NGD: Goldtop Goodness

[ErikH]

Was not planning on this but this beauty showed up on Reverb locally and I had to get it. It was the best price I've seen in a long time for Goldtop like this. Picked it up yesterday. It's a 2010 Les Paul Traditional, 50's neck, weighs 10lbs flat. The pickups were replaced by the owner prior to the one I bought it from. Bridge is a Suhr SSH+ and the neck is a Suhr SSV. They sound really really good. I was little unsure of the SSH+ with it being so hot but I'm finding I like it better than many other pickups in that output range I've used in the past. Everything else is stock. Strung it up with 10-48 Ultra Slinky's last night and man, what tone and sustain. Pictures do not do the color justice. It is stunning in person.

And now I have two Gibsons, this one and a 2009 Les Paul Traditional Pro.

 

[Mincer]

Congrats on the cool, unexpected find! I have to stay off of Reverb for awhile...

 

[jeremy]

looks good! i have an '09? traditional and i really like it. enjoy!

 

[Securb]

That is freaking gorgeous.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Very nice! Congrats

 

[Texsunburst59]

That’s a Beautiful Goldtop you’ve got there.

I REALLY want a killer Gibson Goldtop so badly, but all I have is this lowly Goldtop.

My ‘94 PRS Standard 24

 

[GuitarDoc]

Congrats. Goldtops are a thing of beauty...gorgeous looking, gorgeous sounding.

How much, might I ask, did you pay for it?

The first time I remember hearing one was in 1970-71. The guitarist in a local group up in Toronto played one, and that's when I first fell in love and decided that I had to have one.

I'm not sure what year mine is, but I've got a LP Goldtop DC with P-90s and I can't imagine a goldtop that could sound any better than that.

 

[ErikH]

Thanks, all. It's a hell of a player. I have one of those gelled straps that helps it feel lighter. I ran thru the Texez Mudd set for our upcoming gig on June 9th last couple nights without issue. The neck is super comfortable for me.

Congrats. Goldtops are a thing of beauty...gorgeous looking, gorgeous sounding.

How much, might I ask, did you pay for it?

$1750. There's one other I came across that's a little less but is in Louisiana and this was local so I jumped on it. All the other Goldtop Traditionals listed are near or over $2K. Past sold listings show it to be at the lower to lower-mid tier of pricing. And with Suhr pickups? Sure. I think stock pickups in the Traditional are a BB1&BB2 set. I know the Trad Pro I have is stock with '57 Classic/BB3 set.

Though my LP Junior DC is not a Goldtop, and not even a Gibson, it plays and sounds amazing. I've been using it a lot at my cover band gigs. It's perfect for the stuff we do.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Wow, that was a great price.

 

[jeremy]

my 09 trad had 57 classic/57 classic plus for what thats worth

 

[ErikH]

my 09 trad had 57 classic/57 classic plus for what thats worth

Good to know. I've been trying to dig up the specs of these from that period on the interwebs without much luck. Was hoping the internet archive had something but it doesn't go back that far. I've come across comparisons between the Trad and Trad Pro but nothing that lists out the complete specs like would be seen on Gibson's site.

 

[ErikH]

And I just found this...lol Covers years 2008-2012.

https://www.gibsontraditional.com/models/gibson-les-paul-standard-traditional-2008/

 

[Wattage]

LOVE IT!

Congrats on the score

 

[GuitarDoc]

PS:
Love the 49ers blanket.

 

[Securb]

my 09 trad had 57 classic/57 classic plus for what thats worth

Same here I replaced them with WLHs and never looked back. The 57s were bright an a bit thjn to my ear.

 

[jeremy]

the 57 classics werent bad, little strident on top and congested in the mids, but overall sounded fine. i put a set of antiquitys in, a3 neck, a2 bridge and it was definitely better. gave my buddy the 57s and wired them into his '98 lp studio and they sound good there

 

[ErikH]

I love the ‘57 Classics. I’m in no hurry to swap out the Suhr’s that are in it now but if I ever do, ‘57 Classics are definitely an option, along with the Pearly Gates set or even a Seth Lover set. I have a Custom Custom here that I could toss in there too if I tire of the SSH+ in the bridge.

 

[xxxplorer]

I say keep it with the hot bridge. Variety from your other one. I love my Classic with a 500-XL. Have another gibby with PAF pickups. Both rock

 

[DankStar]

awesome. my brother has a goldtop, maybe from that time period (it was supposedly the first run of gold tops that "returned to form"). it's like the nicest guitar I've played about.

 

[ErikH]

I say keep it with the hot bridge. Variety from your other one. I love my Classic with a 500-XL. Have another gibby with PAF pickups. Both rock

That's kinda my thought too. The SSH+ is hot but doesn't really feel like a scorcher. It's got a different voice that I find works for all kinds of things, not just the Classic Rock and Metal that is mentioned in the Suhr description. The SSV neck I really like. It's in the same output class as the '57 Classic in the other Les Paul but A5 vs A2. I'll know for sure after a few gigs with it if the SSH+ will remain or not. For now it's fine.