NGD!!!!!!! 2018 Gibson Les Paul Traditional

[glpg80]

Long story short, I've been looking for a wolfgang special custom for about 4 months now and have come to determine these are much more rare than I originally anticipated, and it still won't guarantee that it's a great sounding guitar without playing one first which is borderline impossible.

Therefore, I started to hunt for a gibson. Coming from a strat background, I basically knew nothing other than they had the tone wood combination I was looking for - mahogany body, flamed maple top, rosewood fretboard.

I found one at a store and fell in love with it. I decided to wait a week and think on it because I rarely make brash guitar purchasing decisions on a whim. After waiting a week, I decided it warranted another play through to see whether it was a one time thing or if this guitar actually did have something going on for it.

Yesterday I went back to the guitar center store and played it once more at the store for a few hours; pelting it against a barrage of other various gibson guitars and still kept coming back to this one. It's percussively loud unplugged, the top is beautiful in the right lighting, and it plays phenomenal on a store setup. I couldn't leave without it

Super stoked!

 

[krueger]

I have a buddy who just bought one of these and it plays and sounds great. Great find!

 

[Devilinside]

Congrats, what a beaut!

 

[LP Freak]

Nice

 

[Racerxrated]

Beautiful guitar!

Congrats!

 

[SpiderWars]

Sweet! I like em naked like that. What pickups are in it and does it have any of the push-pull pots? I pretty much never use them on the '13 Std I recently got.

 

[glpg80]

This is not only popping my Gibson cherry, but it's also my first ever LP style guitar!

Thanks for all the warm comments dudes

It really is a one of a kind find. I don't remember my ESP sounding or playing this great so I'm stoked

I actually don't remember the pickups that are in it. They aren't too bad, but not hot enough for my style. Thinking of either aldrich pickups or EMGs are in order next along with some locking tuners.

I've also considered making the back clearcoat of the neck a satin finish - my hands stick when playing

 

[D-Rock]

HNGibsonD!!!

 

[romanianreaper]

This is not only popping my Gibson cherry, but it's also my first ever LP style guitar!

Thanks for all the warm comments dudes

It really is a one of a kind find. I don't remember my ESP sounding or playing this great so I'm stoked

I actually don't remember the pickups that are in it. They aren't too bad, but not hot enough for my style. Thinking of either aldrich pickups or EMGs are in order next along with some locking tuners.

I've also considered making the back clearcoat of the neck a satin finish - my hands stick when playing

I almost got one of those recently but ended up getting an 89' Standard instead. Funny, I'm actually thinking about putting some Aldrich pickups in one of my LPs. I loved those pickups when I had them in the past.

 

[Beyond Black]

Beautiful Lester and congrats! I commend your ability to walk away for a week and ponder your decision. I wouldn't have been able to sleep, and would have went back the next day, if not the same day. Some zebra Aldriches would look and sound killer in that guitar. EMG's, not so much...

 

[glpg80]

I have a buddy who just bought one of these and it plays and sounds great. Great find!

I was actually surprised anything from Gibson in 2018 could sound and play great at all. Literally every Gibson I've ever picked up and played sounded so-so or was dark sounding (not that that's bad - just personal preference). When I see youtube videos or people talking about their Les Pauls, they're always 15+ years old it seems and rarely anything new. The more I think about it, the rarer it is to be able to find something like this in a guitar center of all locations. After stepping away from playing it and waiting a week, one of the store employees told me that he was considering getting it after I had left as he also really liked it and could tell the difference himself as well.

She's a real beauty. Personality wise I think I'll go ahead and name her Caroline

 

[glpg80]

Beautiful Lester and congrats! I commend your ability to walk away for a week and ponder your decision. I wouldn't have been able to sleep, and would have went back the next day, if not the same day. Some zebra Aldriches would look and sound killer in that guitar. EMG's, not so much...

It does pain me to think about removing all of the wiring to install actives, but I bought the guitar to do the zakk wylde style 80's tone and to bring the brutal. The guitar really resonates well. I could always install aldriches and if they didn't work out, gut the wiring and go actives

 

[mooncobra]

great guitar. I have a traditional that is incredible. I did the same thing, played it against every Gibson imaginable including guitars twice its price and it smoked every guitar around. congrats!

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

What a top on it!
I'm sure it sounds sweet! Enjoy it and congrats on a great guitar!

 

[RedPlated]

I love Les Pauls. I've had quite a few and only keep the good ones.

I recently picked up a 2016 Traditional from a friend in a trade. Wow. It's a very impressive guitar. Perfect neck, very close in size/ shape to my 2008 Custom. Not overly heavy at 9.5 lbs. Looks fantastic and plays/ sounds really good. They must be making them good these days.

 

[riffermadness]

That tops is beautiful,and the fretboard picture shows its in perfect condition..I like that one a lot..Good find and buy !

 

[gibson5413]

Looks great! I have always been a fan of Les Pauls without the pickguard. Congratulations!

 

[glpg80]

great guitar. I have a traditional that is incredible. I did the same thing, played it against every Gibson imaginable including guitars twice its price and it smoked every guitar around. congrats!

Honestly this wood combination just works. When I walked into the store I had every intention of giving Gibson a chance. The dude was originally walking me towards epiphones and although I have absolutely nothing against epi's, the best epiphone doesn't hold a candle to a one of a kind great playing and great sounding Gibson. I lucked out and happen to finally play one that wasn't dead. I'm extremely grateful to finally own a Gibson that everyone has always claimed existed. I'd just never laid my hands on one until now. I probably had 3 other guitar stands around me of various high dollar guitars including re-issues. Every time I'd play on another one than this one, everyone would say it sounded good. Then when I went back to this girl and hit a low E, everyone would always say "just get it". They were right - they had a good one in their own store and didn't even know it until I came in and started shotgun comparing them back to back. Makes me smile knowing I could bring home something like this - beyond thankful.

What a top on it!
I'm sure it sounds sweet! Enjoy it and congrats on a great guitar!

She sounds and plays absolutely stunning

Thanks. I haven't bought a new guitar in a very long time. I only have 3 now, so it's quite a big deal. Each one brings something different to the table, but I can definitely say without hesitation that the Gibby is now my number one

I love Les Pauls. I've had quite a few and only keep the good ones.

I recently picked up a 2016 Traditional from a friend in a trade. Wow. It's a very impressive guitar. Perfect neck, very close in size/ shape to my 2008 Custom. Not overly heavy at 9.5 lbs. Looks fantastic and plays/ sounds really good. They must be making them good these days.

I can say for sure I played about 5-7 other Gibsons; 2 of which were also traditionals, and they didn't sound like this one. There was one that sounded close but still sounded too dark for my tastes. Glad you were able to find one as well - this guitar kicks all kinds of ass

That tops is beautiful,and the fretboard picture shows its in perfect condition..I like that one a lot..Good find and buy !

I had them soak the fretboard in linseed oil before I left because it had been a top-shelf guitar for a very long time. It had been slightly neglected with dust collecting on the headstock. Thankfully rosewood is fairly low maintenance and a little oil goes a long way. It also helps I played the snot out of it for a good 6 hours total in all when finding it. I love the neck on it. Chunkier than my strat by far, but not unplayable by any means. It just fits well and sounds stunning. People were walking up and making comments about my playing and I was literally only playing a gibson through some no-name 150W solid state amp into a small line 6 4x12. Great tone starts with the hands, but a great guitar does the rest of the work for you