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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus

Posted by: fkalich May 5 2010, 05:06 AM

Some could argue that I did not need a 4th Les Paul, but I am pleased with this. I think it is as good, or just about, as what you get from the Custom Shop (and I have an R8 that I love). It is like a late 80's or early 90's Les Paul, except the neck is Plek'ed. The pickups are 57's If you are thinking about a Les Paul, I would really look at this. GuitarCenter has one a little cheaper called a pro, but I passed on that for various reasons; I prefer a 50's he-man neck, not a slim taper girlie man neck. Also I don't see the point in splitting coils on a LP, or locking tuners. The pro also has only a grade A top. Generally if you want something to hold value, either get something traditional, or hope that you are lucky (unlikely).

They sale them for $2,300, but Gibson had reduced the price from $2,450. They do that with some models for a time. And I got 15% off on a sale at MusiciansFriend on large items last week, bringing it down to $1,950. So I figure I had little to lose, I could sale it on Ebay for near what I paid for it, now or 2 years from now. You don't always get a top this nice. Gibson can't do that as easily as those guitars who have just a thin veneer top, it costs a lot more to come up with nice flames when you have a thick maple top as a Gibson Standard does.

And I am not sure one will be able to get a Guitar built like this for much longer, at this price, from Gibson USA. Pretty soon in the future, you probably will have to go to the custom shop for a guitar built like this, and pay more.

If you look on MusiciansFriend, a lot of reviews, and 5 Star average, people really like this guitar, I sure do. I am sure they will have a 15% off sale on large items again, but maybe not for awhile.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Traditional-Plus-Electric-Guitar?sku=519321&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=197338658




Posted by: NoSkill May 5 2010, 05:48 AM

It's not a question of need, but want. It's a beautiful guitar.

Posted by: fkalich May 5 2010, 06:16 AM

QUOTE (NoSkill @ May 4 2010, 11:48 PM) *
It's not a question of need, but want. It's a beautiful guitar.


you have a lower number than me. Ever look on the forum archives, the very early posts, people that came in the year before us. Most of them are gone, but you can read some good advice, it was a different atmosphere, kind of interesting.

Posted by: Fran May 5 2010, 04:20 PM

That's a beautiful LP indeed. As you say the tops in the same range can be pretty different from each other.

Is the "plus" added because of the plekked frets? I know standard 2008 have plekked necks but didn't know that about traditionals. Besides, this one is not chambered/weight relieved is it?

Nice buy!

Posted by: tonymiro May 5 2010, 04:29 PM

Gratz - lovely flame top smile.gif .

Posted by: Daniel Realpe May 5 2010, 05:46 PM

congrats!! a dream guitar

Posted by: Skewlbuzz May 5 2010, 05:59 PM

QUOTE (Fran @ May 5 2010, 05:20 PM) *
That's a beautiful LP indeed. As you say the tops in the same range can be pretty different from each other.

Is the "plus" added because of the plekked frets? I know standard 2008 have plekked necks but didn't know that about traditionals. Besides, this one is not chambered/weight relieved is it?

Nice buy!

Both new standards and traditionals are PLEK'd.

Trads are weight relieved.

The "Plus" is for higher grade top = better flames. (unless I'm completely lost)

smile.gif

Posted by: Fran May 5 2010, 08:55 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ May 5 2010, 06:59 PM) *
Both new standards and traditionals are PLEK'd.

Trads are weight relieved.

The "Plus" is for higher grade top = better flames. (unless I'm completely lost)

smile.gif


Thanks mate smile.gif

Posted by: fkalich May 5 2010, 09:05 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ May 5 2010, 11:59 AM) *
Both new standards and traditionals are PLEK'd.
The "Plus" is for higher grade top = better flames. (unless I'm completely lost)
smile.gif


Correct. Traditional LP's have "Swiss Cheese" weight relief. Years ago they did not do that, thus the early 50's 11lb Les Paul and all the dislocated back discs. They started drilling holes to lower the weight of the mahogany backs, and eventually came up with a standard 9 hole pattern.



If you get a custom shop guitar, they don't do this, at least on the reissues. They hand select lightweight mahogany. It is increasingly difficult to get the light weight high quality mahogany. Some cheaper guitars use what they call "mahogany" and do not weight relieve, but that is not the same wood that Gibson uses, it is of lower quality.

Gibson came up with Chambering, I think because it seems aesthetically more pleasing to those who do not fully appreciate the beauty in Swiss Cheese.



There are two camps here, the traditional and the chambered camps. In the traditional camp we think of Chambering much the same as we think of those Black Velvet paintings of Elvis that you can buy at gas stations in rural west Texas".



Myself, I don't want a 7.5 lb Les Paul. I think 9 to 9.5 pounds is ideal. I also like a guitar that balances nicely on my knee. I can't imagine that with the 50's neck I prefer, a Chambered LP can possibly be balanced.

Posted by: Fran May 5 2010, 09:52 PM

Nice post & pics Fkalich.

So I guess LPs these days weight 9 lb if they are traditional (swiss cheese) or Custom (high quality light wood), or 7 lb (Standard 2008 chambered).

Posted by: fkalich May 5 2010, 10:59 PM

Exactly.

Some with studios say they weigh less than a standard, perhaps the maple top is thinner on those. I am not sure on that. I have a 8 year old studio with a thick top, but it is a premium plus studio, with a great flame, so maybe they game those a nice standard top.

They also have the Mahogany LP, that is my 4th LP. Those are lighter, and they sound different, more woody. But the burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups are nice, you get good pinch harmonics. They go for $799 new. But I would get a used one in good shape for about $600, because I don't think they give you the nice hard shell case anymore on the new ones, I got mine 3 years ago when they first came out, and it came with the standard like case.

