Want to buy a Gibson Les Paul-Which model should I consider?

[Econ]

Hi folks,

I'm in the market for a Gibson Les Paul. Unfortunately, I don't have any music stores where I live, so I'll have to purchase the guitar online. The only requirements I have in mind for this purchase are that the guitar must have a slim 60's neck and that it should be less than 9 pounds. So far I'm looking at the following models:

Les Paul Standard Min-ETune
Les Paul Standard Plus
Les Paul Traditional 60's neck
Les Paul Slash Signature
Les Paul Custom (used)

I don't want to spend more than 3K. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. I play 80's hard rock and hair metal. I'm currently using a Kemper Profiler Amp, but also have a Friedman BE 100 that I fire up from time to time.

 

[sixty-niner]

the best bang for your buck is the traditional. Its a great guitar with a good top. I put it against my historic and custom and its just as good, especially for half the price. I have 4 les pauls and the differences are mostly cosmetic. I would buy used but if you want you can buy new. The new standards are overpriced in my opinion as well as the customs, but they are great guitars (4k for a custom is too much).
I put in some aldrich suhr pickups in my traditional and it screams!!!!
Erik

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

Good luck finding a Traditional with a 60's neck and under 9lbs. Maybe I'm wrong, but your options there are the "gimmicky" Traditional Pro or a used Traditional 1960 (which has the rather suspect "baked maple" fretboard. If you want close to a 60's neck....I would drop the extra dough and get the Standard. They are no longer chambered and have "modern weight relief". My 2012 weighs over 10lbs. Traditional would no doubt be my choice, but the necks are fat.

Forgive my ignorance if Gibson now has a Traditional with a 60's profile.

 

[Econ]

Apparently they do offer now a Traditional model with the 60's slim neck profile.

 

[nitro]

Go out and play as many Les Paul models as you can, also dont let the Gibson Les Paul Studio fool you it fooled me until I tried and purchased one.2013 Gibson Les Paul Studio in a gloss wine red nice maple top just a beautiful guitar plays fantastic.I had a chance to try some of the custom shop les paul's like the 58 and 59,I kept going back to the studio I also tried a few les paul custom's(the studio has the same pickups as the custom's 498t-490) and the studio still had a great feel and huge sound,go figure...

 

[shade]

Ive had classics, a trad, a historic that was nice... But sad to say it i prefer my Edwards LP to all of em, and its a pre 2004 lower end model. The top is veneer but the neck is perfect. End of the day, listen to nitro and go play as many as you can... Lotsa variability...

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I'm a 50's neck guy with a 2012 trad +, 2008 57 RI BB7 and and 2009 R7.

I would look at the New Standards, they have the new asymmetrical neck profiles and you may like them. It would be a good idea to take a road trip to a retail place to get a feel for what they are like before you purchase...you don't have to buy form them, just make sure of what you really want before you start shopping

The Trad pros are cool but I like the Standards a bit more. I also wouldn't rule out old standards or Norlin era LPC's. Just remember to ask what the neck profile is as you'll see a million beautiful LP's that will have neck profiles you don't want.

Hey, also checkout the MLP forum Les Paul buyers 101 thread. I learned a lot over there back when I was looking for my first LP ever after 30 year of playing. I have been playin LP's 95% of the time since I got my trad + on march of 2012.

 

[Marshall Law]

You can't go wrong with A Gibson Les Paul Regular
I have 2 of them, really.

 

[mchn13]

I have always been on the poor side of gear, so studios have been my go to lespauls. Im also not a big fan of binding, just never really liked it...
Ive had a few 90's studios with ebony fretboards that were great sounding and playing pauls. I have an '05, and a 90's studio lite with an ebony board, and weighs just over seven pounds and the thing just sings! Its been my main guitar for a couple years now..but like alot of people wi tell you, imo they all sound different, and some are just dead sounding.

Steve

 

[smdb]

I'm a 50's neck guy with a 2012 trad +, 2008 57 RI BB7 and and 2009 R7.

