Another Gibson LP question

[Twitch]

I asked this over at MLP and it seems to be getting ignored. Fuck em, Ill ask it here.

Whats are the key differences between the Classic, Standard, Traditional and Traditional Pro? I know the Classic has the 60s neck profile, but beyond that I have know idea what the differences are. Also, what model would have the 60s neck profile but the standard stamped serial and Made in USA stamp? Theres one like this that Im going to pick up in Feb.(funds willing).

[toejam]

I don't know, but try the Les Paul Forum instead of MLP. http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/index.php?s=

[DonP]

I don't know, but try the Les Paul Forum instead of MLP. http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/index.php?s=

[RockinJim]

I asked this over at MLP and it seems to be getting ignored. Fuck em, Ill ask it here.

Whats are the key differences between the Classic, Standard, Traditional and Traditional Pro? I know the Classic has the 60s neck profile, but beyond that I have know idea what the differences are. Also, what model would have the 60s neck profile but the standard stamped serial and Made in USA stamp? Theres one like this that Im going to pick up in Feb.(funds willing).

I own a classic, the classic has the the hot ceramic pickups, that people love or hate, with a 60s style thinner neck (the 50s neck is fatter). The Standard has the Burstbucker pickups which has the traditional LP sound. I think the traditional has a 50s style neck, but not sure. The traditional pro is Gibson's newest LP with coil taps, cool zebra pups, and a 60s style neck. It's Gibson's attempt to make the LP a LP and a strat - more versatile guitar.

[DonP]

I asked this over at MLP and it seems to be getting ignored. Fuck em, Ill ask it here.

Whats are the key differences between the Classic, Standard, Traditional and Traditional Pro? I know the Classic has the 60s neck profile, but beyond that I have know idea what the differences are. Also, what model would have the 60s neck profile but the standard stamped serial and Made in USA stamp? Theres one like this that Im going to pick up in Feb.(funds willing).

Twich,

They can tell already that you are a metal head and have blackballed you

Nice to see you are finally getting a real Les Paul (funds willing).

Classic: From 1990 to 1992, this was an awesome guitar. Better than the Standard, except some people thought it wrong to call this a Classic with high output 496R/500T pickups. A simple pickup change / replace some plastic and people passed these off as a historic. Classics always came with the thin 60s shreader necks.

In 1993, they made changes to "spoil" it from counterfeiters: headstock decal changed to "Classic" from "Model" and binding in the cutaway went from a correct thin to incorrect thick.

As years went on, the inlays got greener/pee yellow. There were some great "Plus" models and "Premium Plus" models. I have a 1996 Classic Premium Plus.

Around 2002 the ABR-1 bridge was replaced by the Nashville (another downgrade). Then a few years later chambering.

Standards come in certain "years of specs". 1990 - 2001 had chrome hardware, 490R/498T pickups, Grover tuners, thick binding in the cutaway. Plaintops were standard, premiums got flames. 50s neck (not reissues 50s baseball bat, but thicker than the 60s).

In 2002, Gibson "up'd" the specs to nickel hardware, Burstbucker Pro pickups, Kluson tuners, thin binding in the cutaway, AAA tops standard, and introduction of the choice of a 50s or 60s neck. I own a 2002 Standard with a 60s neck.

In mid 2006 Gibson started chambering standards.

In 2008, people were complaining that the Les Paul Standard had old specs and wanted updates. So another spec change happened. Chrome hardware, locking tuners, nutric jack, circuit board pots, assemetrical neck profile, still chanmbered and with Burstbuckers.

But to keep the people who like the old specs happy, they came out with the traditional. It's pretty much an unchambered 2002-2006 standard with a 50s neck and chrome hardware. I think it has 57 / 57 Plus pickups.

The Traditional Pro is the Classic re-born. 60s neck, but 57 neck, BB3 bridge. Push pull pots to split the coils.

Regarding your "Also, what model would have the 60s neck profile but the standard stamped serial and Made in USA stamp?", any 2002-2007 Standard with a 60s neck would have Made in USA on the headstock. Realize later ones are chambered.

[Twitch]

Cool ,thanks. So I wonder what model LP this LP Im looking at is? The TR cover is blank, but has stamped S/N and 60s neck, but no coil tapping ability. It has a top similar to a lot of the Classics Ive seen, but every Classic Ive seen has a printed S/N.

