gibsons. :ROFLMAO:
Probably.. I will say, they're cutting the nuts better than I've seen in years. Not sure if it's the PLEK machine or what, but they've seemed to figure out the D & G slots need cut at an angle! ?
 
Probably.. I will say, they're cutting the nuts better than I've seen in years. Not sure if it's the PLEK machine or what, but they've seemed to figure out the D & G slots need cut at an angle! ?

What?! They made a… *wretch* improvement to Les Pauls? They can’t do that! How can I ever possibly pretend to be Jimmy Page and Peter Frampton in my bathroom mirror with a brand new Les Paul if everything about every Les Paul isn’t 100% period correct to when Jimmy Page and Peter Frampton played Les Pauls!

- The Gear Page

PS: Woman Tone!
 
I paid under $700 for my first Explorer, (I want to say like $619). I think it was 1990 as well. Real-deal '76 reissue with HSC. Those were the days nicer discounts existed and pricing wasn't as fixed.
That is about the price I paid. Mine was the second prototype of the 76 reissue. I got it late 1989 from a Gibson employee.
Unfortunately that one is gone. I have a 1995 now.

Currently for Les Paul...
1993 Studio ebony fretboard
1998 Standard double cut rosewood.
2007 Studio rosewood

I also have a 1998 Hammer Prototype that is kind of like LP Jr / Telecaster type thing.
 
Probably.. I will say, they're cutting the nuts better than I've seen in years. Not sure if it's the PLEK machine or what, but they've seemed to figure out the D & G slots need cut at an angle! ?
I have a 2018 Les Paul that was a limited run they plek’d and it’s great but the G slot is STILL not quite angled right. I put a string butler on it and it’s pretty stable tuning wise so I haven’t been motivated to try and fix it.
 
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