Oops. I did it again?? Another NEW LES PAUL DAY!!

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I think I may have a problem....

Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom in Camo!
Gosh I've wanted one of these since I saw Disciple way back when!
The guitarist had one of these, a Splawn amp, and a Marshall 1960a.... It's the first time I ever remember saying to myself "Holy crap! Why does his guitar sound So Good!?!" It launched my search for tone! Right then and there I became a tone seeker!
Did you know these run about $13,000 used?

So here is my gas fix!

I had such good luck with my other Chibson I thought I'd risk getting another one.
Truth is, this one is even better than the last.

Anyhow, on with the show.


Unboxing, first sounds, nitpicking overview.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I mis-spoke about the blocks being undersized. The real one has the same sized blocks.

 

[beaubrummels]

Now you got me wanting to surf AliExpress.

Pickups say EMG but are something else? Or did you put EMGs in there?

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I've been in Surgery for the past 2 hours.

I bought a set of black hardware thinking I'd put it on this ZW Camo, but it thinks it needs to stay gold.
So I stole the real Grovers off the quilt top, and put them on the ZW. I then put all black hardware on the quilt, and new strings. Pulled the studs out and everything. Trying Wilkinson tuners and a roller bridge on the quilt.

The ZW got the Burstbucker 3 out of my Gibson Explorer. I know it doesn't match...I'm still debating that, but It was a serious improvement sound-wise!
The quilt had a pretty good bridge and so I put that on the ZW as well. The ZW bridge was absolute junk! (The tuners were kind of ok, and eons better than what came on the quilt)

So. New family pic. The neck on the ZW clone is almost a 50's baseball bat, that will take some getting used to.

It sounds pretty good, I'll need to re-intonate both Chibsons later when it cools down a bit.

I've decided my next show will be Chibson filled, and maybe I can get a little crazy and bang them around! What fun!

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I forgot to post a picture.... Wish we could just edit posts.

 

[ehdwuld]

Love some chibsons

I went through a phase like that 5yrs ago

 

[Aceman]

This is dark path you are going down Steve....I see three now. But this time next year there might new 30....

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Now you got me wanting to surf AliExpress.

Pickups say EMG but are something else? Or did you put EMGs in there?

As I understand it, to get through customs the company has to make every single part on the guitar. If they ship it with a real Gibson case it gets seized.

So the pickups say EMG but they are a far cry from real, as are the river tuners.
I just put a Gibson Burstbucker 3 in the bridge. And real Grovers in it today. It's a big improvement.
The listing didn't mention that it's almost a full 50s fat neck.
I'm just pleased it looks so very close to the real deal and wasn't broken in shipping!

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

This was the stock clone pup coming out.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

This is dark path you are going down Steve....I see three now. But this time next year there might new 30....

Ha ha at this time last year I had 5 LPs!
I sold all them off but my BFG.

Then.... Cheap copies. I'm going to delete my AliExpress app right now and force myself not to look at Facebook Marketplace as well.....

 

[Chistopher]

How do y'all even find these things?

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

How do y'all even find these things?

I started just googling Chibson and where to buy them, AliExpress showed up pretty often, so I DL the app and it was all downhill from there.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Also there are some quality options off Amazon if you ever need to send something back, Amazon is way easier to deal with than Whatever Chinese app you're using I'm sure.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

A sound byte of the Clone guitar with good tuners and a proper Gibson Pickup.

 

[ehdwuld]

I have become more aware of offshore builders
as I like custom built instruments that fit my desire at the moment

I was keeping in contact with Chinese Aliexpress builders
But quality wasn't always the same

I like the idea of Kiesel guitars
But not the idea of paying the price of a used car