First Gibson Les Paul Purchase, help deciding!

[waltchwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

 

I have wanted a Gibson Les Paul since forever and finally I can afford it and enjoy it. I started with a cheap Strat copy HSS and then moved to a Mahogany Ibanez HH. I went to the best local guitar shop and tried a LP Classic 2017 (2190CHF) just out of curiosity, and made me remember that I wanted a Les Paul, it sounded and played great, also looked fantastic (all black, cream plastics and zebra pickups). I went to another shop and tried a LP Standard 2016 (2498CHF) and a LP Tribute 2017 (890CHF). I liked them all and made me really want to buy a Gibson, but without breaking the bank, for me that would be going over the one-grand mark; specially because I couldn’t justify to myself spending 2-6k on a guitar. The shorter scale (24.75”), felt great in comparison to my guitars (25.5”)

 

I looked further and found two contenders that meet my price range:

 

• Les Paul 50’s Tribute 2016 (900CHF)
  

Shop Link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/...ntage-sunburst

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elect...x#LPST5HTSVCH3

 

• Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 (880CHF)
  

Shop link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/...tin-fire-burst

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elect...aspx#LPSTSFCH1

 

• Les Paul Tribute 2017 T (890CHF)
  

Shop link https://promusig.ch/produkt/19876-gibson-les-paul-tribute-t-2017-honey-burst.aspx

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/USA/Les-Paul-Tribute.aspx

 

• Les Paul Classic 2017 T (2190CHF)
  

Shop link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/gibson-les-paul-classic-2017-ebony-limited-run

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/USA/Les-Paul-Classic.aspx

 

 

All three cost almost the same and I like the looks on all, the Classic is there as my "ideal goal". I would prefer cream plastics and open humbuckers (Tribute) but the looks on the Studio are starting to grow on me; besides the plastics can be easily changed for little money. I’ve read mixed reviews about the pickups too, some saying that the Burstbucker Pros (Studio) sound fantastic and really capture the original Les Paul “tone”, but I was under the impression that the 490R/498T (tribute) would be the ideal combination of AlNiCo 2 on the neck for sustain and AlNiCo 5 on the bridge for harmonics. I have also read that the 490R/498T (tribute) get too muddy with the volume on 10. I have looked both up on youtube and the Gibson site and could not tell much difference.

 

This is my first expensive guitar purchase so I want to be sure of what I’m getting. I could order the Studio online for “only” 749CHF (http://shop.musix.ch/de/Gibson-Les-P...ire-Burst.html). ). I went to the shop and both had been sold, but they told me to come backin 1-2 weeks, as they will receive new stock. I will use it mainly for home practice and fun, played through a Marshal G15RCD, which is enough for my home or headphones when I do not want to disturb the others.

 

Do you own both? Have you played both? Any comments on the pickups or other aspects of the guitar?

 

Cheers,

Walter

 

P.S. For the sake of simplicity, let us say that 1CHF is equal to 1USD.

P.S.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

The thing about Les Pauls, and indeed many guitars, is that they vary significantly, so a Studio you may play in a shop on Basel, will play completely differently from on you would order online from Thomann.

 

If you have found two, ie the Studio and Tribute that you like in a shop; that you can play, then I would confine your choice to those two.

 

You could order on line and get lucky, but you could also not get lucky

[Phil O'Keefe]

If I was going to go out and get a new Les Paul and only had a grand, this is the one I'd probably get:

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPTR17FHNH

 

 

The 2017 Les Paul Tribute T.

 

It's also available in goldtop...

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPTR17SGNH

 

 

It's not all that dissimilar to the 50s Tribute you mentioned, but this one has a SlimTaper neck as opposed to the 50s Rounded neck profile, and I prefer the thinner, faster neck shape due to the size of my hands and fingers - I just find it's easier for me to play. YMMV.

 

[waltchwarzkopf]

If I was going to go out and get a new Les Paul and only had a grand, this is the one I'd probably get:

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPTR17FHNH

 

 

The 2017 Les Paul Tribute T.

 

It's also available in goldtop...

