$700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

[SirJackdeFuzz]

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Les-Paul-CM.aspx - $700.00



What does the jury say ?

Worth it for a USA Made guitar ?

Just wanna know your thoughts.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I'd rather grab a similarly equipped "Slick" guitar for $500 less and reshape/repaint the headstock...probably plays and sounds better right out of the box

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Pass.

.02

 

[hydro]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

It reminds me of the SG-J they made back in 2014. Not a bad little guitar, a $500 Gibson. The pickups in it were pretty good. I didn't care for the fretboard but it was a decent guitar.

 

[DankStar]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I love all the specs they provide - very handy

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Meh. Not much there for $700

 

[Wattage]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

So I've played 3 or 4 of them and so far not so impressed. I want to love them but whether it is the pup, the basic setup or the tail posts that are not offset I just can't go for it. I think if I find one used for $350-400 I'll end up grabbing it and doing whatever I want to it but new I can't see it. Buy a used Jr

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

IMO, far better to pick up a used Junior or Special.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Do they look thin to anyone else?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I like the looks and concept behind it but for $700 I will would go with a used Worn Finish LP Studio with two pickups and a hardshell case...

 

[Mincer]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I'd pass, too. Seems like a reason to still overcharge for what you get, which is essentially paying for the least amount of guitar with the Gibson name. There are better ways to spend $500.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

If you want a Gibson, and a USA Gibson, then sure. But let your hands make the decision. Many USA Gibson's that I've played and seen, and much higher priced than this, did not hold up to the quality and feel of some imports. So again, if USA Gibson is your goal, get it. If best guitar for the money is your goal, I'd probably go for something else.

 

[voggin]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Used studios are all over the place for less than that.

If I were going new at that price, I'd go PRS SE.

 

[blueman335]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

For $700, Gibson's going to use the cheapest materials and least amount of labor humanly possible. You're paying for the name. How different is it from an Epi? Why buy a bottom-of-the-line Gibson, when you can get better guitars for that much money?

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

They are what they are, nothing too special but for the right price they I think they have their place???

It's basically a humbucker Jr that's got a Maple neck so if you want good intonation & the ability to tweak every little detail to high standards you should probably pass? Or at least make sure you've got a extra $120-$200 for a good replacement bridge.

I'm probably going to get one eventually but I've got a affinity for Jr's/Special's & their simple wraparound bridges. I also know that it's not a great choice if you're going to be doing a lot of lead work & I have other guitars that fill that void already. The flecked neck on these does let you set them up with much lower action than was possible with previous models & the fingerboards are much nicer than the 2014 S.G.J.'s! That said, at the end of the day it's still Gibson's cheapest available model of guitar so don't expect it to be a single humbucker version of a L.P. Custom?

I definitely won't be spending $700 on one though!!! I've seen them selling very lightly used for $425-$500 shipped!!! For $450 I'd grab one up quick, but for $550-$700 you can certainly find a much better guitar that your not going to feel the need to work on straight out of the box...

 

[trevorus]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I think a used LPJ or SGJ is likely a better deal.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

I think a used LPJ or SGJ is likely a better deal.

Exactly, and with their thin finish, they'll look just as "rustic" after a few years!

 

[Wattage]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

If you want a Gibson, and a USA Gibson, then sure. But let your hands make the decision. Many USA Gibson's that I've played and seen, and much higher priced than this, did not hold up to the quality and feel of some imports. So again, if USA Gibson is your goal, get it. If best guitar for the money is your goal, I'd probably go for something else.

Gibson's are only made in the USA

 

[blueman335]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Gibson's are only made in the USA

Which is part of the problem with Gibson's low-end guitars. They're paying much higher labor rates than in Asia, so to keep their profit margins, they're going to cut corners on everything: materials, workmanship, quality control.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: $700.00 Gibson Les Paul CM . . . your opinion ?

Exactly

I feel bad for anyone dropping cash on that guitar just to say they're getting a "USA Gibson".

Likewise, Gibson is only hurting their premium mark by offering such a featureless US-made option at such a low price point in the first place. And if they DO skimp on the quality, they are going to turn off a lot of people in the new generation who are buying a "proper" Gibson for the first time. At least PRS keeps their budget American made options above the $1K mark to balance brand value and quality. Gibson would be smart to learn by their example.