Slightly sloppy finishing and the sticky neck for the first couple days until it is 'broken in' but I love this guitar and will own it for a long time.
Les Paul Custom
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on november 09, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: Guitar Center
Features: You're run of the mill LP Custom except that this is an '08 model in the rare oxblood color, and no, not the obscenely expensive and pointless Jeff Beck model, just an LP Custom in oxblood. Apparently Gibson makes only a few a year. Anyways, yea the rest is just a run of the mill Custom, 490/498 pups, maple top, mahogany back and neck, gold hardware. // 10
Sound: It's got that sustain, tone, and fatness for hard rock, metal, and alternative, but can also roll back the volume for a nice clean jazzy sound with gobs of clean sustaining tone. Not so jangly or anything, maybe that's why LP owners get a Tele in conjunction, but I never been a fan of that shrill jangly sound anyway. Overall, this guitar can cover a lot of styles and sounds you're looking for. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: Givin it an 8 here just cuz mine had a few things that caught my eye, like a few spot where the finish bleeds into the binding, but I ain't to concerned bout the cosmetics too much cuz I need a guitar I can play and if it can do that, I'm good. Action was set to go for speed right out the case. That ebony fretboard and I dunno, maybe Gibson just sets the action slightly lower than their Standards, cuz I owned a Standard and hated it, but my fingers got a speeding ticket on this fretboard. // 8
Reliability & Durability: When I first got it, I was so afraid to ding it, scratch it, or bump it, so I hardly played it, but I soon realized these guitars don't really wanna sit in your closet like some people have them do. I started using mine for everything, recording mostly, playing live, just messing around, and it broke in so nicely that I won't touch any of my other four guitars being a custom Jackson, Fender Deluxe Strat, Jackson Stars Custom, and Ibanez Prestige. I been playing it and have a few dings, but no biggie, can't see myself wanting to get rid of it anytime soon. // 10
Impression: I play everything from jazz to blues to metal to classical to classic rock to alternative, what have ya, but maybe I got lucky cuz I know with as many axes that Gibson churns out a day from their factory, they can produce some real duds. So test your Gibson out well before you buy, cuz I got me a real winner and I love it // 10
Les Paul Custom
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on november 09, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: A$ 3900
Purchased from: Guitar World
Features: This is a 2011 black Les Paul Custom. 22 frets with a carved maple top and mahogany body. It has a '59 rounded neck profile with pearl block inlays on an ebony fretboard. Pick-ups are 490R in the neck and 498T in the bridge position. The fit and finish is just about perfect - I can't find any problems with it anywhere. Everything fits together really well, couldn't be more pleased with it. I've seen some Les Pauls that don't look that well built, but this one seems really good. // 9
Sound: I generally play blues and classic rock, but also like to be able to play hard rock and jazz on occassion. I think the Les Paul can play most stuff well, but for me it really fits the blues / classic rock better than anything. However, with stronger pick-ups or different amp / pedals it could easily get to metal territory. The sustain is simply amazing on this guitar. I also find it so much easier to get and maintain vibrato on this than any of my other guitars, no doubt due to the amazing sustain.
My other two guitars are an Ibanez SZ320 and an American Standard Strat. I've changed the pick-ups on both of those guitars as the originals (especially on the Strat) didn't have the sound I wanted. I won't be doing that on the Les Paul. The pickups are great and take different amp settings and pedals really well. The sound is really deep and rich - creamy is the best way I can put it - when played at low to mid volumes, with beautiful crunch on everything. Clean sounds are wonderful and deep. When played at full volume with the amp cranked up it can just scream.
I find I can jam along to tracks on this that I couldn't get near with my other guitars because they couldn't cut through at high volumes without sounding too harsh. I still use the Strat and Ibanez an awful lot, but there's no doubt that the Les Paul fills a void I had in my sound. Love it. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: I've had both my Ibanez and Strat professionally set up (the Strat twice) to get the action and playability right. I don't have to do that with the Les Paul. The action is lower than my other guitars (even after their set-ups) and there's absolutely no buzz. Really impressed with it. It plays smoothly and quickly. Bends are an absolute joy. The rounded neck is very comfortable. // 9
Reliability & Durability: You can definitely tell the difference in price in all three of my guitars. The Ibanez is a great guitar for the money, but it feels less well built than the Strat. The Les Paul is obviously the most expensive though. It's heavier, better finished and much more solid. I do notice the difference in weight between the Les Paul and the Strat and sometimes find myself changing back to the Strat after an hour or so when my shoulder starts to feel the weight. Other than that, I would have no problem playing this live.