EDIT: Posted this while you must have been typing Don. Guess the guitar in question is likely a Standard with 60s neck and replacement TR cover. And yes this guitar is a 2002 with S/N and Made in USA stamped on the back of the headstock.

[DonP]

Like I said, if it has Made in USA and a stamped s/n, it's a 2002-2007 Standard. Give me the S/N an I'll date it for you.

Classics have inked serial numbers and no Made in USA stamp.

[Twitch]

Were getting all confused here Don Ive edited after my post while you were typing twice now.. Ive determined it was a 02 previously. Thanks for the answers Don.

[Twitch]

Nice to see you are finally getting a real Les Paul (funds willing).

Maybe two. Theres a real nice wine red Standard at GC in Indy with what looks like a AAA top for a price Ill be paying for a trans black Standard with the bottom of the line flame top. If its still there in Feb, Im considering picking it up too. Ill be getting my last tuition refund in Feb. Im cutting myself off after the spring semester. If I can keep the funds hidden this time, Ill be picking up a few bucket list/ gig needed items while I have the money.

[DonP]

Truss rod cover should be blank. I think 1990-2001 models had "Standard" on the TRC. Classics had "Classic" on the TRC and 1960 on the pickguard. Trad Pros I've seen with "Classic" and 1960 plastic as well, leftovers from the Classic days.

[DonP]

I was in the Indy GC and SA this weekend (in the NE part of town if there are multiples). Sam Ash had some strange and unusual stuff - Explorers and a rare US-1. GC's Used area didn't turn me on.

You should look at that US-1 for $1499 and try to get is down to around $1K. The repair guy and the short metal sales chick were cool to talk to. I usually hate sales people.

[DonP]

Also, this looks very interesting but I'm done at 6 LPs. In case it's gone it was an early 2008 LP Std for $1400.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/msg/2753160785.html

[Twitch]

Thats one thing that Im not looking for is a post chambered model. I dont like the extra resonance and overtones the chambers produce. I can deal with "swiss cheese holes" as the volume of which isnt enough to ad much resonance or over tones. Maybe some high frequency that isnt discernible by a human, but I dont like the extra lows I notice in the chambered models. I like punch, but not boomy and the chambered LPs seem a little boomy to me. Plus, I like a back breaker. Ive noticed the more dense the wood is the more of a throaty growl the guitars tone is. I notice stuff like that. Not to the extent that Eric notices shit like that, but enough to drive me batty at times. Its a big part of my never being happy with various pieces of gear.

[Twitch]

short metal sales chick

If shes the one with the straight black hair and kind of lower pitched voice, we dont see eye to eye ever since I basically talked to her like she was retarded for asking $499 for a beat to hell Epi LPC and wouldnt come down on it because of "what they had in it" like I was a low ball tire kicker or something. She was rude about it and I got rude back. The thing was badly damaged. The guitar had obviously been dropped or kicked in the control area of the front and it was caved in and the finish was chipped to hell all over.

Basically, if they had that much in that they couldnt come down to $350(which was still high in my mind for the condition but its what I offered), then whoever made that deal should have been fired. But I doubt that was the case, she just thought I was retarded for trying to talk down the price on a severely damaged guitar. The damn things sell new for $599.

The last time I was in there, as soon as she spotted me I got a patronizing "nice to see you again." Just like the patronizing "have a nice night" when I left after the Epi incident. Rude biotch.

[DonP]

If shes the one with the straight black hair and kind of lower pitched voice, we dont see eye to eye ever since I basically talked to her like she was retarded for asking $499 for a beat to hell Epi LPC and wouldnt come down on it because of "what they had in it" like I was a low ball tire kicker or something. She was rude about it and I got rude back. The thing was badly damaged. The guitar had obviously been dropped or kicked in the control area of the front and it was caved in and the finish was chipped to hell all over.

Basically, if they had that much in that they couldnt come down to $350(which was still high in my mind for the condition but its what I offered), then whoever made that deal should have been fired. But I doubt that was the case, she just thought I was retarded for trying to talk down the price on a severely damaged guitar. The damn things sell new for $599.

The last time I was in there, as soon as she spotted me I got a patronizing "nice to see you again." Just like the patronizing "have a nice night" when I left after the Epi incident. Rude biotch.

That's her. It's not your fault they bought stupidly. I see this quite often and not just in chains but ebay and craigs as well. Let them sit on it. The US-1 was way overpriced as well. The Explorers were decently priced.