NGD - My first Gibson Les Paul!

UtilityBeltFX

UtilityBeltFX

Well-known member
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I mean what can I say that these pictures don't?

Two days ago I went to my local shop to try out some amps. This highly figured monster caught my eye and after plugging it in I fell in love. Plays and sounds as good as it looks.

It's a 50's Standard Figured in Honey Amber.

I was always worried 50s necks would be too big for me because I have pretty small hands, but it's actually very comfortable! In fact I found the slim 60s necks to be somewhat uncomfortable due to their sharper shoulders.

I left the shop knowing I was going to be thinking about this guitar for a long time, only to discover the next day they announced a Memorial Day sale! This guitar would now be 15% off!

I can't lie, business has been good lately, and this year is my 25th anniversary of playing guitar. Time to stimulate the economy!

This morning I was was the first person outside the store when they opened. Thankfully the guy who was helping me 2 days ago was there again today so hopefully he was able to see a tiny commission?

Can't say enough good things about my shop Grayson's Tune Town. Super friendly and welcoming staff. There's a reason they've been open since 1953. They have a reverb shop and great selection!

Next step is to throw some double creams in there! What do you think, pickguard on or off?

Ross.
 
UtilityBeltFX said:
View attachment 75753View attachment 75755View attachment 75758View attachment 75757

I mean what can I say that these pictures don't?

Two days ago I went to my local shop to try out some amps. This highly figured monster caught my eye and after plugging it in I fell in love. Plays and sounds as good as it looks.

It's a 50's Standard Figured in Honey Amber.

I was always worried 50s necks would be too big for me because I have pretty small hands, but it's actually very comfortable! In fact I found the slim 60s necks to be somewhat uncomfortable due to their sharper shoulders.

I left the shop knowing I was going to be thinking about this guitar for a long time, only to discover the next day they announced a Memorial Day sale! This guitar would now be 15% off!

I can't lie, business has been good lately, and this year is my 25th anniversary of playing guitar. Time to stimulate the economy!

This morning I was was the first person outside the store when they opened. Thankfully the guy who was helping me 2 days ago was there again today so hopefully he was able to see a tiny commission?

Can't say enough good things about my shop Grayson's Tune Town. Super friendly and welcoming staff. There's a reason they've been open since 1953. They have a reverb shop and great selection!

Next step is to throw some double creams in there! What do you think, pickguard on or off?

Ross.
Click to expand...
What pickups are in there now? Pickguard off.
 
Yup, pickguard off, unless you are a strummer who will leave strum marks all over it! That is a stunning guitar.

Personally I wouldn't be too quick to replace the pickups, but that's just me. Gibson knows how to make a great pickup. Sometimes it's the pots which can make more difference in sound. A good Les Paul can be a surprisingly versatile guitar. Have fun with that one!
 
Wow I love the top on that, it's a lot more interesting than a perfect book matched flame top you'd see on a custom shop. I love the mineral lines and space in it.

Like @HamishR said id leave the burstbucker 1 and 2 in there unless they're really not floating your boat, I think they're great pickups.

For me I'd get some taller historic pickup rings, leave the pick guard on and then play the crap put of it.

Good score dude.
 
Actually that's a good point about the pickup rings. I didn't realise that the Historic rings are taller - and I have a Historic Les Paul. I really like the tall bridge pickup ring. Now that I look at Mr Belt's Les Paul I realise that yes, the pickup rings are taller.

The first thing I did when I got my Les Paul was remove the guard. But I'm very much a picker - pick and fingers. Not much of a strummer. So I don't have to worry about marks on the top so much.

Damn that's a gorgeous looking guitar. I love that finish.
 
UtilityBeltFX said:
Burstbucker 1 and 2s. Surprisingly bright for Alnico II. They sound great but I'm having a local guy wind me up something a little different.
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I had some of those, they weren’t my favs either. The 2 and 3 sound much better. Classic 57s are great, too. Just hang on to the original pickups, after you sell them you’ll come up with a reason you need them back.
 