Badly looked after Les Pauls last decades and I have no reason to believe that mine will be any less impressive. Some of the gold is already staring to wear thin on the screws, but I think that's to be expected and I actually like the slightly used look on guitars. I wouldn't use is as a sole guitar at a gig, but that's really because I like having multiple guitars to get the different sounds I'm looking for. // 9
Impression: I was between this and a PRS McCarty '58. I spent a long time playing both at the guitar shop. The PRS is a wonderful guitar and has a lot of different sounds to it, but essentially a Les Paul is a Les Paul and once I found one that was well built with that wonderful creamy sound, there was no real contest. If I didn't have a Strat then the PRS might have had a better chance but I figured since the PRS really tries to sound like either a Start or a Les Paul, and I already had a Strat, I may as well get the other one.
I'm sure I would have been very happy with the PRS as well, but I know I've made the right decision with this one. I've been playing for about fifteen years, though only seriously for the last three. I've had five guitars myself over this time and have played many more. The Les Paul is as good as anything I've every picked up. If it was stolen I would definitely get another, but would take my time to find the right one. // 9
Les Paul Custom
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on november 09, 2012 2 of 27 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 4000
Purchased from: Guitar Center
Features: Wow. The "features" of this guitar were dissapointing. This is a 2010 model and it lacks in features. When will Gibson learn that a full 24 fret neck is good and offer Ebony insted of rosewood. For 4k you are stuck with rosewood bord tune o matic Bridge and stock gibby pups. The headstock also need to be re angeled or it breaks off. I could see this kind of stuff on a guitar under 1k but for 4 no thank you gibson. Also set neck is the worst neck joint ever. Just make it neck thru it will be 1000 times better. // 1
Sound: Well my hind end gets a tone after eating spicy mexican food that's better than this. Talk about muddy. I'm playing it through a Peavey JSX and a 6505 and it has no balls. The attack is weak and the guitar has way to much fret buzz. The neck joint makes reaching the upper frets impossible and the notes fret out anyway. // 1
Action, Fit & Finish: Hear we go. What factory setup? For 4k+ this is single handedly the worst guitar I have ever had the horror of playing. The frets were not installed properly. I could fit my pinkey finger between the strings at the 12th fret and their was still alot of buzz. The pickups were not wired in properly and the tune 0 matic Bridge was way off center. After a week in my house the maple top started to come off because of the humidity. And the tuneing satbility of the guitar was horrible. The going out of tune problem is because of the set neck. I have a Ibanez V Blade and a BC Rich Handmade V and they don't go out of tune ever. The neck thru necks are why. Terrible just terrible. // 1
Reliability & Durability: I would never use this guitar live. The finish is to delicat and the tuneing stability make it unplayable. The strap buttons are in the wrong place and the guitar is to heavy. The finish looks good but it is not durable at all. And the head stock will break if I drop it. I guss is should break it off and glue it back at least then it will be durable. // 1
Impression: This guitar sucks. I've been playing for 10 years and own a usa BC Rich V, Ibanez V Blade and a Jackson KV2 and all three of those guitars make this one look like shit. I wouldn't want this guitar to get stolen because I wouldn't want that person to have to deal with the shit of this guitar. Just because it says Gibson on the headstock dosnt mean its good. For 4k I could of got a Custom Ran guitar and a Engl savage. Oh and one last thing Gibson GUITARS ARE NOT HANDMADE. They are made on a cnc machine to cut cost. I wish I could rate this a 0 because that's what it is. Don't belive the hype Gibson guitars are turds. // 1
Les Paul Custom
Reviewed by:
Sleazeball, on november 09, 2012 1 of 3 people found this review helpful
Price paid: £ 2369
Purchased from: Digital Village, Romford
Features: Purchased new in 2010 (assuming it's either a 2009 or 2010 model) this is a Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul Custom. Mine is a Black Beauty style - Ebony with Gold Hardware but with 2 pickups.
Typical les paul configuration:- 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, 3 way selector, tune-o-matic bridge & stop tailpiece, 22 frets, set neck with a 50's profile, block inlays, Gibson 498T and 490R pickups. Came with a Gibson Custom case, truss rod & restringing manuals, warranty card etc.
Rating 8 because you buy a Les Paul knowing it has somewhat confined fret access, although it has a versatile electronics conficuration. // 8
Sound: Fantastic sound. I also own a Jackson KV2 which I upgraded with a Brass Big Block, but in terms of sustain, resonance and character, even the upgraded Jackson cannot compete with the Les Paul.
Sounds that can be acheived are anything from crystal clean jazz to chunky metal sounds through the Gibson humbuckers. It cannot do singlecoil cleans, and isn't particularly suited to extremely high gain metal. I play this through a Marshall JVM410H, and whilst this guitar cuts through the mix, is deep and full sounding, has lovely character, the pickups do lend themselves to a bluesy/classic voicing, which kind of gives a slightly fizzy high gain tone for metal.
