Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

LesStrat

LesStrat

Reining PunLowered
I'm assisting a friend with choosing a guitar. I know about feel and sound and quality workmanship. Assuming those three are equivalent, what differentiates the various LP models? How do you go about choosing one over another?



I'm not certain of the budget yet, but let's assume $2-3k.

Market restrictions: this is NOT an Epiphone, ESP, etc thread. This is a Gibson question. :yeah:, I realize the Burny gets a lot of praise. You need to be aware of the limited availability. This player will not purchase without playing the axe, and I've never seen a Burny in a store in Louisiana. Please limit your recommendations to those items we are likely to actually see in a store. This is a purchase that will happen in the next couple of weeks, so it WILL be local.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

I might be biased because I own one but I feel the Traditional Pro is the best choice in that price range. The finish choices, AAA top and the overall tone. It all depends on if your friend is comfortable with the 59 neck. It is not the thickest neck Gibson has made but certainly not the 60's slim taper. The added girth doesn't affect my playing and the added sustain is amazing. What kind of music is your friend playing?
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Rock and contemporary Christian. He's seeking a tone beast.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Used r7/8 is where I would start my search. They use higher quality woods, hardware,construction techniques, finishes, and they have their best workers building those. They are much more consistent than the production guitars through the years. I would have no issue buying a RI, sight unseen. Production guitars, ehhhhh...I wanna play 'em.

That said, the 2014s IME are very consistent,regardless of price...build and tonality. A Traditional,or Classic will fit in the price range you mentioned.

Really,just have him play a bunch. I would not be fixated on a model year. Les pauls are like women. Dont marry the firstgirl ya see, be sure to date a bunch of all types to find the right one.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

LesStrat said:
Rock and contemporary Christian. He's seeking a tone beast.
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I will say about the Traditional the 57+ in the bridge didn't have enough punch to get me over the hump for heavier rock , it was also lacking in the mids I was looking for. I loved the 498T in my SG and in my buddy's Les Paul Classic so I got one on Ebay for $50 and couldn't be happier. I think buying guitars is a lot like golf. You want to get on the green and putt (tweak) until you get the guitar where you want it. Every once in a while we hit a hole-in-one.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

New or used???? Makes a big difference.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

+1 for a big neck.

Are we to assume humbuckers rather than P90s or minihums and a carved maple cap rather than a mahogany slab?
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Aceman said:
New or used???? Makes a big difference.
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A slight difference unless it is trashed Les Pauls only swing a couple hundred dollars on the used market. For that money I would rather be the first owner.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

If new, it will have to be a Traditional because those are the only models that are not 'weight relieved', meaning semi-hollow. No matter what guitar you are buying (unless it's a signature model), it would be advisable to get a burst, transparent or natural finish where you can see the grain. (Flawed woods get solid colors.) The new Traditionals have some reworked "'59 tribute buckers" which is a '57 Classic with unbalanced coils. There was a version that had Burstbucker 1 and Burstbucker 2 which I would expect would be closest to a 'traditional' Les Paul sound also, as far as Gibson makes.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Oh, funkfingers made a good point. solid mahogany is an option. Les Paul Junior would be on the table.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Just got done beating on the Traditional with the 498T, what a player a total tone machine.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

The 59 tributes are not 57 classics with unbalanced coils

They are a burstbucker pro with hot coils reversed and a2 magnets. The 61s are the same pickups with A5 magnets. Someguitars come with ahotter bridge version around the 8k mark (denoted as "lead" on the sticker) other sets are two standard pickups in the mid 7kish range).

And FWIW they sound far better in a Les Paul than BBPros do.
 
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Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

What's the difference between an R7 and R8?

A lower price does not disqualify a guitar from consideration. I tossed out a figure that I thought would put him solidly into the LP market.

He's been playing my Fly Deluxe for the last several weeks, because his Nitefly is shorting out and we can't find a decent tech. Plus he's ready to step up.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Dr. Vegetable said:
Did the 498T leave any marks in the nitro?
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Nope. I used the same ring. The only weird thing was the cover for the 57+ didn't align with the 498T. The poles on the 498+ line up perfectly with the strings so I don't know what the rub is, it has to be a very slight difference in pole alignment. Right now I am rocking a nickel pickup in the bridge with all chrome hardware. I have the new chrome cover in the workshop I will change it with the next string change for now it doesn't bother me. I actually wouldn't mind going all nickle for a more vintage vibe, if the cost wasn't so prohibitive.
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

LesStrat said:
What's the difference between an R7 and R8?

A lower price does not disqualify a guitar from consideration. I tossed out a figure that I thought would put him solidly into the LP market.

He's been playing my Fly Deluxe for the last several weeks, because his Nitefly is shorting out and we can't find a decent tech. Plus he's ready to step up.
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R7 is a goldtop. R8 is a plaintop burst. THOUGH, there are some flamey and solid color r8s too, but they are generally priced a fair amount higher than plaintops and r7s. They both have baseball bats, and lower frets. These days they come with a3 custombuckers. In days past, BB1/2 (same pups, just a2 mags)
 
Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Hmm, in the paperwork I've got the Burstbucker 1-3 have A2 unpotted unbalanced coils, '57 Classics are A2 potted balanced coils and the BB Pros have A5 unpotted balanced coils. The '59 Tributes spec-wise read as closer to a BB1-2 with the slug hotter or '57 with unbalanced coils (and slug hotter) depending on if they are potted or not. The article compares the '59 Tribute with both but doesn't really say which it's based on or closer to. http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifesty...Magic-of-59-and-the-59-Tribute-Humbucker.aspx Doesn't say if they are potted or not.

Edit: I failed to consider DC / output. '59 tribute reads closer to BB1-2 except the slug coil hotter.
 
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Re: Market Research: Choosing a Gibson Les Paul

Where I am (western Canada) I've been seeing a lot of used Classics from the late 90s early 2000s for around 1200-1400 bucks. They are really well-built guitars. The hot pickups aren't to everyone's taste, but add a couple hundred for some nice Duncans and you would have a pretty sweet Paul for @1500. The necks are slimmer, though, but I find once I play a neck for a couple of days, I don't notice so much.
 
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