NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Beautiful. I think I get everything I need from my Les Paul, and it has nothing on that one.
Beautiful. I think I get everything I need from my Les Paul, and it has nothing on that one.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
That's a beautiful Les Paul and you used the best method to buy one - play as many as necessary. The unfortunate reality in retail music is that it's becoming harder and harder for the average Joe to do this. Very few music stores compared to years gone by and selection is limited in many of the stores that do exist.
Congrats on your new LP. Tell us more about where you bought it, along with what you were looking for in a LP and what made this one stand out. Details man, details.
That's a beautiful Les Paul and you used the best method to buy one - play as many as necessary. The unfortunate reality in retail music is that it's becoming harder and harder for the average Joe to do this. Very few music stores compared to years gone by and selection is limited in many of the stores that do exist.
Congrats on your new LP. Tell us more about where you bought it, along with what you were looking for in a LP and what made this one stand out. Details man, details.
VinceT
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Gorgeous! For a moment, the lighting in the pics made the pickups look black, and I was thinking “EMGs?! Someone put EMGs in that?!! NOOOOOO!!!!”
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Gorgeous! For a moment, the lighting in the pics made the pickups look black, and I was thinking “EMGs?! Someone put EMGs in that?!! NOOOOOO!!!!”
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Laughing Kookaburra
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Oh man, that is sweet, congrats and enjoy!!
Oh man, that is sweet, congrats and enjoy!!
RorySquier
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
That's a really nice flamed top on your guitar. I think it needs a pick guard.
;>)/
That's a really nice flamed top on your guitar. I think it needs a pick guard.
;>)/
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
NO!!!
Ha!
When I got my LP it didn’t have the pickguard installed but it did come with one.
When I took it to my tech for a setup, I asked him to install it.
He hesitated for a moment and said “Are you 100% sure you want me to drill holes in this? Once it’s done, I can’t take it back....”
Needless to say it is not installed.
Now, if I bought a guitar that already had one installed (like my Studio), I’d certainly keep it on the guitar but otherwise I’m not a fan of drilling into a pretty top like this.
That's a really nice flamed top on your guitar. I think it needs a pick guard.
;>)/
NO!!!
Ha!
When I got my LP it didn’t have the pickguard installed but it did come with one.
When I took it to my tech for a setup, I asked him to install it.
He hesitated for a moment and said “Are you 100% sure you want me to drill holes in this? Once it’s done, I can’t take it back....”
Needless to say it is not installed.
Now, if I bought a guitar that already had one installed (like my Studio), I’d certainly keep it on the guitar but otherwise I’m not a fan of drilling into a pretty top like this.
v8stang289
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Absolutely gorgeous guitar! Congratulations!
Absolutely gorgeous guitar! Congratulations!
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Thanks guys! I'll be glad to share a detailed story about the process. By the way, Gibson did include the pick guard in the case; however, I am not drilling into this guitar nor do I want to cover the finish with a pick guard.
I went to many local shops and big box stores around my area playing every type of guitar I could get my hands on for a month or so. I work in public education so during the summers, I have time to peruse guitar stores (the downside is sometimes I spend too much in that process....). I ruled out any lower end guitars pretty quickly and narrowed my selection down to Les Paul style guitars. I had owned a LP Studio a few years ago and it was my least favorite guitar I've ever owned. I traded it for a PRS SE Custom 24. That guitar is decent, but doesn't quite have the sound I'm looking for. I have also owned a custom luthier-built PRS Custom 22 copy for nearly 15 years, and that has been my main guitar for the most part. It's design is something between the PRS and Les Paul... it has a thick mahogany body, quilted maple top, LP scale length, but with the PRS body style... very cool guitar. Still doesn't have the sound..
I decided to start playing all of the Les Pauls with finishes I like without much regard for the price tag (as long as I wasn't getting too crazy), which is mostly the Burst finishes on maple tops or Goldtops. I waited patiently many times for employees at GC's to give me guitars on the highest shelves so I can try them out. Some guitars are an instant NO for whatever reason once I held them. Something about the wood... the finish.. the feel... whatever it was, I knew those guitars weren't for me. Sometimes you can have the same model guitar side by side, and they feel like two completely different instruments. It truly is a thing you have to be patient about and find the right one.
I found this particular Les Paul at the Guitar Center in Tampa, FL (big shout out to these folks.. they run a good store). Lots of great guitars there... surprising to me because I usually don't hold GC's in high regard. I knew from the minute I spotted this guitar and held it that I had to take it home. I brought one of my guitars in to trade-in with the purchase and ended up getting a pretty sweet deal overall.
The sound is full and clear in all registers with rich sustain and harmonics. Somebody asked about pickups.. Gibson BB1 and BB2. I play this guitar through my Orange Rockerverb MKIII. The cleans are great with any PU position, and the overdrive sound is just pure awesomeness. Tons of crunch, bite, note-to-note clarity within chords, sustain for days.. everything one could hope for when you plug in and crank up. This guitar has restored my faith in Gibson guitars and made me a fan. Now I understand why Les Paul players love their guitars - it is a platform for incredible guitar tone.