However, as said before, the guitar is versatile and will do most things. Sounds fantastic on a mid/high gain setting for hard rock. Wouldn't consider changing the pickups for anything other than perhaps a Duncan JB to 'clean up' the fizz for metal (I refer to metal tones a lot because I do play in a metal band, as well as a hard rock/groove band). // 8
Action, Fit & Finish: Action is fantastic. Very low straight off the peg but I lowered it a tiny bit further and no buzz at all. I wondered about Gibsons fretwork for a while as I owned a Les Paul Standard Faded for about a week which had high action and bent notes fretted out past the 12th fret. Pickups were actually a little too high from factory set up so I lowered them a bit. Hardware all intact and the guitar looks gorgeous, intonated and tuned up perfectly straight out of the box.
However, upon closer inspection the guitar does have a few cosmetic factory flaws. Nothing huge, but it looks like there are some small filing dents/blemishes on the neck binding just below the pickup selector, when I changed the strings there was some debris which came out of the nut which appears to have not been cut properly. Slightly sloppy paintwork around the neck joint, but as suggested before, it's hardly noticeable until you really inspect the guitar. // 7
Reliability & Durability: Used it twice live within the first week of getting it. Feels very solid like a Les Paul should, very confident it will hold up for many years of gigging with no issues. Hardware is generally very solid, wouldn't use it without a backup as that's asking for trouble at a live gig!
However, I still can't appreciate Gibson's "vintage style" strap buttons. Gibson should take note of Jackson/BC Rich oversied strap buttons and put these on stock - much safer, but then again anyone who wants to use this guitar live and not have it crash to the floor will put strap buttons on.
The finish is a nitrocellulose, and while Gibson advertise this style finish as much better for "allowing the wood to breathe", for the first couple of days the guitars neck is quite sticky, but this goes away after playing and wiping with a cloth, and barely remains a problem. // 7
Impression: My main band is a melodic/thrash metal band (Megadeth/Testament/Paradise Lost), and this guitar plays like a dream. Soloing is easy, and rhythm tones sound chunky (although slightly fizzy as mentioned before), so I will continue to use my Jackson for this band (plus it has a whammy bar). I do however use this guitar for my other band (groove/hard rock) and it fits perfectly. Always wanted a Les Paul and the Custom is the cream of the crop. Looks, sounds and plays brilliantly for most styles.
Overall, slightly sloppy finishing and the sticky neck for the first couple days until it is 'broken in' but I love this guitar and will own it for a long time. // 8
Les Paul Custom
Reviewed by:
tristen_jones, on november 09, 2012 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 3500
Purchased from: House of Guitars
Features: My Les Paul was made in the USA in '09. There are 22 Ebony frets, they are jumbo, at least I think so compared to previous guitars I've had :P It's solid body and mad out of mahogany for both the neck and body. The finish is Alpine White and the only downside to it is that when it gets an indent or a stain it's quite noticeable unless you get rid of it. Same thing with dust, it gets very noticeable over time and you have to clean it time and time again. It's a cutaway making the higher frets easier to play solos on and it is a 3-way channel and it's Bridge is tune-o-matic and is fixed onto the body. The only thing that irritates me is that the G, B, and e strings will sometimes constantly become un-tuned. There are 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs and the downfall to them is that if you accidently pull up on one then it will pop up a little and stay that way. No matter how hard you push down. My Les Paul came with 2 Humbucker pick ups and of course with the Alpine White finish, it has gold hardware. Which wears off over time and you see the original silver or chrome colour that it was before. // 8
Sound: The. Sound. Is. AMAZING. That's all I can really say about it. You can play any type of genre on this guitar, from old school rock 'n roll to modern metal, doesn't matter. The tone can be very clean and crisp and then be vet fat and chunky. It's DELICIOUS xD This is one of the best sounding guitars I've ever heard. What I mainly play is punk-rock, alternative rock and old rock 'n roll and some metal and this guitar sounds great in all those genres. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: When I got this guitar, there was nothing wrong with it. At all. It looked like just how it would on the computer, or hanging up on the wall of Guitar Center or some other guitar store. It was beautiful. I didn't notice a thing wrong with it until of course the year it's been with me and the non stop playing I do with it ha ha. // 10
Reliability & Durability: I'm yet to play with this guitar live, but with all the playing that I do at home when I stand up, it holds up. I would definitely use it live w/o a backup if I needed too. The only issue that I really have with the strap buttons is that they are small. If you're gonna play standing up on a stage or wherever please for the sake of all good holy guitars, HAVE A STRAP LOCK. I've almost dropped this guitar more than once because of that issue. To go along with the finish lasting... Yes. I think it'll last you a long time as long as you're taking care of it and as long as you don't polish it with sandpaper :P // 9
Impression: This guitar goes perfectly with the type of music I play and will definitely go well with other types of music too. I play this guitar through a Marshall MG30FX with a MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal and the sound I get from it is just incredible. I've never had a sound so powerful but gentle at the same time. It's like hard to explain, it's just pure beauty ha ha If I ever lost this or it got stolen... I would definitely get my refund and get another ha ha. There isn't much I hate besides the things I mentioned before about the untuning and the noticeable dust and yadda yadda yadda. The things I love is that it is easy to pla. Most guitars that have paint over the neck get your hands stuclk or something but this one doesn't there isn't that friction between you and the guitar. When I bought this there wasn't much to compare it too lol this is the greatest guitar I'll ever own, the one I had before this was a Greg Benette Samick Torino TR-1 which was still amazing but traded the babe in for my bass. There's nothing to really wish it had. It has everything that you would expect out of a Gibson. It goes above and beyond the standards of any guitar. // 9
That's my problem with Gibson, each will be slightly unique, and not always in a good way, whether it's a cosmetic blemish or whatever..
