NGD - 2023 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Tobacco Burst - 8lbs 15oz - Review & Demo

  • Thread starter Thread starter HowieJams
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HowieJams

HowieJams

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I sold my Ibanez Prestige and my Friedman JJ Junior combo so I had some money to buy a new guitar.
I was searching Reverb for a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and most were around $2000 with shipping, more after tax.

I called my local guitar store where I bought 3 of my Gibsons and asked him how much for a Brand New one with Kluson Locking Tuners and a pro set-up with 9-42s.
I told him the specific one I wanted that I saw on his site, it was a nice light weight 8lbs 15oz with a beautiful Tobacco Burst finish.
By the time I would have bought the Kluson Locking Tuners for a used one and had it pro set-up the cost would have been about the same.

With that out of the way I drove there yesterday and right out of the box the guitar was perfectly set-up and played like a dream and looked great also.
It felt so light, as for tone, I was just using a Boss Katana to test it out, so that would need to wait until I got it home and plugged it in to one of my Friedmans.
He took off the tuners and went to install the lockers, but they were the wrong ones, so he restrung it with 9-42s and ordered in the Locking Tuners which he will install later.
For now I happily took the guitar home and plugged it in to all 3 of my Friedmans, this thing sounds great.
It has this woody open tone, similar to my R8 (8lbs 8oz) and R9 (8lbs 12oz).
My Standard 50s Goldtop weighs 9lbs 11oz and has a great tone, but not as woody or open, it has a more solid tone.

I am not sure if the wooden open tone is more due to the burst finish compared to the Goldtop paint or the 8lb weight instead of the 9lbs.

Whatever, I love both Standard 50s and this new one is exceptional.

Here is a short one minute video comparing both of them and another video showing it in my Home Guitar Studio.



 
HNLPD!

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Thats a lite weight for sure. :thumbsup:

My 50's come in a bit over 9lbs. And a 60's is approaching 10lbs
 
John4021 said:
Thats a lite weight for sure. :thumbsup:

My 50's come in a bit over 9lbs. And a 60's is approaching 10lbs
Click to expand...
It definitely feels better lifting it off the Guitar hanger or out of the case.
Playing seated it doesn't make much of a difference.
Hard to believe 1lb feels so much lighter, my Goldtop weighs 9lbs 11oz.

As for the tone, I am going to change the strings on the Goldtop today and see if they sound more similar afterwards.
 
I need to try a 50s neck again. All of my Les Pauls are 60s neck and is what I love, but would be curious.

That is a great weight for a Standard! I agree that a pound or two makes a huge difference. 8 pounds is the magic spot for me and can comfortably gig with it. I thinkbmy Standard is 9 pounds.
 
romanianreaper said:
I need to try a 50s neck again. All of my Les Pauls are 60s neck and is what I love, but would be curious.

That is a great weight for a Standard! I agree that a pound or two makes a huge difference. 8 pounds is the magic spot for me and can comfortably gig with it. I thinkbmy Standard is 9 pounds.
Click to expand...
I always played thin necks, hated fat necks.
In January 2025 I bought my Standard 50s Goldtop, it just sounded so good that I figured I would learn to play with a fatter neck.
I traded my Standard 60s Les Paul for it, I just prefer the tone of the Standard 50s pick-ups.

After that I bought my R9, same thing, it sounded better than the R0 I was comparing it to, so I bought another fat neck Les Paul.
Then came the R8 and the new Standard 50s.

I do have a SG VOS with a 60s profile necks, but at this point I love all of the Gibson neck profiles, doesn't hinder me at all.

I ended up selling off my PRS Custom 24 wide-thin neck and my Ibanez Prestige with a ultra-thin neck also.

If I found a Les Paul or SG and the tone was there, I would buy it regarless of the neck profile.
 
Seems you only get 8lbs +or - a few ounces when you buy Lesters that are over $5000 new.
Not sure how the set body's/Top's and neck's aside for the reduced weight.

Maybe I should make this a Gear Page thread......NOT :LOL:
 
John4021 said:
Seems you only get 8lbs +or - a few ounces when you buy Lesters that are over $5000 new.
Not sure how the set body's/Top's and neck's aside for the reduced weight.

Maybe I should make this a Gear Page thread......NOT :LOL:
Click to expand...
This guitar was less than half of that price and still weighs under 9lbs.
I agree, it is harder to find a USA Solid Body Les Paul under 9lbs than a Custom Shop under 9lbs, but they are out there.
 
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