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Making the Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop 2021 even better!!

Mr. Legit

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
eis said:
IMO so far as by the end of 2020 the silhouette -I mean the body shape, and the top carve are still far from authentic and appearently they've been modified/improved several times but it seems they just failed to make them right again and again... and you can allways easily tell the reissues apart from the real ones no matter how you disguise them with period correct plastic parts that the top carves and even the shapes varied a lot on the old guitars because there was
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Some of the vintage examples I have held varied somewhat in their top carve and shape because more hand work was involved, so I don’t know how you can say they get that wrong with such assurance. Parts get you in the right looking direction, and for some, like the ABR1, a tonal perspective. When I see a Historic with correct parts, it tells me, “This is a person who cares about detail.” Only time will tell in 50-60 years from now what these Historic’s will look like, and some loaded with vintage parts can look pretty convincing from afar. Same as when I go to Pebble Beach and see the meticulous detail for the factory correct screws in the engine on a vintage car.
 
E

eis

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
11
Mr. Legit said:
Some of the vintage examples I have held varied somewhat in their top carve and shape because more hand work was involved, so I don’t know how you can say they get that wrong with such assurance. Parts get you in the right looking direction, and for some, like the ABR1, a tonal perspective. When I see a Historic with correct parts, it tells me, “This is a person who cares about detail.” Only time will tell in 50-60 years from now what these Historic’s will look like, and some loaded with vintage parts can look pretty convincing from afar. Same as when I go to Pebble Beach and see the meticulous detail for the factory correct screws in the engine on a vintage car.
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Yeah I admit that with all the parts swapped properly they can indeed become very convincing，and that's what I'm doing with my own r8. But the body shape and carving are the very things that can not be upgraded easily by us and that's always what's bothering me to purchase another burst reissue after all the positive changes happened to the historic line guitars - still. I mean that IS the really crucial things to be done. Though the originals all differed from each example but they certainly fall into a relatively consistant range. For me the reissues are still kind of out THAT RANGE unfortunately. and that's the headache for me，if not for every people...
As for the different tone caused by incorrect bridges and pickups there are still other long stories and still a long way ahead...
 
Bruce R

Bruce R

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
1,035
When I sense I am getting a bit too caught up in this stuff I just watch & listen to a guy like Jack Pearson play his Epiphone Vee or his Squire Strat. I attended a clinic by Robben Ford where he happened to be playing an early 60's SG Special that had been fitted with humbuckings. During a break I asked him what kind of pickups they were and he said "I don't know, it was like this when I bought it and I just like the way it sounds." Kinda puts things in perspective.
 
M

Morgan24

Active member
Joined
Nov 1, 2020
Messages
138
Bruce R said:
When I sense I am getting a bit too caught up in this stuff I just watch & listen to a guy like Jack Pearson play his Epiphone Vee or his Squire Strat. I attended a clinic by Robben Ford where he happened to be playing an early 60's SG Special that had been fitted with humbuckings. During a break I asked him what kind of pickups they were and he said "I don't know, it was like this when I bought it and I just like the way it sounds." Kinda puts things in perspective.
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If you like playing Epiphone and Squire Stratocaster fine with me. So why putting anyone down who want a close as possible Les Paul 59? I just dont get it, and why do you read a post like this? If it is okay to play a cheap guitar then why is it not okay to change parts to make your guitar sound better?? I just dont get it!! If you cant hear the difference on the YouTube clip, fine with me no problem. If I can hear a big difference what is the problem with that??
 
Mr. Legit

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
Cliff Gress said:
Release a Firebird 1 for regular folks. Can't afford the Clapton.
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Daves's Guitar Shop has a couple, and I was going to order one! This is my next one this year, that'll make 2 Custom Shop Gibsons for me this year.