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPTR17SGNH

 

 

It's not all that dissimilar to the 50s Tribute you mentioned, but this one has a SlimTaper neck as opposed to the 50s Rounded neck profile, and I prefer the thinner, faster neck shape due to the size of my hands and fingers - I just find it's easier for me to play. YMMV.

 

 

I'm also considering the Tribute, looks and sounds nice. I palyed the the honey burst in another shop and could not tell much difference from the Standard. The Classic that I frist played still looked and sound best of them all, but at twice the price...

[Phil O'Keefe]

Unfortunately there really isn't a cheaper version of the Classic in the lineup - the really pretty models (with binding, gloss finishes, etc.) are almost always going to cost more.

[Bucksstudent]

I love my Epiphones. If I were going to put in the money for a Gibson, not only would I want either a Standard or Classic, I'd only buy one in a shop rather than online. An investment like that warrants not only attention to quality, but also resale value.

[badpenguin]

As much as I think the only true Paul is a gold top, (Or a Custom) I agree totally with our esteemed Rat. While the models may be the same, each guitar is an individual. The little differences in temp, and humidity, the way it's been stored and played, all play a part. Grab the one that feels right in your hands at the store you visited. If you order on line, you just may get one that isn't quite right.

[pekelnik]

Your quoted prices are quite high (gitarren total?). I got my 2017 Tribute T for 777CHF in musix in Luzern, which I thought was more expensive than it would have been have I ordered it from thomann. The have a plaintop classic HB in Vaud: http://shop.musix.ch/en/Gibson-LP-Classic-Plaintop-HB-honey-burst.html, or you can get a 2017 classic T for much less than that from musik-produktiv or thomann: https://www.musik-produktiv.ch/gibson-les-paul-classic-t-2017-hs.html

[Mark Wein]

Hi guys,

 

I have wanted a Gibson Les Paul since forever and finally I can afford it and enjoy it. I started with a cheap Strat copy HSS and then moved to a Mahogany Ibanez HH. I went to the best local guitar shop and tried a LP Classic 2017 (2190CHF) just out of curiosity, and made me remember that I wanted a Les Paul, it sounded and played great, also looked fantastic (all black, cream plastics and zebra pickups). I went to another shop and tried a LP Standard 2016 (2498CHF) and a LP Tribute 2017 (890CHF). I liked them all and made me really want to buy a Gibson, but without breaking the bank, for me that would be going over the one-grand mark; specially because I couldn’t justify to myself spending 2-6k on a guitar. The shorter scale (24.75”), felt great in comparison to my guitars (25.5”)

 

I looked further and found two contenders that meet my price range:

• Les Paul 50’s Tribute 2016 (900CHF)
  

Shop Link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/...ntage-sunburst

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elect...x#LPST5HTSVCH3

• Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 (880CHF)
  

Shop link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/...tin-fire-burst

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elect...aspx#LPSTSFCH1

• Les Paul Tribute 2017 T (890CHF)
  

Shop link https://promusig.ch/produkt/19876-gibson-les-paul-tribute-t-2017-honey-burst.aspx

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/USA/Les-Paul-Tribute.aspx

• Les Paul Classic 2017 T (2190CHF)
  

Shop link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/gibson-les-paul-classic-2017-ebony-limited-run

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/USA/Les-Paul-Classic.aspx

 

 

All three cost almost the same and I like the looks on all, the Classic is there as my "ideal goal". I would prefer cream plastics and open humbuckers (Tribute) but the looks on the Studio are starting to grow on me; besides the plastics can be easily changed for little money. I’ve read mixed reviews about the pickups too, some saying that the Burstbucker Pros (Studio) sound fantastic and really capture the original Les Paul “tone”, but I was under the impression that the 490R/498T (tribute) would be the ideal combination of AlNiCo 2 on the neck for sustain and AlNiCo 5 on the bridge for harmonics. I have also read that the 490R/498T (tribute) get too muddy with the volume on 10. I have looked both up on youtube and the Gibson site and could not tell much difference.

 

This is my first expensive guitar purchase so I want to be sure of what I’m getting. I could order the Studio online for “only” 749CHF (http://shop.musix.ch/de/Gibson-Les-P...ire-Burst.html). ). I went to the shop and both had been sold, but they told me to come backin 1-2 weeks, as they will receive new stock. I will use it mainly for home practice and fun, played through a Marshal G15RCD, which is enough for my home or headphones when I do not want to disturb the others.

