What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

[papersoul]

What are your thoughts on the LPs of that period? I have a 2003 LP St. That is my number one but oddly I miss my 1994 ebony LP St. It weighed 11 lbs which is heavy and I would only use it part of my sets but it sounded killer through any amp. I replaced the tuners with Tone Pros Klusons and installed new CTS pots anda Wolfetone Timbrewolf bridge pickup with a Wolfetone Marshallhead neck pickup.

My 03 is lighter at 8.5 lbs and is more acoustically resonant and brighter. The black 94 is heavy and a little dead wood sounding acoustically, sort of cardboard like, but plugged in it was punishing for classic rock, hard rock grunge to metal.

The weigt bothered me a little but I have a nice SG I can switch in at gigs. I also was bothered by the crappy acoustic qualities just like my PRS Cu22, but unlike that guitar, this LP crushed when plugged in. Another adjustment for me is the wide, low frets on the 94 LP. Once I got used to em, it was OK but I prefer the taller and thinner frets on my 2003.

I wonder if the new Traditional LPs also have those low, wide frets.

 

[papersoul]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I sold my 1994 LP Standard 5 years ago to a friend for $975. He said I could buy it back for $975 this summer.

 

[jmh151]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I think being able to get any Les Paul Standard these days for $975 is a steal, the cheapest I see them going for is $1200 used, regardless of year. Regarding the "dead wood tone", I changed the tailpiece on mine to a Gotoh lightweight aluminum tailpiece, and it made the guitar alot louder acoustically. Plugged in it made a slight difference. 90's are good, basically anything after 1986 is good

 

[Vengeance]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

My 91 is awesome.

 

[brunogio]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I have a 1995 Standard that I think is a great example of what that guitar is meant to represent. Heavy as a stone and I love it. I really dig those wide low frets and didn't care for the newer skinny wire ones which just feel cheap on a Gibson. They might be OK on a Fender guitar but just aren't right on an LP.

Gibson pickup bashing aside I think it's a top quality instrument.

I also have a 1997 Classic which is similarly heavy.

I don't know if these are weight relieved or not but they are certainly not chambered based on the weight.

 

[papersoul]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I think being able to get any Les Paul Standard these days for $975 is a steal, the cheapest I see them going for is $1200 used, regardless of year. Regarding the "dead wood tone", I changed the tailpiece on mine to a Gotoh lightweight aluminum tailpiece, and it made the guitar alot louder acoustically. Plugged in it made a slight difference. 90's are good, basically anything after 1986 is good

I told him I would take it and he confirmed $975! Plus it has Wolfetone pickups I paid $300 for! I will try the lightweight tailpiece too!

LPs were weight relieved starting in the 80s......so all 90s are weight relieved. I am happy for that...can you imagine, my 1994 would have been 15 lbs!

The low, wide frets are an acquired taste I guess, I find them harder to play and harder to bend on because they are so low to the feretboard!

 

[ErikH]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I had a really nice early 90's (I think it was '93) LP Studio, all black, with trap inlays. It was a great playing and sounding guitar. Had to let it go to pay bills. That's one I wish I had back. It was pretty hefty too. I'd love to get another one from that era.

 

[papersoul]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

Can't wait to get it back! I was easily influenced back in the day by my guitar tech. When he set it up, he plugged it in and said I got a good guitar, loved it. Then one day he was working on the frets for me, dressing them and said this guitar sounds like cardboard, no good acoustic qualities. That comment got stuck in my head and I sold. Stupid....plus I already had my number one LP....but I miss that beast!

 

[papersoul]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

It is neat that both guitars are so different. My burst LP is bright, airy and 3D. The black one is dark, somewhat compressed and thick, sludgy. But it also had a Marshallhead Timbrewolf. I may install something more PAF and brighter.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

General consensus of 90's era Gibson is excellent. Some day, I want to get a 91' Les Paul Custom (my birth year)

 

[papersoul]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

Having an LP from your birth year would be cool. I don't want to shell out for a 1970 though.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

90's LP's are said to be some of the best in recent years and when Gibson started putting more care and effort into their QC. If you loved that guitar then don't worry about what others say, it's a bargain and well worth getting back regardless of anything else.

 

[Vengeance]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I want to get a 91' Les Paul Custom (my birth year)

Why I bought a 91,that is my sons birth year and will be his when I kick the bucket.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

Now we're talkin my language!!

