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(More customer reviews)I lost all of my electric guitars in Katrina and figured I owe this review to offer shopping suggestions to everyone looking to replace thier guitars. I am a former professional musician and really only play now as a hobby. I decided to replace my Gibson SG that was lost in the flood with the "Rolls Royce" of all guitars: the LP Custom. Here is what I think of it:
Of all the items I have reviewed on Amazon, the LP Custom has to be the most difficult for several reasons. First, since it is a handmade guitar, the buyer should know that no two will be exactly the same. On the same day I bought mine, for example, I noticed that the one right next to it on the wall had a sixth string groove that in the nut that was situated too close to the top of the fretboard. I also played several other custom shop models that had similar quirks, including the Jimmy Page Custom (which has a neck like a Kramer and the body of a Les Paul...yes, it's ridiculous).
Second, because my playing style is hard picking mostly, I don't know if everyone would agree with what I have to say about the action on this guitar, but it was the deciding factor in my selection. The all-black/gold Custom I picked had just a bit more resistance to "digging" than the others I tried (then again, I learned to play on a Sears and Roebuck special). Still, all the LP customs have ebony ("fretless") fretboard wire; and when the action is set right the guitar seems to "play your fingers".
Anyway, assuming that you can find one of these LP customs that has off-the-shelf action that fits YOUR playing style, the sound of the heavy cruiser will take you away. This axe has a 3-ply maple top with a mahogany bottom. You can tell its very high quality wood by the way the strings resonate.
Notes "wobble" and "swell" after being plucked even when the guitar is not plugged in. The sheer weight of the bottom guitar seems to make the neck (which is relatively thin on a basic custom)much more vibrant and responsive than it is on a single slab guitar. Since this tonal quality is coupled with a natural resonation in the ebony fretboard, the player can squeeze every ounce of juice out of a single note. Also, this resonance quality works well to enhance spooked notes in arpaggio sweeps. As as result, the LP custom can be suited out as a digitalized metal cruncher or a acoustic jazz box
The sound quality and feel give the basic LP custom some big plusses. You will also notice a change in your playing prowess from the responsive fretboard. However, there are a few small minuses that first-time high-end guitar buyers should be aware of.
First, the basic Custom is the plug-ugliest looking guitar in the world. There are only 4 color selections (Black, White, Narural and Red). The gold humbuckers on the Black Beauty only seem to make it look gaudy to me. But, again this is subjective.
Second, the basic customs come equipped with standard Gibson Alnico Humbuckers. Although these pups blow doors on most humbuckers, the clarity of the 3rd and 4th strings tends to get buried when the guitar is phased and flanged through a tube amp and there is a low note ringing. I'm going to try putting in a burstbucker to solve this.
Another obvious drawback to the guitar is the weight. Playing this guitar standing without staplocks is crazy. It is killing my lower back. If you're going to gig with this axe, drink plenty whiskey and take some cortizone. I suppose this is another price to pay for that solid mahogany sustain and tone!
In retrospect, I love this axe, but wish that I would have looked harder at the Les Paul Custom Class 5. I've heard they are about a thousand more, but I didn't come across one in any stores. Those come in many different colors and are outfitted with burstbuckers off the shelf. Also, they have chambered mahogany bodies that are supposed to make them weight-relieved. Still, I wonder if they could achive the same sustain and tone?
Rule #1 is to always make sure you can return the guitar if you find a defect! For the price of this one, you should have perfection!
Regards
Valjean
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Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar, EbonyThe introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments.
The Incomparable Les Paul Custom Guitar
HistoryThe introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Yet Gibson president Ted McCarty and the guitar's namesake, Les Paul, also sought to introduce a "deluxe" version of the soon-to-be iconic model. The final design for the new Les Paul Custom was completed in early 1954, and the guitar made its official debut at the Chicago NAMM show in July 1954.
Initially, the goal had been to introduce the "deluxe" version in conjunction with the original 1952 Les Paul, yet Gibson's drive to achieve excellence resulted in several unexpected delays. The final product, however, would eventually become Gibson's top model in the original Les Paul line.
The 'Fretless Wonder' The first version of the Les Paul Custom was nicknamed the "Fretless Wonder" for its low frets and "Black Beauty" for its rich, contrasting ebony color. It was also introduced at the same time as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and represented the ultimate in Gibson solid body design at the time, with an original price tag of just $325, which was $100 more than the regular Les Paul Model.
Aside from its obvious visual enhancements, the Les Paul Custom was the first Gibson guitar to offer the revolutionary ABR-1 Bridge, which was invented by McCarty. This pioneering achievement was a true revelation in intonation and remains one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered.
Other standard appointments included a thicker body design and seven-ply body binding on both the front and back of the guitar, along with a multi-bound headstock that featured a prominent five-piece split diamond patterned inlay of genuine mother of pearl--a design that still graces every Les Paul Custom made today.
Near-perfect Recreation Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments. The body of the guitar is crafted with a hand-carved maple top, which is then fitted to a body made from a solid piece of mahogany with strategically routed holes to lessen the weight of the guitar, resulting in a Les Paul with enhanced acoustic qualities and improved resonance. The 24-3/4 inch scale length neck is also made from one solid piece of mahogany then topped by a 22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays, and given Gibson's traditional rounded profile. The pickups are Gibson's 490R in the neck position, which offers the tonal characteristics of the original PAFs, and the 498T in the bridge position, which swaps the 490R's Alnico II magnet for an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs.
Other appointments include Gibson's legendary Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, metal tulip tuners, multi-ply white and black binding on both the top and back, gold hardware, and a 1 11/16" nut width. The Les Paul Custom is available in Antique White, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sun Burst, Wine Red and Silver Burst, and each guitar comes with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit, and certificate of authenticity.
Nitrocellulose Finish Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.
All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.
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