A Question for the Real Les Paul Experts

[Vincent]

I am aware that Gibson had better years than others. There is of course the infamous 1959 Les Paul that needs no further introduction.

What years do you personally think were better than others? Were there some years that you had personal experiences with that were outstandingly good or bad?

What were the tonal/visual /workmanship characteristics of the guitar that made these exceptionally good or bad?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Did they had any good years after???

[marvar]

Good Les Pauls can be found from all years, sometimes you have to search for them.
I do remember a run in the 70's that left the factory with incorrect scale length, and would never intonate, I had one of those, but finally dumped it.

[BigAlTheBird]

^^Yep. I gotta say though that many of the new ones I've been playing in GC and Sam Ash, etc., feel kinda crappy. My buddy owns maybe 12 or 15 from the 90's (mostly) and they are all awesome. But I go to Sam Ash and try the new ones out, and they feel cheap (definitely not worth $2000). My Epi feels better than almost all of the new Gibby's (that said, most Epis I've played felt like utter ****, so I got lucky finding this one).

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Wel I am spoiled, have tried quite a few 50's Gibsons...a few mid 60's to 68 sounded just as good...never liked anyone from 70's very much, none from the 80's and up to now!

[Vincent]

When did the QC start going downhill? From the early 2000s onwards?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Try from seventies until now

[the guy who invented fire]

In general the 50's are the Golden years for Gibson and the early 60's were good as well, I have played a few late 60's Gibsons that were garbage...in general (and IMO) the 70's sucked pretty bad but again...I have played a few 70's Gibsons that were great guitars. IMO, the 80's were hit or miss and I wou;dn't buy an 80's Gibson w/o playing it first...one of the worst guitars I have ever played period was a 1985 Les Paul but one of the best guitars I have ever played is my 1982 Moderne...

As for the 90's I feel like it was better than the 80's overall but there are still issues, as a general rule the Historic stuff is amazing and to be honest I have not played a single historic guitar that I felt like was a turd. When I bought my R8 I played over a dozen 57 and 58 reissues and picked what I felt like was the best one but the others were very nice as well...

[big_black]

Most of the QC issues (aside from "feel" - subjective) I see on current production ('01 until now) are cosmetic. Pay close attention to the binding is cut and look for gouges or divots that run along the length, either side of the frets. This goes for all Gibsons. LPs often have the binding overspray, if that is important to you.

[doveman]

I think it's hit or miss always. I've owned 8 LPs ... 60s & 70s ... I bought the best I could find ... only 3 were truly outstanding but they were great. A Gold Top Standard from 60s (bought used). An early 70s Black Custom (bought used). But my favorite LP was a '75 Red Sunburst Deluxe ... it was a bit lighter than most LPs ... beautiful ... sounded good. I had it refretted with the big frets, routed it for PAFs. It always sounded great. I'd take that guitar today in any setup that I had it in over the years. I actually played a recent LP Standard that looked and played like that guitar ... should have bought it but it was $2300 and that's a lot of scratch.

But the same goes for Strats, Teles, 335s, SGs and every make probably ... some are great ... some are crap. I think it's still more "art" than manufacturing. The right wood has to show at the right time in front of the right guys on the right day ... sad but I think that's the way it is. When it all comes together, it's a beautiful thing.

[Jeff_H]

I believe it's fairly obtuse to state that all guitars produced by any company, Gibson or otherwise, are completely worthless for a period of 30 years. No company can sell products for 30+ years if the product is that poor.

Some of you may dislike Gibson, and that is fine. It's no secret that many Les Paul's from certain era's are considered dogs...but there are just as many examples of fine instruments that someone loves and treasures. There are equally as many Fender, Guild, Martin (ad nauseum) that many "experts" here or on the internet would cite as being of dubious quality also.

If you don't like Gibson, that is fine. That's why there are so many different guitars. But when someone come's looking for advice, how about something realistic being suggested, such as "the 70's are generally acknowledged as being a time when quality control at Gibson was suspect, so I would advise playing any guitar that you purchase to make sure you like the way it feels", or something along those lines?

