I Played a Gibson today....

[leftykingv2]

I played a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard today that was very surprising. The hardware was good, the fret work was done well, awesome rosewood board. I played it for about 25 minutes. It also had binding nibs over the fret ends and they were done I'd say about 8 out of 10 Q.C. wise. It was a pretty decent guitar. It weighed about nine and a half pounds. I was disappointed that the pick-ups were changed to "Pearly Gates." It's not that I don't like "Pearly Gates" it's just that I know what they sound like and was wanting to hear the stock Gibson Pick-ups more.:think:

[vector]

Leftykingv2 plays a Gibby and doesn't hate it? A sign of the coming Apocalypse?

[wilkinsi]

Was it left or right handed?

[DonP]

I bought a 2002 LP Standard 60s neck when they made the big specification change from the 1990 - 2001 years. The changes brought the specs much more in line with historics. It's one of my favorite axes and I love the BB Pros for metal.

Some of the changes were:
Narrow binding in the cutaway
Nickel Hardware instead of chrome
BB Pros instead of 490R/498T (love these in my SG's but they get a lot of flak in an LP).
Flame maple tops (AA ?) standard instead of plaintops
Kluson Tuners (can't remember the old one -Grovers?)

When I first bought this, it was a little edgy / bright but as it aged in years, it came into it's own. I've done a few light upgrades - aluminum TP, Gotoh ABR-1 bridge, historic plastic. Weight is 8lbs 10oz.

[DonP]

I played a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard today that was very surprising.

The 2002 - 2006 run was done very well. When they did the spec change in 2002 they kept a tight watch on QC issues. The farther you get away from 2002, things got a little more lax. Mid 2006 they started chambering Standards, so I call that the end of the run even though the official spec change was 2008. I have a CR8 that is fantastic, but before that I tried chambered USA's and they were hit and miss. Historics get a different chambering than USAs. And my CR8 weighs 7lbs 1oz, so it was made using some killer mahogany to begin with.

[Radiohead]

I have a Gibson Traditional / 1960 Reissue Goldtop that I love. Great guitar. My buddy always snubbed Gibson's until he played mine - now he wants one too. The Classic 57 Neck pick up is one of my favorite neck pick ups. The Classic Plus in the bridge is OK... I would prefer a BB Pro or perhaps a BB3 in the bridge over the 57+. The only issue I have with the guitar is the tuning. Relative to a locking floyd the guitar is fussy to tune and does not stay in tune. I find this with all non-locking set ups though. My local tech suggested I change out the nut. He was saying the Corian that Gibson uses is S*it relative to Bone or TUSQ. I want to keep the guitar stock to retain the value. I am hoping over time the nut slots widen out and stop binding.

[Chad]

Leftykingv2 plays a Gibby and doesn't hate it? A sign of the coming Apocalypse?

And it was post 1993 production at that. Apocalypse is indeed near.

[leftykingv2]

And it was post 1993 production at that. Apocalypse is indeed near.

Hey c'mon guys lets be fair. It only took me 21 years to find one I liked after 1993

[leftykingv2]

Leftykingv2 plays a Gibby and doesn't hate it? A sign of the coming Apocalypse?

Believe me bro when I put it down and walked out of the store I thought the sky might fall or the pits of hell may open up beneath my feet and swallow me. Thankfully that didn't happen and I think I know why. It's because I didn't buy it. If I would have bought the guitar I think we might have all been in trouble.

[leftykingv2]

Was it left or right handed?

It was a lefty or "wrong handed" as you guys put it.

[leftykingv2]

The 2002 - 2006 run was done very well. When they did the spec change in 2002 they kept a tight watch on QC issues. The farther you get away from 2002, things got a little more lax. Mid 2006 they started chambering Standards, so I call that the end of the run even though the official spec change was 2008. I have a CR8 that is fantastic, but before that I tried chambered USA's and they were hit and miss. Historics get a different chambering than USAs. And my CR8 weighs 7lbs 1oz, so it was made using some killer mahogany to begin with.

I personally wouldn't ever buy a weight relieved guitar especially not a Les Paul. If I was going to buy a Les Paul I would want a big fat heavy one like my 1976 Standard. It's almost 10 lbs. and it sounds like God.

[straycat]

I miss my 81 custom a lot nice guitar just didn't like the tiny frets.
It weighed 13 lbs but the Shaw pick ups were so smooth and that gave the guitar a voice like no other.
Had an 09 R8 and it was a fine guitar too.The weight relief holes started in 83 for the record so most all LP's from then on had them.Even the traditional pros have the Swiss cheese holes or were chambered to some degree.

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

Does this mean you will no longer bash Gibson @ any & every opportunity??

[leftykingv2]

Does this mean you will no longer bash Gibson @ any & every opportunity??

When I see them over charging for junk or putting subpar hardware on a four thousand dollar guitars I will still call them out. It just means when I see a newer lefty now I'll give it a shot and try to be more objective. Honestly the one I just played was pretty nice. Better than the last 20 or so newer models of Gibson I played by a long shot. The workmanship was better all around. Fret work, Binding, well balanced, and of course the most important thing it wasn't a tone turd. It sang pretty well and had good sustain compared to some of the others I have played recently. I just hate when I pick a guitar up and it sounds and feels dead to me and a lot of the new Gibson's are like that in my opinion. At least the ones I have played are.

[DonP]

I personally wouldn't ever buy a weight relieved guitar especially not a Les Paul. If I was going to buy a Les Paul I would want a big fat heavy one like my 1976 Standard. It's almost 10 lbs. and it sounds like God.

Then my 77 Custom is God+1

Seriously, what is the deal with 1993? 1993 wasn't a significant year other than the release of the Historic Reissue models. Standards didn't change; Classics got dumbed down a little with "Model" replaced with "Classic" on the headstock and the ugly thick binding in the cutaway. But Henry was there since 1987, weight relief started in 1984, so I don't get the post 1993 hate. Please explain.