Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

[waltschwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

I've been playing guitar for quite some time and usually look at the classifieds for used guitars and amps that may be good offers. I have a modified strat with a fixed bridge and a single humbucker, a SS-S-S pacifica with a Wilkinson trem and sperzels, so a HH seemed like a good addition. The Les Paul bug has bitten me lately and have already tried more than a few on different stores and kind of want to buy one. I don’t want to spend too much (>1k), but sadly only the most expensive ones are left on the stores. I’ve tried a LP Classic 2017, LP Standard 2016, LP Tribute 2017, LP 50’s tribute 2016?, melody maker, faded, and other I don’t remember. Also a few Epiphones, Studio, Traditional Pro and Standard. From all those I clearly remember the Epi Trad Pro and the Gibson LP Classic.

I found this 2012 Gibson Les Paul Satin Fireburst for 600CHF (for simplicity let’s say 1CHF = 1USD) which seemed like a good deal to me. I think this would be the equivalent to the current Les paul Studio Faded 2016 T, but with different pickups and minus the coil splitting feature. After doing some research this are the specs that I have been able to find:

Serial Number: 118521381
Brand: Gibson
Model: 2012 Les Paul Studio
Code: LPSTSFCHI
Finish Color: Satin Fireburst
Weight: 8.46 lbs
Top Wood: Carved Maple
Body Wood: Modern Weight Relieved Mahogany
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Neck Shape: 1960's Slim Taper
Fingerboard: Granadillo
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Inlays: Pearloid Trapezoid
Scale Length: 24.75"
Width at Nut: 1 11/16"
Frets: 22
Pickups: 490R and 498T with Push/Pull Coil Taps
Magnets: AlNiCo II (neck) and AlNiCo V (bridge)
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3-Way Selector
Hardware : Chrome
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Tuners: Vintage Style "Kluson Deluxe"
Case: Gibson USA Case (also included with this guitar)

What do you think? First, it is not a fake, right? Should I go for it? A friend has a Gibson LP with the same pickups and he says they are great, althought I have not played it myself I do like the sound.

The ’16 Les Pauls, either Studio faded, 50’s tribute or 60’s tribute, go for 900CHF locally and 780CHF online. I would be saving up to 300CHF with the used one, plus if I ever want to sell it I might be able to get back close to what I paid, which will never happen with a brand-new guitar. I’m thinking about offering him 500CHF or my Yamaha Pacifica 604w (4 single coils in HSS, sperzel locking tuners and Wilkinson V100 tremolo) plus 200CHF.

Thanks a lot for reading and for your advise,

Cheers,
Walter

P.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

 

[GibSG]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

This Gibson Les Paul Studio is 100% legit, if you like this finish buy it.

Gibson 490R and 498T are fantastic IMHO.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Yup that is a real one no worries there

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Definitely a real one.... As long as it plays good & the neck angle is decent I'd say go for it!!!

I mentioned the neck angle because it can vary widely from one guitar to another & still pass Gibson's Q.C. standards so there's about as many bad ones out there as good. This issue seems to be far worse with S.G.'s but I've seen a lot of Faded L.P.'s with it as well.

As for the pickups, the 498T/490R are kinda like the Grateful Dead. People either love them or hate them with little in the way of middle ground & you'll figure out where you stand pretty quickly. Personally I don't like them all that much, I prefer a little more clarity from my humbuckers but LOTS of great music has been recorded with that particular set so you may?

I have a Gibson 2016 L.P. Special Plus coming in later this morning & it will arrive stock with the same 498T/490R (uncovered in this case) set in it. However being that this is far from my first Gibson, I bought the guitar knowing that I wasn't going to be overly impressed with the pickups in it & I've already bought a set of Duncan's that I know I'll love to replace them...

Actually I've done this whole "buying replacements before physically receiving the guitar" for my last three Gibson purchases because I dislike Burstbuckers just as much as the 498T/490R's but I'd in your case I'd suggest living with them for a while before making any decisions. In the end it's all personal taste & you might find them outstanding.

FWIW, many people think these pickups benefit greatly from magnet swaps which are far less expensive than new humbuckers! You might even be able to get what you want from them for absolutely nothing by simply swapping the A2 in the neck with the A5 in the bridge? This should make the bridge pup a bit looser in it's low end & make it a bit more "musical" while clearing up any mud in the neck.....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

I really like the finish on that one. Satin finished LPs are really cool.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

I have a gloss black 2006 Gibson LP Studio guitar that plays and sounds extremely well. I really like the 490R/498T pick up combo. They have that classic rock crunch to them and the 498T is the hottest non-signature Gibson pick up around.