Some lessons I have learned while chasing tone this summer: if you have only beginner/intermediate level gear, stop buying that stuff and save up for pro gear. A good amplifier is very important to have and I almost insist you have that first. Don't compromise on your amp. It doesn't matter how many guitars or how many pickups you try out in those guitars, if you don't have a great amplifier, then you can't really get the sound you want out of the rig. Secondly, be patient and take your time searching for the right professional level guitar. Having one incredible guitar is better than having 2-3 "eh, it gets the job done" intermediate guitars. Find the "look" and style you like first, then play as many of those guitars as possible to find the one you love the most. You'll know it as soon as you lay your hands on that guitar.
Thanks guys! I'll be glad to share a detailed story about the process. By the way, Gibson did include the pick guard in the case; however, I am not drilling into this guitar nor do I want to cover the finish with a pick guard.
I went to many local shops and big box stores around my area playing every type of guitar I could get my hands on for a month or so. I work in public education so during the summers, I have time to peruse guitar stores (the downside is sometimes I spend too much in that process....). I ruled out any lower end guitars pretty quickly and narrowed my selection down to Les Paul style guitars. I had owned a LP Studio a few years ago and it was my least favorite guitar I've ever owned. I traded it for a PRS SE Custom 24. That guitar is decent, but doesn't quite have the sound I'm looking for. I have also owned a custom luthier-built PRS Custom 22 copy for nearly 15 years, and that has been my main guitar for the most part. It's design is something between the PRS and Les Paul... it has a thick mahogany body, quilted maple top, LP scale length, but with the PRS body style... very cool guitar. Still doesn't have the sound..
I decided to start playing all of the Les Pauls with finishes I like without much regard for the price tag (as long as I wasn't getting too crazy), which is mostly the Burst finishes on maple tops or Goldtops. I waited patiently many times for employees at GC's to give me guitars on the highest shelves so I can try them out. Some guitars are an instant NO for whatever reason once I held them. Something about the wood... the finish.. the feel... whatever it was, I knew those guitars weren't for me. Sometimes you can have the same model guitar side by side, and they feel like two completely different instruments. It truly is a thing you have to be patient about and find the right one.
I found this particular Les Paul at the Guitar Center in Tampa, FL (big shout out to these folks.. they run a good store). Lots of great guitars there... surprising to me because I usually don't hold GC's in high regard. I knew from the minute I spotted this guitar and held it that I had to take it home. I brought one of my guitars in to trade-in with the purchase and ended up getting a pretty sweet deal overall.
The sound is full and clear in all registers with rich sustain and harmonics. Somebody asked about pickups.. Gibson BB1 and BB2. I play this guitar through my Orange Rockerverb MKIII. The cleans are great with any PU position, and the overdrive sound is just pure awesomeness. Tons of crunch, bite, note-to-note clarity within chords, sustain for days.. everything one could hope for when you plug in and crank up. This guitar has restored my faith in Gibson guitars and made me a fan. Now I understand why Les Paul players love their guitars - it is a platform for incredible guitar tone.
Some lessons I have learned while chasing tone this summer: if you have only beginner/intermediate level gear, stop buying that stuff and save up for pro gear. A good amplifier is very important to have and I almost insist you have that first. Don't compromise on your amp. It doesn't matter how many guitars or how many pickups you try out in those guitars, if you don't have a great amplifier, then you can't really get the sound you want out of the rig. Secondly, be patient and take your time searching for the right professional level guitar. Having one incredible guitar is better than having 2-3 "eh, it gets the job done" intermediate guitars. Find the "look" and style you like first, then play as many of those guitars as possible to find the one you love the most. You'll know it as soon as you lay your hands on that guitar.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Great narrative and details, and you're absolutely right about having a great rig. Also, good to hear you like the BB1 and BB2. They get some love and plenty of hate across the web, but like anything, I think in a really good guitar a variety of pickups will sound great, including those BB's.
Congrats on finding a beautiful looking and sounding guitar and thanks for sharing your story. Also, thank you for being in education. It's such an important thing for the future of our kids.
Great narrative and details, and you're absolutely right about having a great rig. Also, good to hear you like the BB1 and BB2. They get some love and plenty of hate across the web, but like anything, I think in a really good guitar a variety of pickups will sound great, including those BB's.
Congrats on finding a beautiful looking and sounding guitar and thanks for sharing your story. Also, thank you for being in education. It's such an important thing for the future of our kids.
Re: NGD Gibson Les Paul Traditional
beautiful top on that one! Yeah, its sad for what Gibson charges that they all arent great. And as previously said, many people dont get the luxury of playing a bunch to find "the one". HOWEVER... When you do find that special one, there is no substitute..
When I was searching, I really wanted a black one. But none of them moved me. I played this wine red one and it had mojo for days.. I had to have it..
beautiful top on that one! Yeah, its sad for what Gibson charges that they all arent great. And as previously said, many people dont get the luxury of playing a bunch to find "the one". HOWEVER... When you do find that special one, there is no substitute..
When I was searching, I really wanted a black one. But none of them moved me. I played this wine red one and it had mojo for days.. I had to have it..
