This section is for review of all Gibson Guitars

I have two Y2K Les Paul Classics. One is a relatively uncommon Cinnamonburst and my soulmate is the Honeyburst. Like a lot of people, I swapped out the 500T bridge pickup, but that's the only qualm I have with this model. If you want to acquire that vintage vibe without spending a fortune, the Classic is the way to go. Most players prefer a thicker neck that the slim-taper on these guitars, but I dig 'em. They don't seem to be much thinner than pre-2002 Standards to me. Some complain about iffy quality control, but, as a Les Paul freak, I haven't found this to be true of new models at all. C'mon, it's Gibson!

I have mid 90's classic and love it. Just got the 57 goldtop reissue. I am looking for an amp to use in my home studio (a 20x20 converted garage) that will give me a nice clean tone as well as some overdrive when needed i.e. Dickey Betts/ Duane Allman. Currenty I am using a 2x12 150 watt early 80's musicman combo.

Any Thoughs??

Thanks

A friend of mine plays Les Pauls (I don't remember if they're all standards or customs) and I really liked them, thus I began my search for a Les Paul. I tried a couple of Studio Plus, Standards, and a Custom. The one that felt better was the Studio Plus!!!! Still, there was a Custom I liked, and I almost bought it. I actually cancelled my order and got a Baker B1, partly because I was getting a great deal on the Baker, and wasn't too sure about the Gibson. When the guitar arrived, I was really happy I had never played a Baker before, and I got it through the internet. It simply blew away the Gibsons I tried, had better quality, and cost less
The Studio Plus was pretty good, though, and not too expensive, but the Baker is something else. I really tried to find a Les Paul I liked, but for the price, the fell too short of my expectations.

Review of 4 Gibson guitars...

I have a '69 Gibson white SG Custom, a '98 Gibson Les Paul DC Standard, a '99 Gibson SG Supreme and a '79 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe. I bought all of these guitars new except the Pro Deluxe. Each one of these has its own voice and its own character.

The old SG Custom has a very thin neck and the body is routed out for 3 pickups, so, the tone is a fairly thin tone. It has more of an acoustic tone than the rest. The original bridge saddles are made of nylon! It plays and feels great, as well as looks really cool. I bought it because I like the way it looked (strung with .008-.038).

The LP DC Standard sounds like a cross between a standard Les Paul and a 335. It has a chambered, double-cutaway body with a fairly hefty neck (IMO). This thing growls really well. I mainly use it with my original music band for lots of intense leads (strung with .008-.038).

The SG Supreme had P90A pickups (see Guitar and Guitar mods/repairs Forum under 'Singles or Humbuckers' for more info on the pickups). This guitar has a wide-but-thinner feeling neck which is heavy enough that if I let go of the neck while the guitar is strapped on, the neck will dive. I like the ability of being able to play up very high on the neck and bought this guitar for this reason. It has a very cool 'Fireburst' finish which reminds me of an old Fender sunburst. I'm still getting used to the guitar and have only recently started playing it more since I've replaced the pickups with DiMarzio DLX Plus pickups. I didn't care too much for the sound of the new P90A's. (strung with .008-.038).

The Les Paul Pro is the latest edition to my arsenal. This instrument has a GREAT bluesy tone. It plays and sounds very creamy. It's pickups are P90 soapbars. Wonderful sound! The more I play it, the more I like it. It (from what I've read) is one of the heaviest Les Pauls produced (around 11 lbs.). Despite the weight, the guitar sings and vibrates with lots of dripping tone. I had another one of these a couple of years ago and didn't like it. This one however is a definite keeper. (strung with .008 - .038).

For many years I owned a '69 Deluxe Goldtop. This must have been a transitional piece. The neck was three piece mahogany & the body was one piece mahogany. Shortly after they started with the "sandwich" body Les Pauls. While I owned this guitar I could not play a guitar with full sized humbuckers. They were too harsh for my ears. I was spoiled to the sweetness of the minis. I have since overcome my fear of humbucking.
This was my only guitar at many points in my life. It was such a comfortable feeling & tone that I could concentrate on my playing. Unfortunately I had to sell it a few years ago.
Gibson has reissued this model with a few modern touches such as sunburst finish etc. I think it probably has the one piece neck/one piece body.
Thumbs up on nice Les Paul Deluxes, but beware of the dreaded "sandwich" bodies.

Sick fuzz & cowboy hats.

I like Gibson but I simply cant afford anything better than my Washburn for now, but Id like to know whwre I can purchase a Gibson for cheap.ï

I canst keeps from rockin'J

Flying V!

enjoy playing music

I have one of the Les Paul Special Faded series, purchased new in Milwaukee for $650.00 with gig bag (I bought an Epi hard LP case for another $70.00).

In the past I've owned a 76 Custom (sold it when I was 19 - STUPID) and a 79 "The Paul" Firebrand.

The fit, finish, and tone on the faded models is really nice. I'm into quality wood so I don't mind the faded finish. You can see, feel and smell the solid mahogony. I have been told that it takes 12 hours to paint a standard Les Paul while it takes 2 hours to stain/paint a faded, hence the major price differance but this guitar weighs a ton and the tone and construction are all Les Paul. I wish that it had the trapazoidal neck inlays rather than dots but at $650.00 I can live with it.

The paint/stain on these models is actually smeared on with some sort of applicator. I have noticed that the black models tend to be nearly entirely black where as the red and TV yellow are finished to look more worn. (My guitar looks like a basic black LP).

The 490 pickups growl or sing clean depending on how you dial them, the Kluson deluxe tuners are very true. It would be a sin to chop the electronics. I have considered putting a creme pick gaurd on it but I cannot bring myself to drilled the bottom mount. I put schaller strap locks on it but that is non invasive surgery.

While I'm plugging Gibson, I also bought one of the $99.95 LP Epiphone JR's from MF (1 humbucker at the bridge - guitar is silver) for my son. What a delightful little pizza paddle. I plugged it into my Marshall and recorded a song with it in mt studio. Wow. What a fun little guitar. I would highly reccomend them for a first kids guitar or a 39 year old like me wanting a silly toy. I found a Gison gig bag on E-bay for 15 bucks and my son is in heaven.

Final Gibson plug....I just bought an Epipnone PR 350-12, 12 string acoustic on-line for $200.00 new. I wanted a cheap 12 string. I can play this guitar fingerstyle athe the 1oth fret and it is not an athletic event. I think that Epi is cranking out some remarkable entry level imports, I looked at the binding and and ribbon inside with a dental mirror. Very clean and true for the money (I own 3 Martins and I have the nasty habit of picking apart most any cheap acoustic) this is a really well made import. Again if you are shopping Christmas Acoustics in the $100-$200 range...wow.

Carry On!
John

i have a 63' 335...this guitar screams! plain and simple...PAF's and all. ive ahd people offer me crazy amts of $$ just for the p/u's but alas, i will be buried with this guitar. it never fails to vibrate in my hands, and scream like a female porn star.
i also have a newer SG with duncans (alnico II pro in neck, seth lover in bridge) sounds nice, sepcially cause i got it for $200! and i cant forget to mention my 61' ES-125...2 p 90's, single cut, neck like a louisville slugger...ahh, i love beefy necks.

would you rather go to new york, or by bus?