;>)/

 

[tabeck5]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

A Gibson LP studio with a nice aftermarket hard shell case for $600, sounds like a good deal to me. Those particular Gibson pickups are not my favorite, but they are not terrible either, but at that price I would not feel bad about dropping a bit more for new pickups if those ones don't work out, you can always get something for used Gibson Pickups,

 

[beaubrummels]

Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

I have a satin studio TV yellow and it's my #1 testbed for Humbucker pickups. Plays well enough though not too roadworthy. Needs a bit of care to keep it going. Not one you can thrash on much, but can be made a good player. I do use it for gigs regularly. It's a good deal and I would get another one. Fireburst is good because you can see the wood grain.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Now I found this 2016 Studio Faded for 550CHF...

BUT, the seller painted over the top with a gold-green reflective paint. I know that repainted Gibsons lose their resale value, so I'm willing to pay max 500CHF

What do you think?

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Not my color choice but looks pretty good from the photo. Wonder if it's nitro or poly now.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Yeah man... I actually kinda like the color & the paint job doesn't look too terrible in the picture (@ least from a distance) so if it played good I'd probably buy it for $500 Canadian...

I mean 2016 Faded Series Gibson's are likely never going to be high dollar collectors items anyway so as long as it plays great & the paint looks good up close I personally don't think it is going to drop the value past what you are talking about spending on it? Plus there's just less of them around up there so the fact that it's in country already should help you recover your funds down the road if need be.

I'm actually originally a Canadian citizen myself, sorta, it's kinda a long story? Anyway most of my extended family still lives in Ontario or Quebec so I go across the border quite frequently. Pretty much everytime I get into a music store or the like up there I'm always surprised by how much more these "affordable" Gibson's cost pound for pound vs what you can get them for here! I mean even once you've factored in the taxes & U.S./CAN exchange rate they are still quite pricy, but also fairly coveted which is why I think you could easily recover your $500 as long as the paint goes past a rattle can job?

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Was just the maple top painted or did they re-spray the neck & all that as well???

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Was just the maple top painted or did they re-spray the neck & all that as well???

Only the top, the rest is still black. Is an original Gold top painted all around or only the top?


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[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Honestly, if you're able to go see them, just go over them in every way, esp neck angle, nut slots, bridge adjustment (if the only way its good is to one extreme then...that's not good), and fretwork

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

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[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Honestly, if you're able to go see them, just go over them in every way, esp neck angle, nut slots, bridge adjustment (if the only way its good is to one extreme then...that's not good), and fretwork

This is great advice!!!

Extremes in bridge height is an obvious red flag with any set neck guitar because you basically can’t adjust any further? The biggest & most common problem modern Gibson’s have IMHO is wacky neck angles. They just lack any kind of consistency, especially with Fades!

I have 6 “Post-Millennial” Gibson’s & for the most part I’ve had pretty good luck with the ones that I’ve gotten but I still always make sure that I get them from a seller that offers a very good return policy because of this very issue!!! When I bought my 2017 L.P. Tribute T I had to send back three of them before getting one that the bridge wasn’t jacked all the way up or laying completely flat on the body due to bad neck angles &/or poorly cut nuts. However there’s plenty of great ones out there too!!!

In my case I think they finally got sick of me & actually went to physically check the guitar they were selling before shipping it because the fourth one looked & played beautifully right out of the box, LOL!!!

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Looks like the original gold can be seen through the new green finish, depending on the angle. Like a see through green on top. I think it looks pretty cool. Not sure about that model but some of the lower price gold tops had dark/black backs and necks so looks like they only painted the top.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

Thanks a lot for the advice! I will try to see it over the weekend. I saw a 2014 LPJ in satin fireburst that I also like. It's at 590, but I hope to get it lower.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

That finish actually looks pretty cool. Not my style, but well done and original. I'd swap the knobs for black though.

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[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)

That finish actually looks pretty cool. Not my style, but well done and original. I'd swap the knobs for black though.

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I know it's not a Gibson color but I kinda like the Translucent Green better than the Burst.... The 2013-2015 LPM/LPJ Burst's finishes always looked a little cheesy to me, kinda like old Harmony's???