davesguitar.com

Limited Edition 1963 Firebird I – Gloss Vintage Sunburst - Dave's Guitar Shop

Vintage Sunburst, Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, Mahogany body wings, 1963 shaped nine-ply Mahogany/Walnut thru body neck, 12” radius Rosewood fingerboard with the Mother of Pearl Dot inlays and medium jumbo frets, 24.75″ scale length, 1 11/16th” nut width, Firebird mini-humbucking pickup...
davesguitar.com davesguitar.com
Morgan24 said:
If you like playing Epiphone and Squire Stratocaster fine with me. So why putting anyone down who want a close as possible Les Paul 59? I just dont get it, and why do you read a post like this? If it is okay to play a cheap guitar then why is it not okay to change parts to make your guitar sound better?? I just dont get it!! If you cant hear the difference on the YouTube clip, fine with me no problem. If I can hear a big difference what is the problem with that??
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I don't speak for him, but I don't think he meant to insult anyone. It just seems he doesn't pay too much credence to the minutia. Its like relic guitars, some people hate them, but those that love them "Get It". Just like some people don't get the vintage correct parts thing. To each his own.
 
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Bruce R

Bruce R

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
1,035
Morgan24 said:
If you like playing Epiphone and Squire Stratocaster fine with me. So why putting anyone down who want a close as possible Les Paul 59? I just dont get it, and why do you read a post like this? If it is okay to play a cheap guitar then why is it not okay to change parts to make your guitar sound better?? I just dont get it!! If you cant hear the difference on the YouTube clip, fine with me no problem. If I can hear a big difference what is the problem with that??
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I hear where you are coming from and own up to it. In fact, I was just sitting down to delete my post and apologize for acting like a pompous jerk. I do the very things that I was trying to make light of, so it was not meant as a put-down. I swore to myself I would leave the R0 I just bought last spring in original condition, but have already swapped the pickup rings, toggle switch plate, and am eyeing another pickup!! I am one of you guys.

It would be self-serving to come to a forum thats very purpose is to give voice to people that share the same interests and dialog, so I am sorry for that. This damn Covid thing has me spending way too much time on the computer, so this was the result!!

Having played guitar for over 50 years I would in no way even consider playing a Squire or an Epi. Once you've played the good stuff you can't go back. I have owned the top of the line Gibsons & Fenders over the years, and am still reeling from the loss of my beloved '55 Strat to theft in '82. I swore I wouldn't buy another vintage guitar again after that, it hit me in the gut. Of course that was easy to say because that was about the time that I didn't have the money necessary to do it!
 
JPP-1

JPP-1

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
1,336
marshall1987 said:
IMO..........

a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul w/ a $6,000 + retail price should be constructed from the best, premium grade A+ wood stocks, especially the mahogany guitar backs and RW fingerboards. The recent examples I have seen simply don't meet the Grade A+ premium tone wood requirement. :dang
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Premium A+ wood stocks. Lmfao. What do you sideline as a qc worker for Gibson after you finish your day job as an arborist

Maybe you are playing with seconds or counterfeit Historics, The recent historics 2013 and later I’ve owned and played have been superlative and in aggregate significantly better than the 20 or so pre 2013 historics I owned.

Everytime I hear the fabricated and erroneous term good wood year Historics, I laugh. Especially when that term is use to describe older historics that are inferior to current historics in every spec if Burst build accuracy is how you quantify best. Frankly, I had given up on the numb diffuse sometimes mushy sound of older historic Les Pauls until I played one of the more recent Historics. Finally Gibson nailed it, that nuance, snap, resonance, growl, everything a great Les should have. With the right amp a good recent Historic Les Paul can sing like a great female jazz vocalist. The current Historic Les Pauls are some of the finest Les Pauls ever made. What a great time to be a guitarist in this new golden age of gear.
 
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M

Morgan24

Active member
Joined
Nov 1, 2020
Messages
138
JPP-1 said:
Premium A+ wood stocks. Lmfao. What do you sideline as a qc worker for Gibson after you finish your day job as an arborist

Maybe you are playing with seconds or counterfeit Historics, The recent historics 2013 and later I’ve owned and played have been superlative and in aggregate significantly better than the 20 or so pre 2013 historics I owned.