I just don't ever see myself shelling out more then a few hundred on a guitar like a Gibby.. The cash used could buy a damn good guitar from another brand AND a decent amp.
But, you pay for the name.. Whatever floats your boat.
If Gibsons weren't so crazy expensive, I'd own one in a heartbeat. But the price tag.. Yeesh. Too much.
I love how the starter guitars get 9s and 10s and a Gibson Les Paul Custom gets a 7.6 >.>
That's generally because the cheaper guitars are bought by less discriminating players. When someone tells you a $300 guitar is amazing and is as good as a much more expensive guitar, you know where they're coming from.
To the reviewer, yes Gibson's can have minor cosmetic flaws because so much of the work is done by hand and the unlike bolt-ons the guitar is finished after the neck is set, so a lot of masking and binding scraping is required.Thinner nitro finishes don't cover up the wood as much as the plastic poly ones do either.
There's really nothing like the feel of a true Les Paul, it's just that so many players don't appreciate them.
Good luck and enjoy it.
Maybe if people didn't flame the reviewers everytime they give high marks, they'd give scores that make sense. Very cool guitar, by the way. Love the look, might be fun to play.
Does anyone think it's the player that matters, not the guitar? Some local bar bands I've spoken to always say, "If you don't have pro gear, don't bother, I don't care how good you are."
Hand Of Stone wrote: Very cool guitar, by the way. Love the look, might be fun to play.
It's definitely fun , it's a custom, from my personal experience a custom knocked my socks off! I think vintage is the way to go with Gibson though.
I'm still trying to get a 1978 Les Paul Custom in Silverburst. Customs feel and play like a dream. I encounter that sticky neck with a lot of Les Paul necks, it's just the lacquer, doesn't effect playability and it smells awesome!
I have an 07 LP Custom. It is by far the best feeling, sounding guitar ive ever played. It helps that Im running it through a marshall JCM 2000. I love how people bitch about the price. Its a piece of history. My Grandfather gave my dad a rare mossberg shotgun which was then given to me. I will rewrite this trend with my Gibson LP. Its a guitar that does nothing but gain value if you take care of it. Youll never see it in a pawn shop like all the other mass produced guitars. All gibson les pauls are awesome. The custom isnt for everyone (Thicker neck) but if you can afford it. GET IT. you will never be dissatisfied
Youll never see it in a pawn shop like all the other mass produced guitars.
Yet, i've seen Gibson Les Pauls of various different production years and series in pawn shops before...
And right now there's an old (dunno the year, though), yellow Doublecut in a nearby pawn shop that i don't "rescue" because i just don't have the money.
Well clearly you live around idiots....or theives. because who in their right mind would take a Gibson guitar to a pawn shop where youll get 30% of its actual worth. Ive been to countless pawn shops and ive never seen a gibson product in there. Im not sure exactly what your point is anyway. Just disputing the pawn shop statement?
Im going to have to say Gibsons are usually a bit too much $$$$ if you know what i mean and never have i seen a Gibson les paul for less than a grand, then you get fenders yeah still a bit pricey but from $300 and more no wonder its the best selling guitar in the world still to expensive in my eyes
i got a good deal on a used 70's gibson les paul custom a few years ago and it's the best guitar i've ever owned. it really does kick the crap out of an epiphone so if you think you're getting a comparable guitar for a few grand less.....no not even close. it also kicks the crap out on my les paul studio which is still an ok guitar. i totally agree that the price of a custom is pure madness and my custom isn't 2,000 better than my studio but it's definitely a significant upgrade. my suggestion is to buy a custom from someone who put different pickups in it which diminishes the value considerably and then put gibson pickups back in it.
