Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

[CondeZL]

In Gibson catalog they all seem to have same pickups, same wood and basically same everything in their specs, from their cheapest up to their dearest.
Not saying they aren't good, they are amazing! Unfortunatelly I haven't been able to play many Gibsons in life and that's why I'm having this question.
In the other hand Seymour Duncan offers a huge variety of pickups for a even more affordable price than Gibson does. Opinions?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

I would assume there are (as much as there are differences between any 2 guitars), but I couldn't tell you which was which in a blind test. I think people tend to pick the features they want, and the price they are willing to pay. I don't think the models feature a night and day difference in sound though (you won't mistake one for a Tele, I am sure).

 

[evan47]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

I have owned 5of them and just 2 sounded alike. Differences can be subtle in some cases though.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

You can put the same PU's in 5 examples of the same model of guitar, and each can sound different, due to variations in wood; no two pieces are identical due to grain, mineral content, water content, proximity to limbs, etc. Some are chambered in various ways to reduce weight. Gibson uses a variety of HB's in their LP's, along with P-90's and mini-HB's. Neck thicknesses vary, which impacts tone. In the 1950's former Gibson president Ted McCarty said that the same size piece of mahogany could weigh anywhere from 5 lbs to 25 lbs, due to mineral content. No, all LP's don't sound the same.

Duncan offers more PU's because they're a PU company, Gibson's a guitar company that makes PU's because they don't want to pay someone else to do it for them.

 

[Securb]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

I own three Les Pauls, all three sound different. Two of them have stock picks and sound amazing.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

If there's one thing I've learned having mucked around with guitars as long as I have, it's that the more I notice how different guitars can be, the more I also notice how similar they are.

Some days I can pick up two guitars of the exact same model and pick out all the small minor differences between the individual instruments. But then there are some days when I wonder if they truly make as big a difference as they may seem. At the end of the day, especially with a guitar as "simple" as a Les Paul, there are only a few things that set them a part from the others: feel/playability, looks, price, and maybe slightly different controls.

In short, I guess I'm trying to say, does it really matter how big the difference between the model you buy and the model some other person buys if your happy with the one you have?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

For me, Les Pauls seem to be the most diverse while Teles are far more homogeneous and everything else fall in the middle.

Some LPs are heavy with little sustain, some are much lighter with more sustain and tones vari a lot- most have strong mids, some develop almost honkng bass and treble is the biggest variable for me- some have a sparkle on the high end and others are quite dead. As others have said, there is tremendous opportunity to tweak pups to match.

My guess is the cap/body relationship is more complex than we imagine, but I stopped imagining how an individual Les Paul would sound a long time ago.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

This reminds of this old interview:

http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/node/240

This pretty much sounds correct from my observations. The differences between different guitars is likely to be larger than the difference between an average model from different lines, and it is worth taking the time to find a really good one before spending money on one.

(I should add that I have known the interviewer for more than a decade now, and have no reason to believe that he is anything less than truthful in his parts.)

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

I think the OP wants to know if a $5,000 Gibson Les Paul sounds significantly different than a $1,200 Gibson Les Paul.
The answer is partially what everyone has already sais ("no two guitars sound identical," etc.) But if you are asking what I think you are asking then the answer is no, not really. Two Gibson Les Pauls with the same specifications for neck and body wood and the same pickups will sound pretty close no matter which "model" each is. The studio faded Gibsons sound pretty much just like the much, much more expensive shiny reissue models.
I know there are Les Paul owners who will swear forever that their $10k model sounds better than any "ordinary" Les Paul. It might, but if it does it is likely because they lucked into one made from wood that sounds the way they like. If they spent a few hours playing used Studios they might come across one that sounds just as great for $600.
Of course, there are Les Paul owners who swear the sound of their guitar changed dramatically when the changed the tailpiece studs, too. I suspect none of those guys ever actually play on a stage with a band.
If what you want is a "good" Gibson you just have to play quite a few until you find one that sounds, feels, and looks the way you like. It took me 3 SGs to find one I loved when I was shopping for one years ago, but more like a dozen 335s before I found The One.
If you are not sure about buying a particular guitar, then it isn't the right guitar for you. When you find the right one you pretty much know right away.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

Some good points already.

Everyone's tone quest is individual. There are just as many threads of people happy with a studio having tested them against all the RI guitars they could get their hands on as the RI beating anything USA line. There is not a single thing to say that everyone or even anyone has to prefer a more expensive guitar. But equally we must also remember that our view is merely 1 grain of sand in a beach.
And there are certainly things (hardware for example) that will change tone with a shift up the price scale....it is important to know that for many this is worth an upgrade - even if the player is not in a band. And even if they are.....there are plenty of bands sophisticated enough for even the more minor tonal shifts to be audible when playing.....we're not all into butt-rock.

So.....play as many as you can get your hands on and find one that speaks to you the most.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

My answer will somewhat mirror what others have said. Yes, each guitar can have its own character... However, Les Pauls have a tone that makes them desirable. I like the "bark" that they have. They dont sound like a strat or a tele. So, each guitar can have its own special thing, the les paul line as a whole does have its own slot if you will. AND, most all the various models fit into that slot. In a nutshell, in nearly all cases, a Les Paul will sound like a Les Paul.. Be it a studio or a standard or custom. The differences in the models are mostly for appointments, tho there are subtle differences in some based on the weight relief, ebony board, etc..

 

[CondeZL]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

I think the OP wants to know if a $5,000 Gibson Les Paul sounds significantly different than a $1,200 Gibson Les Paul.
The answer is partially what everyone has already sais ("no two guitars sound identical," etc.) But if you are asking what I think you are asking then the answer is no, not really. Two Gibson Les Pauls with the same specifications for neck and body wood and the same pickups will sound pretty close no matter which "model" each is. The studio faded Gibsons sound pretty much just like the much, much more expensive shiny reissue models.
I know there are Les Paul owners who will swear forever that their $10k model sounds better than any "ordinary" Les Paul. It might, but if it does it is likely because they lucked into one made from wood that sounds the way they like. If they spent a few hours playing used Studios they might come across one that sounds just as great for $600.
Of course, there are Les Paul owners who swear the sound of their guitar changed dramatically when the changed the tailpiece studs, too. I suspect none of those guys ever actually play on a stage with a band.
If what you want is a "good" Gibson you just have to play quite a few until you find one that sounds, feels, and looks the way you like. It took me 3 SGs to find one I loved when I was shopping for one years ago, but more like a dozen 335s before I found The One.
If you are not sure about buying a particular guitar, then it isn't the right guitar for you. When you find the right one you pretty much know right away.

Yeah... that's prettty much what I meant! Thanks

 

[CondeZL]

Re: Is there any actual sound difference among Gibson Les Pauls?

This reminds of this old interview:

http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/node/240

This pretty much sounds correct from my observations. The differences between different guitars is likely to be larger than the difference between an average model from different lines, and it is worth taking the time to find a really good one before spending money on one.

(I should add that I have known the interviewer for more than a decade now, and have no reason to believe that he is anything less than truthful in his parts.)

Pretty awesome interview