 

Do you own both? Have you played both? Any comments on the pickups or other aspects of the guitar?

 

Cheers,

Walter

 

P.S. For the sake of simplicity, let us say that 1CHF is equal to 1USD.

P.S.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

I think the best advice I can give about buying any guitar but Gibson in particular is to just go play a ton of them in your price range. I own two Les Pauls that I love dearly but if you get your hands on a bunch of them you'll start feeling differences and chances are that one of them will speak to you. I think thats way more important than opinions online. I have biases (I hate the 490r pickups and 50's necks for instance) that may run counter to your preferences. Pickups and other things can be changed or modified but to me getting a good sounding hunk of wood that feels the way you like according to your personal preferences is the most important thing. The rest you can fix.

[jtr654]

Buy used. Being patience is the Key wait till you find a good deal and have cash to buy it.

[Willyguitar]

I agree with Ratae that each guitar is very different. My main problem with typical Les Pauls is that they are often quite dead and plank-like. They are on average less lively than either SGs or Fenders because as the body mass and construction... so I have always preferred either a 335 (which are pricey) or even better, a Junior, which has the balls (and more) of a Les Paul Standard, or a Les Paul with P90s, that makes up for the relative dark/deadness with brighter, sparkier pickups. In other words, don't overlook the P90 Les Pauls. They are the best of the bunch in my opinion

[Mark Wein]

I go back and forth on used...I think that the majority of my instruments have been bought used but I'm also the kind of guy who likes to play a lot of instruments before committing and the used ones usually feel the best to me since they're a little more broken in. Price isn't really a concern as much as if it does what I want it too and I guess the used ones are usually closer to that ideal for me.

[Axisplayer]

I just traded my Am Std Tele that I had trouble bonding with, for a goldtop 2017 Tribute T wit HSC. My last Les Paul was a 1974 Deluxe I bought new and regretfully sold not long after. I have 40 years as a Fender player almost exclusively. I always wanted a LP goldtop, but not going to pay $2k+ for one. I must say this Tribute plays great. I like the 50s neck. My Gibson Nighthawk Studio (got it 3 months ago) has Burstbuckers and they sound great. The 490s are very different, but not bad. Get the Tribute and call it done. If it isn't what you want, you can make changes down the road. It is a LP, not a copy, so worth fixing to your liking.

[Freeman Keller]

Buy used if you know how to evaluate problems and what they will cost to fix. The owner is selling the guitar for some reason - it might be that she didn't bond with it, it might be that its got issues.

 

I'm not afraid to say to a seller "this guitar needs a fret job, that will be $150" or this needs a neck rest ($300) and then star negotiating. They usually know, if they don't then the guitar isn't destined to be mine.

 

New of course always includes the warranty (and if its a good store) a setup to your requirements. There is a value to all this stuff, you just have to decide what it is.

[waltchwarzkopf]

Your quoted prices are quite high (gitarren total?). I got my 2017 Tribute T for 777CHF in musix in Luzern' date=' which I thought was more expensive than it would have been have I ordered it from thomann. The have a plaintop classic HB in Vaud: http://shop.musix.ch/en/Gibson-LP-Classic-Plaintop-HB-honey-burst.html, or you can get a 2017 classic T for much less than that from musik-produktiv or thomann: https://www.musik-produktiv.ch/gibson-les-paul-classic-t-2017-hs.html[/quote']

 

I was thinking about trying locally and buying online, but as many members have pointed that not all guitars are the same (talking about the exactly the same brand and model) I don't know if it's worth the risk ony buying online, although I'll be saving 100-500CHF which is a lot. I've only found a couple of stores with Gibsons to try, and only one with Epiphone.

[pekelnik]

 

I was thinking about trying locally and buying online, but as many members have pointed that not all guitars are the same (talking about the exactly the same brand and model) I don't know if it's worth the risk ony buying online, although I'll be saving 100-500CHF which is a lot. I've only found a couple of stores with Gibsons to try, and only one with Epiphone.

 

They had a few in the Luzern musix store (It's literally meters off the luzern highway exit) and my experience with recent LPs is that they are very consistent, probably due to being set up by the same machine.