Well clearly you live around idiots....or theives. because who in their right mind would take a Gibson guitar to a pawn shop where youll get 30% of its actual worth. Ive been to countless pawn shops and ive never seen a gibson product in there. Im not sure exactly what your point is anyway. Just disputing the pawn shop statement?
Yes, i'm disputing the pawn shop statement.
Because i've seen them in pawn shops before, and i'm sure i'll continue to find them every once in a while.
And i'm willing to bet they're safe and legit, not stolen (at least most of the times).
The old, yellow Doublecut i mentioned earlier, for example, was sold by the daughter of a recently deceased man. (If only i had the money...)
These days It's the brand and that's that. 2500 Pounds for a faulty made guitar is unacceptable. Could probably be buying Suhr, PRS etc. for that price.
Gibson's are amazing but for that price (about $2000) I could build the best custom guitar with the best woods, finish, hardware etc.
All of you fail that say you're just paying for the name when it comes to Gibson.
You can't compare a Gibson Les Paul Custom to an Epiphone Les Paul Custom. While the Gibson is 5 times the cost, it uses better woods, better hardware, better electronics, tuners, wire, pots and is way higher in quality.
While some Epi LP's will be comparable to a Gibson LP, they will never be matched. Gibsons aren't mass produced in a Chinese factory, out of crappy "almost mahogany."
They're made in America. Almost entirely by hand. A Gibson Guitar goes through a dozen or so workers before leaving the factory to be sold. Gibsons play and sound way better than any Epiphone copy, that's for damn sure.
Most of you have no idea what you're talking about. The fact that the finish is smudged is slightly unacceptable, but there's no way you can say any guitar, regardless the price range has any defects at all of any kind. No guitar is perfect.
You can buff out Nitro, too. You can make virtually any dent in Nitro go away. The debris from the nut could just be from the string sitting in the nut for awhile before being sold. It's possible the string settled in a little. It doesn't mean that it wasn't cut properly.
Yeah. I hate people who put Gibson's on a freaking pedestal. There are quality guitar's out there, and limiting yourself to Gibson's, you're missing out on a lot of things. However, I will say that a Gibson SG is a better bet than a Les Paul, hands down.
If you want a real review, come back in a year. Every handmade guitar I've ever owned (okay, just two) sounded better after a year than when I first got it. Like acoustics, they really do break in. My Les Paul has more resonance now than when I first got it, and I attribute that to the nitro finish. If you've ever stripped the paint off a poly finished guitar and left it with just a stain and a clearcoat, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Think about acoustic guitars: solid tops sound better, because it's all wood. Laminate tops resonate less because they're partially plastic. Poly finishes are plastic.
These days It's the brand and that's that. 2500 Pounds for a faulty made guitar is unacceptable. Could probably be buying Suhr, PRS etc. for that price.
Gibson's are amazing but for that price (about $2000) I could build the best custom guitar with the best woods, finish, hardware etc.
And your guitar would be worth dick on the used market, unless it had a name brand attached. You are paying for the name, but not in the way that you think. Name brand guitars hold their value because people know what they are. If you bought a McNought (amazing PRS-style guitars) or a Heritage (Gibson style), you could get equal quality to a PRS or Gibson for less. But since people don't know those names, you'll never be able to sell it for what it's "worth."
I've used this example before, but let's talk kitchen knives. I like to use knives as an example, because it's the sort of product that seems stupid to spend too much on, unless you've used a really good one. I have Wustof and LamsonSharp knives. Both are made with the exact same steel from the exact same forge. The Wustof is made in Germany, the Lamson in Massachusetts. Both are remarkable quality, and both cost me about $50 each.
I could sell the Wustof for $40 on ebay, easy. I could maybe get $20 for the Lamson.
Why? Because anybody that is into food and cooking knows the Wustof name. Many people have never heard of LamsonSharp, despite the company being around (minus the 'sharp') for some 100 years.
Now back to guitars. If you want something to play and enjoy, Heritage, Suhr, and the like are just as good as Gibsons and Fenders. If you want to keep it for 20+ years, nothing beats a Gibson or a Fender.
jean_genie is right. Gibson can get away with their price tags because they are Gibson. You will never, at least not in next 40 years, see an epiphone LP on the used market hold up to a Gibson, it just won't happen.
LP's by Samick, Epi, etc. are all great instruments, but the fact is that people don't consolidate those names with excellence and with people like Slash, Hendrix or Vaughan. It's silly, yes, but the fact is that people wanna replicate the big names, I know I did when I got my first guitar (a Stag LP knock off).
almost two and a half grand?
i don't think any piece of tree is worth that much.
