I want a Les Paul

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob Savage
  • Start date Start date
One thing about the Classics is they have the uber hot ceramic 500t in the bridge which I'm not a fan of for traditional LP tones but ymmv.
 
Bob, welcome to the Les Paul chase...lol! I have a 2001 Classic that is my number one guitar. The slim taper neck on the Classic has to do with the actual thickness of the neck from the fretboard to the back of the neck. If you like Jackson necks, then the 60s slim taper will feel great. Some of the Standards from the 2000s have 60s necks as well. They all vary from guitar to guitar. Personally, I feel that the Classics are some of the more consistent guitars that Gibson has built. The late 90s and early 2000s ones are just great guitars. Depending on your tastes in pickups, you'll maybe need to do a pickup swap. Some people like the hotter stock pickups. I played with them for years before swapping them out. As with all things Gibson, play as many as you can. When you find "yours" you will know. They are magical when you find the one that is meant to be yours. If you can any specific questions, feel free to ask.

Joel
 
Bob Savage":7z7k0srd said:
An interesting note from the mylespaul forum.

"Weight-relief started around 1982/1983. Every Gibson USA Les Paul between 1982 - 2007 is weight-relieved. They do not have solid-body construction. Weight-relief is also known as "swiss cheese holes" and refers to the nine holes drilled out of the body in order to reduce the weight of the guitar."

But....

"The historic reissues are solid. All historic reissues, be it Standards or Customs, are solid. The exception being the chambered reissues. Chambered reissues are often referred to as Cloud 9 guitars. They are identified by their serial number, which begins with CR. chambered-reissue.org"
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Interesting you dug in and found this. You discovered exactly why I was amazed at Steve_K's 81 solid mahogany standard that sold for 1800. With the Tim Shaw stock pups along with the MCP Detroiters...

I like the old solid wood and maple neck that that year had. If you run across one, give it a ride. Just the stock pups can sell for 400-600 depending on condition.

I like it so far. Will put the Shaws back in and put the Detroiters in some crappy quality 76 SG.

:lol: :LOL:

Gotta hear what the true vintage 32 year old LP would sound like.

Good luck on the quest.
 
I also struggle with LP's.
It is the weight and the ergonomics that give me grief.

I currently have an 04 Standard- it is cool but I don't play it all the time.

04lp.jpg
 
Great input guys... one thing is for sure, if I'm going to be able to play an LP I have to man up. I decided I need to start learning other people's music (another new thing for me) and decided to start with Too Hot to Handle. I just finished learning the lead part using the Viper which is strung with 10s and my finger tips are jacked and my fingers are pretty tired from bending heavier strings.

Oh and sorry to those who like them, but for my taste these EMGs really suck. I'm having some PX-100s put in it on Monday. Can't wait.
 
octatonic":1v09l4a8 said:
I also struggle with LP's.
It is the weight and the ergonomics that give me grief.

I currently have an 04 Standard- it is cool but I don't play it all the time.
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Hey man, those ergonomic guitars look killer. Not sure I'd play one outside of the house ( :) ) but they look great.
 
Bob Savage":1pg4s1um said:
Hey man, those ergonomic guitars look killer. Not sure I'd play one outside of the house ( :) ) but they look great.
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I took my ergo up to the Birmingham guitar show today- it gets a lot of attention.
I make it work.

:-)
 
Bob Savage":2xspinph said:
bigdaddyd":2xspinph said:
Classics are nice, the only thing some people don't like are the tendency for some to have greenish inlays and such. Honestly, I always liked them and if I didn't tell you that, you may not notice. I've seen some guys go so far as to take really nice classics, and have the inlays and some plastic (like the switch tips and such) replaced with more vintage correct types. They then have really insane "Standards." They typically do that on bursts or Classic Pluses.

http://www.forresterkustoms.com/photos-group-11.html
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I'm colorblind... probably wouldn't notice. :)

Oh man, I love this one that's in the classifieds. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=132113&p=1535894&hilit=les+paul#p1535894
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Love the top on that 04 standard. I hope you buy it cause now I am tempted. :doh:
 
blackba":2wzl2acw said:
Love the top on that 04 standard. I hope you buy it cause now I am tempted. :doh:
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Go for it man, I don't have the cash until I sell some gear. On a related note, and I don't want to dog someones sale, but is it me or does the low end (low E) seem WAY high above the frets? Could just be the picture but it looks really high.
 
So I went to GC and tried out about 5 LPs. I cannot believe they expect to sell a guitar for $2k that plays worse than the Hondo II LPs of the 80s.

In any event, I didn't figure out that I want the 60's neck profile. They actually did have one LP there that was HEAVY, buy played very nicely. So now I just need to find one like that... but, I'm also afraid to buy site unseen now. Me needs to play it.

Oh, and the Gibson certified LP guy (that's what he told me when I called him on a silly statement) knew less about LPs than I learned in 30 minutes of reading last night.
 
Bob....I owned about 10 Les Pauls....different years....levels....etc..Studios....to Custom shops.
Saw what you said about the new ones not playin better then the Hondo's.....and know what you mean.
Try to find an old Japanese Les Paul Copy from the 70's....they ROCK for the dollar to dollar comparison. :thumbsup:
Not an expert on LP's.....but had quite a few in my hands to know if I was buying that Paul again....This is what I would grab. ;)
 
Ah, mini hums, no wonder!


Mailman1971":13c0yeog said:
Bob....I owned about 10 Les Pauls....different years....levels....etc..Studios....to Custom shops.
Saw what you said about the new ones not playin better then the Hondo's.....and know what you mean.
Try to find an old Japanese Les Paul Copy from the 70's....they ROCK for the dollar to dollar comparison. :thumbsup:
Not an expert on LP's.....but had quite a few in my hands to know if I was buying that Paul again....This is what I would grab. ;)
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I think the playability was because the setup was so bad, not necessarily because they stink altogether because there was one that played great.

Are you referring to the Ibanez LP copy? A friend has one... Not bad but hard to find.

There's an LP out there with my name on it, I just need to find where she is.
 
Not even sure what Copy I had......it was DEAD on Les Paul....think it was 72?
Flame top....pearl inlay....very nice axe. Got it for about $500
There was no markings on it.....but had a MIJ stamp in the control cavity.
Hung with my 1980 Gibby Custom shop for sure. Actually felt/played better.
 
Go for a Standard. Studio's are great if you need a good working/beater guitar on a budget and can't swing a Std or a Custom. You can NEVER go wrong with the timeless Gibson Les Paul man!! Trust me, there's a reason so many people in so many different genres have played them for decades...
 
Growing up in Detroit in the 70's my father worked with & knew several people that worked at Gibson in Kalamazoo. Talking with these guys they told me that the more expensive models do not really sound or play better .... you are just paying for the materials & more bling. Not sure how true this is today ... but often when playing guitars I find the more expensive guitar do not sound or play any better. .... So do not worry about the model as much as find one that sounds good unplugged & plays good for you.
 
stephen sawall":2asn2bls said:
Growing up in Detroit in the 70's my father worked with & knew several people that worked at Gibson in Kalamazoo. Talking with these guys they told me that the more expensive models do not really sound or play better .... you are just paying for the materials & more bling. Not sure how true this is today ... but often when playing guitars I find the more expensive guitar do not sound or play any better. .... So do not worry about the model as much as find one that sounds good unplugged & plays good for you.
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Yeah, I'm not worried about the bling... although I'd love to have a gold top.
 
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