 

As you, I couldn't tell the difference in playability, and the electronics would eventually be replaced anyways. The tribute was by far the lightest and most resonant of the bunch and I wanted a project guitar anyways. (I have a thread about the WIP on it)

[Mark Wein]

I should add that I don't think I've ever bought used form a private party unless it was a friend or one of my students. Usually I find something used (like my 1971 Guild x500) after months of trying new guitars in stores and then stumbling across something that suits me better.

[GAS Man]

[*]Les Paul Classic 2017 T (2190CHF)

Shop link http://gitarrentotal.ch/de/products/gibson-les-paul-classic-2017-ebony-limited-run

Gibson link http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/USA/Les-Paul-Classic.aspx

 

 

All three cost almost the same and I like the looks on all, the Classic is there as my "ideal goal". I would prefer cream plastics and open humbuckers (Tribute) but the looks on the Studio are starting to grow on me; besides the plastics can be easily changed for little money. I’ve read mixed reviews about the pickups too, some saying that the Burstbucker Pros (Studio) sound fantastic and really capture the original Les Paul “tone”, but I was under the impression that the 490R/498T (tribute) would be the ideal combination of AlNiCo 2 on the neck for sustain and AlNiCo 5 on the bridge for harmonics. I have also read that the 490R/498T (tribute) get too muddy with the volume on 10. I have looked both up on youtube and the Gibson site and could not tell much difference.

 

This is my first expensive guitar purchase so I want to be sure of what I’m getting. I could order the Studio online for “only” 749CHF (http://shop.musix.ch/de/Gibson-Les-P...ire-Burst.html). ). I went to the shop and both had been sold, but they told me to come backin 1-2 weeks, as they will receive new stock. I will use it mainly for home practice and fun, played through a Marshal G15RCD, which is enough for my home or headphones when I do not want to disturb the others.

 

Do you own both? Have you played both? Any comments on the pickups or other aspects of the guitar?

 

Cheers,

Walter

 

From a quick look, I'd say the Classic 2017T. I prefer a more natural lightweight body design than "weight relieved" so it does tend to pay off to spend as much as you can on a Les Paul (assuming it has the electronics you want) since the quality does indeed go up with the price of admission. I own several Les Paul models (3 Epiphones including an Elite and a Slash Alnico II Pro model; and 17 Gibson models) so I've heard a lot of tonal variation within the "Les Paul" design. A couple of my Epiphones, like the Slash model and the Epiphone Elite are actually very good tonal representations of a Les Paul. Some of the lighter Gibson models stray quite a bit from the more classic tone of a Les Paul but are still good instruments in their own right.

 

For pickups, my favorite are the Burstbucker 1 & 2 combination. Secondly, the '57 Classics. I find that with these more vintage voiced pickups I get a sweeter sound with a more versatile guitar. If you're more of a harder rock player, then a 490/498 combo will be just fine. or the 496/500T if you want even higher output. But I prefer the more vintage voiced pickups knowing that I can add all the gain I need on the amp or with an overdrive pedal.

 

I do also like the BB Pros, but I believe they sound better on the more solidly built bodies, like a traditional Standard model. They can be a bit too vibey and not as deep sounding as they should be on the more light bodied guitars. So it's about finding that balance of internal resonance and the electronics.

 

Happy hunt!

 

 

[Freeman Keller]

 

I was thinking about trying locally and buying online,......

 

That shouldn't offend me but it does.

 

[Phil O'Keefe]

As much as I think the only true Paul is a gold top' date=' (Or a Custom) I agree totally with our esteemed Rat. While the models may be the same, each guitar is an individual. The little differences in temp, and humidity, the way it's been stored and played, all play a part. Grab the one that feels right in your hands at the store you visited. If you order on line, you just may get one that isn't quite right.[/quote']

 

Soooo true! There are always subtle variations from guitar to guitar, and because of that I always prefer to try a guitar before I commit to buying it whenever possible...

 

OTOH... one of my favorite guitars is one I bought sight-unseen, and totally lucked out on: My 2001 Epiphone Casino.

