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what do you think of weight-relieved Les Pauls

Shelkonnery

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Joined
Jan 28, 2021
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30
Let's not forget PRS daily production is a fraction of Gibson's. They will always have superior QC.
It seems Gibson has been trying to catch up with a never ending demand the past couple of years.

It's funny, many people claim how much quality has improved under this new/current management. Some go as far as to say we're witnessing a new golden era of Gibson.
Heard the exact same thing in late 80s/early 90s Henry J era. So it's either the same marketing team or we're too prone to believing what suits us best.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Let's not forget PRS daily production is a fraction of Gibson's. They will always have superior QC.
It seems Gibson has been trying to catch up with a never ending demand the past couple of years.

It's funny, many people claim how much quality has improved under this new/current management. Some go as far as to say we're witnessing a new golden era of Gibson.
Heard the exact same thing in late 80s/early 90s Henry J era. So it's either the same marketing team or we're too prone to believing what suits us best.
Proof as they say is in the pudding . Try a Gibson USA , or a Gibson Custom Shop from 2018 forward and then you will know this is no joke .
 

Huc

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Joined
Jul 6, 2003
Messages
156
Every guitar is different. It's not the weight but how all the components come together. Wood density, wood grade, electronic components and player skill all effect how any guitar will sound. Just my rusty 2 cents.
 

ADP

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Jul 16, 2015
Messages
681
I say the lighter the better. There were a handful of weight relieved Les Paul's in the 50's and some full solid slabs can equal around 7lbs if you're lucky enough to find one. My Clapton LP weighs 8lbs even and is not weight relieved - it's as best as I can ask for. My back and I are very grateful for every ounce we can save!

Most of my Les Paul's tend to weigh 9lbs 2oz for whatever reason. But I would love to one day find one that weighs 6lbs. That's the dream.
 

Redhod

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May 2, 2002
Messages
540
I'm suddenly interested in the ES-Les Paul they made a few years ago. I'll never part with my present LP but suddenly these shoulders can't go too long with that 10-pounder.
@mdubya reports above that his weighs 6 pounds. Sounds inviting.

I played the ES-Les Paul when they brought it out and it seemed interesting. But it was in a music store so I couldn't work it out.

Anybody have a comment on that model?
 

mdubya

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Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
I'm suddenly interested in the ES-Les Paul they made a few years ago. I'll never part with my present LP but suddenly these shoulders can't go too long with that 10-pounder.
@mdubya reports above that his weighs 6 pounds. Sounds inviting.

I played the ES-Les Paul when they brought it out and it seemed interesting. But it was in a music store so I couldn't work it out.

Anybody have a comment on that model?

Brian at Musician's Friend did some fairly awesome demos with the ES LP.

Greg Koch did quite a few with Wildwood, too.




 

jb_abides

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Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
Some ES-Pauls weigh in at 3 pounds. Mine's a just a tad over 4.

ES-Paul will be tonally more related to the ES than the LP, it's essentially an ES-339 [which they still make] in LP shape with MHS pickups and a mahogany center block.

Neck is the Rounded-C. Mine has some flatness, akin to a Slight-D. And the rolled binding was very welcome!

Mitch demo'd a pretty fair overview of the tones. Not sure why he misspeaks and says 'mahogany' ... they were all ES-maple/poplar/maple laminate sandwiches AFAIK... perhaps confusing 'back' with 'block... or is it me?

 
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bern1

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Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
How is the balance on these guitars. Not too headstock heavy? Do you have to hold the neck up with your left hand?
 

WillyW

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Apr 17, 2021
Messages
125
if my Lester Paul weren’t weight relieved, there would be no way I would own it..

I think mine just has some holes drilled, not sure, never took it apart.

61B3E67E-6417-42CC-AD7E-EF391E3285DE.jpeg
 

mdubya

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Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
How is the balance on these guitars. Not too headstock heavy? Do you have to hold the neck up with your left hand?

I only have the one guitar, but I do not need to hold the headstock up. It seems to balance out dead level. I have 3 other LPs to compare. I also have a couple of SGs and Firebirds that may cloud my judgement. None of those are overly neck heavy either. I did have a Firbird that was very neck heavy, so I am not unfamiliar with the sensation.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
No one has ever been able to demonstrate a tonal difference too me between weight relieved Les Pauls and those that aren't. Can't seem to tell them apart. I cannot. Chambered or ES versions do sound different and I hear it easy enough. Not bad, just different. I like them and have one I prefer, but for classic Les Paul tone, a good weight relieved one does it like a good non relieved one.

All that noise about bad wood and "old growth", is a big ol' heaping dollop of dumb. Don't believe it, it is just ignorant internet gibber jabber dumbass posturing. Repeating nonsense as if they know it, 'cept they don't. Same goes for the lame ass gorilla chest beating hemen claiming real men wear heavy Les Pauls all night long.
 

ch willie

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Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
1,114
My 2012 Trad is a beautiful guitar and sounds exactly as I want a Les Paul to sound. It’s heavy. I’m just happy I don’t gig anymore.
 

GimmeGibson

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Joined
May 27, 2021
Messages
111
The irony is this: most of the nine hole weight relieved Gibson USA LPs weigh about the same as the solid Gibson USA guitars. The weight relief just helps to compensate for crappier wood.
Yup. My 9 hole 2021 Classis is exactly the same weight as my solid body 2019 50’s Standard. Both 9.6.
 

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
Coming from a man who's getting older (69) and with a very glitchy back, I've come to love a guitar that's lighter.

I'm comparing an apple to an orange here. I have a 2002 LP Standard and a 2021 PRS Vela semi hollow body. The Vela is the first semi hollow body guitar I've owned. When comparing the two, the Vela has a really nice depth of sound and resonance to it that I've come to love. If this is what a semi hollow body/chambered guitar is all about then I'm all for it. Of course the lighter weight is a huge plus for me. Again, this is my only experience so I can't comment on other models.

There's other factors to be considered but yeah, I like it. Each to their own.
 
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