So you're happy paying $1000 - $1500 for Korean built guitars? Or would you rather pay over $3000 for a PRS?
In the grand scheme of things be serious guys, 2-1/2 grand is not a ton of money. A good set of golf clubs,a one year membership at a club, hockey equipment and fees for a year, joining a soccer league can all easily run or top that amount. For some reason UG'ers will think nothing of buying a $1000+ amp to play in their bedroom or garage, and play a $400 guitar through it and yet balk at buying a serious guitar. I never did understand this attitude.
Well clearly you live around idiots....or theives. because who in their right mind would take a Gibson guitar to a pawn shop where youll get 30% of its actual worth. Ive been to countless pawn shops and ive never seen a gibson product in there. Im not sure exactly what your point is anyway. Just disputing the pawn shop statement?
Yes, i'm disputing the pawn shop statement.
Because i've seen them in pawn shops before, and i'm sure i'll continue to find them every once in a while.
And i'm willing to bet they're safe and legit, not stolen (at least most of the times).
The old, yellow Doublecut i mentioned earlier, for example, was sold by the daughter of a recently deceased man.
(If only i had the money...)
Who cares? I was making a point. You will never see a Gibson les paul custom hanging in a pawn shop.
I'm surprised to see this fantastic axe getting such a low overall rating, comparing to some Behringers, Staggs, Agiles and Dimaverys reviewed here at the UG. Its rating is actually smaller than Epiphone's LP Custom, its step-brother!
In fact, this is one of the most touching guitars one can get on this planet. It sounds like heaven, its warmth is second to none and its versatility is amazing. Pure Gibson quality and knowledge, for those who make music, not something that only sounds like it.
"I play this guitar through a Marshall MG30FX with a MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal and the sound I get from it is just incredible."
No, I'm sorry :p I've played my Les Paul Traditional, Jackson SLSMG and three beginner guitars through my old MG30, and it sounds like utter shit. ANY guitar sounds like shit through that amp.
I'm not just jumping on the MG's-suck-bandwagon here, it just flat out sucks. I'm hoping you are a troll sir.
For the price, there are better options in the world. Hell, a USA Jackson KV2 can be picked up for around 2 grand and you get more options (ie 22 vs 24 frets, a original Floyd Rose, and a neck-thru design.)
For the price, there are better options in the world. Hell, a USA Jackson KV2 can be picked up for around 2 grand and you get more options (ie 22 vs 24 frets, a original Floyd Rose, and a neck-thru design.)
But lots of people don't want 24 frets, a Floyd rose or neck-through construction. It's not like one does everything the other does and more. They do different things... well, differently.
For the price, there are better options in the world. Hell, a USA Jackson KV2 can be picked up for around 2 grand and you get more options (ie 22 vs 24 frets, a original Floyd Rose, and a neck-thru design.)
lol you realize that Floyd Rose's kill your sustain and mess with your bends right? something people would never want on a Les Paul except for maybe Alex Lifeson..
For the price, there are better options in the world. Hell, a USA Jackson KV2 can be picked up for around 2 grand and you get more options (ie 22 vs 24 frets, a original Floyd Rose, and a neck-thru design.)
24 frets are important only for those who use them. Don't forget Jimi had only 21 of them and... well, he played 1000 times better than all of the metal stars nowadays.
I very much doubt a Jackson could be a better choice than this LP. I also very much doubt someone who looks for LP's features will ever appreciate those of Jackson's. I don't want to say a Jackson is not a good guitar, it is only very different from the Les Paul. The two of them can be compared only by people who think about guitars as related to figures and not to sound and feel.
All of you fail that say you're just paying for the name when it comes to Gibson.
You can't compare a Gibson Les Paul Custom to an Epiphone Les Paul Custom. While the Gibson is 5 times the cost, it uses better woods, better hardware, better electronics, tuners, wire, pots and is way higher in quality.
While some Epi LP's will be comparable to a Gibson LP, they will never be matched. Gibsons aren't mass produced in a Chinese factory, out of crappy "almost mahogany."
They're made in America. Almost entirely by hand. A Gibson Guitar goes through a dozen or so workers before leaving the factory to be sold. Gibsons play and sound way better than any Epiphone copy, that's for damn sure.
Most of you have no idea what you're talking about. The fact that the finish is smudged is slightly unacceptable, but there's no way you can say any guitar, regardless the price range has any defects at all of any kind. No guitar is perfect.
You can buff out Nitro, too. You can make virtually any dent in Nitro go away. The debris from the nut could just be from the string sitting in the nut for awhile before being sold. It's possible the string settled in a little. It doesn't mean that it wasn't cut properly.