I admittedly don’t really keep up a ton with Gibson’s various models but when I first saw the pic I thought it must be a custom shop. Maybe I am off base but that seems like a super nice top for a “standard”!

I’ll be the dissenting voice tho: I am almost always pro-pickguard on Les Pauls. I get not wanting to cover a nice top…but when I think Les Paul, I think Jimmy Page (I know, I know, Telecaster, blah blah) and that’s always the “look” that comes to mind for me.
 
Joben Magooch said:
I admittedly don’t really keep up a ton with Gibson’s various models but when I first saw the pic I thought it must be a custom shop. Maybe I am off base but that seems like a super nice top for a “standard”!

I’ll be the dissenting voice tho: I am almost always pro-pickguard on Les Pauls. I get not wanting to cover a nice top…but when I think Les Paul, I think Jimmy Page (I know, I know, Telecaster, blah blah) and that’s always the “look” that comes to mind for me.
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It's their "Figured Top" Standard. https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Guitar/Les-Paul-Standard-50s-Figured-Top/Honey-Amber
 
HamishR said:
Actually that's a good point about the pickup rings. I didn't realise that the Historic rings are taller - and I have a Historic Les Paul. I really like the tall bridge pickup ring. Now that I look at Mr Belt's Les Paul I realise that yes, the pickup rings are taller.
Click to expand...
Any issues with palm muting?
 
UtilityBeltFX said:
View attachment 75753View attachment 75755View attachment 75758View attachment 75757

I mean what can I say that these pictures don't?

Two days ago I went to my local shop to try out some amps. This highly figured monster caught my eye and after plugging it in I fell in love. Plays and sounds as good as it looks.

It's a 50's Standard Figured in Honey Amber.

I was always worried 50s necks would be too big for me because I have pretty small hands, but it's actually very comfortable! In fact I found the slim 60s necks to be somewhat uncomfortable due to their sharper shoulders.

I left the shop knowing I was going to be thinking about this guitar for a long time, only to discover the next day they announced a Memorial Day sale! This guitar would now be 15% off!

I can't lie, business has been good lately, and this year is my 25th anniversary of playing guitar. Time to stimulate the economy!

This morning I was was the first person outside the store when they opened. Thankfully the guy who was helping me 2 days ago was there again today so hopefully he was able to see a tiny commission?

Can't say enough good things about my shop Grayson's Tune Town. Super friendly and welcoming staff. There's a reason they've been open since 1953. They have a reverb shop and great selection!

Next step is to throw some double creams in there! What do you think, pickguard on or off?

Ross.
Click to expand...
Beautiful geetar!!! I know the feeling about playing one and being obsessed until you get it in your hands!!

jimilee said:
I had some of those, they weren’t my favs either. The 2 and 3 sound much better. Classic 57s are great, too. Just hang on to the original pickups, after you sell them you’ll come up with a reason you need them back.
Click to expand...
I believe BB1 and BB2 are in all of Warren Haynes guitars. I’m personally partial to the BB61 myself. I know I can get some good Fillmore like tones from them. I also have a couple with the Custombucker, which as much as I love the guitars, I’m not quite sure how I feel about those pickups… one day I may love them and the next I wish they had a little more sparkle.
 
The pickguard looks fine and has that classic look. Without the pickguard you see more of the that awesome figuring and it looks more like a hot rod to me. I'd probably go without it, but you really can't lose either way.
 
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Sorry for the gtr porn but I just installed these Total Gravy Guitarworks Mid PAFs in my Les Paul and I'm so in love. Not only do they look great but they sound phenomenal! Roughcast Alnico 4, 8k/7k. They sound like a perfect Les Paul. Dynamic, clear, and full. I'll record a video demo soon!

PS, I'm watching the Sopranos with my wife right now (her first time) and I ended up naming this guitar Carmela. Just seemed fitting and a fun snapshot of this moment in our lives.

I also upgraded the pickup rings to historic heights using the Vintage Size Butyrate Pickup rings from Philadelphia Luthier Tools.
 
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