Regardless of whether it's Gibson, Fender or anyone, it' irritating to see people blasting an entire product line they don't personally care for. If everyone played the same guitars thru the same amps life sure would be boring.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Well mostly because Gibson is the prime example of resting on the laurels!!!
Those old ones are terrific guitars, but nowadays I would rather buy a Japanese copy that anything Gibson makes...unless you are willing to pay obscene money, for something that somehow resembles what they used to do!
Still wish I had the old hacked up Jr with two aftermounted PAF's.....eventhough the old P-90 where a pickups from heaven.
It was a 57 cheap LP Jr, and it smoked about every sad 70's and 80's Gibson running by the store for checkup and setups.
It is hard to raise the quality after decades of neglection!
And for us who has played the old ones....the new stuff is simply not the same, and they did not become any cheaper!!
Which is the sore point for them!

[Voxman]

i had a white lp costom made in 88-89 and that was on hell of a guitar,i still regret selling it. The 96 lp studio i had was a great axe too.
NO comment on the BS !!!!!
BTW: i don`t consider myselp as an lp expert

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Yap yap
Well I know that there are good guitars....but...bah never mind....keep your tubbies

[Innocent_Bystander]

I by no means consider myself and expert but I have and do own quite a few Gibsons. Obviously the 50's models are the holy grail of guitars. Then you have the 60's which saw some great guitars but also a long period without the current Les Paul model.

Short of that, I believe the 70's and most of the 80's should be periods to avoid, this is when cost cutting measures went over the top in my opinion. I'm sure their are good guitars in this era but if you had to choose a somewhat unfavorable time, this would be it. The very late 80's through the 90's gave us some nice Gibsons and I believe that what Gibson is putting out today, in most cases, are very nice guitars. The cheap guitars are cheap, ie faded's and etc, but the higer end, especially Custom Shop stuff is great.

I think most of Gibsons current issues are cosmetic, overspray, odd bumps and dimples in the clear, not things that make the guitars sound bad or play poorly, just little things that'll drive you partially insane, knowing that otherwise you have a great guitar. Every manufacturer makes duds, you can't tell how a guitar is going to sound by smelling the wood, you first have to make a guitar out of it. For whatever reason, Gibson gets a bad wrap for their dud guitars, as if they're the only company that makes them.

Where Gibson takes things to the next level is the Historic line which is second to none, anyone who tells you differently either, hasn't played one, can't afford one or is a blatant hater of Gibson. These guitars are everything that you could want in an instrument, beautiful craftsmanship, amazing tone, and effortless playability. If you haven't experienced the Historic line I urge you to spend some time with a few guitars, you'll be happy you did.

[Voxman]

Yap yap
Well I know that there are good guitars....but...bah never mind....keep your tubbies

Did you have to many of those "gammel dansk" for breakfast today ? LOL

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Nej men jeg kunne fandme godt bruge en nu!!
Hehehe

[Voxman]

Nej men jeg kunne fandme godt bruge en nu!!
Hehehe

[WhoFan]

only real lp i own is a 76 Deluxe.... i bought it only because it was the 70's stage guitar of my fav guitarist Pete Townshend... in truth i wanted the earlier 70's ones in goldtop with a mahogany neck.... what i got was a sunburst maple neck one....

I had many neck issues with it over the almost 20 years i have owned it.... the neck that is on it now has been rebuilt completely.. new fingerboard and all... the neck was removed from the guitar and reset, refinnished the neck area.... The neck feels new and the rest of the guitar is 70's feeling... ha ha ha ha

even if this lp was a real lemon, i would buy another 75-79 era LP Deluxe if i could afford them, the prices are crazy these days! They are not great LP's in my book at all.... but i want them only because they are the guitars i grew up dreaming about....

That's my 2 cents

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Yeah^that I can follow quite well
Nothing like getting ones dreamguitar...makes it special beyond trends and such
Niels
Cheers Kaffi