Agree with nearrrly everything you said. Epi don't "copy" Gibson, so to speak. Gibson own Epiphone =L
Sorry to be pedantic.
almost two and a half grand?
i don't think any piece of tree is worth that much.
So you're happy paying $1000 - $1500 for Korean built guitars? Or would you rather pay over $3000 for a PRS?
In the grand scheme of things be serious guys, 2-1/2 grand is not a ton of money. A good set of golf clubs,a one year membership at a club, hockey equipment and fees for a year, joining a soccer league can all easily run or top that amount. For some reason UG'ers will think nothing of buying a $1000+ amp to play in their bedroom or garage, and play a $400 guitar through it and yet balk at buying a serious guitar. I never did understand this attitude.
They're made in America. Almost entirely by hand. A Gibson Guitar goes through a dozen or so workers before leaving the factory to be sold.
And still there are glaring imperfections
Gibsons are Iconic,60's~70's Guitars
Like Harley Davidson motorbikes,The Japanese copied,and then drastically improved the quality and specifacations.
Same with Guitars~A high end Japanese Burny Les Paul puts Gibson to shame in every aspect At a 1/3rd of the price
What the **** is this review ? I see the word "fantastic" and the rating is a 7, "plays like a dream" gets an 8.
RETARD
You have to remember that all things within the category are considered. Even if one thing is perfect, another thing might not be, which therefore takes the average score down.
The gold finish on my pups, tuner keys, and bridge is already fading or rubbing off! When I got it I didn't notice that it had a Run in the finish on the side of my gibby! I'm not complaining its like it is relicing itself! The Guitar plays awesomely!
jean_genie is right. Gibson can get away with their price tags because they are Gibson. You will never, at least not in next 40 years, see an epiphone LP on the used market hold up to a Gibson, it just won't happen.
LP's by Samick, Epi, etc. are all great instruments, but the fact is that people don't consolidate those names with excellence and with people like Slash, Hendrix or Vaughan. It's silly, yes, but the fact is that people wanna replicate the big names, I know I did when I got my first guitar (a Stag LP knock off).
don't ever mention Slash in the same sentence as Hendrix or SRV
jean_genie is right. Gibson can get away with their price tags because they are Gibson. You will never, at least not in next 40 years, see an epiphone LP on the used market hold up to a Gibson, it just won't happen.
LP's by Samick, Epi, etc. are all great instruments, but the fact is that people don't consolidate those names with excellence and with people like Slash, Hendrix or Vaughan. It's silly, yes, but the fact is that people wanna replicate the big names, I know I did when I got my first guitar (a Stag LP knock off).
don't ever mention Slash in the same sentence as Hendrix or SRV
I'm surprised to see this fantastic axe getting such a low overall rating, comparing to some Behringers, Staggs, Agiles and Dimaverys reviewed here at the UG. Its rating is actually smaller than Epiphone's LP Custom, its step-brother!
In fact, this is one of the most touching guitars one can get on this planet. It sounds like heaven, its warmth is second to none and its versatility is amazing. Pure Gibson quality and knowledge, for those who make music, not something that only sounds like it.
Yeah, there is no guitar that sounds like Gibson Les Paul Custom.
And those who are complaining that Jackson are better and stuff.. Not everyone wants to have 24 frets or a Floyd Rose, like some have stated above.
I,myself,currently have an Ibanez RG which has 24 frets, is made in Japan, has basswood body and AANJ design bolt-on neck and a really good licensed Floyd Rose (Older edge), but I've grown out of the whole guitar. That's why I've started saving up for a Gibson Les Paul, but not yet a Custom. That'd be too much money spent compared to my amps and my skill.
I think Mr. Unregistered is full of it. If you really paid $4000 for this guitar, you got ripped off. But I don't think you even own this guitar. I doubt you own any nice guitars. I bet you can't play half as good as you think you can!
These days It's the brand and that's that. 2500 Pounds for a faulty made guitar is unacceptable. Could probably be buying Suhr, PRS etc. for that price.
Gibson's are amazing but for that price (about $2000) I could build the best custom guitar with the best woods, finish, hardware etc.
I love how the starter guitars get 9s and 10s and a Gibson Les Paul Custom gets a 7.6 >.>
Probably because if youre shelling out 3.5 - 4 grand, if it isn't perfect it's going to be marked harshly. For that kind of cash I expect my axe to perfect right out of the box.
If you buy a Epi or some such starter guitar copy, you expect its going to have flaws, but also youre paying 60% - 70% for it also, so it's not as big a deal when you find them.
There is no way the first guy is giving a serious review! He is either joking or he works for Fender...
No, he doesn't mention Fender once. If anything he works for Ibanez.
