Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ 2008 Gibson Les Paul Models

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 9 2008, 12:05 PM

Hey all!

So I've finally decided to go for my dream guitar, a Gibson Les Paul Standard (before the rising dollar affects the prices tongue.gif ).

Going to the shop tomorrow to try some out, but I'm not 100% sure of what to look out for, since I'm not used to trying out new guitars.
Is it all about the feeling and the acoustics of the guitar, or does anyone have a nice check-list when buying a new baby?

Also the shop has both discontinued pre-'08 Les Paul (50's and 60's necks) and the new '08 ones. The improved features on the new models seem really tasty, but ofc I need to try everything out :]
But any idea how the re-sell value will be, compared to the discontinued models? (Not that I'm planning of ever selling, but it's always nice to have some "ensurance").. I mean, '08 ones is the first generation using PLEK and new chambered body, so it's not really easy to predict if this will have any effect on the value..

Think that's it for now, hopefully you can give me some piece of advice before I'm going big-spender, if not I will have to trust the salesmen laugh.gif

Cheers!

Posted by: Gus Nov 9 2008, 12:09 PM

Hey man.

Here is some of my thoughts of 3 hours of joy in eskildsen in Aalborg wink.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=21073


As for your own trying, check the sound of the guitar unplugged. Then you check all pickup choices through each of the channel amps. Play the same songs/passages for each guitar. I know it takes a long time. But you also intend to spend a lot of money. So make sure about your choice! wink.gif

Posted by: ZakkWylde Nov 9 2008, 12:20 PM

I played the 08 models and I decided not to take one of them; I went for a discontinued one. The 08 are quality built but they don't sound like a Les Paul has to sound. You'll be better of with a pre 08 Les Paul IMO

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 9 2008, 12:27 PM

QUOTE (Gus @ Nov 9 2008, 12:09 PM) *
Hey man.

Here is some of my thoughts of 3 hours of joy in eskildsen in Aalborg wink.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=21073


As for your own trying, check the sound of the guitar unplugged. Then you check all pickup choices through each of the channel amps. Play the same songs/passages for each guitar. I know it takes a long time. But you also intend to spend a lot of money. So make sure about your choice! wink.gif


Wow, after reading your thoughts of the guitars I really can't wait for tomorrow smile.gif
And yeah, I will take my time trying them out, probably going to both Eskildsen and Aage.. Not gonna take a gamble with 2300€ hehe..!

Posted by: -Zion- Nov 9 2008, 06:13 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 9 2008, 12:27 PM) *
Wow, after reading your thoughts of the guitars I really can't wait for tomorrow smile.gif
And yeah, I will take my time trying them out, probably going to both Eskildsen and Aage.. Not gonna take a gamble with 2300€ hehe..!


hate to pour salt in your open wounds, but 3-4 months ago i went to both of these stores, and none of them had anything good.. of course, it's a long time ago so they might have gotten some new better LP's.

I bought mine from a guy in the US.. and i can recommend him.. if you choose to go with this guy, you will save a lot of money.. question is whether you want a guitar you haven't played on or not.. I can tell you that i have saved ~10.000 DKK on my LP buying it through this guy, so it's worth considering..

Let me know if you want his email and let me know what happens

Posted by: fkalich Nov 9 2008, 06:28 PM

I would go to the Les Paul site, if you really want to talk about Les Paul's with a bunch of people who know everything there is dealing with there.


http://www.lespaulforum.com/finalframes/frameset.htm

also I don't know about shipping to Europe, but I purchased my 58 Reissue from Saul at Centre City, one of the site sponsors, for $600 less than MusciansFriend a year and a half ago and have been been pleased, I have 8 guitars, three of them Les Pauls, the others Fender, Gibson, and a Parker, and the 58 is far and away my favorite.

Here is the list of sponsors at that site

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24

Before I would jump at the latest and greatest, I would be careful. It might be a flash in the pan, and they just go back to the Classic Coke when the new Coke fails. Could even be part of a long range marketing plan, who knows.