 

[Mikeo]

 

Soooo true! There are always subtle variations from guitar to guitar, and because of that I always prefer to try a guitar before I commit to buying it whenever possible...

 

OTOH... one of my favorite guitars is one I bought sight-unseen, and totally lucked out on: My 2001 Epiphone Casino.

 

 

Sent one back, after and online purchase. I didn't re-order. I figure I might have to step up to the Elitist model if I wanted a great one.

 

Maybe a ES 330.

 

I love to be able to try out guitars, before a purchase. However they make so many (LP's in this case). No walk in dealer could possibly care it all.

 

I think the last guitar I purchased at a walk in deal was either my PRS Custom 22 or a Martin 00016 acoustic.

 

 

Sometime you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

 

On that note, when I purchased a LP Standard 35 years ago. I had to order it from a local dealer. I wanted a goldtop. Back then they pretty much had the Custom, the Standard, and the Deluxe to choose from, plus a few new Les Paul guitars like The Paul.

 

 

 

 

 

[pekelnik]

 

That shouldn't offend me but it does.

 

Perhaps you lack the experience of being kicked out of a music store in Zurich by the owner 5 minutes before closing time when you are trying to try and buy a $1000 instrument that costs $750 online...

The music store still exists, I don't get it.

[Phil O'Keefe]

 

 

Sent one back, after and online purchase. I didn't re-order. I figure I might have to step up to the Elitist model if I wanted a great one.

 

Mine's pretty special. I bought it new from a authorized dealer on Ebay. I was pretty nervous about it, but it turned out to be a spectacular guitar. Everyone who plays it seems to like it, but most importantly (since it's my guitar), *I* do! The neck is perfectly shaped for my hands and preferences. And as far as the rest, it's a Peerless-built guitar, and the build quality of it is a fine example of why that particular factory has such a good reputation.

 

Maybe a ES 330.

 

I've always liked them, but with the Casino I have, I really couldn't justify it.

 

I love to be able to try out guitars, before a purchase. However they make so many (LP's in this case). No walk in dealer could possibly care it all.

 

That is very true - even the largest dealers can't stock every model and color available for every brand out there, so if there's something specific you're after, you may have to take a chance on ordering it from someplace. The trick there is to make sure it's a authorized dealer, and make double-sure they have an excellent return policy if you're not happy.

 

 

On that note, when I purchased a LP Standard 35 years ago. I had to order it from a local dealer. I wanted a goldtop. Back then they pretty much had the Custom, the Standard, and the Deluxe to choose from, plus a few new Les Paul guitars like The Paul.

 

There were other Paul-ish guitars in the 70s Gibson line-up (S-1, Marauder), but I try to forget about those... But you're right - there's a lot more variety in terms of models today. And generally I think that's a good thing - I think that it's more likely you'll find something that really appeals to you as an individual that way; that meets your needs and fits your preferences - and budget.

 

I've owned a couple of those late 70's / early '80s Pauls - I bought the first one from a music store over in Whittier that I worked at when I was a teenager. Apparently it's still out there - a buddy of mine recognized it based on a sticker I had on it, and said he saw it at a shop in Orange a couple of years back. He went back a few days later and they had already sold it... it was a very decent guitar, but not as nice or special as the '73 Deluxe goldtop he was playing way back then. Even though it was a 70's Norlin-era Gibby, I recall that one as being a really nice guitar.

[GAS Man]

I understood Freeman's comment, and largely agreed with the sentiment, on the other hand, I've also had the same type of thing happen to me. There was a store in my town that used to close at 5:30, so I was lucky to get there after work 15 minutes before closing. Even though I had bought several instruments from them, the owner usually treated his customers like they were a distraction from whatever else he wanted to be doing. It used to blow my mind that he had a job selling big kid toys and instead of rolling out the red carpet for good customers you were largely ignored and they just seemed to want to go home. Sometimes it's just hard to give some folks money. They finally did go out of business with now just one ma n pa guitar store left in town. I sympathize with the brick n mortar store owners, but they can prevail over the online stores if they simply provide a little value added, such as customer appreciation.

[pekelnik]

Same here. I understand too and was for instance happy I ended up buying mine locally. Quite often though, that is just not an option, you cannot find what you want, or it is literally twice as expensive.