I would look at the New Standards, they have the new asymmetrical neck profiles and you may like them. It would be a good idea to take a road trip to a retail place to get a feel for what they are like before you purchase...you don't have to buy form them, just make sure of what you really want before you start shopping

The Trad pros are cool but I like the Standards a bit more. I also wouldn't rule out old standards or Norlin era LPC's. Just remember to ask what the neck profile is as you'll see a million beautiful LP's that will have neck profiles you don't want.

Hey, also checkout the MLP forum Les Paul buyers 101 thread. I learned a lot over there back when I was looking for my first LP ever after 30 year of playing. I have been playin LP's 95% of the time since I got my trad + on march of 2012.

I LOVE the 1979 LP STD's I bought last year. I got a great deal on the 2nd one I bought. $1700.
The necks on the 79's are just awesome, thinner but still beefy. The stock T Top p/u's are very nice.

 

[jlbaxe]

Just go play them and find one you like.

 

[SFW]

Find a used mid 2000s Standard. Killer guitars and usually you will find good deals. Also look for a used early 2000s Classic.

 

[jlbaxe]

I had a 2007 classic gold top. Should have never sold it. I don't know if the guy on here ever resold it or not. I wouldn't mind having it back

 

[Justinreagin]

Play it before you buy it. I've had probably 2 dozen Gibsons. Some were works of art. Others were a joke. I've even played a couple retailing for around $5K with worse playability than $300 schecters. Watch for poorly cut nuts and shoddy fret ends also.

 

[ibenhad]

Already said here but I think you gotta go out and play them. They all play and sound a little different. I have 7 stds, 1 classic, a Jr special double cutaway and a Custom. They range in years from 82 - 07. The early 2000 std's are great guitars and many have the 60's neck if that is what you are looking for. I personally didn't care for the traditional's I have played as they sounded anemic to me. Don't know if its the pickups or just the wood. They also felt cheap IMHO. Have a buddy with a cloud 9 and a Traditional, we did everything we could to make that traditional sound good and he eventually gave up and dumped it cheap on Fleabay. Maybe it was just a dud but anyway good luck in your search. I can tell you when I got my 2003 std I hated it at first but now it's my go too axe. JB in the Bridge and Jazz in the neck and the thing just kills it. Below is some Paul Porn. The LPC wasn't in the stable yet.

 

[drewiv]

Be sure to pack that properly when you ship it to me.

 

[ibenhad]

Drew that one is never going anywhere. It's the classic and was ebony. My wife had it custom painted by Marty Bell and he did an amazing job. I threw a set of Motor City Pups in it and damn that axe is bad ass. Since it was a classic it has the greenish (aged) trapezoid inlays that go perfect with the neon green metal flake. You got first dibs when I kick brother. The std on the far left is a custom shop in silver sparkle but no where near the flake of the MB custom paint.

P.S. I forgot one of the Cherry Sunburst plain tops is sold so I am down to 9. Odd number I may have to fix that. HAHA

 

[drewiv]

Drew that one is never going anywhere... You got first dibs when I kick brother.

Cool. Just leave a note and my address in the case.

 

[syncrodude007]

Already said here but I think you gotta go out and play them. They all play and sound a little different. I have 7 stds, 1 classic, a Jr special double cutaway and a Custom. They range in years from 82 - 07. The early 2000 std's are great guitars and many have the 60's neck if that is what you are looking for. I personally didn't care for the traditional's I have played as they sounded anemic to me. Don't know if its the pickups or just the wood. They also felt cheap IMHO. Have a buddy with a cloud 9 and a Traditional, we did everything we could to make that traditional sound good and he eventually gave up and dumped it cheap on Fleabay. Maybe it was just a dud but anyway good luck in your search. I can tell you when I got my 2003 std I hated it at first but now it's my go too axe. JB in the Bridge and Jazz in the neck and the thing just kills it. Below is some Paul Porn. The LPC wasn't in the stable yet.

moist...

 

[tripstan]

What ever LP you buy PLAY IT FIRST. I'm sure I'm echoing other but 2 of the same exact model LPs will sound completely different. Lesters are amazing guitars but Gibson's dud to gem guitar ratio makes me wanna puke.