I would really consider one of the reissues. Don't know how I feel about chambered. They had the Les Paul Supreme with that, and I don't think most felt it superior to the solid Les Paul. Production Les Pauls have weight relief, body wood removed. My 58 does not, they just select a lighter piece of Mahogany for those. The sustain on my 58 is significantly greater than my other guitars. And I think the Custom Shop on average does a better job than the production shop.

I do like the Plek thing. My 58 is Plek'ed. You get really low action with that, pretty amazing really. The dressing of the frets is so precise, they are able to get things just right, so the action can be set at the lowest level physically possible for a guitar. I would want any guitar Plek'ed, means a lot more to me than all this other stuff people care about, like scalloping, and high frets. My 58 has pretty low frets and a real fat neck, but still plays easier than my other Les Pauls, and my other guitars.

That being said, the 2008 may be great. I just would not go overboard based on what Gibson says. Coke said the new formula Coke was great also, and it flopped.


QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 9 2008, 06:05 AM) *
Hey all!

So I've finally decided to go for my dream guitar, a Gibson Les Paul Standard (before the rising dollar affects the prices tongue.gif ).

Going to the shop tomorrow to try some out, but I'm not 100% sure of what to look out for, since I'm not used to trying out new guitars.
Is it all about the feeling and the acoustics of the guitar, or does anyone have a nice check-list when buying a new baby?

Also the shop has both discontinued pre-'08 Les Paul (50's and 60's necks) and the new '08 ones. The improved features on the new models seem really tasty, but ofc I need to try everything out :]
But any idea how the re-sell value will be, compared to the discontinued models? (Not that I'm planning of ever selling, but it's always nice to have some "ensurance").. I mean, '08 ones is the first generation using PLEK and new chambered body, so it's not really easy to predict if this will have any effect on the value..

Think that's it for now, hopefully you can give me some piece of advice before I'm going big-spender, if not I will have to trust the salesmen laugh.gif

Cheers!


also, too much emphasis is made on "trying it out". I think you are better advised listening to a lot of people who have experience, and who sound credible. It takes a long time to get to know a guitar, and maybe to adjust to it. My 58 was hard to play at first (I thought). Now I consider it my easiest guitar to play, more so than the Parker, my SG, or Strat. I don't have to hold my thumb at the top of the neck like these guys do, and that makes things easier, I use the weight of the guitar. Also it sounds better, and sustains. I love Les Pauls, if I ever find a guitar that I like better, I will go for it. I play others for a change. But after a Les Paul, it is always second best.

Posted by: Gus Nov 9 2008, 11:24 PM

QUOTE (fkalich @ Nov 9 2008, 06:28 PM) *
That being said, the 2008 may be great. I just would not go overboard based on what Gibson says. Coke said the new formula Coke was great also, and it flopped.

From my reviews that may not be clear, because I loved the 2008, but one thing I do not agree with Gibson is that they say the sound of 08 LP is vintage. It's not. I liked. I loved it, but it's not the same. If you are purist, you'd better go with reissue, or standard with 50s necks, or the faded standard... Maybe custom.

Posted by: fkalich Nov 9 2008, 11:45 PM

QUOTE (Gus @ Nov 9 2008, 05:24 PM) *
From my reviews that may not be clear, because I loved the 2008, but one thing I do not agree with Gibson is that they say the sound of 08 LP is vintage. It's not. I liked. I loved it, but it's not the same. If you are purist, you'd better go with reissue, or standard with 50s necks, or the faded standard... Maybe custom.


People always misunderstand me. I refuse to use smiley faces, so it is the risk I run.

There are some nice features of the 08, indisputable nice. The Plek'ing. The long tenon. That is huge. The effect on sound and sustain of the long tenon is not trivial. The reissues have had this, now they are bringing it back to the main line. This is how they made guitars decades ago.