Everytime I hear the fabricated and erroneous term good wood year Historics, I laugh. Especially when that term is use to describe older historics that are inferior to current historics in every spec if Burst build accuracy is how you quantify best. Frankly, I had given up on the numb diffuse sometimes mushy sound of older historic Les Pauls until I played one of the more recent Historics. Finally Gibson nailed it, that nuance, snap, resonance, growl, everything a great Les should have. With the right amp a good recent Historic Les Paul can sing like a great female jazz vocalist. The current Historic Les Pauls are some of the finest Les Pauls ever made. What a great time to be a guitarist in this new golden age of gear.
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No doubt Gibson Custom Shop is making excellent guitars at the moment. But there are still changes that could be done to make them even better. Even small changes that is unbelievable they arent doing already. The saddles for one thing!! A small thing that makes a big difference. Look at the difference between Gibson and Faber. What would you pick?? Screenshot_20210202-194448_Chrome.jpg20210202_194841.jpg
 
JPP-1

JPP-1

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
1,336
Morgan24 said:
No doubt Gibson Custom Shop is making excellent guitars at the moment. But there are still changes that could be done to make them even better. Even small changes that is unbelievable they arent doing already. The saddles for one thing!! A small thing that makes a big difference. Look at the difference between Gibson and Faber. What would you pick?? View attachment 12773View attachment 12772
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I agree that bridge and saddles make a difference. Anyone who is skeptical should checkout Jon Segeborn‘s youtube video on the matter. That said, I happen to have a faber bridge and saddles. While the quality is arguably better, I like the tone of the current Gibson bridge and saddles better. I find them brighter and more open sounding which I prefer.
 
Professortwang

Professortwang

Active member
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
The first Historic I bought was a 2006. I changed the heavy tailpiece and bridge to pigtail. Gibson changed their hardware at some point not sure when however a thorough search of old threads would give the answer. The changes used to be listed at the top of the page. Segeborn's video uses the tailpiece from before the changes.
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,669
JPP-1 said:
Premium A+ wood stocks. Lmfao. What do you sideline as a qc worker for Gibson after you finish your day job as an arborist

Maybe you are playing with seconds or counterfeit Historics, The recent historics 2013 and later I’ve owned and played have been superlative and in aggregate significantly better than the 20 or so pre 2013 historics I owned.

Everytime I hear the fabricated and erroneous term good wood year Historics, I laugh. Especially when that term is use to describe older historics that are inferior to current historics in every spec if Burst build accuracy is how you quantify best. Frankly, I had given up on the numb diffuse sometimes mushy sound of older historic Les Pauls until I played one of the more recent Historics. Finally Gibson nailed it, that nuance, snap, resonance, growl, everything a great Les should have. With the right amp a good recent Historic Les Paul can sing like a great female jazz vocalist. The current Historic Les Pauls are some of the finest Les Pauls ever made. What a great time to be a guitarist in this new golden age of gear.
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I do agree that this is a really good time to buying new historic Custom Shop Les Paul's as the build quality is the at it's highest peak with all of the up grades that have come since 2013 . With one exception being from the monster tops of the 90's . I have noticed that the tops of the past couple of years have been more truer to the looks of the vintage golden era of 58-60 . I don't know if that is a desire to get that type of top or that is what Mother Earth is providing .
 
rickruz88

rickruz88

Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
59
Todd Louis said:
It is incredible that we are now on 26 years of Historics.... I remember my 90s Historics. They were good guitars but prefer my 2003 to present ones.
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I agree. I generally prefer them much more than the new new reissues despite not having hide glue, vos, and all the rest. The finish seemed better too for some reason; it was less sticky for some reason. I have seen a number of early 2000s reissues whose finish has checked beautifully on its own. To me those 2003 models were great guitars.
 
AA00475Bassman

AA00475Bassman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,777
The newer the Historic the better the guitar IMO , sure they might build a few deadbeats . As for wood the backs and tops are beautiful VINTAGE VIBE .
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,669
AA00475Bassman said:
The newer the Historic the better the guitar IMO , sure they might build a few deadbeats . As for wood the backs and tops are beautiful VINTAGE VIBE .
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I did it and was able to change my avatar . You do know I am not the most tech savy person at all . I am so happy now to be properly represented with a nice avatar .
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,669
AA00475Bassman said:
The color & top on your avatar is Beautiful !
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Thanks Buddy , I had showed you that one before as it's a 2018 Brazilian Board R9 in Lemon burst . I am most happy that I was able to get a proper Avatar here once and for all . Thanks for the compliment ! P.S. This is a fun guitar for me to play in a challenging way as she doesn't give up the goods easily as I have to coax them out of her .
 
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