• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

59 reissue vs. standard 60’s

Captain Krunch

New member
Joined
Jun 19, 2021
Messages
4
Hi everybody, I’m new to the forum and at 53, I’m planning to buy my first original Les Paul. The custom 59 reissue and the standard 60s are the two contenders, and where I live, there is not a chance to go test them at a store. I know there is a huge difference of about 4 thousand dollars on them so my cuestión is, Is it really worth the diffference in price that they have? What makes the 59 reissue so more expensive? Is there such a difference in sound or in craftsmanship to justify the difference in price? Making an effort I could get the 59 reissue, but am I gonna get a guitar that is 3 times better? Is the Standard 60’s so much weighed down in front of the 59 reissue? I would really appreciate your honest opinion on how the models perform or what are those big difference that they must have and if it’s really worth it. Thanks very much in advance for your help.
 

gakees

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
141
I've played reissues for the last 18 years and recently sold my last one which was the R8. Even though it sounded great, my 63 year old thumb just didn't want to wrap around that thick neck anymore without pain. I replaced it with a Standard 60 because of the smaller neck and the fact that it was so much more affordable than a 60 reissue. I'm very happy that I made the change. In my opinion, the Standard 60 is a great sounding LP and I don't think you'll be dissatisfied should you buy one. Plus, as you say, you'll save a lot of money. I'm sure many will disagree with me but, like I said, I've played historics for the last 18 years. In my opinion, the quality is there even though the Standard 60 doesn't have the long tenon that many prefer plus other goodies that go into making the historics. You asked for an honest opinion and this is mine. Remember, however, that there may not be a lot of members who have had the opportunity to have played both and been able to compare.
 

Captain Krunch

New member
Joined
Jun 19, 2021
Messages
4
I've played reissues for the last 18 years and recently sold my last one which was the R8. Even though it sounded great, my 63 year old thumb just didn't want to wrap around that thick neck anymore without pain. I replaced it with a Standard 60 because of the smaller neck and the fact that it was so much more affordable than a 60 reissue. I'm very happy that I made the change. In my opinion, the Standard 60 is a great sounding LP and I don't think you'll be dissatisfied should you buy one. Plus, as you say, you'll save a lot of money. I'm sure many will disagree with me but, like I said, I've played historics for the last 18 years. In my opinion, the quality is there even though the Standard 60 doesn't have the long tenon that many prefer plus other goodies that go into making the historics. You asked for an honest opinion and this is mine. Remember, however, that there may not be a lot of members who have had the opportunity to have played both and been able to compare.
Thanks very much for your response, I think that the slimmer neck could work very good for me because that's what I'm used to. On the other side is great to hear an opinion from someone who has been playing the historics. I'm shure that there's more work into making the reissues, but would you say it really shows on sound and playability or its more of wanting to have something as exact as possible copy for more of a nostalgia thing?
 

gakees

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
141
Sound and playability are subjective. I owned a 2003 R9, 2003 R8 and a 2009 R0. It was probably an ego thing for me at the time to say that I owned historics. Now, they're all gone and I only own the Standard 60. Personally, I don't feel like I'm missing a thing. To me, it's a great sounding and playing guitar.
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
The neck shape is very different - and personal taste. Personally, I like the R7 neck - that thing is a baseball bat, but a lot of people can't play it.
I would say make sure you play the guitar before buying - make sure that it's a nicely resonant one. You can replace pickups and electronics, but if it's a dead wood, there's nothing that will help that.
Don't worry quite as much about the plugged in sound - like |I said, you can replace it all with top-shelf stuff, and still save $3500 bucks over a reissue.
 

sunking101

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2020
Messages
102
Is the reissue twice as good? No.
Is it worth double the price? No.
Is it way better? Absolutely.

Until you can pick both up in your own hands you will never understand. The reissue feels like Stradivarius himself built it from scratch and the USA Standard feels like it was built on a production line.

I exaggerate of course but you get the idea.
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
How is this your choice??? Very, very different guitars with vastly different feel. Seems to me that if you're considering one it rules out the other. No offence but you seem to know very little, not just these two ranges, but about Les Pauls. The knowledgeable experienced player would know. Sounds like a whim. There is no reason to throw thousands of dollars at a whim. Look at core USA Les Pauls or Epiphone. GET TO A RETAILER!! Custom Shop Reissues are for those familiar with vintage Gibsons who desire their unique feel and build spec. The need, or desirability of such guitars is deeply rooted in personal knowledge of vintage models. If you must ask, then you shouldn't be in the market. If you do not know the difference between 59 and 60 GET TO A STORE!!! Not a fan forum.
 

mojodelic

New member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
16
Hi everybody, I’m new to the forum and at 53, I’m planning to buy my first original Les Paul. The custom 59 reissue and the standard 60s are the two contenders, and where I live, there is not a chance to go test them at a store. I know there is a huge difference of about 4 thousand dollars on them so my cuestión is, Is it really worth the diffference in price that they have? What makes the 59 reissue so more expensive? Is there such a difference in sound or in craftsmanship to justify the difference in price? Making an effort I could get the 59 reissue, but am I gonna get a guitar that is 3 times better? Is the Standard 60’s so much weighed down in front of the 59 reissue? I would really appreciate your honest opinion on how the models perform or what are those big difference that they must have and if it’s really worth it. Thanks very much in advance for your help.
"there is not a chance to go test them at a store"
All of the online retailers that I've dealt with have liberal return policies, but the return shipping cost (as well as the free shipping charges) will be on you. As stated above I'd highly recommend somehow getting to a store even if it costs you travel $$ to do it.

As for your specific question I own a new (Oct '20) Bourbon Burst Std and it's a very nice playing guitar. At 63 with small hands it fits me well but YMMV. The only so-so thing about it are/were the pups- the 61s didn't blow up my skirt but again that's subjective. The only thing I can compare it to is my 10 year old ES-339 with 57 classics & even though a completely different guitar I like the sound of those better.

Congratulations on the ability to even be trying to decide between the two; some folks never get there.

Good luck!
 

Bugman58

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
453
Wildwood guitars has a special run of standards with nicer tops and different colors I 5hink, there a very reputable dealer, 200 more at 2,700, I kinda agree with what Big Al said, I think you will be happy with the standard and if you splurge 6k on a 59 you will always wonder about the std , If you don’t care about correctness and long neck tenon or hide glue and top carve ect ect.
 

somebodyelseuk

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
They're not made by the same people, not even in the same building. Think of them as being different brands.
The USA stuff are 'lookalikes' whereas the Custom Shop stuff are 'builtalikes'.
They don't use the same wood suppliers. I doubt they use the same parts suppliers and the pickups aren't the same. There's a store in the UK who weighs their stock and include a photo of the reading on the product page. On average the USA models are a pound heavier than the Custom Shop models.
Both will feel great. Both will sound great. One will leave you wishing you'd bought the other.
The question you have to ask yourself is 'does anally accurate "authenticity" matter enough to pay the difference?'.
 

Musicman

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2002
Messages
1,909
As they've said get out try them. If all the specs of a '59 matter to you then check them out. If not you can find a Standard and be perfectly happy.
 

Shelkonnery

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2021
Messages
30
I think you kind of answered your own question in a way.

If you don't know or appreciante what makes Reissues that much more expensive and different than regular Standards, maybe it's not time to invest in a Reissue just yet.
 
Top