I would like one of the 08's. They also have an 08 traditional. But that neck is not Plek'ed. The body is weight relieved, rather than chambered, but I have heard the long tenon is there (though I would get that verified before I bought, would call Gibson). If it were me, I would get a reissue or the new style 08.. Even if you want a traditional LP, well if you like LP's, it is not like you will be satisfied with just one. Or just get a used Studio for the time being if I had no Les Paul, and think about it for awhile. You can always sell the Studio. I have two of those, but I don't want to sell them. Both are different from my 08.

The reissues may have been priced out, they would be for me now. I got my R8 for $2,500 with shipping less than 2 years ago. Now they are going for $3,700 at MF, for the least expensive reissue.

edit: again, if you are Les Paul shopping and not real experienced, go to lespaulforum.com. That is not a slight to anyone reviewing here. However there are guy there with over a 100 of these guitars, who have been playing them for decades, you really cannot find that level of expertise on the instrument anywhere I know of. I used that forum when I decided to get my reissue rather than a production standard or a custom, and am glad I did.

There is a similar site for fenders, the link to that is on the lespaulforum site.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Nov 10 2008, 06:49 AM

I would check out the Les Paul Standard Faded - I am not sure if they have a 2008 model, but I bought a 2006 model(new). Many people on the LesPaul Forums say they sound better than the normal Glossy finish Standards - Something about the thin finish lets the guitar resonate better. And onetop of it, many(including me) polished the tops so they are somewhat gloss now(But not high), and they cost about $600 less without the high gloss finish. Check them out on lespaulforums and harmony central.

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 11 2008, 08:12 AM

So I went there yesterday and tried out a few Les Pauls..
Sadly they didn't have any discontinued 50's necks left, and the 60's just doesn't do it for me. BUT the new '08 standards are awesome, I really really like the neck and the bit lighter body.
Only thing I'm worried about is if the chambered body will still sound good when it's aging.
And instead of the good ol' soldering everything is connecting through this printed circuit board; How is that compared to the old way? Any other guitars (or brands) using this tech? Will it last longer before needing maintenance, and will problems with it be easy to fix?

Posted by: fkalich Nov 11 2008, 09:34 AM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 11 2008, 02:12 AM) *
So I went there yesterday and tried out a few Les Pauls..
Sadly they didn't have any discontinued 50's necks left, and the 60's just doesn't do it for me. BUT the new '08 standards are awesome, I really really like the neck and the bit lighter body.
Only thing I'm worried about is if the chambered body will still sound good when it's aging.
And instead of the good ol' soldering everything is connecting through this printed circuit board; How is that compared to the old way? Any other guitars (or brands) using this tech? Will it last longer before needing maintenance, and will problems with it be easy to fix?


The Chambered body is fine. You know, production models have always been chambered in a round about way, they had routing done to weight relieve the Mahogany body. At least for many years. Some of those very old Les Pauls weighed a ton, I think even as much as 11lbs. The Chambering probably cuts some more out, but does it in an engineered fashion, it is designed for a certain tone. No, there will be no problem with maintenance. The chambering is in the Mahogany, right? Not the top. At least I assume that it is. Anyway, those are thick tops. You see some cheaper guitars with a fancy flame, but those guys don't realize the top is just a veneer really. Cheaper to select a flame in the wood when you use a piece of wood for three guitars, when Gibson would use the piece for just one.

Now my Custom shop R8 has no weight relief cutting, they select light mahogany, it weighs a little over 9 lbs even without weight relief because of that. Some weigh a little less. 9 to 9.5 is about right I think, for that kind of guitar.

I would love to have one of these 08. The Pleking is really great. You have the other features. Really, I expect I will when I can afford it. Will I like it better than my R8? Maybe not, but who knows. I am sure I would like one. You can pick up an older standard later used.

Get one, and be happy. It will be a great Les Paul. Don't worry about the electrical stuff. Yes, you probably will want someone else to work on the circuit board if something goes wrong. But there is not that much to go wrong, probably nothing will. But zillions of people work on Gibsons. My parker has all kinds of stuff in it, unfortunately it is not the case that zillions of people work on them, I will probably have to send it back to them if something goes amiss.