Actually I got my Mahogany cheap at $600 new with lifetime warranty when they came out. Some place I never heard of was selling them at that price, so I got MF to price match it. The next day Gibson must have shut them down from doing that, or maybe MF did (they clearly have a relationship with Gibson), but it was too late, I got mine.


Posted by: Todd Simpson May 6 2010, 12:20 AM

It's a beautiful instrument. Need is in the eye of the beholder smile.gif Enjoy it!

Practice!
Todd

Posted by: fkalich May 6 2010, 01:13 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ May 5 2010, 06:20 PM) *
It's a beautiful instrument. Need is in the eye of the beholder smile.gif Enjoy it!

Practice!
Todd


Thank you.


Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 6 2010, 01:44 AM

Beautiful top, and beautiful LP! smile.gif

Posted by: sted May 6 2010, 09:20 AM

I love and hate Les Pauls, I love their sound but they infuriate me, Ive had three and the current one is a 2nd hand standard that is full of chips, dings and scratches, however it plays and "Feels" much better than both of my previous others, cant put my finger on it but there is a lot to be said about guitars that have been "played in" over a number of years. Currently got some Bareknickle Black Dogs in mind, I shall report back with tales of awesomeness!

Posted by: Skewlbuzz May 6 2010, 09:40 PM

QUOTE (fkalich @ May 5 2010, 10:05 PM) *
Myself, I don't want a 7.5 lb Les Paul. I think 9 to 9.5 pounds is ideal. I also like a guitar that balances nicely on my knee. I can't imagine that with the 50's neck I prefer, a Chambered LP can possibly be balanced.


Just wanted to add that my chambered '08 balances just fine smile.gif

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 7 2010, 12:54 PM

Guitar looks great man, congratulations! It doesn't matter if you need - you wanted it and its what matters + you made a sweet deal when buying it.

I didn't know about these Swiss vs chambered body work. I think I would be fun of the Swiss one too smile.gif

Posted by: fkalich May 7 2010, 01:58 PM

QUOTE (Skewlbuzz @ May 6 2010, 03:40 PM) *
Just wanted to add that my chambered '08 balances just fine smile.gif


That is good to hear. A balanced guitar is important to me, or at least reasonably balanced. Being unbalanced is all the worse for me in a guitar if it is light weight, that compounds the issue. Look at Marcus Siepen lessons for example, The LP just sort of sits there solid and he plays on it. You can tell the unbalanced and invariably lightweight guitars on lessons here by how the instructors hold them; rather than the guitar being close to horizontal to the body, the neck usually sticks out far away from the chest, the body of the guitar cradled in. Myself, I just don't like having to hold a guitar like that sitting down, I like the guitar just sort of sitting there solid, not me having to support it. And I have no desire to stand, other than just occasionally.

Posted by: MickeM Jun 9 2010, 12:46 PM

Beautiful guitar!

The Traditional is more appealing to me but I have a small grip so the, if I can borrow fkalich description, "girle man neck" laugh.gif would suit me better and weight is also a matter to concider since at times my back just won't work with me.

My Fender US strat deal went down the drain. My store called me today and said they ordered a Standard strat for me anyway just in case, it's two months lead time so I have plenty of time to make up my mind. I'm aiming more towards a high end Gibson now.
He asked me if have concidered a PRS. And I have, years ago but while I'm sure it's teriffic guitars if you get one same price as a LP Standard or Traditional I can't set my mind on one. After all a PRS isn't a Gibson... unsure.gif

While neutrik jack, straplocks and arguments like that doesn't sell me the guitar it doesn't bother me either. Not being a purist.


Hopefully next month I can buy that Les Paul Standard, desert burst.
A Traditional with a 60's neck would beat that but I think all Traditionals come with a 50's neck.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Jun 9 2010, 01:05 PM

High end PRS are at least as good as high end Gibsons!
Both guitars are beautifully handcrafted down to the last detail, it all comes down to tonal preferance...

With Gibson you get really warm sounding guitars with a vintage touch to them (although a pickup swap can change them into Metal beasts if neccesary). Gibson has a very classical approach to guitars - they are heavy, they are not the most comfortable to play BUT they sound better than anything else.

PRS has a more modern approach to their guitars with higher output pickups and current day hardware. The guitars play like butter with great necks anddeep cutaways and their maple tops are the best you can get on stock gutiars. Also their tonality is very unique - you might fall in love with them!

Posted by: Fran Jun 9 2010, 07:39 PM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Jun 9 2010, 02:05 PM) *
PRS has a more modern approach to their guitars with higher output pickups and current day hardware. The guitars play like butter with great necks anddeep cutaways and their maple tops are the best you can get on stock gutiars. Also their tonality is very unique - you might fall in love with them!


I'm almost falling in love myself after reading that hehe smile.gif

I don't see many high end PRSs on local shops though.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Jun 9 2010, 11:21 PM

QUOTE (Fran @ Jun 9 2010, 08:39 PM) *
I'm almost falling in love myself after reading that hehe smile.gif

I don't see many high end PRSs on local shops though.


PRS are usually to be found at bigger stores, for some reason they are rare to find in smaller shops...
And yeah I would also love to have one but they are so expensive (but worth it) and I want a Gibson Les Paul Custom before anything else.

Posted by: sted Jun 11 2010, 03:19 PM

Tried a few Custom 22/24 guitars and an SC245, they are superb instruments without doubt but they just didnt do it for me, kinda felt like a Les Paul mixed with a strat gave a PRS. If anything they are probably better quality than Gibson but the tone was a little lighter than I was expecting and they are a lot of dough to boot!

Edited for language
Micke on behalf of the moderating team

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