JimmyO
New member
So after playing guitar for over 20 years I was finally able to purchase my first USA made Gibson Les Paul. I've wanted one since my early teens and even though I've had some great epiphones and copies from other manufacturers, i was never in a position to buy the real deal. I recently started a great new job after previously being at a very stressful company, and my wife pretty much told me to get out there today and buy myself a new guitar as her way of saying well done. At first i was thinking of the rather excellent Japanese Les Pauls like Tokai and Edwards, but after shipping these would get close to the price of a real Gibson, so I went around my local guitar stores to see if any deals on a Gibson were to be had. I found myself in my local Sam Ash and they had some great prices on Gibsons and I was able to try out out a series of Traditionals, Classics, Studios and this Signature T from 2013 that was still new.
I finally ended up going back and forth between the T and a second hand Gold Top Classic. I really liked how the Gold Top played and the tone was very Allman Bros, but the Signature T had a bit more texture to the tone, a bit more bite in the bridge and an amazingly vocal clapton style woman tone on the neck pickup. It also has coil taps that i need to experiment with a bit more. I really liked how i could try several guitars at the store until i found the right one for me. I was able to get a fairly good deal too at only $1499, so only a bit more than a studio and much less than a standard or traditional. Not a bargain price but not bad for a Gibson. Also as it's a 2013 it doesn't come with that automated tuning device or any commemorative inlays or special Fonts on the headstock, which i don't like as i'm pretty traditional. It weighs in at a nice 9 lbs, not too light but not a back breaker either. I have to say i really like how the 57 classic and classic plus pickups sound. I didn't know what was in there at the store and looked it up online when i got home. At least i could say that i bought the guitar with my ears rather than based on it's specifications. So far very impressed, and really looking forward to trying it out with my JTM 45 cranked at a jam. Took a couple of shots, the second one hopefully shows a bit of the flame that seems to depend on the light angle.
I finally ended up going back and forth between the T and a second hand Gold Top Classic. I really liked how the Gold Top played and the tone was very Allman Bros, but the Signature T had a bit more texture to the tone, a bit more bite in the bridge and an amazingly vocal clapton style woman tone on the neck pickup. It also has coil taps that i need to experiment with a bit more. I really liked how i could try several guitars at the store until i found the right one for me. I was able to get a fairly good deal too at only $1499, so only a bit more than a studio and much less than a standard or traditional. Not a bargain price but not bad for a Gibson. Also as it's a 2013 it doesn't come with that automated tuning device or any commemorative inlays or special Fonts on the headstock, which i don't like as i'm pretty traditional. It weighs in at a nice 9 lbs, not too light but not a back breaker either. I have to say i really like how the 57 classic and classic plus pickups sound. I didn't know what was in there at the store and looked it up online when i got home. At least i could say that i bought the guitar with my ears rather than based on it's specifications. So far very impressed, and really looking forward to trying it out with my JTM 45 cranked at a jam. Took a couple of shots, the second one hopefully shows a bit of the flame that seems to depend on the light angle.