90's Gibson Les Pauls are my favorites, especially for the price tag. I own six Gibson Les Pauls. Four of them are Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus models from 1994 to 1999, one of them is a 2000 Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus, and the other is a 2010 Gibson Les Paul Special with P-90's. I have a fondness for them all. All of the ones from the 90's to the 2000 are just amazing instruments. The 2000 model is just as good as the 1990's as well. I totally dig the Special from 2010, but it's kind of a different beast because of the P-90's.

Anyways, whenever I look for Gibson Les Pauls to buy nowadays, I always look for 90's models. I don't know what it is, but they seem to be my favorites. I have nothing bad whatsoever to say about them. It would take alot of something for one to talk me out of any of these guitars. I don't think I'll ever part with them. They really speak to me.

I may look dumb, but I'm not stupid. I wouldn't have bought any of these guitars and kept them if I thought anything was wrong with them.


1995 Gibson Les Paul Classic Premium Plus:

1999 Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus:

1995 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Classic Plus:

1996 Gibson Les Paul Classic Premium Plus:

2000 Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus:

 

[jmh151]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I started to learn minor tweaks on my PRS and other guitars that make a big difference. Aside from the aluminum tailpiece, also use tonepros vintage steel locking studs on the tailpiece. A tonepros bridge helps too, but it's not exactly drop in, you still need a Luther to notch the saddles and ensure the saddles are the proper radius.

An RS Guitarworks electronics upgrade helps alot too, as I can't stand Gibsons inconsistent pots and poor caps

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I'd take it a step further and say that the 90's was the best decade for guitar gear period.

All the big companies had access to great wood, and the craftsmanship and design echoed the 50's and 60's, only they had a lot more knowledge about what they were doing. Amps harkened back to the golden era, and so did effects. But the materials and quality in the 90's were THE END of the USA golden era, with a few exceptions.

Now, everything is being cheapened. And we handed our asses to China. The 90's will be remembered as fondly as the 50's and 60's. That ship has now sailed.

In 10 years, if anyone has any money, collector prices will be crazy for classic guitars, boutique amps, and pedals from the 90's. Buy now. It'd be like buying 50's/60's stuff in the 70's.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I'd take it a step further and say that the 90's was the best decade for guitar gear period.

All the big companies had access to great wood, and the craftsmanship and design echoed the 50's and 60's, only they had a lot more knowledge about what they were doing. Amps harkened back to the golden era, and so did effects. But the materials and quality in the 90's were THE END of the USA golden era, with a few exceptions.

Now, everything is being cheapened. And we handed our asses to China. The 90's will be remembered as fondly as the 50's and 60's. That ship has now sailed.

In 10 years, if anyone has any money, collector prices will be crazy for classic guitars, boutique amps, and pedals from the 90's. Buy now. It'd be like buying 50's/60's stuff in the 70's.

Werd.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I have 11 Pauls right now, and I'd say that other than my Historics, my 1995 and 1996 Classic Plus models are the best of the bunch. The workmanship is excellent. The Historics have a whole different feel going on though, and they are my favorites.

But I love them all.

Bill

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I don't think you can generalize any guitar by decade.

I also think that there are far fewer junk Gibsons that the WWW would have you believe.

I do however believe that 70's Gibsons are still garbage for the most part and are only cool these days because they look old and are considered "vintage" by folks that have no idea what a vintage guitar really is all about.

I think if you want a good LP just look but get ready to be told by a lot of folks on internet forums that you need a LP from a specific year or with a specific serial number range because (those are the good ones!)...

I've played and owned a lot of guitars over the years and a lot of them were Gibsons...everything from pre war acoustics up until stuff made last week...despite what you might read on the internet most of it is pretty solid.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: What do you think of Les Pauls of the 90's?

I'd take it a step further and say that the 90's was the best decade for guitar gear period.

All the big companies had access to great wood, and the craftsmanship and design echoed the 50's and 60's, only they had a lot more knowledge about what they were doing. Amps harkened back to the golden era, and so did effects. But the materials and quality in the 90's were THE END of the USA golden era, with a few exceptions.

Now, everything is being cheapened. And we handed our asses to China. The 90's will be remembered as fondly as the 50's and 60's. That ship has now sailed.

In 10 years, if anyone has any money, collector prices will be crazy for classic guitars, boutique amps, and pedals from the 90's. Buy now. It'd be like buying 50's/60's stuff in the 70's.

I agree...except on the "financial investment" part of it. You will probably make some money by getting '90's gear now and reselling it in 20 or 30 years (not 10 IMO)...but it will be nothing like the return on the investments that those buying '50's and '60's stuff in the '70's made.