Again, I would not hesitate to get one, if I could afford it right now. And I have 3 Les Pauls.


edit:
Here is a thread that shows a picture of what the chambered body looks like. Again, they chamber the Mahogany body, not the Maple top, don't worry about structure.

http://www.guitarworld.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&p=637059



You might think "I don't know if I want that". But look where that one guy in this thread xray'ed his older les paul, and it shows the 9 weight relief holes in it. I don't know why that is preferable.



Again, I would get a custom shop reissue and avoid this, for one guitar. Except those are $3,700 at MF for the 57 and 58, more for other reissues. I don't know, I just think this new Les Paul is a good guitar. Although I am happy with what I have.

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 11 2008, 11:04 AM

Heh thanks for your answers wink.gif
Yeah I don't have a problem with it being chambered, actually I don't understand what all the fuzz at lespaulforum is about. Chambered can sound really great!
But I guess real LP fanatics want a guitar as close to the original. And chambered does sound different from that.
I've been looking for a mordern LP for some time now, and the '08 seems to do the trick for me!

Only problem now is the shops didn't have any desert burst finish, and I didn't like the ones they did have. They're trying to get me one, so all I have to do is cross my fingers while I wait :s
Their next real shipment will be in february '09, and I don't want to wait that long..

Posted by: fkalich Nov 11 2008, 11:30 AM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 11 2008, 05:04 AM) *
Heh thanks for your answers wink.gif
Yeah I don't have a problem with it being chambered, actually I don't understand what all the fuzz at lespaulforum is about. Chambered can sound really great!
But I guess real LP fanatics want a guitar as close to the original. And chambered does sound different from that.
I've been looking for a mordern LP for some time now, and the '08 seems to do the trick for me!

Only problem now is the shops didn't have any desert burst finish, and I didn't like the ones they did have. They're trying to get me one, so all I have to do is cross my fingers while I wait :s
Their next real shipment will be in february '09, and I don't want to wait that long..


I bet these sustain better than the previous models, or just as well, because of the long neck tenon. That is major. You will love Plek'ing. Seriously. Both of those items are major. l like the strap locks coming with it. And I am sure the neck is nice. And to me the chamber is more aesthetically pleasing that weight relief holes. If I had no Les Paul, I would get this one. I would still want my reissue though, when I could afford it.

Did you check on the forum sponsors at the lespaulforum? I don't know which would ship. But I bet they can sell it to you at a price the is competitive, even with the shipping, if not a better price. If they are willing to ship to you. They are lower than MF. I should say MusiciansFriend, MF could be misinterpreted. They also will let you look at if first, send you pictures. At least Saul at CentreCity did for me. He told me straight out which was the best looking one of the model I was interested in. I think Gibson is pretty consistent regarding the sound characteristics.

Posted by: -Zion- Nov 11 2008, 11:57 AM

just one advice from me.. do not go on comprimise.. get the guitar you want.. get it with the correct top and correct finish..

When i was looking for my LP i was looking in those two stores you mentioned, as well as a couple of more in denmark, and three stores here in sweden.. A couple of stores only had two out of three finishes, but most only had one of them..

I knew from the start that i would not buy any guitar before i had seen the last finish.. but no store in denmark/sweden had that particular finish.. and you cant really trust pictures on websites to see the actual finish..

I was lucky enough that i had a trip to the USA where i was planning on buying the guitar there.. However, none of the GuitarCenters overthere had it either.. i found the last finish in Los Angeles, and at that moment i was really happy that i did not settle by getting one of the other finishes.. I didn't get it though since Gibson just raised the price by 20%, so it was waay too expensive.. Lucky for me, i had come in contact with a guitar store owner before my trip, and i had no trouble buying it through him..

I had now seen the last finish.. and this was the one i was going for.. furthermore i had played 5 other LP's of the same type, which meant that the one i would buy from him probably wouldn't be too much different.. He also had it for the old price before Gibson raised the price, so it was a win-win situation for me..