But seriously, if I even tried to believe what the first reviewer says about the guitar - which I don't - the whole story just doesn't make any sense. Paid $k at Guitar Center, right? What, you didn't play it first and notice the bad action? Or the off-center bridge? Or the tone that you hate so much? Or that it didn't have the number of frets you wanted? Or that you didn't like the neck? Or that the finish was flawed? And when it started to come apart on you, you didn't BRING IT THE F* BACK? (Say what you want about Guitar Center, they're great about returns, at least in my neck of the woods.) Also, I've never EVER heard of an LP custom with a rosewood fingerboard - not that there's even anything wrong with rosewood (I have like 5 guitars with rosewood fb's), but LP customs all come with ebony fingerboards. That's just how they're made - hey, maybe you really did get a 'custom' custom LP, handmade with a rosewood fingerboard, the only one of its kind on earth!
And about the headstock - yes, they break if you drop the guitar on it. So DON'T DROP IT ON ITS HEADSTOCK, Einstein! Regardless of whether the headstock snaps off, I can't think of any guitar that's better off for having been dropped.
Let me also say that I have nothing against Ibanez - I've never owned or played one and probably never will - or Jackson (same), but a lot of folks seem to like them. That's cool, how did I know after the first sentence that this review would talk about how awesome Ibanez guitars are? Dude, why didn't you go get your $4k back and buy 10 Ibanez?
There is no way the first guy is giving a serious review! He is either joking or he works for Fender...
No, he doesn't mention Fender once. If anything he works for Ibanez.
But seriously, if I even tried to believe what the first reviewer says about the guitar - which I don't - the whole story just doesn't make any sense. Paid $k at Guitar Center, right? What, you didn't play it first and notice the bad action? Or the off-center bridge? Or the tone that you hate so much? Or that it didn't have the number of frets you wanted? Or that you didn't like the neck? Or that the finish was flawed? And when it started to come apart on you, you didn't BRING IT THE F* BACK? (Say what you want about Guitar Center, they're great about returns, at least in my neck of the woods.) Also, I've never EVER heard of an LP custom with a rosewood fingerboard - not that there's even anything wrong with rosewood (I have like 5 guitars with rosewood fb's), but LP customs all come with ebony fingerboards. That's just how they're made - hey, maybe you really did get a 'custom' custom LP, handmade with a rosewood fingerboard, the only one of its kind on earth!
And about the headstock - yes, they break if you drop the guitar on it. So DON'T DROP IT ON ITS HEADSTOCK, Einstein! Regardless of whether the headstock snaps off, I can't think of any guitar that's better off for having been dropped.
Let me also say that I have nothing against Ibanez - I've never owned or played one and probably never will - or Jackson (same), but a lot of folks seem to like them. That's cool, how did I know after the first sentence that this review would talk about how awesome Ibanez guitars are? Dude, why didn't you go get your $4k back and buy 10 Ibanez?
So, to sum up, the first review is by a tool.
Agree.
And @ the reviewer: Why did you buy the guitar if you didn't try it. And that's still OK but if you want a 24 fret guitar then why are you buying a 22 fret guitar. You can check out the features before buying. And for 4k you can go and buy your dream Ibanez with Floyd Rose and H-S-H Dimarzios and 24 frets and ebony fret board. So why did you buy the LP? And I doubt that he even has this guitar. The review must be troll or something or just a counter ad (by somebody who works for Ibanez or whatever company). Les Pauls don't have 24 frets or single coils or Floyd Rose bridges. That's why they are Les Pauls.
I only payed $500 for my 2008 Les Paul Studio, and I've had no problems with it at all. I find the first review very hard to believe...why would you not return a $4,000 guitar if it had some obvious flaws, and an even better question, WHY DID YOU BUY IT?
My LP Custom blows every guitar I have ever played out of the water. I have owned guitars by Jackson, Fender, Ibanez, and Music Man and nothing has come even close. I accept people not liking Les Pauls based on their personal preference on body type, pickups, wood etc. but so say a Les Paul Custom is a bad guitar means you are either a)poor and mad you can't afford one, b) have never played one or c) you are deaf.
I don't understand the review that is third from the top...why in f*#k would anyone buy a guitar that they thought so poorly about. Two words. Goof. Ball.
"This guitar sucks. I've been playing for 10 years and own a usa BC Rich V, Ibanez V Blade and a Jackson KV2 and all three of those guitars make this one look like shit. I wouldn't want this guitar to get stolen because I wouldn't want that person to have to deal with the shit of this guitar. Just because it says Gibson on the headstock dosnt mean its good. For 4k I could of got a Custom Ran guitar and a Engl savage. Oh and one last thing Gibson GUITARS ARE NOT HANDMADE."
LOL... wow, just wow. You are either 10 yrs old or a complete idiot.
Lol. Get ready for some serious flaming!