skipii
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by skipii on Jun 10, 2006 10:34:29 GMT -5
I am considering getting a Les Paul and am totally lost on the basic differences between Standard, Classic, Studio, etc. I have been on the Gibson site but the differences in specs alone do not always tell the story (e.g. they might list a different pickups but that does not tell me the differences in sound).
Can anyone here just give me a simply line-up -- e.g. something that simply gives the basic models and describes things like differences in sound quality, headstock size, neck action, practical differences in bridges, etc. Also, at what point did Gibson get quality back from their dark days in the 80s? Are there any idiosyncracies I shoukld be aware of from one model to another.
I generally like a narrower neck, carbed top, no pickguard and no tremolo.
Finally, does someone here recall a website from a mfgr. who builds custom guitars with fabulous quiled maple? I recall seeing it on this site months ago. I think it might be the same guitar that Joe Walsh used on his Renunion tour with the Eagles.
thanks for any and all help.
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Post by lawrencedesigns on Jun 10, 2006 20:23:08 GMT -5
Skipii,
I am certainly no expert, but let me tell you what I know from my recent acquisition.
I assume you mean vibrato bar when you say you don't want tremolo. Currently, none of the LP's available feature that.
The most obvious difference (besides price) between the Studio model and the Standard and Classic is the missing binding around the edge, and the pickups. While the higher end Pauls have the Burstbuckers with alnico, the Standards have the ceramic magnet bucker and the Studios have the 490/498 alnico humbuckers.
Sound difference? That is a matter of taste. To me the burstbuckers have the old PAF sound while the 490/498 has a little crisper top end. It's all subjective, just go and listen to them.
Last Christmas my wife gave me a Studio plus model. The difference between the Studio and the "plus" is that the plus has a carved maple top. Mine is desert burst, and like all of the burst models, the pickguard is not installed. Sort of changes the symmetry. However, it is included and can be attached. I also think the white binding on a burst top never looks as good as the melting of the color all the way to the edge.
I replaced the tuners with gold grover locking tuners.. Cost me about $45.
It did come from the factory set up rather well, but I did a very slight fret leveling to get rid of a small buzz at the 10th fret.
My favorite mod, however, was flying with it to New York to see the man himself at the Iridium, and have him sign it for me.
I have been very pleased with the guitar. For $1300, I think I really got my moneys worth.
Hope this helps a little...
Keeth Lawrence
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servant
Meter Reader 1st Class
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Post by servant on Jun 27, 2006 23:13:20 GMT -5
I don't know for how long the options have been offered, and on how many Les Paul models it is offered on, but another difference is the neck.
I have a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard. I had a choice between a (what I will call) bulky '50s-profile neck, and a slim '60s-profile neck. This difference in thickness is between the fretboard and the back of the neck (think of holding a guitar with your fingers on the fretboard and your thumb in the center of the back of the neck. The space between your fingers and your thumb is where this thickness differs).
I had tried an LP Studio and a Standard with the '50s neck and found them a bit to "clunky" for my liking. (My other guitars are a Strat and Epi Casino.) The '60s neck just felt/feels great to me so that's what I got.
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Post by vonFrenchie on Jul 9, 2006 23:15:51 GMT -5
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