Like mentioned in an earlier post, i saved ~10.000 DKK buying it from this guy, and i can highly recommend him..
My guitar is a: 2008 Custom Gibson Les Paul 1958 V.O.S. and it has that big fat neck (which i LOVE) and it's plekked as well..

Just dont settle with anything less than what you want..

edit: it took me ~6 months from first looking for a guitar, till i found and bought it.. this was how long it took for me to locate the last finish..

edit 2:
this is the guitar i ended up buying --> http://www.aage.dk/shoppingsystem/vare.asp?varenr=35951
I ended up paying ~13.500 DKK for it..

Posted by: Gus Nov 11 2008, 09:03 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 11 2008, 11:04 AM) *
Heh thanks for your answers wink.gif
Yeah I don't have a problem with it being chambered, actually I don't understand what all the fuzz at lespaulforum is about. Chambered can sound really great!
But I guess real LP fanatics want a guitar as close to the original. And chambered does sound different from that.
I've been looking for a mordern LP for some time now, and the '08 seems to do the trick for me!

Only problem now is the shops didn't have any desert burst finish, and I didn't like the ones they did have. They're trying to get me one, so all I have to do is cross my fingers while I wait :s
Their next real shipment will be in february '09, and I don't want to wait that long..

Hope they can get you one. If you can get it somewhere else its also fine, but I agree with the other guys that you should be absolutely satisfied with a guitar this price. And this includes the looking.

This is a lifetime guitar, so waiting until February is not the end of the world. In the end you will be more satisfied than getting a bad finishing now.

I am planning to gather money to buy this guitar next year, also in desert burst cool.gif

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 12 2008, 12:30 AM

Check out every note, every fret, they should all sound the same, no extra noise, or unusual ringing. CHeck the feel, and tryout several guitars, don't rush with your decision. And good lucK smile.gif

Posted by: fkalich Nov 12 2008, 12:51 AM

QUOTE (-Zion- @ Nov 11 2008, 05:57 AM) *
this is the guitar i ended up buying --> http://www.aage.dk/shoppingsystem/vare.asp?varenr=35951
I ended up paying ~13.500 DKK for it..


I have the same, only Cherry rather than Tobacco. My favorite guitar, by far. I was always happy with the neck. At first I thought maybe the frets were too low, but now that does not matter. I might even like it better that way.

Prices really went up on these though, $600 at MF I think. I would go with the new one, maybe get a reissue later, if I had no Les Paul. I want a new one. Don't think I can afford it though, at this time.

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 12 2008, 03:43 PM

They can get it by the middle of december.. But they were not sure if I can get it for the current price or if I'll have to pay the upcoming higher one.

So now I'm down to buying from them or going to thomann.de. Both stores have the same supplier, but I wont have the chance to check the guitar before buying if I choose thomann.de... On the other I will save at least 250$.

Anyone have any experience with those internetsites? They seem OK, and as long as I know Gibson products are usually very similar when it comes to the same model, I guess it's not much of a gamble..

Posted by: -Zion- Nov 12 2008, 03:54 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ Nov 12 2008, 03:43 PM) *
They can get it by the middle of december.. But they were not sure if I can get it for the current price or if I'll have to pay the upcoming higher one.

So now I'm down to buying from them or going to thomann.de. Both stores have the same supplier, but I wont have the chance to check the guitar before buying if I choose thomann.de... On the other I will save at least 250$.

Anyone have any experience with those internetsites? They seem OK, and as long as I know Gibson products are usually very similar when it comes to the same model, I guess it's not much of a gamble..


I have bought from thomann.de before and i have had no problems with them or anything i bought from them.. haven't bought bigger things like guitars but i guess it would be the same

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Nov 14 2008, 01:56 PM

Made the order from Thomann just now.. My local store would charge 300$ more than their current price, so instead of paying 19000,- DKK, I figured I should order from Thomann for 16000,- DKK instead..

Hopefully I'll like it, once I receive it mid-december :]

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)